SA Rare Bird News Report - 13 June 2016

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 13 June 2016. 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
Perhaps winter still has a few surprises in store for us… the last few days have seen the recent offerings mostly continuing on and keeping the lists ticking over, but there have certainly been a couple of spikes to boost those adrenaline levels and inject a good boost of excitement into many of us.   Starting in the Western Cape, a pelagic trip out of Simon’s Town yesterday turned up an immature GREY-HEADED ALBATROSS, still an incredibly tough bird to get in the subregion. Looking back at previous records, it would appear that the last time one was reported on a one day pelagic trip off the Cape Peninsula was on 30 July 2011 and the last record that is currently in the rarities database for anywhere in the subregion goes back to 2 June 2012 where one was reported from an extended trawler trip. It seems crazy that there has not been any record of this species in Southern Africa in the last 4 years but it may just be that I have not been informed of it. Also still attracting some local attention, the AFRICAN JACANA remained on at Strandfontein Sewage Works on Pan P5 yesterday while 2 FULVOUS DUCKS were also located yesterday on Pan P2.
African Jacana at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Otto Schmidt		Fulvous Ducks at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Otto Schmidt
Grey-headed Albatross on pelagic trip © Cliff Dorse
In the Eastern Cape, there were still at least 8 YELLOW-BILLED STORKS present at Diaz Dam earlier today while another 3 were also still at the Port Alfred Duck Pond as well.   Moving into Kwazulu Natal, the hide at Sappi Stanger was still drawing a regular parade of admirers as the WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL remained on form throughout the weekend. The additional drawcard of the 3 AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE that were seen there on Friday afternoon didn’t pull through to the weekend with not a single report of them being received on either Saturday or Sunday. However, several AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE were still on show yesterday at Rutledge Dam in Eshowe for those that wanted to catch up with this species. The LESSER JACANA was also still riveted to Pond 4 at Darvill Bird Sanctuary in Pietermaritzburg until at least late on Saturday while, earlier today, a PALM-NUT VULTURE was seen on the soccer grounds of the Eshowe Environmental Education Centre, certainly not regular so far inland in this area.
Western Yellow Wagtail at Sappi Stanger © Margie Taylor		Western Yellow Wagtail at Sappi Stanger © David Taylor
Western Yellow Wagtail at Sappi Stanger © Mark Williams-Wynn		Lesser Jacana at Darvill Bird Sanctuary © Geoff Finney
Palm-nut Vulture in Eshowe © Johan van Rensburg
Over in Mpumalanga, up to 3 different SICKLE-WINGED CHATS were seen near Devon yesterday.   Across in Gauteng, a group of no fewer than 33 MARABOU STORKS were located at Kloppersbos at 25°28'54.59"S 28°23'27.07"E on Saturday, a slightly odd record for the area.
Marabou Storks at Klopperbos © Ben Fouche
In Namibia, the YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES continued their performances in the gardens of Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge in Katima Mulilo throughout the weekend and remain an attraction as many birders continue to make the pilgrimage to go and add these unexpected birds to their Southern African lists. Also of local interest, a group of 8 GREY-HEADED GULLS were located at Gobabis on Saturday. This species is pretty unusual in central Namibia as a rule and is normally only found singly or in pairs, so a group of this size in this area is unprecedented.   And finally, in Mozambique, there was some excitement yesterday afternoon when both a juvenile LESSER FRIGATEBIRD and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL were located in Maputo Bay. Although it has not been able to be confirmed as yet, these are possibly both birds remaining on from earlier this year when they were first reported.
Yellow-throated Leaflove at Katima Mulilo © Curt-Ingo Sagell		Grey-headed Gulls at Gobabis © Anna Muller
Lesser Frigatebird in Maputo Bay © Alan Waterman
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 -------------------------------------------------------------