Jex Estate, Umvoti River Mouth

Jex Estate is renowned among local birders as an excellent spot to find many unusual water birds and good coastal forest birding within easy reach of Durban. The Umvoti river estuary has turned up many rarities over the years, and is always worth visiting, but particularly in summer when Collared Pratincole breed in the fallow fields.

Specials
Waterbirds and shorebirds include African Spoonbill, African Black Oystercatcher, Chestnut-banded Plover, Lesser Sand Plover and Greater Sand Plover on occasions, African Snipe, Pied Avocet, Collared Pratincole, and nine tern species. Specials associated with the fields and reedbeds are Red-faced Cisticola, Rufous-winged Cisticola, Yellow Wagtail in summer, Yellow Weaver, Southern Brown-throated Weaver and Cuckoo Finch. forest specials include Green Malkoha, White-eared Barbet, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Black-throated Wattle-eye and Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher.

Habitats
Include seashore, mudflats, sand banks, reedbeds, grassland and coastal forest.

Facilities
A picnic site with toilets is available by prior arrangement with Mrs Shirley Jex, and overnight accommodation in cottages can also be arranged with Mrs. Jex.

Birding
1) A short walk from the picnic site down to the river mouth brings one to a suitable vantage point from which to scan the beach, sandbanks and mudflats. The use of a telescope is recommended, as the numerous shorebirds and terns are generally scattered widely. Permission may be obtained to drive around to the grassy areas on the flats, from where the mudflats are accessible on foot. This is probably the best way to find the Collared Pratincole, but care must be taken not to disturb them.

2) From the picnic site, a trail leads south for about one kilometre through the coastal forest, where Tambourine Dove, Purple-crested Turaco, Green Malkoha, White-eared Barbet, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Black-bellied Starling, Grey Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, and Dark-backed Weaver can be found. The return trip can be made through the grassy strip between the forest and the cane fields, where Little Bee-eater, Black Saw-wing, Neddicky and Yellow-throated Longclaw are to be seen.

General
Jex Estate may only be visited by obtaining prior permission from Mrs Shirley Jex, who may be contacted on 032 5599562. An entrance fee is charged per person.

Jex Estate is reached by taking the Groutville turnoff from the N2 north of Durban near Stanger, immediately after the Umvoti toll plaza. Cross right over the highway and follow a gravel road for three kilometres without turning off. Sign in with the security guard at the white gate, and then turn right and follow the road towards the sea. After one and a half kilometres, a sign to the right shows the way to the picnic site in the forest. Park here and walk 100 metres further north to reach the farmhouse, where you should announce your presence to Mrs Jex.

Roy Cowgill and Steve Davis 2001.