SA Rare Bird News Report - 13th June 2013
André Marx
This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 23h50 on Thursday, 13th June 2013. Information has been gleaned from various websites, email groups as well as observers who have passed on their sightings. This report cannot be taken as being totally comprehensive as it is based only on information made available at the time of writing. All bird sightings reported here are reported in good faith based on information as provided by the observers. Any inaccuracies are totally unintentional and the writer cannot be held liable for these. For those who may have only joined the group recently and are interested in finding out what has been seen in the past, previous reports can be viewed at http://groups.google.co.za/group/sa-rarebirdnews
Over the last few days there have been a few interesting reports from around the country, not all have been rarities, but the reports have been newsworthy nonetheless and are shared here with you.
Starting in Gauteng, a KURRICHANE (SMALL) BUTTONQUAIL was a surprise visitor to a backyard garden in Morningside, Sandton, where it spent a few minutes before flying off. This species is seldom observed in a suburban environment.
Kurrichane Buttonquail in Morningside, Sandton
© Viv de Chalain
In Mpumalanga Province, at Mkhombo Dam, a CHESTNUT-BANDED PLOVER observed on Sunday is an excellent record at this inland locality, where this wader is seldom observed and only seemingly occurs during dry periods when large areas of shoreline are exposed. Today a GREATER FLAMINGO was seen at the main Ngotso Dam between Satara and Olifants camps in the Kruger National Park. This species is very uncommon in the park.
Further afield in the Kwai area of Botswana comes a report of a partially albinistic BURCHELL’S STARLING, a seldom seen plumage variation in starling species.
Partially albinistic Burchell’s Starling seen in the Kwai area, Botswana
© David Christensen
In Mozambique, a Eurasian Oystercatcher was observed in Maputo Bay on Sunday . This bird should be in the northern hemisphere at this time of year and its occurrence in the southern African region in June is most unusual.
Eurasian Oystercatcher in Maputo Bay
© Gary Allport
Thank you to all observers who have contributed their records. Please continue to send through any reports of odd birds as well as continued updates on the presence of rarities already previously reported, no matter how mundane you think they may be. Even if you think someone else has probably sent in a report, rather send the report yourself as well. The only way to improve this service and to make it as useful as possible to everyone is if it can be as comprehensive as possible.
Kind regards
André & Robert
André Marx
083 411 7674
Robert Wienand
083 299 2484
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