SA Rare Bird News Report - 13 July 2015

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

SA Rare Bird News is proud to be associated with the following brands:
This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 13 July 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
The middle of winter is definitely here and it's been a very quiet few days…   Starting in the Western Cape, there was some local excitement on Friday when a CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING was located on Table Mountain. Seen along Tafelberg Road (at the end of the tarred section of Tafelberg Road, where it meets the gravel towards the blockhouse side), it showed throughout the weekend as well, although appearances were a little erratic and not everyone who tried managed to connect with it.
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on Table Mountain © Delene van Dyk		Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on Table Mountain © Dave Ulyate
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on Table Mountain © Wilna Steenkamp		Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on Table Mountain © Michael McSweeney
In the Northern Cape, a MARSH OWL was seen and photographed at Kieliekrankie in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park last Saturday. Although they do get recorded there from time to time, it is always a little bizarre to see this species sitting in the red sand dunes of the Kalahari.   Across into the Eastern Cape where 2 GREEN-BACKED HERONS were reported earlier today at Abbotsford causeway in East London, still an uncommon species in the area. Up the coast in Kwazulu Natal, there was some local excitement yesterday when a juvenile PALE CHANTING GOSHAWK was located at Weenen Game Reserve, still quite an unusual species for the province.
Marsh Owl at Kieliekrankie © Imraan Valodia		Pale Chanting Goshawk at Weenen Game Reserve © David Allan
Over in Mpumalanga, the COLLARED PALM THRUSH at Nthandanyathi Hide south of Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park was still present until at least Saturday (seems a lot of provincial listers are making an effort to track down this mega for the province!) whilst other good records included a CAPPED WHEATEAR at Tihongonyeni waterhole on the Tropic of Capricorn loop on Friday as well as a couple of AFRICAN SACRED IBISES at Pioneer Dam near Mopani camp on the same day too whilst several of the latter were also reported along the Crocodile River at Ngwenya Lodge on Monday.   And finally, in Namibia, a single GREY-HEADED GULL was located yesterday at Avis Dam in Windhoek and caused quite a bit of local excitement as it is a very unusual species in central Namibia with only a handful of records ever of it in the region.
Collared Palm Thrush at Nthandanyathi Hide © Duncan McKenzie		African Sacred Ibis at Ngwenya Lodge © Klaus Schmid
Grey-headed Gull at Avis Dam © Anna Muller
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 -------------------------------------------------------------