Birding
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Mount Melsetter
is situate in the Upper Karoo Region, as classified by David Shearing*,
a summer rainfall area, comprising the late John Acocks’
Veld Type 36, “False Upper Karoo” with fairly grassy
Karoo veld, and hills and mountains more grassy than the plains.
Mount Melsetter is particularly fortunate in that it’s topography
includes a mountain, hills, plains, and riverine country along
the banks of the Great Brak River. Bird habitats therefore include
mountain grassveld, hillside scrub, valley Acacia, and open mixed
Karoo or grassveld. Such a rich natural environment brings with
it an abundance of bird life. |
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Along
the banks of the Great Brak River, when there are pools or running
water, one can spend hours quietly watching a malachite kingfisher
fishing in the pools, Egyptian Geese or various species of duck
dabbling around under the watchful eye of fallow deer down to
drink, and many other water birds. The Great Brak is, however,
a perennial stream with periods of absolute dryness. Summer downpours
then bring chocolate coloured torrents rushing downstream, leaving
tranquil clear pools in their wake |
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During the spring and summer months, migrant White Throated and Greater Striped Swallows arrive to nest and launch their fledglings into the world from under the eaves of Mt Melsetter’s Karoo House. Up on the crag of Mt Melsetter itself, a pair of Verreauxs’ (Black) Eagle nest. The nest has been there for more than thirty years. A strenuous clamber in July rewards one with a view of a pure white eaglet in the nest, it’s sibling having been kicked out in the first few weeks, the ‘Cain and Abel’ process ensuring that only the strongest survive. |
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Our Library contains a diverse section
of Bird Books for reference, ranging in age, and including the VIIth
edition of Roberts – Birds of Southern Africa, published in 2005,
arguably the definitive reference source for birds in the Southern Africa
region.