The road transects farmland on both sides and can deliver a number of good birds including Greater and Lesser Kestrels, Lanner Falcon, Pale Chanting Goshawk and Black-chested Snake Eagle on the power lines and fences along the road. In wet years a few seasonal wetlands form alongside the road and can deliver species such as Marsh Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, South African Shelduck, Whiskered Tern, Pied Avocet, Yellow-crowned Bishop. This road can also be good for Pink-billed Lark, Red-capped Lark and numerous grassland associated species.

The road eventually leads to a fork. Both roads, to the left and right, follow the edge of the largest pan, called Soutpan. The road off to the left is especially good for birding in wet years, since it transects a wetland (-28.761925, 26.051528) which can deliver a lot of rare and out-of-range (for area) water- associated species such as Dwarf Bittern, Greater Painted-snipe, Lesser Moorhen, Baillon’s Crake, African Crake and African Rail. Also along this road, on the right one passes a salt works where Chestnut-banded Plover can be found in dry years and during winter and early summer. After passing the wetland area, the road continues towards the town of Soutpan, where it makes its way up a small rocky plateau. Here one can look out for Yellow Canary, Sickle-winged Chat (winter), Kalahari and Karoo Scrub Robin, Plain-backed and African Pipit, Red-capped Lark and Orange River Francolin. The road eventually reaches the R703; here you turn right towards Soutpan and right again onto a gravel road after passing the Soutpan Police Station. This road transects the main pan and can deliver numerous water associated species including many waders such as Three-banded Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Wood and Marsh Sandpiper, Kittlitz’s Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet and Chestnut-banded Plover. Waterfowl include Cape Shoveler, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-billed Teal, Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose, White-faced Whistling Duck and Cape Teal. Other birds can include Yellow-billed (Intermediate) Egret, Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, African Sacred Ibis, Grey, Black-headed and Goliath Heron, Blue Crane, White Stork and Yellow-billed Stork.

Keep watching for any passing raptors since Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers are sometimes seen in summer.

The above-mentioned route around Soutpan is especially productive during years of abnormally high rainfall and is a highly recommended birding spot during wet summers. Soutpan is also perfect for the occasional mega rarity.

Key species:

Wet years: Baillon’s Crake, African Crake, African Rail, Greater Painted-snipe, Dwarf Bittern, Lesser Moorhen, Black-necked Grebe, Black-winged Pratincole, Common Ringed Plover, March Sandpiper and numerous other waders and waterfowl

Dry Years: Easter Clapper Lark, Melodious Lark, Large-billed Lark, Pink-billed Lark, Red-breasted Swallow, Rufous-eared Warbler, Desert Cisticola, Ludwig’s Bustard, Sickle-winged Chat, Pririt Batis and African Quail-finch