Western Cape, Plettenberg Bay – Rietvlei Dam, White Horse Dam and Rietvlei Road Polo Fields and Emily Moon
About the Birding
Rietvlei dam (-34.0195, 23.3801) on Rietvlei road, just past Buco, is a good place to see the Cape Shoveler, Southern Pochard, Blue-billed Teal, African Swamphen, African Darter, Black-crowned Night Heron, and on occasions, Goliath Heron.
The Polo fields on the eastern side of the road usually have an array of Geese and Ibis, but the occasional African Pipit or Cape Longclaw might be seen here too.
Summer visitors include numerous Barn Swallows, but keep a lookout for Sand, Common House and Banded Martin on the telephone wires above the reeds on Rietvlei Gravel Road (-34.01763, 23.37468). African Rail and Red-chested Flufftail can be heard calling in the thick reed beds as well as Little Rush and Lesser Swamp Warblers.
About the Birding Site
The area around Rietvlei Dam offers some incredible water birding, as well as a few thicket and forest species on offer. The accessibility of the sites also makes a great spot for a morning or afternoon birding session, and up to 50 species can be recorded in a few hours.
Other Related Information
The turn off from the N2 for the Rietvlei road is at -34.02236, 23.38145 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/v3ft5bXj2bUhhX4u7).
This site is largely roadside birding, making it ideal for the mobility impaired.
There is no fee or permit required to visit this site.
There are numerous shops and fuel stations in the area.