SA Rare Bird News Report - 16 November 2015

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 16 November 2015. 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
Before I get started, I just wanted to let everyone know that there will not be a formal report going out on Thursday evening as I will be out of town from Thursday morning already and only returning on Sunday afternoon. I am also told that there will be no cellphone reception where I am going, but that I will have access to wifi so, to this end, if you need to get any news to me about rarities, please do so via email to hard...@mweb.co.za or via Whatsapp to 0827800376. That way, I can access the messages and then will be able to spread whatever news is necessary.   On to some news and, starting in the Western Cape, lingering rarities still present earlier today included both RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif whilst the AFRICAN JACANA on the pans at the entrance boom at Strandfontein Sewage Works was also still around. Further east, the PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER was still present near the boat launch area at Gouritzmond on the weekend as well whilst a single EURASIAN CURLEW there was also an added bonus. A probable TROPICBIRD species was also reported yesterday at the East Head Café in Knysna, but not enough detail was seen to confirm which species it might have been. It would be worth keeping your eyes open for this if you happen to be in the area. Also to interest to some birders, the SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL was also still around on the beach at Olifantsbos near Cape Point until at least Saturday.   In the Northern Cape, a BARRED WREN-WARBLER was reported in Mata Mata camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on Friday, probably the same individual that has been present in that area for quite some time now.   Down in the Eastern Cape, there was also a report of a probable TROPICBIRD species at Something Good along the Port Elizabeth beachfront on Saturday but, once again, not enough detail was seen to be able to confirm which species it was.
Red-necked Phalaropes at Velddrif © Linda du Plessis		African Jacana at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Klaus Schmid
Pacific Golden Plover at Gouritzmond © Bruce Ward-Smith		Pacific Golden Plover at Gouritzmond © Mike Bridgeford
Eurasian Curlew at Gouritzmond © Mike Bridgeford		Southern Elephant Seal at Olifantsbos © Otto Schmidt
Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the GREEN SANDPIPER was also still present at Darvill Bird Sanctuary in Pietermaritzburg on the weekend whilst a single female RED-FOOTED FALCON was also reported from Midmar Game Reserve on the weekend, an unusual record for the area. Elsewhere in the province, a RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was reported along the road to Mapelane Nature Reserve on Thursday whilst a male BLACK-HEADED CANARY was located at Sani Pass on Friday.
Red-footed Falcon at Midmar Game Reserve © Ingrid Porter		Rufous-bellied Heron near Mapelane Nature Reserve © Richard Johnston
Up in Mpumalanga, there was still plenty of action at Mkhombo Dam on the weekend with the odd LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL still present along with at least 2 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS, a few CASPIAN PLOVERS, a couple of GREY PLOVERS and 2 WHITE-FRONTED PLOVERS also all still present.   Further comments from Lou Bertelan, top gull expert, on the Mkhombo bird say: ”It is pretty much clear that it is a Steppe Gull, Larus (fuscus) barabensis, hardly any doubt possible imo. This "2nd winter plumage", which looks advanced in comparison to Larus cachinnans, together with the contrasting two-toned bill with pointed tip but not too long. and adult type feathers are pale grey (much too pale for heuglini!)” Elsewhere in the province, an immature RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was reported on Thursday at the Crocodile River bridge in the Kruger National Park.   In Gauteng, the AYRES’ HAWK EAGLES over Weskoppies Hospital in Pretoria continued to show throughout the weekend with at least 3 different individuals being present whilst Rietvlei Nature Reserve still had both a GREEN SANDPIPER at Vlei bridge and an AFRICAN FINFOOT at Otter bridge on offer through the weekend.   At Marievale Bird Sanctuary, WESTERN MARSH HARRIERS also remained on through the weekend with at least 2 individuals now present, an immature male and a female. And also attracting local attention, there were SHORT-TAILED PIPITS on view again on Friday along the Mabusa back road near Verena, still a tough bird to connect with anywhere, whilst the satellite tagged EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD still seems to be hanging around the Delmas area as well.
		Rufous-bellied Heron at Crocodile River bridge © Trygve Hvidsten
Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mkhombo Dam © Trevor Hardaker		Black-tailed Godwit at Mkhombo Dam © Trevor Hardaker
Ayres’ Hawk Eagle over Weskoppies Hospital © Neil Ebedes		Ayres’ Hawk Eagle over Weskoppies Hospital © Dirk Human
Western Marsh Harrier at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Merlin Wilsenach		Short-tailed Pipit near Verena © Etienne Marais
Green Sandpiper at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Trevor Hardaker
Over in the North-west Province, a SICKLE-WINGED CHAT between Klerksdorp and Leeudoringstad on Saturday was a nice find whilst a PINK-BACKED PELICAN located yesterday at Klerksdorp Dam also created some local excitement. Also of interest, a single AFRICAN SKIMMER was reported on the weekend from Vaalkop Dam on the northern side along the boundary with Bushwillow Estate.   Up in Limpopo Province, the RUPPELL’S VULTURE was also still around on the weekend and this morning at the nest site at Blouberg Nature Reserve near Vivo.   And finally, in Namibia, a TREE PIPIT was located this morning in Okaukeujo camp in Etosha National Park whilst the EURASIAN CURLEW reported north of Etosha National Park a couple of weeks ago was still present there on Friday at 18 25 10.6 S 16 38 43.9 E. Also of interest, at least 2 EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHERS and a FRANKLIN’S GULL were present at Walvis Bay on Saturday and a single HOUSE CROW was also still present at the Pelican Bay Protea Hotel there as well on the weekend
Sickle-winged Chat near Klerksdorp © Tony Archer		Pink-backed Pelican at Klerksdorp Dam © Tony Archer
Tree Pipit in Etosha National Park © John Davies
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 -------------------------------------------------------------