Da4 Darling-Moorreesburg

Approximately 41km – gravel road. RM indicates a Road Marker where the route changes direction. Please do not enter private property without permission from owners.

  1. This route can be used to link from Darling to Moorreesburg in the network of regional birding routes. Leave Darling in a NE direction along the Evita Bezuidenhout Blvd (R307). Numerous LBJs can be found along the road. Open fields may produce Blue Crane and in the patches of undisturbed Renosterveld Southern Black Korhaan may occur. In winter the call of Common Quail can be heard. A heronry with Black-headed Heron can be found at S33°12.528' E18°30.681'. Cape Longclaw and African Stonechat may occur regularly along the way as well.
  2. Cross over the R45 at RM R45/R307 and continue in an E direction. About 3,5km after crossing the R45 the large vlei at De Panne may hold the attention for a while – water birds and waders occur here abundantly in the wet season and good sightings of juvenile birds can be made here. Ducks, geese, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Three-banded Plover, Grebes, Red-knobbed Coot and Glossy Ibis can be encountered in good numbers right next to the road. LBJs are numerous along the road – Helmeted Guineafowl is seen regularly and Jackal Buzzard frequents the area as well. In summer visiting raptors will occur along this route as well.
  3. A few kilometres further east is Egbert's Vlei (S33°11.228' E18°36.782') – another wetland next to the road. Water birds and waders are abundant here in winter. Continue along the gravel road (R307) to the T-junction at RM R307/Main Street. Birders wanting to stretch their legs along a short hiking trail can turn right and at the first farm on the left (Bottelfontein) enquire about access to the Neulfontein Hiking Trail. The trail takes one through Renosterveld on the koppie and from the top of the hill the Swartland can be seen at its best. In late winter the scenery can be beautiful from here with the yellow flowering canola. Swallows and swifts forage along the slopes of the koppie.
  4. Continue back toward Moorreesburg along the gravel (N) – and after quenching your thirst in town drive along one of the other regional birding routes in the Swartland Birding Route series.

Birds: Blue Crane can be seen in the open fields. Listen to the calls of the various Cisticola species and spot African Stonechat and numerous LBJ's along the route. Water birds and waders are abundant in winter at the two larger wetlands. Raptors include the Jackal Buzzard, and in summer Yellow-billed Kite and Steppe Buzzard. Black Harrier has been spotted in the past and Booted Eagles visit the area occasionally.

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