The saying ‘the early bird catches the worm’ rang true as passionate birders flocked together at the Riverside Reserve just before 06:00 on April 27. Located just north of the Riverside Precinct, the reserve spans more than 50 hectares straddling the Nels River, forming a continuous landscape rich in natural biodiversity and scenic beauty.

As dawn broke on Freedom Day, participants gathered to celebrate the beauty of nature and the rich birdlife that calls the Reserve home.

Lauren Joubert, a committee member of BirdLife Lowveld, described the morning as a memorable and well-orchestrated experience. “With the ember glow of the rising sun setting the scene for a highly anticipated morning of birding at Riverside Reserve, the day promised to be a rewarding one – and it certainly delivered.

“From the outset, everything was seamlessly organised, with well-managed parking at Curro Mbombela and a warm, friendly welcome at the Greater Riverside Biodiversity Initiative (GRBI) stand, where we collected our bird lists before setting off on our adventure.”

This event marked the first of many planned birding events hosted by the Riverside City Improvement District in collaboration with the GRBI, with support from BirdLife Lowveld.

Shivon Wiggins, General Manager of GRBI, expressed her delight at the turnout of more than 200 participants.

“It is a great privilege to share the extraordinary Riverside Reserve with the Lowveld community. Among its many treasures, the reserve’s remarkable birdlife stands out as one of its most captivating features. We look forward to welcoming more visitors and sharing the exciting events planned for the future.”

Riverside Birding Day records 72 species

A total of 72 bird species were recorded during the seven-hour birding window. Sightings were consolidated by BirdLife Lowveld using the BirdLasser app, which allows birders to log observations with GPS precision.

The Riverside Reserve offered an ideal birding environment, with well-maintained roads and clearly marked pathways that made for an enjoyable experience for all ages.

“The Reserve itself was a pleasure to explore, with clearly demarcated paths making for an easy and enjoyable walk. And the birding? Simply sublime,” said Joubert.

The majority of species recorded were generalist savanna birds found within forest thicket areas. This was followed by closed woodland species, while wetland, outcrop shrubland, open water habitats and aerial/flying over assemblage recorded fewer species. No species of conservation concern were identified on the day.

Highlights for experienced birders included sightings of eastern nicator, gorgeous bushshrike, mountain wagtail, red-backed mannikin, and the elusive green twinspot.

Team highlights and notable sightings

The Rudolph Rollers team, consisting of Mario, Riana, Andreas, Henrick, and Anouk Rudolph, and Marlise Le Hanie, explored the biking pathway near the railway line, where they recorded several woodland species including yellow-fronted canary, yellow-breasted apalis, brubru and southern black tit. A highlight for the team was an up-close sighting of the golden-tailed woodpecker. They also recorded rock-loving cisticola in the outcrop shrubland area, using the BirdPro app to log their sightings.

“We were genuinely amazed by the beauty of the Reserve and the care that goes into maintaining it. Many birds revealed themselves first through their calls, which made the experience even more exciting, and we were delighted to spot fascinating species, including the golden-tailed woodpecker and the southern black tit,” said Rudolph.

The red-winged starling was also spotted in the outcrop shrubland by the Sunbirds team (Professor Dan Parker, Tim Forssman and Jansen Vermeulen).

The Feathery Friends team – Quinton Ferreira, Elise Ferreira and Jenny Avery – were delighted with their sightings, including white-bellied sunbird and amethyst sunbird. In total, they recorded 26 species from the official checklist.

“Thank you for such a well-organised birding morning – we truly enjoyed it. Our team managed to tick 26 birds off our list. We will always support Riverside. You are a wonderful example of how an environment should be cared for – the reserve and its surroundings speak for themselves. We are incredibly proud of what is being done for this part of Mbombela,” said Elise.

The Lysterkykers group, including Lynette Adams, Susan Kleynhans and Sheila Wilson, also praised the experience, highlighting sightings of the gorgeous bushshrike and eastern nicator along the Nels River.

“Monday’s birding day was a very special experience. We are so privileged to have a nature area like Riverside Reserve so close to the city. Hearing the gorgeous bushshrike and nicator above the sound of the Nels River was unforgettable. Even though the migrants have already left, there was still so much to see. I look forward to doing birdwatching at the reserve in the spring,” said Adams.

The Feathered Friends team (not to be confused with Feathery Friends), with Allyson Broodryk and Ann Bradford, joined forces with the Lesser-spotted Larks – Santie Barrish and Sally Wille.

“The Riverside Reserve is a hidden gem on the edge of Mbombela’s industrial area. The Riverside Birding Day celebrated far more than birds – from unspoilt trees and plants to butterflies, the river, and its cascades. With so much to see, smell, and hear, it truly is a little piece of heaven in our midst,” said Bradford.

Around 08:00, the group recorded an early highlight of the day with a sighting of the scarlet-chested sunbird.

“Absolutely delightful, well-organised, with a pristinely kept route and wonderful to see such keen public participation. There were many beautiful sunbird species,” said Wille.

The team praised the event for its organisation and the quality of the experience. Broodryk shared her personal reflection on the morning: “We had great fun just enjoying the beautiful venue right on the outskirts of the city. The highlight of the day for Ann and I was the scarlet-chested sunbird right at the start of our walk. The tranquillity and peace under the magnificent blue sky was breathtaking and truly food for the soul. The swollen river and thundering waterfalls were awesome. I wish you and your team great success in this new venture, and I trust many like-minded people will appreciate the treasure you have created.”

Wetland sightings included common waxbill, pin-tailed whydah, red-faced cisticola and lesser swamp warbler.

Aerial/flying over species that were identified were the barn swallow, black saw-wing, blacksmith lapwing, cut-throat finch, little swift and white-rumped swift.

Along the open water sections of the Nels River, members of BirdLife Lowveld recorded African pied wagtail and the reed cormorant.

In the same habitat category, Professor Dan Parker, Chairperson of the GRBI Board, recorded Egyptian goose and mountain wagtail.

Families join the celebration

Later in the morning, families – many accompanied by their four-legged friends – joined the festivities.

Children had the opportunity to meet Vinny the Vervet Monkey mascot and take part in an exciting treasure hunt across the reserve.

More than 50 young explorers took part, trekking across hills, river paths and trails in a fun-filled adventure that combined nature and friendly competition.

Louis Leonard, who supplied water on the day from Kalkloof, described the event as a wonderful outing for all ages.

His wife, Lize Leonard, added: “Riverside Birding Day was such a fun day. It is a hidden gem we didn’t even know existed. The beautiful scenery and walking trails made for the perfect outing, and the treasure hunt was a fun bonus. Both the kids, myself, and even grandma enjoyed every moment.”