SA Rare Bird News Report - 11 May 2023
Trevor Hardaker
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S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N R A R E B I R D N E W S R E P O R T | |||||||||
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 18h00 on Thursday, 11 May 2023.
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.
None of the records included in this report have undergone any adjudication process with any of the subregion’s Rarities Committees, so inclusion in this report does not constitute any official confirmation of the particular record. Observers are still encouraged to make the necessary submissions accordingly.
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 |
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Before I get started with the report, just a quick note first to thank Garret Skead for running SARBN while I was away. It’s always much appreciated to have a birder of his calibre looking after things when I’m away, so thanks Garret for always being willing to help!
On to the news and, starting in the Western Cape, at least 2 CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTINGS were found along Tafelberg Road at -33.946, 18.437 on Tuesday and one was still present a little further on at -33.945, 18.439 yesterday. Elsewhere, lingerers included the CAPE (GLOSSY) STARLING still around Cape of Good Hope on Tuesday, the GREEN-BACKED (STRIATED) HERON still at Marina da Gama yesterday, the GOLIATH HERON still at Zeekoevlei at -34.057, 18.508 yesterday, the DUSKY SUNBIRD still in Strand yesterday, the AFRICAN JACANA still along the Klein River on the Stanford side of Springfontein Wines yesterday and the popular GREY WAGTAIL still present and entertaining locals in Knysna until at least Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Dusky Sunbird in Strand © Hernus Langeveldt | Dusky Sunbird in Strand © Graham Luden | ||||||||
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Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Albert McLean | Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Diane McLean | ||||||||
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Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Edwin Polden | Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Louis Heyns | ||||||||
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Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Rupert Horley | |||||||||
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Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Estelle Smalberger | Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Bruce Ward-Smith | ||||||||
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Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Riaan Meyer | Grey Wagtail in Knysna © Neil Ebedes | ||||||||
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The Eastern Cape chimed in with some great records when both a BROWN BOOBY and a RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD were seen at Bird Island in Algoa Bay yesterday. Apparently, the Tropicbird was also seen there on 24 April as well. | |||||||||
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Brown Booby on Bird Island © Lorien Pichegru | Red-tailed Tropicbird on Bird Island © Lorien Pichegru | ||||||||
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Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, a CAPPED WHEATEAR was found on a farm in the Wartburg region yesterday while the BLACK-TRHOATED WATTLE-EYE was also seen again on the same farm yesterday as well. The long-staying LESSER MOORHEN was also reported again at Simbithi at -29.512, 31.228 on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Lesser Moorhen at Simbithi © Brian Roberts | Capped Wheatear in Wartburg © Rudi Hillermann | ||||||||
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In the Free State, the SWEE WAXBILLS were still at Oliewenhuis Art Museum in Bloefontein at -29.098, 26.220 yesterday.
Mpumalanga delivered a rather unexpected DICKINSON’S KESTREL south of the Satara in the Kruger National Park at -24.529, 31.768 earlier today.
Up in Namibia, the long-staying ROSS’S TURACO was still at Taranga Safari Lodge, west of Rundu, on Tuesday.
And finally, in Mozambique, a SLATY EGRET was found at Macaneta, north of Maputo, at -25.703, 32.710 on Saturday and appears to be the first documented record of this species for the country. | |||||||||
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Ross’s Turaco at Taranga Safari Lodge © Hugh Retief | Slaty Egret at Macaneta © Tom Moore | ||||||||
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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 | |||||||||
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TREVOR HARDAKER Cape Town, South Africa |
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