SA Rare Bird News Report - 15 January 2018

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Trevor Hardaker

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Jan 15, 2018, 1:01:39 PM1/15/18

to sa-rare...@googlegroups.com, jan...@iway.na


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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 15 January 2018. 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

As usual, let's start with the scarcities... EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD: · One at Kube Yini Private Game Reserve (KZN) today. · One near Mkomazana, Sani Pass (KZN) today. · One at Cape Vidal (KZN) yesterday. · Two over Klein Windhoek (Namibia) yesterday afternoon. · One at Gammams Waste Water Treatment Works in Windhoek (Namibia) yesterday. · One in Southport (KZN) on Friday. · One at Elands River Bridge at Finfoot Lodge on Vaalkop Dam (North-west) on Friday. GREEN SANDPIPER: · One at Vlei bridge in Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Gauteng) again on Friday.


European Honey Buzzard at Sani Pass © Stuart McLean		European Honey Buzzard at Elands River bridge © Geoff Finney


European Honey Buzzard in Southport © Lynette Jansen		Green Sandpiper at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Johan van der Walt

On to the rest of the news and, starting in the Western Cape, a single AFRICAN PALM SWIFT was reported at the bottom of Ou Kaapse Weg yesterday afternoon, at least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER was still at Strandfontein Sewage Works on Friday in the small pond in the corner of Pan P6 while the GREEN-BACKED HERON was also still along the Black River on Saturday. Up on the west coast, the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE remained on at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif on Saturday while a second individual was also found on the raised pan east of the R27 and just south of Velddrif at -32.794485, 18.170176 on Saturday as well. Sadly, there has been no further sign of the WHITE WAGTAIL at Rooisand Nature Reserve since late on Wednesday, but observers continued to comb the area over the last few days and confirmed that the GREAT EGRET was still there on Saturday, the WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL was still there on Friday afternoon and a couple of SAND MARTINS were also still there on Saturday. Close by, the WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL at Betty's Bay was still entertaining birders yesterday as well. Moving east to the Garden Route, an AFRICAN CRAKE was found at George Sewage Works on Thursday afternoon and was still there on Friday, LESSER STRIPED SWALLOWS were present at the Brangwag bridge near Hartenbos at -34.057, 22.061 and also still at the bridge on the N2 over the Goukamma River between Sedgefield and Knysna on Saturday, a EUROPEAN ROLLER was found along the R328 south of Oudtshoorn at -33.854, 22.039 yesterday and the GREY-HEADED BUSH SHRIKE was also still in Plettenberg Bay yesterday.


Green-backed Heron along the Black River © Sandy Schmidt		Green-backed Heron along the Black River © Keir Lynch


Red-necked Phalarope at Velddrif © Keir Lynch		Western Yellow Wagtail at Betty’s Bay © Duggy Loock


Red-necked Phalarope at Velddrif © John Graham


Great Egret at Rooisand Nature Reserve © Frans-Hendrik Joubert		Western Yellow Wagtail at Rooisand Nature Reserve © Frans-Hendrik Joubert


Sand Martin at Rooisand Nature Reserve © Frans-Hendrik Joubert		African Crake at George Sewage Works © Wessel Uys


Lesser Striped Swallow at Brandwag bridge © Elmarie Brits		European Roller south of Oudtshoorn © Elmarie Brits


Lesser Striped Swallows at the Goukamma bridge © Elmarie Brits

Up in the Northern Cape, there was some surprize last Saturday when an AFRICAN CRAKE was found walking around at Moravet in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, always an unusual species to be recorded in a desert…


African Crake at Moravet © Anja Denker		African Crake at Moravet © Peter Cottrell

In the Eastern Cape, locals were excited when a TAWNY EAGLE was found on a farm at Khomga, between Bisho and Butterworth, yesterday while other good provincial birds included a male MONTAGU'S HARRIER found along the Grassmere Road near Humansdorp on Saturday and a BROWN SNAKE EAGLE seen at Amakhala Private Game Reserve on Friday.


Montagu’s Harrier near Humansdorp © Wessel Rossouw		Brown Snake Eagle at Amakhlala Private Game Reserve © Justin Barlow


Tawny Eagle at Khomga © Rodnick Biljon

Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the major excitement came when a juvenile LESSER FRIGATEBIRD was found at the Casuarinas in Richard's Bay on Saturday. The bird attracted quite a bit of attention from twitchers across the subregion and was still performing well there today. Also attracting local attention in Richard's Bay, an adult ALLEN'S GALLINULE was found at the weir at Lake Mzingazi on Thursday morning and was still there yesterday. Elsewhere in the province, the SOOTY TERN was still at the St Lucia estuary on Friday, the DWARF BITTERN was still showing well at Kumasinga hide in Mkuze Game Reserve on Saturday, a number of MONOTONOUS LARKS were also still around in Mkuze Game Reserve on Saturday, over 15 HARLEQUIN QUAILS have been reported at Kube Yini Private Game Reserve in the last few days and a LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE was found at Tala Game Reserve in Camperdown on Saturday, a great record for the area.


Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Alan Bedford-Shaw		Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Stephen Brickett


Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Hennie Jordaan		Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Decklan Jordaan


Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Georg Jacobs


Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © David Hoddinott		Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Mike O’Donoghue


Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © David Taylor		Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Bart Fokkens


Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Nada Crafford


Lesser Frigatebird in Richard’s Bay © Kevin Westermann


Lesser Frigatebird twitchers in Richard’s Bay © Nada Crafford


Allen’s Gallinule at Lake Mzingazi weir © Kevin Westermann		Allen’s Gallinule at Lake Mzingazi weir © Bart Fokkens


Monotonous Lark at Mkuze Game Reserve © Adam Cruickshank		Lesser Spotted Eagle at Tala Game Reserve © Marco Franchini

In Gauteng, both PECTORAL SANDPIPERS remained on at the farm dam near Bapsfontein yesterday and at least one was still present there today as well while a single AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE was also found on a farm dam adjacent to Bronkhorstspruit Nature Reserve earlier today. If anyone is interested in going to look for the latter, you can contact the farmer, Dried du Plessis, at 083 368 0474 to make the necessary arrangements for access to the property.


Pectoral Sandpipers near Bapsfontein © Cameron Meyer		Pectoral Sandpiper near Bapsfontein © Karin Pietersen


Pectoral Sandpipers near Bapsfontein © Norman Lok		Pectoral Sandpiper near Bapsfontein © Dawie De Villiers


Pectoral Sandpiper twitchers near Bapsfontein © Karin Pietersen

Up in the North-west Province, the AFRICAN SKIMMERS were still at Vaalkop Dam on Saturday whilst a single GREAT WHITE PELICAN was found at the Kgomo Kgomo bridge at -25.161743, 28.082249 on Saturday as well.


African Skimmer at Vaalkop Dam © Sarel van der Westhuizen		African Skimmers at Vaalkop Dam © Geoff Finney

In Zimbabwe, there was some local excitement yesterday when a group of 5 GREATER FLAMINGOS (4 adults and a juvenile) were found at Lake Chivero near Harare, still a very unusual record in this part of the subregion. And finally, in Namibia, some big news coming out of the country yesterday was the discovery of Southern Africa's 6th and Namibia's 2nd GREAT KNOT in Walvis Bay on the mud flats about 100 meters south of Flamingo Villas on the lagoon. Twitchers were quick to react and the first cross-border twitchers were enjoying the bird this morning already as it continued to parade around on the mudflats opposite Lagoon Lodge. Some other massive news was the sighting of an immature EGYPTIAN VULTURE at Naankuse Lodge and Wildlife Sanctuary just outside Windhoek yesterday as well, an excellent record for the central part of the country, while a male AMUR FALCON seen there yesterday afternoon was also well out of range. Elsewhere, the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER was still at Pelican Point in Walvis Bay earlier today, the FRANKLIN'S GULL was still at Mile 4 Salt Works in Swakopmund today, a FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK was found along the Swakop River about 14km from Swakopmund on Friday, a WOODLAND KINGFISHER was found at Gammams Waste Water Treatment Works in Windhoek yesterday and at least one BAT HAWK was still at the usual roost site in Klein Windhoek on Friday.


Greater Flamingos at Lake Chivero © James Ball		Amur Falcon at Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary © Kosie van der Walt


Egyptian Vulture at Naankuse Wildlife Sanctuary © Jannes Brandt


Great Knot in Walvis Bay © Ben Walker		Great Knot in Walvis Bay © Hartmut Kolb


Franklin’s Gull at Mile 4 Salt Works © Dayne Braine		Fulvous Whistling Duck along the Swakop River © Sean Braine

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 -------------------------------------------------------------