Situated on the southern side of the R522, roughly 26km from Makhado (Louis Trichardt), the seasonal Spies Dam teems with waterfowl when full. Birds that have been seen here include Knob-billed, African Black, White-faced Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Yellow-billed Stork, African Spoonbill, White-fronted Plover, Kittlitz´s Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt and on occasion Greater Flamingo. The surrounding thickets and open grassland support the White-bellied Sunbird, Marico Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Kalahari Scrub-robin, Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler, Long-billed Crombec, Crimson-breasted Shrike and a variety of seed-eaters.

Directions: Travel on the road to Vivo from Louis Trichardt / Makhado; after 24 km the dam is visible from the road on the left. Stop next to the road just before the railing to get a view of the reed beds below; be careful as the road is quite narrow. Continue on the road until you see a BP Garage and General Dealer on the right; almost opposite this turn left onto a straight gravel track. The track then forks; park your car under a tree and walk to the dam wall. If you need to open a gate, be sure to close it behind you.

GPS: -23.040, 29.693

Text prepared by:

Daniel Danckwerts (Rockjumper Birding Tours)

Key species:

Crimson-breasted Shrike, Kittlitz’s and White-fronted Plovers, Kalahari Scrub-robin.