SA Rare Bird News Report - 26 June 2017

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 26 June 2017. 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, a pelagic trip out of Simon's Town on Saturday produced a pale morph SOUTHERN GIANT PETREL. Although the species itself is not rare in our waters, the pale morphs are certainly pretty uncommon and definitely worth a mention. Other good new records included a SQUACCO HERON found at Kleinmond this afternoon in the reeds to left of footbridge that crosses the estuary in front of Meer-en-see, a GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO at Reflections Eco-Reserve at Rondevlei in Wilderness this morning, a SAND MARTIN at Strandfontein Sewage Works today and an ORANGE RIVER WHITE-EYE seen in the Reserve Manager's garden at Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve between Montagu and Touws River on Saturday. The bird was initially picked up on call which was noticeably different to the resident Cape White-eyes normally in the area.   Elsewhere in the province, lingering rarities included the immature WHITE-BACKED VULTURE seen between Atlantis and Philadelphia on Friday morning, the male NORTHERN SHOVELER still at Paarl Bird Sanctuary on Saturday and the KNOB-BILLED DUCK still at the wetlands just inland of Klein Brak River yesterday. Sadly, it also seems that the GREATER SHEATHBILL on Seal Island in Mossel Bay has now definitely departed and there have been no further sightings since Wednesday.   Up in the Northern Cape, a GREATER PAINTED SNIPE was located at 13th borehole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park this afternoon.   Across in the Eastern Cape, the AFRICAN CRAKE at Sleepy Hollow near Port Elizabeth was still attracting some attention on Saturday.
Knob-billed Duck near Klein Brak River © Elmarie Brits		Knob-billed Duck near Klein Brak River © Michael de Nysschen
Pale morph Southern Giant Petrel on Cape pelagic trip © Andrew de Blocq
Pale morph Southern Giant Petrel on Cape pelagic trip © Oswald Dittrich
Squacco Heron at Kleinmond © Jenny Parsons		Great Spotted Cuckoo at Reflections Eco-Reserve © Tim Carr
African Crake at Sleepy Hollow © Mike Bridgeford
Up the coast in Kwazulu Natal, the MALAGASY POND HERON at Mziki was also still on show throughout the weekend while the AYRES' HAWK EAGLE was seen soaring over Kloof again on Saturday and a VERREAUX'S EAGLE OWL was seen in a garden in Hayfields, Pietermaritzburg, last night. Pelagic trips out of Durban went out on both Saturday and Sunday with both days bagging a SLENDER-BILLED PRION and yesterday also producing at least one SOOTY TERN. Also of regional interest, a single PINTADO PETREL was seen on Saturday, 2 NORTHERN GIANT PETRELS and a single SOUTHERN GIANT PETREL were seen on Saturday (with another single Northern yesterday) and 2 ANTARCTIC TERNS (an adult and a juvenile) were seen on Saturday and another single adult yesterday.
Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © John Kinghorn		Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © Martin Benadie
Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © Alf Taylor		Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © Don Reid
Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © Ian Grant		Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © Dave Minney
Happy Malagasy Pond Heron twitchers at Mziki © Ian Grant
More happy Malagasy Pond Heron twitchers at Mziki © Don Reid
Verreaux’s Eagle Owl in Hayfields © Patrick Kime		Ayres’ Hawk Eagle over Kloof © Tristan Silver
Slender-billed Prion on Durban pelagic trip © Niall Perrins		Antarctic Tern on Durban pelagic trip © Niall Perrins
Northern Giant Petrel on Durban pelagic trip © Niall Perrins		Southern Giant Petrel on Durban pelagic trip © Niall Perrins
In Gauteng, at least one WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW was still around at Rooiwal Power Station on Friday.   Across in Mpumalanga, a small group of 4-5 SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATERS were seen at Nyamazane Lodge about 5km east of Belfast yesterday.   And finally, in the North-west Province, 2 LAPPET-FACED VULTURES were seen feeding on the carcass of a cow on a farm at Koster on Friday morning.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater at Nyamazane Lodge © James Harvey
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 -------------------------------------------------------------