SA Rare Bird News Report - 31st December 2012
André Marx
This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 22h30 on Monday, 31st December 2012. 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
Starting in the Western Cape, where there has been a couple of interesting reports in the last few days. A very much out of range and interesting sighting came from the Harkersville area near Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday when a small population of WING-SNAPPING CISTICOLAS was encountered. This population is about 250km east of the nearest known locality for this species in the Port Elizabeth area and is undoubtedly the first known occurrence of the species in the Western Cape.
Other interesting records in the province include a BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE photographed in the Karoo National Park on Saturday. This a first record for the park and is a very rare species in the Western Cape. On the same day two COMMON REDSHANKS were found at the Geelbek hide in the West Coast National Park. At Vleesbaai on the Garden Route two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen.
Brown Snake-Eagle at Karoo National Park
© Japie Claassen
Common Redshank at West Coast national Park
© Shaun Overmeyer
Pectoral Sandpiper at Vleesbaai
© Henk Nel
An interesting sighting from the Eastern Cape on Wednesday and not technically a rarity but worthy of mention, is that of an albino Cape Wagtail, which was photographed at Mazeppa Bay near East London.
Cape Wagtail albino form at Mazeppa Bay
© Warren Kernes
KwaZulu-Natal produced a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER on Sunday 23 December at the northern end of False Bay at Lake St.Lucia. Also present at this locality were at least 3 CHESTNUT-BANDED PLOVERS, an uncommon species in the province.
Pacific Golden Plover at False Bay, Lake St. Lucia
© Digby Cyrus
In Mpumalanga a group of COLLARED PRATINCOLES was seen at Mkhombo Dam on Christmas Day. This species is very uncommon away from the Lowveld and northern KwaZulu-Natal where it is known to occur. Also at this location a CORN CRAKE was seen on Wednesday and a WESTERN OSPREY was still present on Saturday.
A report of a SOUTHERN BANDED SNAKE-EAGLE, observed for some time near the Nkhuhlu picnic site in the Kruger National Park on Friday, will be a very interesting record for the province if it can be confirmed and photographed.
In Northwest Province at Kgomo-Kgomo at least one COLLARED PRATINCOLE was present at the floodplain.
A report from Zimbabwe of a ROYAL TERN at Lake Kariba has been received. This will be a very significant report if the bird can be photographed and confirmed at this locality. This is a very rare species from the West African coast with occasional vagrants being seen in Namibia.
Finally in Namibia there has been a report of at least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER being seen at the Rietfontein waterhole in Etosha National Park.
Please remember that while Trevor is away, Robert Wienand and myself will be handling all rarity reports. Please feel free to contact us.
André Marx:
083 411 7674
Robert Wienand
083 299 2484
May we take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy New Year for 2013!
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
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