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  INFORMATION:
  VRYHEID   
  

Birding
Province: Zululand
Route: Bivane Dam

Bivane Dam was completed in 2000 and was built on the beautiful Bivane River to supply water to the sugarcane farms downstream at Phongola. Impala Irrigation Board owns the dam. The dominant feature of the area is rolling hills with exposed quartzite ridges, wooded drainage lines and steep cliffs and gorges and of course the open water of the dam.

Directions
Take the R69 road from Vryheid to Louwsburg. After 30km, turn left at the signboard "Bivane Dam". Continue on this dirt road for approximately 12km. The turn-off to the dam is then signposted on the left.

Accommodation
None at the dam, but all types are available in Vryheid, 45km away.

Specials for the area
Just after turning into the property, check the tall moist grasslands in summer for Broad-tailed Warbler. Their high-pitched "sink" calls are especially audible during misty or rainy weather. As one passes the first of many rocky outcrops, look out for the endemic Buff-streaked Chat, Jackal Buzzard, Cape Rock-Thrush and Grassbird. Long-billed and Striped Pipits as well as Cinnamon Bunting are also common along the road verges.

The short, rolling hills are home to one of South Africa's rarest pipits. Walking these hills, you could flush Short-tailed Pipit - look for the short tail and dumpy body and listen for its sparrow like "chreep" call.

Other birds seen in the grasslands include Secretarybird, Denham's Bustard, Barrow's Korhaan, Cape and Yellow-throated Longclaws, African Quailfinch, Wing-snapping Cisticola and, in summer, House Martin and Red-breasted Swallow.

The road down to the Bivane River, downstream of the dam, goes through some exciting riverine bush. Look out for Swee Waxbill, White-crested Helmet-Shrike, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Crowned Hornbill, Grey Penduline-Tit, Purple-crested Turaco, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike and in summer, Emerald Cuckoo and Pygmy Kingfisher. Closer to the Bivane River look out for Martial Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Tawny Eagle, African Firefinch, Violet-backed Starling, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Bushveld Pipit and Flappet Lark.

The river itself, and the streams running into it and the dam, are home to the elusive White-backed Night Heron, Half-collared Kingfisher, Mountain Wagtail, African Black Duck and African Fish Eagle.

Two birds, the Jameson's Firefinch and Red-headed Weaver, have their western-most distribution limits in KwaZulu-Natal in this area, and can be seen in more open, scrubby vegetation (former) and taller Combretum woodland (latter).

Other species found in the mixed woodland close to the dam wall include Shelley's Francolin, African Crowned Eagle, Emerald-spotted Dove, African Green Pigeon, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Lilac-breasted Roller, Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike and Brimstone Canary.

The many gorges and cliffs in the area are home to the stunning Peregrine Falcon, Lanner Falcon, Common Kestrel, Black Stork and Bald Ibis.

Other points of interest
The Bivane Dam area is home to one of the plant hotspots in the province, with many rare and localised species. The Mountain Waterwood, Broad-leaved Beech, Wild Teak, Ithala Gladiolus and Live-long are virtually confined to this area of the province. The wild flower displays in spring are quite spectacular. 

Write-up by Duncan McKenzie 

Zululand Birding Route –Tel/Fax: 035 753 5644
e-mail: Richardsbay@birdlife.org.za
Po Box 522 Richards Bay 3900 
http://www.zbr.co.za / http://www.birdlife.org.za