SA Rare Bird News Report - 16 July 2012

[Trevor Hardaker]

This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 16 July 2012. 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
Starting in the Western Cape, it seems that the GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO near Klipheuwel has finally packed its bags and headed off to more summery conditions somewhere. It was still present on Friday, but intensive searching on Saturday did not relocate it at all and it has not been reported since then again.   There is no doubt that the recent spate of bad weather probably had something to do with this, but on the upside, it did provide a group of observers on board the “new” Agulhas some excellent sightings last week on their way down to Antarctica. A message received from the ship indicated that, on Tuesday, when they were sitting on station about 192 nautical miles due west of Cape Point, they had a number of excellent birds, the best of which included 3 SOOTY ALBATROSSES, an ATLANTIC PETREL and a WHITE-HEADED PETREL. Isn’t technology also amazing that I could be sent this information, along with the photo included here, from a ship in the middle of the ocean…?!   Elsewhere in the province, the MARABOU STORK was once again reported from Knysna this morning, this time in the graveyard adjacent to the industrial area whilst the GROUNDSCRAPER THRUSH was relocated in Bredasdorp again over the weekend, this time in a different part of the town, roughly at S 34º 31' 19.86" and E 20º 2' 48.21".   In the Northern Cape, a SHORT-TOED ROCK THRUSH was reported from the Lijersdraai area in the northern Nossob in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park late last week (apparently a very unusual record for the area according to locals) whilst, 3 TEMMINCK’S COURSERS were reported about 40km south of Pofadder last week as well.   Moving into Kwazulu Natal, the WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATERS reported last week near Winterton sparked some interest and a small group of these was reported from Tokoziza, about 10km from Winterton, on Saturday. Perhaps there is actually a small resident population in the area that is not really indicated on any current distribution maps? There have also been a couple of GREATER FLAMINGO records from the province with a single bird still present in Durban Bay on the weekend whilst a group of at least 8 birds have turned up at a farm dam near Bergville.
	Atlantic Petrel west of Cape Point © Barrie Rose
Groundscraper Thrush in Bredasdorp © Sharon Brink	White-fronted Bee-eaters at Tokoziza © David Weaver
Greater Flamingo in Durban Bay © Bruce Black	Greater Flamingos near Bergville © Liz Jackson
Staying in Kwazulu Natal, the most exciting record is also perhaps the most frustrating. What appears to be an immature RUPPELL’S VULTURE has been sighted at a Cape Vulture colony in the southern Drakensberg area on a private farm. It was first reported last week and was seen again on the weekend. At this point in time from the photos I have seen, I cannot be absolutely sure whether it is just a moulting immature bird or possibly a hybrid, but it is certainly showing a number of features consistent with Ruppell’s Vulture. Unfortunately, the owner of the property is not prepared to grant access to birders at the moment, although talks are ongoing. Hopefully, we’ll be able to come up with a suggestion that works for everybody and we can get people on to the property to see the bird in an organized manner. I also don’t have exact details of the site as yet just to pre-empt the hundreds of emails I am probably about to receive…J I am also withholding the names of the 2 photographers who sent me the images below so that they also don’t get bombarded with requests for now. As soon as I know anything more, I will certainly post the news here.   Lastly, in Limpopo Province, a single GREATER FLAMINGO was reported from the Engelhardt Dam north of Letaba in the Kruger National Park on Saturday.
Suspected Ruppell’s Vulture in southern Drakensberg © Photographers name withheld	Suspected Ruppell’s Vulture in southern Drakensberg © Photographers name withheld
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.
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 Trevor
------------------------------------------------------------------------   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: www.hardaker.co.za     ZEST for BIRDS Pelagics, rarity photos, listing clubs and more: www.zestforbirds.co.za     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 www.rarities.co.za -----------------------------------------------------------------------