South-eastern Wetlands and Grasslands – Bullfrog Pan

About the Birding

Upon arrival make sure to park your vehicle at the sign board before proceeding for a short walk into the reserve. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for the likes of Cape Longclaw, Long-tailed Widowbird, and Zitting Cisticola dancing above the grass. Once approaching the reedbeds birders should be welcomed by a hive of activity, not least of which includes Southern Red and Yellow-crowned Bishop, Southern Masked Weaver and Tawny-flanked Prinia.

The pan itself is a great location for Black-necked Grebe, Maccoa Duck, White-backed Duck, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, African Purple Swamphen, African Snipe, and other more common locally occurring waterfowl species. Keep your eyes peeled to the skies above for Banded, Brown-throated, and Sand Martin, whilst Greater Striped and Barn Swallows (both summer) will inevitably be mingling with them.

Key species:

Black-necked Grebe, Maccoa Duck, White-backed Duck, Greater & Lesser Flamingo, African Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, African Snipe, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Banded Martin

About the Birding Site

A large pan situated on a 40ha reserve which plays host to a typical highveld grassland setting within a relatively concentrated area situated in the confines of the outer city limits. What makes it convenient is its proximity to one of the country’s largest International airports, O.R. Tambo International Airport, which means that birders either in transit or birders who have limited time to spend birding during a visit to Johannesburg, can easily pop into the reserve and bird the pan for a great introduction into highveld grassland and wetland birding.

Key species:

Black-necked Grebe, Maccoa Duck, White-backed Duck, Greater & Lesser Flamingo, African Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, African Snipe, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Banded Martin

Other Related Information

Access and facilities:
This is an absolutely fantastic location for photographers and some local birders often refer to it as the “miniature Marievale”. Although not as big, the photographic opportunities to those who show patience are trumped by few. There are no toilet facilities here, nor are there any picnic facilities, but if one were to take a picnic blanket and basket and choose a nice dry patch to sit quietly and enjoy the avian spectacle, then it would most certainly be an enjoyable experience.

Other related information:

Directions:
From O.R. Tambo International Airport, take the R21 North toward Pretoria for 3km. Take exit 43 to the M96 (Voortrekker Road). Once at the end of the ramp, turn left onto Voortrekker Road and then shortly thereafter take the ramp right onto Pomona Road (M32). After 2km, take the exit to your left and double back onto Dann Road (soon becoming Great North Road – M45). Proceed along the Great North Road until you reach Celia Nestadt Road where one should turn left and continue on the M45. After 2.4km turn left onto President Brand Street and you will see the pan toward the end. Park on the grass near the information board.

Times: No times. Advised to be visited during the day.
Entrance Fees: No entrance fees.

Text prepared by:
John Kinghorn and Toni Geddes

Key species:

Black-necked Grebe, Maccoa Duck, White-backed Duck, Greater & Lesser Flamingo, African Purple Swamphen, Black-winged Stilt, African Snipe, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Banded Martin

Contact details:

N/A