SA Rare Bird News Report - 20 June 2016

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 20 June 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
The winter doldrums have continued in recent days with just a handful of new records popping up allowing all of us to keep the faith that the big one is still coming...   Starting in the Western Cape, the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE remained on at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif until at least Saturday while, on the same day, a single AFRICAN PALM SWIFT was reported over Paarl Bird Sanctuary. Over on the eastern side of the province, an AFRICAN CUCKOO HAWK was, once again, present at Uplands near Plettenberg Bay yesterday although this was an adult bird, so a different individual to the one reported last week.   In the Eastern Cape, there was some local excitement on Saturday when a group of 6 TEMMINCK'S COURSERS were found on the R62 between Humansdorp and Kareedow on the left hand side of the road if travelling from Humansdorp at S34:00:48 E24:34:02. Generally tough birds to catch up with in the province, they attracted several provincial listers who were all able to catch up with them yesterday whilst those who twitched them today confirmed that there were up to 9 birds present there now. Still also attracting local attention, at least one GURNEY'S SUGARBIRD was still present at Governor's Kop just east of Grahamstown on Friday. Also still garnering some attention, there were still 4 YELLOW-BILLED STORKS at Diaz Dam and another 4 at Port Alfred Duck Pond yesterday.
Red-necked Phalarope at Velddrif © Dave Snow		Temminck’s Courser near Humansdorp © Gregg Darling
Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL has been frustrating twitchers of late with its erratic appearances at Sappi Stanger, but was still present there until at least Saturday afternoon. Also of local interest, 2 AFRICAN OPENBILLS were present at the AAA Feedlot settling ponds at -29.455, 30.440 on Friday morning while, earlier today, a PALM-NUT VULTURE was reported again in Eshowe near the Spar shop.   Over in Mpumalanga, the SICKLE-WINGED CHAT near Devon was also still around and attracting local attention until at least Saturday while the LESSER JACANA at Skukuza Golf Course in the Kruger National Park was also still parading around late yesterday.   In Botswana, a SADDLE-BILLED STORK at Thagale Dam in Gaberone on Saturday was a nice record for the area.   Across in Mozambique, no fewer than 4 GREATER FRIGATEBIRDS were seen on a pelagic trip off the Barra Peninsula on Saturday.
Sickle-winged Chat near Devon © Dylan Vasapolli
Lesser Jacana at Skukuza Golf Course © Marc Cronje		Saddle-billed Stork at Thagale Dam © Ian White
Greater Frigatebird on Barra pelagic trip © Gary Allport
And finally, perhaps the most interesting news to filter through to me recently (although it may already be a little old) is that DNA samples were recently taken from 3 of the ELEGANT-type TERNS that breed in the Sandwich Tern colonies in western France and genetic analyses has revealed that ALL 3 birds are pure Elegant Terns and not hybrids! In fact, I received the following additional comment: "there is no reason to suspect that the other ones that look the same (as the pure birds) are hybrids". The results are currently being written up to be published in due course, but it does add a rather interesting twist to the tale of the birds that are arriving in the subregion. We will have to wait and see how this one plays out…   I have included below a photo of one of the apparently pure Elegant Terns photographed last week at Polder de Sébastopol in western France with a hybrid chick just to show what the bird looks like.
Elegant Tern in France © Joachim Bertrands
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 -------------------------------------------------------------