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Birding
Province: Zululand
Route: Dekkers Dam
Both these sites are in close proximity to each other on the outskirts of
Empangeni and offer some rather unique birding.
Dekkers dam consists of open water with dense reedbeds and a few areas of
shallow flooded grassland. Grass for Africa is a commercial grass farm
that has a reputation for producing some pretty unusual bird species.
PERMISSION IS REQUIRED BEFORE VISITING THE GRASS FOR AFRICA FARM, PLEASE
CONTACT THE BIRDING ROUTE'S SOUTHERN REGION CO-ORDINATOR FOR MORE DETAILS.
Directions
Head out of Empangeni on the R34 towards Nkwaleni / Melmoth. Just outside
Empangeni is the Turnoff to TICOR, zero your trip meter here.
At about 2.6 km's take a small turnoff to your right, cross the railway
line and follow thus road to get to the Grass For Africa farm.
To access Dekker's Dam - once back on the R34 continue west for another
1.9km's (5.2 km from Ticor) and take another small right hand turn, cross
the railway and follow this road for about 500m till you see a large
wetland on your left. The Western part of Dekkers Dam can be accessed
another 700m further along the R34, take the Heatonville turnoff and stop
after about 200m at the first small dam you find on your right.
Birding
Grass For Africa : The best way to bird is on foot. Large numbers of
Grassveld Pipits are always around (both pale and dark forms),
Redshouldered Widows, Kittlitz's Plover, Yellow Throated Longclaw,
Crowned, Wattled and Blacksmith Plovers are all common here.
In summer Redwinged (Collared) Pratincoles are normally around. This is
also one of the better areas to find Orange-Throated Longclaw, which is
generally not very common along the coastal plain. Some of the more
unusual records from this spot include Caspian Plover, Bald Ibis and Pied
Mannikin.
Dekkers Dam: From the bridge on the eastern edge of the pan is the best
area to scan the open waters, look out for Pygmy Goose, Purple Gallinule,
Moorhen, Black Egrett, as well as the whole range of aquatic Kingfishers.
The reedebds are also home to African Sedge and Cape Reed Warblers, also
keep an eye out here for Blackbacked Cisticola. The damp grassland on the
left hand side of the bridge is a popular haunt for Painted Snipe.
The dam can also be viewed from the western side. The thornveld
surrounding the dam also offers some good birding.
Duncan Pritchard
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
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