October / Oktober 2009

Day Outings / Daguitstappies

Sun 4 Oct : Vaalkop Dam

Sun 11 Oct : Montle Metze

Sun 25 Oct : Rooiwal

Evening Meetings / Aandbyeenkomste

Tue 13 Oct : Bird Quiz

Held at Sci-Enza Centre. Directions at end of program.

Special Events / Spesiale Geleenthede

Thu 8 - Mon 12 Oct : Teba Camp

Weekend Camp / Naweekkamp

Fri 16 - Sun 18 Oct : Botshabelo

Bird ringing / Voëlberinging

Sat 3 Oct : Rietvlei Dam

From our organiser Dear Members

Here it is, my first programme for BLNG. Compared to the programmes I used to coordinate in Zululand, the BLNG programme is a whole new juggling act. It’s really incredible that the club provides its members with so many outings and activities, and as a coordinator it’s a challenge, but certainly a challenge which I enjoy tackling.

This winter weather has kept some of us indoors and identifying birds on call from the comforts of a cosy bed on Sunday morning whilst some braver souls have scraped the ice off the windscreen and ventured into the frost covered landscapes to spot the early worm catchers defrosting their breakfasts. The prospect of spring makes me look forward to warmer birding conditions, the returning migrants, the smell of blossoming trees and easier identification of birds in breeding plumage. There are certainly plenty of outings and activities in our programme to keep you as busy as the weavers in spring time, so please come and join us and share this beautiful time of year.

Regards

Amanda Haggett-Haagner
BLNG Programme Coordinator

October / Oktober 2009

Sat 3 : Rietvlei Dam: Bird Ringing
Meet / Ontmoet: 04:15
Leader / Leier: Chris du Plooy

Sun 4 : Vaalkop Dam
Meet / Ontmoet: 07:30
Leader / Leier: Faansie Peacock
SABAP2 Pentad(s): 2720_2725

The Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve is situated 54km north of Brits in typical broken bushveld country. It is a renowned birdwatching destination due to the bird numbers and diversity. The woodland and water birding promise to be very rewarding. Entrance fee is R25 p/p
Directions: Take the R511 Thabazimbi Road north from Brits. After about 36 km, immediately after crossing the railway bridge, turn left on the road signposted Vaalkop Dam. After about 4 km turn right at the T-junction. Follow this road for about 12 km and turn left at the Vaalkop Dam sign. The entrance is on the right, about 1 km along this dirt road. Meet at the entrance. Total distance from the western side of Pretoria is about 95 km.

Vaalkopdam is 54km noord van Brits geleë. Die habitat bestaan uit tipiese bosveld. Die area is beroemd vir die getalle en diversiteit van voëls. Beide die bosveld en watervoëls behoort belowend te wees.
Aanwysings: Ry met die Thabazimbi-pad (R511) noord van Brits. Na ongeveer 36 km, onmiddelik na die spoorwegbrug, draai links op die Vaalkopdam pad. Na ongeveer 4 km, draai regs by die T-aansluiting. Volg hierdie pad vir ongeveer 12 km en draai links by die Vaalkopdam teken. Na ongeveer 1 km is die ingang aan die regterkant van die pad. Ontmoet mekaar by die ingang. Totale afstand van die westekant van Pretoria is ongeveer 95 km.

Thu 8 - Mon 12 : Teba Camp
Join us at this exclusive venue in the Pafuri area of the Kruger National Park. Space is limited and costs are R900 pp for the 4 nights. Please book with the club secretary. Your payment in full confirms your booking.

Kom geniet hierdie eksklusiewe kamp in Pafuri, Nasionale Krugerwildtuin. Plek is beperk en die koste is R900 pp vir die 4 aande. Boek asb deur die klubsekretaresse. Jou volle betaling bevestig jou bespreking.

Sun 11 : Montle Metze
Meet / Ontmoet: 07:00
Leader / Leier: Franz van Vuuren
SABAP2 Pentad(s): 2515_2825

Excellent bushveld birding south of Rust De Winter Dam near the Elands River where African Finfoot is known to occur. Entrance fee payable at the gate.
Directions: Take N1 north to Hammanskraal offramp. Drive over bridge and turn off left to Rust de Winter. Drive 23.5 km to second Uitvlugt turnoff (ignore first Uitvlugt turnoff at 17.5 km), turn right and meet at Kameelrivier, Visarend camp gate 3.3 km down the Uitvlugt road. Drive time approx 50 min from Pretoria.

Uitstekende bosveld voëlkyk suid van Rust De Winter dam naby die Elandsrivier waar dit bekend is dat die Watertrapper voorkom. Ingangsfooie betaalbaar by die hek.
Aanwysings: Volg die N1 noord van Pretoria tot by Hammanskraal/Boekenhoutskloof afrit en draai regs oor die hoofweg. Draai links na Rust de Winter na 200 m. Volg die pad vir 23.5 km na 2de Uitvlugt afdraai (ignoreer die eerste een by 17.6 km). Draai regs en ontmoet by Kameelrivier en Visarend se kamphek 3.3 km op die Uitvlugt pad. Omtrent 50 min se ry van Pretoria.

Tue 13 : Leon Kay: Bird Quiz
Meet / Ontmoet: 19:00

Leon will entertain us with another bird call and identification quiz.
Directions: Directions at the end of this programme.

Leon vermaak ons met nog ‘n ‘n voëlgeluid en -identifikasie vasvra.
Aanwysings: Aanwysings aan die einde van program.

Fri 16 - Sun 18 : Camp at Botshabelo
SABAP2 Pentad(s): 2540_2920; 2540_2925

This camp was postponed from July. Self catering accommodation in a special setting near Middelburg for only R300 per person for the weekend. Excellent hiking and walks in the area, a good mixture of highveld grassland, gorges and hilly woodland. The Middelburg bird club might join us to show off this spot. Book with the club secretary to secure your place.

Hierdie kampnaweek is uitgestel van Julie af. Selfsorg akkommodasie is beskikbaar in n spesiale ligging naby Middelburg vir slegs R300 p/p vir die hele naweek. Daar is uitstekende staproetes in die gebied met ‘n mengsel van hoëveldse grasveld, klowe en bergagtige bosveld. Lede van die nuwe Middelburgse voëlklub sal ons ook vergesel. Bespreek asb by die klubsekretaresse.

Sun 25 : Rooiwal
Meet / Ontmoet: 07:00
Leader / Leier: Andre van der Walt
SABAP2 Pentad(s): 2530_2810

Rooiwal always yields a large number of waterbirds as well as a variety of other species like Northern Black Korhaan. This is also the time to find the Yellow wagtail.
Directions: From the N1 north take the Pyramid off-ramp. Travel west until you reach the T-junction on the old Pta/Warmbaths road. Turn right onto the R101 and drive north until you see the Rooiwal power station on your left. Turn right at the Soshanguve sign and cross the bridge over the R101. Turn left at the Rooiwal sign. Drive west past the entrance of the power station and meet at the main entrance to the sewerage works.

Rooiwal lewer altyd 'n groot aantal watervoëls sowel as 'n verskeidenheid ander spesies soos die Witvlerkkorhaan op. Dit is ook nou die regte tyd om die Geelkwikkie te vind.
Aanwysings: Vanaf die N1 noord neem die Pyramid-afrit. Ry wes tot by die T-aansluiting met die ou Pretoria/Warmbad-pad. Draai regs op die R101 en ry noord tot jy die Rooiwal Kragsentrale aan jou linkerkant sien. Draai regs by die Soshanguve-teken en ry met die brug oor die R101. Draai links by die Rooiwal-bord. Ry wes verby die ingang van die kragsentrale en ontmoet by die ingang van die rioolwerke.