After passing through the reserve entrance, begin by birding the adjacent picnic area. Fiscal Flycatchers, and both White-backed, and Red- faced Mousebirds are regular, as is a cheeky Small Grey Mongoose. Scan the dense patches of vegetation for other common species.

From there you head towards the first lookout tower. Both this, and the more distant tower, provide a good elevated position to scan the vlei for aerial feeders such as African Black, White-rumped, Little and Alpine Swifts, Barn and White-throated Swallows, and Rock and Brown-throated Martins. Also look for African Marsh Harriers hunting low over the reed beds. African Fish Eagles are also seen from here. Water Thick-knee can be seen close to the small concrete pool next to the education building. The resident Hippopotamuses are sometimes visible from these viewpoints.

Make your way to the first of the hides or the veranda of the Tearoom. Patient birding can produce Cape Shoveler, Great-crested Grebe, both Blue-billed and Red-billed Teal, and Malachite Kingfisher, in addition to a wealth of other waterbirds. Secretive species like Little Bittern, Black Crake and Burchell’s Coucal are possible, with the latter two more often heard than seen. Both African and Greater Painted Snipes occur, but are only likely when the water levels start to drop in mid- to late-summer.

Work your way birding from hide to hide. White-backed Mousebird, Cape Bulbul, Yellow Bishop, Levaillant’s Cisticola and Cape Grassbird are common in between hides. Be sure to check the flood lamps of the neighbouring sports field for Rock Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and Black-winged Kite. Pay close attention to the Sand Fynbos vegetation as Cape Dwarf Chameleons, and Painted Reed Frogs are present. At the second tower, scan the distant heronry in spring for breeding Grey, and Purple Herons, Sacred, and Glossy Ibises, and Black-crowned Night Herons.

The Scotto Hide (the most distant hide) is often the most productive. You can see Great White Pelican, Caspian Tern, Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gulls sitting together on a sandbank in front of the heronry. These are occasionally joined by other waterbird species: African Spoonbill, South African Shelduck and White-breasted Cormorants. Late summer mornings (when the vlei levels are low) are known to reward lucky birders with views of either African Rail or Baillon’s Crake.

Key species:

African Snipe, Little Bittern, Purple Heron, Malachite Kingfisher, Great White Pelican, Blue-billed Teal, Great Crested Grebe, African Marsh Harrier