SA Rare Bird News Report - 20 may 2013
Trevor Hardaker
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 20 May 2013. Information has been gleaned from various websites, email groups as well as from individual 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 | ||
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Before I get going with the report, this is just to let you know that there will not be a report on Thursday evening due to a function that I have to attend and there is a good chance that there will also not be one on Monday due to a meeting that I have to be present in. However, should there be any important news, I will certainly post interim alerts to let you all know about them. But the next time you receive a formal report from me will probably only be next Thursday.
On to some news and, starting in the Western Cape, a SOOTY ALBATROSS was reported on Tuesday south of the Agulhas Banks about 160 nautical miles offshore. Back on land, the weekend also saw two other interesting records, one being the continued presence of a COMMON REDSHANK at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park whilst, over in the east in the province, yet another WHITE-BROWED SCRUB ROBIN has been mistnetted and ringed, this time in coastal fynbos near Plettenberg Bay Airport and about 40km from the site where the previous one a few weeks ago was caught.
In the Northern Cape, there was some surprise on the weekend when a CRESTED BARBET was reported in Kenhardt. These birds are slowly starting to make their way further south and, pretty soon, we’ll be seeing them in the Western Cape too I’m sure…
Over in the Eastern Cape, there have also been some interesting regional records with a handful of FULVOUS DUCKS being reported near Bushmans River over the weekend and an ABDIM’S STORK being found this afternoon in St Francis Bay at the Airpark. The stork is a really fine looking individual and could possibly even be the same bird that was on the Cape Peninsula a couple of weeks ago (that one was also a pristine looking bird) although we will never be able to prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt. | ||
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Sooty Albatross south of the Agulhas Banks © Bruce Dyer | Common Redshank at Geelbek © Tinus Lamprecht | |
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White-browed Scrub Robin near Plettenberg Bay © Shane McPherson | Abdim’s Stork in St Francis Bay © Gregg Darling | |
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In Kwazulu Natal, a pelagic trip out of Durban on the weekend turned up a single CORY’S SHEARWATER, still considered a somewhat unusual species for there.
And finally, in Gauteng, there was some excitement on Saturday when a YELLOW-BREASTED PIPIT was located at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve. This is still a very rare bird in the province although there has been at least one previous record from this site. | ||
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Cory’s Shearwater on Durban pelagic trip © Roy McGrath | Yellow-breasted Pipit at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve © Ben Fouche | |
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Please remember to send through your details to be included on the various listing clubs that are hosted at www.zestforbirds.co.za. This website also has an extensive rarities gallery that has many additional photos of a number of rarities that are mentioned in these reports. | ||
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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. | ||
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Kind regards Trevor | ||
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TREVOR HARDAKER Cape Town, South Africa
Follow our local exploits in the field at: http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/
See our photos and trip reports at:
ZEST for BIRDS Pelagics, rarity photos, listing clubs and more:
SA RARE BIRD NEWS Get the latest rarity news by joining at: http://groups.google.co.za/group/sa-rarebirdnews
SOUTHERN AFRICAN RARITIES Online database of all SA rarities ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
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