Trip 1 - February 2010
This spot is better known as a recreational spot for cyclists - but was once called Diepsloot Nature Reserve (chapter 12 in Birding Gauteng). There is a series of dams that you can drive up to and pen farm lands to explore as well. On my first visit to the place I saw: Southern Red Bishop, Reed Cormorant, White-breasted Cormorant, Diderick Cuckoo, African Darter, Yellow-billed Duck, Cattle Egret, Amur Falcon, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Sacred Ibis, Black-shouldered Kite, Blacksmith Lapwing, Three-banded Plover, African Stonechat, Red-breasted Swallow, Thick-billed Weaver, Cape White-eye, Long-tailed Widowbird, White-winged Widowbird and Pin-tailed Whydah.

Trip 2 - December 2010
On Sunday the 5th of December, my wife and I took a picnic hamper and headed off to Northern Farm (chapter 12 of Birding Gauteng) with the goal of seeing the Green Sandpiper that had been spotted that morning at the sand quarry (I saw an alert from Trevor Hardaker and called by Ron Searle who gave me specific details about his sighting).

On the way to the quarry we saw this Pipit that has been identified as African Pipit:

We arrived at the sand quarry (here are the GPS co-ordinates to the spot: 25°56'0.52"S and 27°58'30.72"E) - here is what the spot looks like:

We immediately spotted a little wader down below the quarry edge and got a little excited until we saw the distinct white markings on the back which pointed more towards Wood Sandpiper. In fact, despite searching all afternoon we never did see the Green Sandpiper and I believe my pics are mostly of Wood Sandpiper apart from a Marsh Sandpiper that flew overhead:

The other birds around the quarry we spotted were African Wattled Lapwing, African Snipe, Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Three-banded Plover, Blacksmith Lapwing, Hadeda Ibis, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Spotted Thick-knee, Cape Longclaw, Zitting Cisticola and Black-throated Canary (we were not sure what they were doing against the sand walls of the quarry):

We spent some time driving along, and later walking along the canals which have sandy edges in some spots that waders are often found. We saw Wood Sandpiper, Blacksmith Lapwing, Yellow-billed Duck, Common Waxbill, Cape Wagtail, Southern Red Bishop and Southern Masked Weaver.

Next we headed off to explore the three part dam just below the quarry where we saw Purple Heron, Black-headed Heron and Common Moorhen:

We then stumbled across a dry dam that we hoped would be good for waders (point 2 in Birding Gauteng), but apart from Blacksmith Lapwing it was deserted:

One of the larger dams on the property was our next stop (point 3) and here we saw Yellow-billed Egret, Little Grebe, Red-knobbed Coot, African Darter, Black Crake, Great Crested Grebe, Southern Pochard and Reed Cormorant.

We then explored the grasslands, hoping to see the Yellow Wagtail, but will have to wait until another outing to the spot to get this special. Here we saw African Pipit, European Bee-eater, Pin-tailed Whydah, Red-billed Quelea and Pied Crow.

The other bird species that we recorded but did not photograph include: Common Fiscal, Egyptian Goose, Helmeted Guineafowl, Rock Dove, Speckled Mousebird, African Stonechat, Barn Swallow, Cape Sparrow, Common Myna, Cape Glossy Starling, Cape Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Dark-capped Bulbul, Red-winged Starling, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Brown-throated Martin and White-rumped Swift.

All in all we spotted 52 bird species, missed out on seeing the Green Sandpiper and Yellow Wagtail. Another trip will have to be planned to get back to this great little spot.

Trip 3 - February 2011
After no less than 4 visits to Northern Farms over recent months I finally saw and spent time with the eight Yellow Wagtails. I found them by the cattle kraals just after you go underneath the highway bridge. It's not a lifer because I ticked it at Muzi Pans where we saw the Pectoral and Buff-breasted Sandpipers - but my pics on that occasion could have been of anything - even a Dwarf Bittern chick :D. At least on Monday there are no cyclists around and I know the security guards really well by now. I only got to the Farms around 2pm and saw them at 2:30 and until just before 4pm when I left. PM me if you need information on how to get in to the place for a quick birding outing. Strangely I did not see any Dwarf Bitterns today - and had to be satisfied with a sighting of 2 Green-backed Heron flying around the top dam and a Purple Heron stretching it's neck to the limit!

Here are my best shots of the Yellow Wagtails - it took a long time to get close enough to them to even get these shots. As soon as you get to within 20 meters they fly off and don't return until 20 minutes later. Fortunately I found them on three occasions in both cattle kraals and sneaked closer each time for a few shots before they flew off.

The Ducks (with their chicks) that I saw on the canal have me baffled - any idea as to their id? This is the best pic I got looking into the sun:

Here are a few other pics that I managed to snap: