Nestled in the heart of East London, the Nahoon Nature Reserve and Estuary, sprawling across 25 hectares, beckon birdwatching enthusiasts with its diverse habitats and rich avian biodiversity. This reserve is a haven for nature lovers, encompassing indigenous evergreen and mangrove forests, grasslands, thickets, and acacia scrub. The Nahoon River estuary, flanking the eastern edge of the reserve, adds a dynamic element to its ecosystem.
Home to approximately 200 bird species, the Nahoon Nature Reserve is a birdwatcher’s paradise, and a morning visit promises encounters with many avian specials. However, the seasonal variations in species occurrence add an exciting dimension to birdwatching here. Among the notable inhabitants, the Knysna Woodpecker and Knysna Warbler, both notoriously challenging South African endemics, steal the spotlight. Recognizing their calls is crucial to spotting these elusive species, with the former favoring the forest sections, and the latter finding refuge in dense thickets near the river’s edge.
Within the forest interior, an array of birdlife awaits, including the Olive Woodpecker, Cape Batis, Black-backed Puffback, Olive Bush-shrike, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Brown Scrub-robin, and occasional sightings of the Green Twinspot and Magpie Mannikin. Strategically placed bird hides near the Enviro Centre offer glimpses of usually shy forest species, providing rare photographic opportunities. Patience may reward birdwatchers with sightings of the elusive Buff-spotted Flufftail at the hide below the Enviro Centre.
Open scrub areas behind the Enviro Centre host African Dusky and Ashy Flycatchers, Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, Yellow Weaver, and Southern Tchagra. The months from June to September bring the captivating Red-headed Quelea, a rare sighting in the Eastern Cape, making Nahoon Nature Reserve the go-to destination for this species.
The soundscape of the reserve echoes with the chattering alarm calls of the Grey Sunbird, a common resident regularly observed mobbing goshawks and sparrowhawks. Forested sections harbor African Goshawk and both Little and Black Sparrowhawks, though their elusive nature demands a keen eye. Crowned Eagles grace the skies, and Peregrine Falcons occasionally grace the cliffs near the boardwalk.
The estuary, particularly at low tide, unveils mudflats teeming with life. Birdwatchers may delight in sightings of Ruff, Ruddy Turnstone, Common and Curlew Sandpipers, Three-banded, Grey, and Common Ringed Plovers, Common Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, and Sanderling. Mangrove Kingfisher may make an appearance, adding a dash of color to the mangrove habitats.
In essence, the Nahoon Nature Reserve and Estuary stand as a harmonious tapestry of nature, inviting birdwatchers to unravel its avian wonders, including the iconic Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna Warbler, Red-headed Quelea, Magpie Mannikin, Knysna Turaco, and Red-capped Robin-chat.