Convoys, Kingfishers & the Amazing Youth Community

The Birding group for the day

There is something very special about arriving at a reserve and seeing familiar faces gathered at the entrance, binoculars out, cameras ready, coffee in hand, and everyone slowly warming up in the morning sun.

Our Marievale meetup on the 3rd of May was a joint morning between Young Wildlife Photographers of Southern Africa, SnA Youth Birders, and the team from Zoologic, bringing together young birders, photographers, nature lovers, and a few wonderfully enthusiastic supporters for a relaxed day out in the field.

From Left to Right: Scenes from the outing

Luca and I were, admittedly, a little late to the party, but when we arrived everyone was gathered near the entrance at the little marshy area by the reeds. It was one of those easy starts where nobody was in too much of a rush. There was time to greet people properly, enjoy the wintery morning light, sip some coffee, and wait for the last few cars to arrive before heading deeper into the reserve.

Once everyone was ready, we made our way in as a rather entertaining convoy. There is always something funny about a long row of cars filled with birders, each one stopping randomly because someone has seen movement in the grass, a bird on a fence post, or something vaguely interesting in the distance. And at Marievale, there is always something worth stopping for.

From Left to Right: YWP & Ronnie representing

Our first proper stop was around the Hadeda Hide, where everyone started settling into the rhythm of the morning. Some people were photographing, others were scanning the water, and others were simply catching up between sightings. That was one of the things I really enjoyed about the day. It was not overly structured or rushed. People could move at their own pace, stop where they wanted, spend time in the hides, photograph what caught their eye, and connect with others along the way.

Marievale, as always, gave us a wonderful mix of wetland birds, grassland species, and little surprises tucked into the reeds. Some of the birds recorded during the day included African Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Black Heron, African Marsh Harrier, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, African Swamphen, African Rail, Goliath Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, Blue-billed Teal, Cape Shoveler, Southern Pochard, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Cape Longclaw, and Black-throated Canary.

Members photographing birds from the hide

At some point during the morning, we heard that some of the group had seen otters, which immediately changed the mission for a few of us. I have been really wanting to see otters at Marievale, so naturally that became the new goal. We continued driving towards the back dam area where they are often seen, keeping hopeful eyes on the water’s edge and scanning all the likely spots.

Malachite Kingfisher by Mikeli Bass

Sadly, the otters did not make an appearance for us. It may have been a little too hot and a bit too late in the day by then, but the search itself was still fun. It also turned into some very useful driving practice for me, which was perhaps not the original birding objective, but still a win in its own way.

After our otter mission proved unsuccessful, we slowly made our way back towards Flamingo Hide, where a good chunk of the group gathered again. This ended up being one of the nicest parts of the day. We spent a few hours there chatting, snacking, birding, and simply enjoying the chance to be together.

Blue-Billed Teal by Duncan Hawksworth

For many of us, these meetups are about far more than the species list. They are about finally putting names to faces, meeting people we have only spoken to online, making new connections, and catching up with friends who understand exactly why a distant rail, a perfectly posed kingfisher, or a “possible otter” can cause so much excitement.

For Milla and Josh, Marievale itself was part of the magic. As they put it, any birder in or around Gauteng will immediately prick up their ears at the mention of “Marievale.” It is a true gem not too far from the city, home to some very special birds and, every now and then, a cheeky speciality too. They were up bright and early to meet the rest of the YWP members, and throughout the day they enjoyed not only some wonderful birds, but also even better company.

From Left to Right: African Swamphen, Black-Winged Kite and African Darter by Liam Botha

For Liam Botha, the day was a wonderful chance to learn from those around him. He described YWP as being full of those “crazy nature lovers,” which, in his words, are exactly the kind of people he enjoys most. From a beginner birder’s perspective, the meetup was a great success. Spending time with more experienced birders helped him notice birds he may otherwise have overlooked, and he even managed to add 13 new lifers to his list.

That, in many ways, is exactly what these meetups are about. It is not about knowing everything before you arrive. It is about being in the field with people who are willing to point things out, share what they know, and help others see the small details they might have missed on their own.

From Left to Right: Series of a Malechite Kingfisher hunting by Yehuda Hirschowitz

Yehuda Hirschowitz also captured something many people can probably relate to. He spoke about the slight nervousness that comes with meeting people you have only known through group chats, names, or their work online. But at Marievale, that feeling disappeared quickly. A shared love for wildlife, birding, and photography made the introductions feel easy.

For Yehuda, the morning became about more than just birding. It was about making new friends and connecting with people who genuinely share the same passion for nature. And while that may sound simple, it is often the very thing that makes these outings feel so special.

For Nadja, the highlight was also the connection between people. She spoke about how lovely it was not to feel bad for stopping for even the smallest birds, because everyone there understood the excitement. As the convoy slowly scattered through the reserve, different groups crossed paths again at the hides, sharing sightings, photographs, stories, bird counts, and plenty of laughter.

She summed it up beautifully, saying that she hopes to get together with this “awesome bunch of people” again soon and create more lasting memories with them. In her words, YWP and SnA Youth Birders have truly created something special.

From Left to Right: White-Breasted Cormorant, African Swamphen & Red-Faced Mousebird by Nadja Giessen-Hood

As the day went on, people slowly started making their way back towards the gate and heading home. With exam season in full swing, quite a few of us had studying waiting in the background, myself and Luca included. So, after a final slow drive through the reserve, we also began making our way out.

We may not have found the otters this time, but that just gives us the perfect excuse to go back again. And honestly, that is often how days like this work. You arrive with a few hopes, leave with a few stories, and somehow the things you missed become part of the reason you are already planning the next visit.

Autumn Colours across the Marshland

Our Marievale meetup was a wonderful reminder of how powerful these shared days in nature can be. A morning of birds, coffee, cameras, conversation, new friendships, familiar faces, and a whole lot of wetland magic.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and to SnA Youth Birders and Zoologic for being part of such a lovely day out. We are so grateful for every opportunity to bring young people together in the field, because this is where so much of the magic happens — not just in the birds we see, but in the community we build along the way.

Tranquil moments spent at one of the hides