Bluff Nature Reserve

28^th April 2009

Nola Muller

Toti Ramblers

401 Gordon House

Gordon Road

Amanzimtoti

4126

Walking update…

KENNETH STAINBANK NATURE RESERVE…

What a wonderful Sunday we had for our “uneventful” walk around the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve.  Once again I was totally unprepared for the beauty around us.  One does not expect to find animals in the centre of a residential area and not being stung or bitten was an extra bonus!

Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun.  Graham, so glad that your operation was a success and that your sight is so much improved.

It was agreed that an annual membership fee would be levied on all Ramblers who wish to join the club.  This amount will be R25.00 per person per annum. 

Thanks to the following who have paid so far:

Christine Jankowitz, Dave Dobbin, Fran Lucas, Jenny Stone, Maurene and Graham Dixon, Moira Nel, Pat Foster, Sheila Warby, Stan and Annemarie McNaught.  I will be collecting fees before each walk.

As mentioned at the end of our walk, I will be in Cape Town from the 2^nd May to the 11^th – so will not be able to attend the proposed Ramble which should have taken place on the 3^rd.  As agreed we will now meet for the next Ramble on the 17^th May at the Bluff.

Bluff Nature Reserve was proclaimed on the 24^th October 1974 (my birthday) and is 45 ha in extent.  The reserve consists of a large pan and adjacent forest and is situated in the Bluff Suburb of Durban.  The pan is a home and a refuge for many water birds and waders.

Two bird-hides are sited along the edge of the pan and provide excellent bird viewing opportunities for visitors.  Spoonbills and cormorants nest in the edges of the reed beds in late winter and spring.  There is one self guided trail in the reserve which meanders around the pan and offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the diverse water-bird life in the reserve.

A complete bird list is available from the field ranger.  The following mammals have been recorded in the reserve.  Giant musk shrew, hottentot golden mole, velvet monkey, multimamate mouse, grey climbing mouse, angoni vlei rat, common rodent mole, large spotted genet, banded mongoose and slender mongoose.

Directions:

Take the Jacobs off-ramp from the southern freeway.  Turn seaward at the traffic lights into Quality Road.  Follow this road until Tara Road and turn left into it.  The reserve is immediately on the right hand side of the road.

We will be walking – rain or shine – so look forward to seeing you all there.

As usual we will be meeting at Lords and Legends to organize the lift club between 08:15 and 08:30 – or meet at the gates at Bluff Nature Reserve at 09:00.