SA Rare Bird News Report - 23 November 2015

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 23 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, lingering rarities on the weekend included both RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif whilst both the PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER at Gouritzmond and the JACOBIN CUCKOO at Malgas were both still present until at least Thursday as well. An interesting record was that of an adult BATELEUR seen circling over the N7 about 22km south of Mooreesburg on Tuesday, another in the recent spate of records for the Swartland / West Coast area, whilst a single EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD was seen yesterday at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the Stone Pines above the Braille Trail.   You will also remember the mention of an unidentified Tropicbird species seen from East Head Café in last Monday’s report. Well, it was seen again yesterday by different observers who are confident that it is, in fact, a RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD, a serious mega for the subregion and possibly only the 8th ever individual recorded in Southern Africa. As yet, there is no photographic confirmation of the record and I would encourage locals to get out there and have a look to see whether they can find this bird or not.   On the border between the Western and Northern Capes in Pentad 3145_2400, a female PALLID HARRIER was seen yesterday and afterwards flew off in a south-westerly directions towards Murraysburg.   Moving into the Eastern Cape, a male MONTAGU’S HARRIER was seen this afternoon just outside of Graaff-Reinet, another good record for the area.
Red-necked Phalarope at Velddrif © Linda du Plessis		Pacific Golden Plover at Gouritzmond © Dawid Rossouw
Pallid Harrier near Murraysburg © Hugh Retief		Montagu’s Harrier near Graaff-Reinet © Alan Collett
In Kwazulu Natal, the GREEN SANDPIPER was still at Kumahlahla hide in Mkhuze Game Reserve until at least Saturday whilst a single COMMON REDSHANK was reported at St Lucia estuary on Friday and the weekend also saw a report of a RED-NECKED SPURFOWL in fields at Mazuri Pineapples at -27.894, 32.380, a rather odd record for the area. Also of interest, both the DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK and the RED-BILLED HORNBILL were still present on the Zululand Rhino Reserve until late last week.   Over in Gauteng, at least one WESTERN MARSH HARRIER was still at Marievale Bird Sanctuary yesterday whilst, earlier today, a PECTORAL SANDPIPER was also found there. The AYRES’ HAWK EAGLES were also still present over Weskoppies Hospital in Pretoria on the weekend as well with now up to 5 different individuals having been identified from photos. Also of interest, 2 AFRICAN PYGMY KINGFISHERS were located on the northern side of the low bridge close to the main entrance of Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens at -26.086, 27.843 on Saturday (still present there yesterday) whilst a GREEN SANDPIPER was, once again, present along the Jukskei River in Waterfall Estate (a private estate) in Midrand on the weekend too. A EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD was reported from Leeuwfontein Estate near Roodeplaat Dam on the weekend, another was seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve just east of the coffee shop yesterday whilst yet another was seen earlier today along the R101 near Bon Accord Dam in Pretoria. I have also received an unconfirmed report of a possible BLACK COUCAL at Eagle Canyon Golf Estate in Roodepoort in the reeds between the 2nd and 5th fairways on Friday.
Green Sandpiper at Mkhuze Game Reserve © David Green		Western Marsh Harrier at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Rod Humphris
Pectoral Sandpiper at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © David Myburgh		Ayres’ Hawk Eagle over Weskoppies Hospital © Dirk Human
African Pygmy Kingfisher at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens © Jean van Rooyen		European Honey Buzzard at Leeuwfontein Estate © Leon Labuschagne
European Honey Buzzard at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Andrew Buitendach		European Honey Buzzard near Bon Accord Dam © Rinish Singh
Across into Mpumalanga where a GREEN SANDPIPER was located at -25.025221, 31.246757 yesterday, basically at the bridge over the Phabeni River on the Doispane road just east of Phabeni gate in the Kruger National Park. Mkhombo Dam also still held various attractions with the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL as well as 2 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS and at least 8 GREY PLOVERS still accounted for there earlier today.   Over in the North-west Province, a WHITE-FRONTED PLOVER was located at Borakalalo Nature Reserve near the bus stop on Saturday.   In Limpopo Province, there was some surprise on the weekend when an adult SOOTY FALCON was located on a private wildlife estate just outside Bela Bela, a rather bizarre record for the area. Also of interest, at least 8 CASPIAN PLOVERS were located along the Tropic of Capricorn Loop in the Kruger National Park on Wednesday whilst the GREEN SANDPIPER was also still present then at the Levhuvhu River bridge near Pafuri.   And finally, in Namibia, the TREE PIPIT reported recently at Okaukeujo camp in Etosha National Park was still present there until at least Friday whilst the single HOUSE CROW was also still present in Walvis Bay on the weekend and a EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD was located at Monte Christo farm about 30km north of Windhoek on Saturday.
Green Sandpiper on Phabeni River © Pieter Vrey		Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mkhombo Dam © Etienne Marais
Sooty Falcon near Bela Bela © Jeanne van der Spuy		European Honey Buzzard at Monte Christo farm © Madina Fourie
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 -------------------------------------------------------------