Bisley Nature Reserve
Bisley Nature Reserve
Bisley Nature Reserve is situated on the western side of Pietermaritzburg. Early in the last century the area was used for Bisley shooting. The structures can still be seen and explored.
This thorn veld reserve is 350 ha in extent and managed by the Msunduzi Municipality and includes a variety of habitats including grassland, open and closed woodland, and thickets.
There is a variety of bushveld birds, giraffe, impala and zebra. There is no entrance fee payable and picnic site with braai facilities is available.
Birding Notes
Thanks to: Birding Routes.
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.
The Cache
The cache is located close to the Resource Centre, a short walk from the parking area. Please note the parking waypoint provided, and the location of the entrance gate. The gate MUST be left closed after entering or leaving the reserve.
Thanks to TechnoNut for his assistance in placing this cache!