Simply Birding Catalog

Northern Farms
[NorthernFarm]

GPS: -25.936859,27.9878

Northern Farms is truly special birding venue situated just north of Fourways in Gauteng offering birding and mountain biking.

The main attraction of this venue is the many dams that occur throughout the reserve and these host a wide range of waterbirds. Be on the lookout for specials such as Comb Duck, White-backed Duck and Little Bittern along with many more common yet equally as attractive birds such as African Purple Swamphen.

Boasting over 270 species, it is not just waterfowl that this venue is well known for. African Fish-eagle breed here and it an excellent place to find Long-crested Eagle along with a range of raptors and even European Honey-buzzard has been seem here on a few occasions.

The grasslands host many wonderful birds and in particular listen out in summer for Cape Grassbird and Common Quail.

A drive right down to the Jukskei river should find you White-fronted Bee-eater and I have it on goo authority that Corn Crake has been flushed near the river bank.

Probably the biggest drawcard of this reserve are the Yellow Wagtail that visit the cow paddocks almost every summer. Just scann the various paddocks and you should be succesful but on try from late October.

Access to the venue is with an access ticket or card but these are not available at the gate.

Approach the reserve along William Nicol toward Fourways mall. Just before the mall, turn left onto Witkoppen road and then first right past the back of the mall. Follow this road all the way to the T-junction at the end of this road. At this t-junction, turn right. Just after crossing the river at Heronbridge School, look for the signs marked NFAP. These black and yellow boards will lead you to where you can get a ticket. Once you return with your ticket, continue up the road and as you crest the ridge and the road flattens out, the reserve is on your left.

This venue is still an active farm and as such no acess to the venue is available during the week but the venue is open on weekends from 7h00.

The entrance to Northern Farm is on the South side of the freeway while the main part of the farm is on the Northern side. We have marked the entrance gate for your convenience.

African Fish-eagle recorded by Doug Newman

Memory

For more information, please visit the webpage.

This item was added to our catalog on Monday 01 September, 2008.

Current Reviews: 9