SA Rare Bird News Report - 12 November 2015

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Thursday, 12 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
Starting in the Western Cape, there have been a couple of nice finds in recent days including an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER located this afternoon on the sandbanks near the mouth of the river at De Mond Nature Reserve near Arniston as well as a single CASPIAN PLOVER that was located at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif on Tuesday afternoon whilst at least one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was also still present there earlier today. Elsewhere, the AFRICAN JACANA remained on at Strandfontein Sewage Works until at least Tuesday as well whilst a pelagic trip out of Simon’s Town today delivered a WANDERING ALBATROSS and a SPECTACLED PETREL. Further east, the GOLIATH HERON was still present at the Bitou/Keurbooms River estuary in Plettenberg Bay on Tuesday and a single GREATER SAND PLOVER, a rare bird in the area, was also located there at Goose Marsh on Tuesday as well.   Further sightings of BRONZE MANNIKINS have also been reported with a small group this afternoon around the Frank Joubert Art Centre in Claremont off Keurboom Road. The groups of birds that are currently moving around the southern suburbs of Cape Town are almost certainly escapees from a local collection somewhere, rather than genuine vagrants.
American Golden Plover at De Mond Nature Reserve © Daryl Dell		Caspian Plover (on right) at Velddrif © Andrew de Blocq
Goliath Heron in Plettenberg Bay © Bruce Ward-Smith		Greater Sand Plover in Plettenberg Bay © Bruce Ward-Smith
Up in the Northern Cape, there were some interesting sightings from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park earlier today with a LONG-BILLED PIPIT reported near Samevloeiing and a PALLID HARRIER noted near Achterlonie.   In the Eastern Cape, there have not really been any new birds reported but I think a special word of congratulations is due to Alf Taylor who, earlier this week, became the first ever provincial lister to break through the 500 species milestone in the province. Well done Alf, a great achievement!   Over in Kwazulu Natal, a GREAT BITTERN was reported yesterday from Dublin Farm in Himeville, a long time since we've had a report from anywhere other than Ntsikeni Nature Reserve in the province, but there was no sign of it earlier today despite some intensive searching for it. The GREEN SANDPIPER was also still showing well at Kumahlahla hide in Mkhuze Game Reserve yesterday as well.
Green Sandpiper at Mkhuze Game Reserve © Don Cowie		Green Sandpiper at Mkhuze Game Reserve © Caroline Fox
In Gauteng, the AYRES' HAWK EAGLES were still performing well over the Weskoppies Hospital in Pretoria earlier this week whilst the AFRICAN FINFOOT was also still on view at Rietvlei Nature Reserve at the Otter bridge yesterday.   Over in Mpumalanga, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was still present at Mkhombo Dam yesterday and continues to cause confusion with its exact identity, many people now starting to lean towards Steppe Gull (Larus fuscus barabensis). More to come as this bird finishes up its moult. Elsewhere in the province, there was some surprise when 2 SOUTHERN BALD IBISES were located on the cliffs along the Crocodile River in the Lowveld Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit yesterday, a rather unusual species for the area whilst, earlier today, at least 5 CASPIAN PLOVERS were located along the S90 north of Satara in the Kruger National Park.   And finally, in Limpopo Province, the popular RUPPELL'S VULTURE was still at the nest site in the Cape Vulture colony at Blouberg Nature Reserve near Vivo until at least Tuesday.
Ayres’ Hawk Eagle over Weskoppies Hospital © Bruce Wedderburn		Ayres’ Hawk Eagle over Weskoppies Hospital © Hugo le Roux
Southern Bald Ibis at Lowveld Botanical Gardens © Eva Ramulondi
Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mkhombo Dam © Rod Humphris
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 -------------------------------------------------------------