SA Rare Bird News Report - 22 August 2016

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 22 August 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
Even although the weather hasn't always been conducive to great birding in various parts of the country over the last few days, there have still be some good birds being reported to keep everyone's interest piqued.   Starting in the Western Cape, the RUFOUS-TAILED SCRUB ROBIN continued to entertain twitchers throughout the weekend performing well around the picnic sites on the eastern shore of Zeekoevlei. Now in its 37th day on site already, I have the names of 994 birders who have been to see the bird since it was first found. The bulk of them are still from the Western Cape with 730 twitchers while Gauteng tops the "outsiders" at 173 twitchers. Birders from other regions include 15 from the Eastern Cape, 13 from Kwazulu Natal, 9 each from the Free State and Mpumalanga, 5 from Limpopo and Botswana, 4 from the North-west and one each from Namibia and Zimbabwe while visiting birders from other parts of the world that have now also detoured to see the bird include 14 from the USA, 9 from the UK, 3 from Malta and one each from Austria, Australia and New Zealand.   Elsewhere in the province, several pelagic trips went out on Saturday and, between them, collected a nice haul of birds including several NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSSES as well as a single SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS and a GREY PETREL. Also still attracting attention, the LESSER SAND PLOVER was still hanging around at Seeberg in the West Coast National Park earlier today as well.
Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin at Zeekoeivlei © John Bowman		Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin at Zeekoeivlei © Niall Perrins
Grey Petrel on pelagic trip © Niall Perrins		Grey Petrel on pelagic trip © Rich Everett
Grey Petrel on pelagic trip © Frans-Hendrik Joubert		Southern Royal Albatross on pelagic trip © John Graham
Northern Royal Albatross on pelagic trip © John Graham		Northern Royal Albatross on pelagic trip © Frans-Hendrik Joubert
Northern Royal Albatross on pelagic trip © Niall Perrins		Northern Royal Albatross on pelagic trip © Rich Everett
In the Eastern Cape, the pair of AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE was still present at Ottersvlei on Saturday while there were also still at least 10 YELLOW-BILLED STORKS roaming around Diaz Dam on the same day as well. Another YELLOW-BILLED STORK was also reported over Governor’s Kop just outside of Grahamstown this afternoon while, also of interest, a WAHLBERG'S EAGLE was present again this morning after a long absence at Table farm just north of Grahamstown.
African Pygmy Geese at Ottersvlei © Lynette Rudman
Yellow-billed Stork at Diaz Dam © Lynette Rudman
Up the coast in Kwazulu Natal, the LESSER JACANA remained on at Pond 3 at Darvill Bird Sanctuary in Pietermartizburg on Saturday while a single GREEN SANDPIPER was also discovered there on the same day down along the river at -29.593, 30.434.
Green Sandpiper at Darvill Bird Sanctuary © Ian Gordon		Green Sandpiper at Darvill Bird Sanctuary © Pieter Verster
Lesser Jacana at Darvill Bird Sanctuary © Ian Gordon		Lesser Jacana at Darvill Bird Sanctuary © Pieter Verster
Over in Mpumalanga, the LESSER JACANA was also still present on Saturday at Skukuza Golf Course in the Kruger National Park and was seen at the little bridge on the 9th green there.   Neighbouring Gauteng delivered a bit of a provincial mega when a CROWNED EAGLE was located in the Wilge River Valley at -25.633, 28.905 on Saturday, quite possibly the first ever record of this species for the province.   Over in the North-west Province, there were also a couple of interesting sightings on the weekend including a JACKAL BUZZARD at Rygers Pan between Migdol and Schweizer Reneke on Saturday and a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE about 50 km from Klerksdorp on the R30 to Ventersdorp at -26.444,26.708.   And finally, in Limpopo Province, a pair of AFRICAN SKIMMERS was located at Albasini Dam on a sunset cruise on Saturday evening, the latest in a number of records of this species in the country. Albasini Dam is about 100km to the west of Makuleke Dam, so it's going to be interesting to see whether those birds are still around or whether it is perhaps them that have relocated.
		Crowned Eagle in Wilge River Valley © Michael Johnson
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 -------------------------------------------------------------