SA Rare Bird News Report - 22 June 2015

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 22 June 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, the SNOWY EGRET along the Black River continues to dominate the news and has still not lost any of its popularity constantly drawing a crowd of admirers throughout the weekend. Still present today and now in its 14th day on site, an absolutely incredible 971 twitchers have already been to see the bird (based on the list of names that I have actually received so far - it may well be more than that!) of which at least 164 are from outside of the Cape region. Already it is the biggest ever twitch in Southern African birding history and it seems to continue growing… We are staring down the face of the first 1-ton twitch in the subregion…J   As a reminder of how to get there, the co-ordinates of where you should park are 33 deg 55’ 44” S 18 deg 28’ 43” E. It is basically right opposite where Berkley Road meets the M5 freeway and is accessible straight from the on- or off-ramps from the M5. The bird tends to hang around along the stretch of river from opposite the bird hide northwards towards the railway bridges, but occasionally does move north of the second railway bridge as well (which is not an easy area to get to). If that is the case, just wait around a bit and it is bound to move south again into a more accessible area for better viewing (as it has done almost every single day).   Elsewhere in the province, a white morph SOUTHERN GIANT PETREL (not a rare species, but an uncommon morph in our waters) was seen on a fishing trip south-west of Cape Point on Saturday whilst a dead SLENDER-BILLED PRION was picked up on Muizenberg beach yesterday.
Snowy Egret along the Black River © Neil Ebedes		Snowy Egret along the Black River © Peter Hochfelden
Snowy Egret along the Black River © Pieter la Grange		Snowy Egret along the Black River © Steve Roos
Snowy Egret along the Black River © David Taylor		Snowy Egret along the Black River © Clive Feather
Snowy Egret along the Black River © Tertius Gous
Snowy Egret twitchers © David Taylor
Up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, there was some excitement earlier today when a breeding plumaged FRANKLIN'S GULL was located at the Whale Deck in Umtentweni, Port Shepstone (the first twitchers reacted pretty quickly after the initial alert went out and connected with the bird a little later this afternoon) whilst a pelagic trip out of Durban on Saturday delivered at least 6 ANTARCTIC PRIONS. Although still considered a regional rarity in the province, this season seems to have been a really good one for them in the province with regular reports so far this winter.
Franklin’s Gull at Umtentweni © Shaun Mcgillewie		Antarctic Prion on Durban pelagic trip © Niall Perrins
Over in the Northern Cape, a LITTLE SPARROWHAWK was located on a farm about 10km east of Noupoort on Saturday, well out of range for this species.   In the Free State, the KAROO SCRUB ROBIN near Deneysville was also still present throughout the weekend (and today) and drawing a fair amount of local attention, especially from those taking part in the Wider Gauteng Birding Challenge.   Up in the North-west Province, an out-of-range SADDLE-BILLED STORK was located near Manyane camp in Pilanesberg National Park on Saturday, but could not be relocated the following day again unfortunately.   Across into Gauteng, the SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATERS hanging around in the gums below the restaurant at Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve remained present until at least Saturday.   Moving into Mpumalanga, a CAPPED WHEATEAR was located yesterday near Mjejane in the southern Kruger National Park along the new road to the bridge from the lodges. It was still present in the same area earlier today as well and was joined by a second individual. This is the second record of this species in the southern part of the park in the last 10 days, a species usually quite rare in the Lowveld. Also of interest, a group of 15 PINK-BACKED PELICANS were located along the H4-1 about 1km from Lower Sabie camp late on Friday afternoon.   And finally, in Zimbabwe, at least 2 EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARDS were still present at Nduna camp in Malilangwe Nature Reserve on Thursday, a rather odd record of what seem to probably be over-wintering individuals.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater at Moreleta Kloof Nature Reserve © Jean van Rooyen
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 -------------------------------------------------------------