Soetdoring Nature Reserve

The Soetdoring, or Acacia karroo one of the many beautiful trees to be found in this very much underrated reserve situated in the heart of the Free State Province, approximately 40 kilometres North-West of Bloemfontein.  It is a mega hub with regards to biodiversity containing many different habitats including: a large expanse of open water in the form of the Krugersdrift Dam which when water levels drop produce significant mud flats, the Modder River with large stands of Reeds and Weeping Willows on its banks, just beyond these there are the Thorn Thickets which eventually opens up to vast Grassy Plains and in some areas Karoo Shrubveld and finally the few hills in the are is covered by beautiful Wild Olive trees.  Naturally the diversity of habitat types would generate quite a substantial bird list and the reserve boasts over 280 different species with between 70 to 140 species that can be expected depending on the time of the year you visit.

On Saturday the 29th, Barbet and myself had a wonderful outing here along with members of the Free State Bird Club.  Even though conditions where far from perfect (severe wind and the occasional drops of rain) we had a blast of a time.  Barbet added three new species to her Life list, while my Free State list was also boosted by more than ten species.

We met just outside the gate at 06:30 where we had a chance to admire the variety of Swifts, Swallows and Martins.  The peaceful swaying of the binoculars trying to keep up with these acrobats of the sky was interrupted by the appearance of a Jacobin Cuckoo!  All the while listening to the constant call of a Diderick's Cuckoo in the background, we caught a quick glimpse of him/her just before entering the gate.

The first stretch over the extensive Grassy plains was filled with the continues calls of Rufous-naped Larks and mixes of Black-chested Prinia, Neddicky, Desert and Cloud Cisticola.  A single Red-breasted Swallow put in a dash of a performance in and amongst numerous South African Cliff-Swallows.  On the odd bush or two we found either some Scaly-feathered Finches of Kalahari Scrub-Robin.

At the camp site (which would hopefully be opened soon) we had close-up views of Pin-tailed Whydah, Kalahari Scrub-Robin and Black-chested Prinia.  The background chorus was filled in with the calls of a bunch of rowdy Swainson's Spurfowl and the melodious call of a Brown-crowned Tchagra.

Upon our arrival at the first picnic spot where we ha a wonderful coffee break we where entertained by African Hoopoe calling his heart out and the ever-frantic calls of the Namaqua Warblers.

The Thornveld was soon followed by some more open plains where we had sightings of numerous Rufous-naped Larks, Cape Longclaws and South African Cliff-Swallows.  The odd one or two African Pipits where on display and coming closer to the trees a few Sabota Larks put in an appearance.

No sooner where we out in the drizzle enjoying the sight of some Spike-heeled Larks when the Cloud Cisticolas began their aerial displays along with a single Zitting Cisticola.

While going round a bend we came almost face to face with a majestic speciman the Secretary Bird, it was weaving around and over the grass in search of prey.  It was not long before it became a bit fidgety and started prancing around, next thing it opened its wings slightly while kicking at something.  It scooped up a mouse and swallowed it in one gulp.  It then simply carried on with the routine and not two minutes later the same ritual presented it, only this time the mouse or rat judging by the size was still squirming when it wanted to swallow it.  The solution was to throw it back on the ground and to pound it a couple of times more before swallowing it just as swift as the first.  Amazing! We could not believe our luck with seeing such a marvellous bird and then two kills as well!  It soon strolled of further into the field and we continued.

At the picnic spots roughly in the middle of stretch of river we had a couple of quick glimpses of the Chestnut-vented Tit-Babblers while a Namaqua Dove pulled a disappearing act as soon as the Natal Spurfowls started alarm calling.

At the last set of picnic sites we watched a colony of Scaly-feathered Finches and some European Bee-eaters.  Then suddenly the air was pierced by the calls of a Red-chested Cuckoo, the first for the season for me.  While trying to locate it we had some Grey-headed Gulls and a Caspian Tern fly overhead.  In the end we gave up hope and had to start moving back.

En route back to the gate some new species which put in an appearance was Red-capped Lark and a fly-by from some African Quailfinches, if only I could get a closer look as this would have been a Lifer for me and a perfect way to en the day.

Something else that was pretty amazing was that we saw another five Secretary Birds on our way back to the gate, a single one and two separate pairs.  Never before in my life have I seen so many Secretary Birds in one day.  What a bonus!

Unfortunately I could not take any pictures due to the weather conditions but in the end we still managed to find approximately 80 species.  I plan on returning before we leave for Northern Kruger in just over a months time and who knows what I might bump into. . .