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Bisley Valley Nature Reserve
Categories: accommodation; hide; trails
Bisley Valley Nature Reserve is a 350ha Thornveld and Grassland habitat situated just 7km from the centre of Pietermaritzburg. The Reserve has marked trails and 2 hides, both overlooking wetland/water. It is home to a variety of large mammals including Giraffe and Red Hartebeest.
The picnic site adjacent to the parking has been mown under the trees but the edges where it meets the acacia woodland/scrub can be highly profitable. The thicker scrub hosts Green-backed Camaroptera, Cape Robin-Chat, White-browed Scrub-Robin and African Firefinch.
On the first trail, down to the Pam ela Reed Hide, as you head through the more open woodland, look out for Spotted Thick-knee, Common Scimitarbill, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Chinspot Batis, Southern Black Flycatcher, Cardinal Woodpecker, Black-crowned Tchagra, and in summer, Diderick Cuckoo, Klaas's Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Red-collared and Fan-tailed Widowbird.
In the thicker woodland surrounding the dam and river, Bar-throated Apalis, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, African Emerald Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo and Southern Boubou occur.
In and around the bottom dam, look for African Black Duck, Little Grebe, Little Rush Warbler, Village Weaver, African Yellow Weaver, Cape Weaver, Lesser Masked-Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver and Tawny-flanked Prinia. At times up to six weaver species can be seen within a 20 m radius!
Back at the picnic site, the road leading alongside the stables will eventually bring you to the environmental centre. On the lawns under the big Acacia sieberana look for Golden-breasted Bunting, Bronze Mannikin, Brown-hooded Kingfisher and Kurrichane Thrush.
Another trail leads you to the top hide, which in summer is also rich in weavers and widows.
In summer brood parasites abound with 6 cuckoos, 4 honeyguides, widowfinches and whydahs abounding. Specials at Bisley include Southern Tchagra (seen regularly) and Dwarf Bittern (seen in 5 of the last 6 summers from the Pamela Reed Hide), Corncrake (netted in the grassland!), Icterine Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Booted Eagle and Tawny Eagle
Specials to look out for are Southern Tchagra , Olive & Grey-headed Bush-Shrikes, Common Scimitarbill, Greater, Lesser & Sharp-billed Honeyguides, Shelley's Francolin, Dwarf Bittern (rare in summer), Corncrake (rare in summer), Nesting site for Thick-billed, Village, African Yellow and Lesser Masked Weavers.
Directions
Leave N3 Highway at Market Road (Exit 74), go past the market and bear left on to R103 to Cleland. At next lights, go right into Murray Road (Gladys Manzi). Proceed for 2.3km and go left through gate at Canterbury Stables. Parking and entrance to Reserve are 100m on right.
Additional Info
The site is accessible by day visitors and there is safe parking for up to 15 cars. Toilet facilities are also available. Restaurants can be found nearby in the city of Pietermaritzburg .
Facilities include two hides overlooking wetland and grassland, picnic sites, a site map and marked trails.
Habitats: Grassland, thornveld, wetlands and dams.
Contact
- Mzunduzi Municipality/City Parks Dept.
- Tel: +27(0)33 392 3242 or +27 (0)33 392 3241
- E-mail: chris.metherell@mzunduzi.gov.za