SA Rare Bird News Report - 24 October 2016

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 24 October 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
It’s been an interesting last few days again with lots of good reports coming through…   Starting in the Western Cape, a pelagic trip out of Simon’s Town on Saturday turned up a single NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS while the long staying RED-NECKED PHALAROPE at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif was still in place earlier today and the KNOB-BILLED DUCK at Avondson farm irritated local twitchers by disappearing totally on Saturday and then was back in place again yesterday morning. Also causing some local excitement, the SQUACCO HERON at the northern of the two Dolphin Beach Pans remained on view until at least Friday but then was not seen at all on the weekend despite birders searching on both days for it and was finally relocated this morning closeby in the Rietvlei portion of the Table Bay Nature Reserve along the peninsula where the picnic sites are. At least 2 JACOBIN CUCKOOS were reported yesterday close to Gouritzmond while the other record of interest concerned a potential Hippolais warbler, thought to possibly be an ICTERINE WARBLER, seen this morning along Porter Drive in Rooiels at 34°18'40.4"S 18°49'16.9"E.
Squacco Heron at Dolphin Beach Pans © Frieda Prinsloo		Squacco Heron at Dolphin Beach Pans © Cliff Dorse
Squacco Heron at Dolphin Beach Pans © Jonathan Lloyd		Knob-billed Duck at Avondson farm © Tinus Lamprecht
In the Eastern Cape, the male AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE was still at Ottersvlei yesterday and drawling local attention.   Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the GREEN SANDPIPER at Kumahlahla hide in Mkuze Game Reserve was still on view yesterday while, close by, a BENNETT’S WOODPECKER was reported from Zululand Rhino Reserve last week and a EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD was reported from Tembe Elephant Park yesterday as well. Also still attracting local interest, the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was also still at the Sappi wetlands in Stanger yesterday.
African Pygmy Goose at Ottersvlei © Janine Cotterrell		Green Sandpiper at Mkuze Game Reserve © Trygve Hvidsten
In Gauteng, there was quite a bit of excitement over the last few days with the sub-adult BAT HAWK seen over Delta Park in Johannesburg again yesterday morning flying in the direction of Emmarentia Dam while at least one BAR-TAILED GODWIT was still present yesterday on the northern end of the Blesbokspruit and another individual was reported from Marievale Bird Sanctuary near the Otter hide on Saturday. Elsewhere, the WHIMBREL at Roodeplaat Dam was also still on view close to the picnic area yesterday while a GREEN SANDPIPER was located at the Zeekoegat bird hide there on Saturday. Rietvlei Nature Reserve also offered some entertainment with an immature COMMON CUCKOO reported from there on Saturday and an AFRICAN FINFOOT seen from the Finfoot hide yesterday. Also of interest, a TREE PIPIT was reported yesterday on the 18th fairway at Blue Hills Country Estate in Midrand after which it flew off into a copse of Wild Olives. Sadly, this is on a restricted access estate, so twitching this bird is not going to be possible. And, to round off the province’s offerings, the SOUTHERN WHITE-FACED OWL was still on view late this afternoon at the Field and Study Centre in Sandton.
Common Cuckoo at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Cameron Meyer		African Finfoot at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Helen Nickisson
Whimbrel at Roodeplaat Dam © Rena van Wyk		Green Sandpiper at Roodeplaat Dam © Ben du Toit
Across in Mpumalanga, Mkhombo Dam was still hosting a WHIMBREL on Saturday and a GREY PLOVER was also recorded there on the same day while, over on the Kambaku River Sands property in the Timbavati Private Game Reserve, at least 3 COLLARED PRATINCOLES were seen yesterday at a waterhole there, apparently the first record for the reserve.   In neighbouring Limpopo Province, at least 2 GREY-HEADED GULLS were present at Engelhard Dam near Letaba in the Kruger National Park on Saturday, while the influx of RED-HEADED FINCHES into the park also continues with several birds seen along the S144 between Shingwedzi and Mopani on Saturday as well. Also of local interest, 2 FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS and a COMMON RINGED PLOVER were encountered along the S46 en route to Engelhard Dam yesterday as well.
Grey Plover at Mkhombo Dam © Hennie Welman		Red-headed Finches along the S144 © Jody de Bruyn
Fulvous Whistling Ducks along the S46 © Jody de Bruyn		Common Ringed Plover along the S46 © Jody de Bruyn
Across in the North-west Province, an AFRICAN CUCKOO HAWK was seen on Saturday morning flying over Stilfontein, an unusual record for the area.   And finally, in Namibia, at least 4 YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES were present in the gardens of Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge in Katima Mulilo after an absence of almost 3 weeks while I have also received a few slightly delayed records to report on. A RUDDY TURNSTONE was reported from Klein Namutoni Waterhole in Etosha National Park on 12 October while another was reported downstream from Shamvura Camp in the western Caprivi on 15 October. The same area also produced a single HORUS SWIFT flying around on 15 October, another good record for the area.
African Cuckoo Hawk over Stilfontein © Tony Archer		Yellow-throated Leaflove in Katima Mulilo © Curt-Ingo Sagell
Ruddy Turnstone at Klein Namutoni waterhole © Josh Engel		Horus Swift near Shamvura camp © Josh Engel
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 -------------------------------------------------------------