Breaking news from SARBN

[Trevor Hardaker]

WHIMBREL – a single bird has just been found and photographed at Mkhombo Dam at -25.128616, 28.865309 – reported by Corrie van Wyk.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD – at least 2 birds have just been seen and photographed (I’ve also seen the photo to confirm the ID) around the foothill of Mariepskop (Limpopo Province) west of Moloro at 24 35 35.8 S 30 56 09.9 E – reported by Wian van Zyl.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

BATELEUR – an adult female bird has just been seen circling over farmlands just east of Bathurst (Eastern Cape) and has now headed off in an easterly direction towards Alexandria – reported by Robin Teifel.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

SOOTY FALCON – a single adult has just been located and photographed at the first traffic circle as you enter Sodwana (KZN) at -27.487, 32.580 – reported by John Kinghorn.

 

possible WESTERN MARSH HARRIER – a possible male bird has just been seen outside Stillbaai (Western Cape) at 34 16 37.25647 S 21 24 8.16971 E. Unfortunately, the ID remains unconfirmed at this stage, but observers are trying to relocate it again to get photos – reported by Michael Mason.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER – a single bird has been located and photographed at Tankatara in Port Elizabeth about an hour ago (Eastern Cape) – reported by Guy Sutton.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

CHESTNUT-BANDED PLOVER – a single bird has just been photographed at Primkop Dam in White River (Mpumalanga). Directions given are: when you enter the camp site, drive right to the end where a private house is and then walk down to the edge of the dam there where the bird is hanging around – reported by Victor Wilkins.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

PINK-BACKED PELICAN – a single bird has just been located at Mkhombo Dam (Mpumalanga) sitting on an island there at -25.14107, 28.818198 – reported by Michael Johnson

 

EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD – a single bird reported at Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Gauteng) close to the dead trees near the graveyard – reported by Liaan Lategan.

 

EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD – a single bird seen at Borakalalo Nature Reserve (North-west Province) earlier – reported by Jo Dreyer.

 

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE – a single bird reported along the Zaagkuilsdrift Road earlier today (NW Province) – reported by Jo Dreyer.

 

PALLID HARRIER – a cracking male photographed on a private farm near Naboomspruit on the road to Roedtan – reported by Gary Nicolau.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

Just catching up on a few more records received from yesterday:

 

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER – a single bird located and photographed yesterday at Nahoon Estuary Reserve in East London (Eastern Cape) – reported by Aidan Schulze.

 

BURCHELL’S COURSER – a single bird seen along the N14 on the southern side of the road at -26.2295 27.3452 north of Carletonville and just inside Gauteng province – reported by Mark Kirk.

 

GREAT WHITE PELICAN – now that photos have been circulated of the bird initially reported as a Pink-backed Pelican yesterday at Mkhombo Dam (Mpumalanga), I can confirm that it is actually this species.

 

There were a good number of records reported yesterday so, to all those observers, please don’t forget to send your photos through to me of the rarities that you reported, so that I can include them in tomorrow night’s report.

 

Kind regards

Trevor

[Trevor Hardaker]

SPOTTED CRAKE – a single bird has just been located at Franklin Marsh about 30km from Kokstad along the road to Underberg (KZN). Directions given as: when crossing the bridge, the first patch of open water on the left has some low reeds and then the taller reeds start. Stand where the taller reeds start and then look across the marsh at about 10 o’clock and the bird is moving around on the mud at the reed fringe across the water from where you are standing – reported by Mike Simms.

 

Kind regards

Trevor