At Likweti Bushveld Farm Estate, birdwatching is a year-round delight, and winter is no exception. While most birds, including raptors, typically breed in the warmer summer months when food is plentiful and conditions are ideal for raising chicks, there are always a few bold exceptions to the rule. Several raptors that call Likweti home have turned the tables on this trend by choosing to breed during the quieter, cooler winter months. This is a fascinating adaptation that adds some excitement to winter birding on the estate.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the remarkable raptor species breeding in winter.
African Fish Eagle (Visarend)
A symbol of African wilderness, the African Fish Eagle is instantly recognizable by its bold call echoing through the skies. While this species can technically breed throughout the year, winter breeding peaks are common in the Lowveld. At Likweti, where water sources attract these majestic birds, winter offers ideal nesting opportunities. They reuse large stick nests in tall trees near dams or streams, often returning to the same site for years. The dry season concentrates fish in smaller pools, making feeding young a little easier for these expert anglers.
African Hawk-Eagle (Grootjagarend)
Powerful, swift, and built for hunting in woodland, the African Hawk-Eagle is a striking sight in the Lowveld skies. Unlike many of its summer-breeding relatives, this eagle often kicks off its breeding season as early as May, building a large stick nest high in a tree. Winter breeding gives it a tactical advantage, as reduced foliage offers clearer hunting grounds and fewer breeding competitors means less pressure on nesting sites. These eagles usually raise one chick, and both parents are fiercely protective throughout the season.
Spotted Eagle-Owl (Gevlekte Ooruil)
This adaptable owl is a well-camouflaged night hunter, often seen perched silently at dusk. The Spotted Eagle-Owl breeds during the winter months, typically between March and August, often laying eggs directly on the ground or in shallow depressions on ledges. Why winter? It might just be the owl’s clever way of avoiding summer heat and competition. As darkness comes earlier in winter, these nocturnal raptors have more nighttime hours to hunt rodents which are a vital food source for their growing chicks.
Lizard Buzzard (Akkedisvalk)
Small, compact, and striking with a bold black line down its throat, the Lizard Buzzard is a woodland raptor more likely to be heard before it’s seen. It typically breeds from late autumn into winter (April to July), building a small nest of twigs high up in the tree canopy. Insects, small reptiles, and rodents remain active enough during the dry season to support a hungry brood. Their distinctive call is a tell-tale sign that a nest might be nearby.
While many people think of winter as a dull and quieter time in nature, Likweti Bushveld Farm Estate reveals just how full of life the season can be. Nature rarely sticks to a script and the Lowveld bushveld brings its own kind of magic this time of year. Aloes burst into bloom, drawing in a lively display of sunbirds that flash jewel-like colours as they dart from flower to flower. At the same time, raptors such as the African Hawk-Eagle and Spotted Eagle-Owl are busy raising their young, their presence a powerful reminder that life here never slows down.
With its varied landscapes, from open plains and wooded hillsides to dam-side thickets and stretches of savannah, Likweti is home to an impressive diversity of bird species throughout the year. This rich variety reflects a thriving ecosystem, where both large and small birds find space to breed, feed, and flourish. Whether it’s the glitter of a sunbird among the aloes or the haunting call of a fish eagle echoing over a dam, winter birding at Likweti is as spectacular as ever and a true celebration of nature in motion.
