Southern African Rare Bird News 18 July 2022
Garret Skead
Dear SARBN subscribers
Although it hasn’t been a busy week on the rarity front, there are nonetheless a smattering of highly exciting birds around the subregion, of which pride of place and centre stage must still surely belong to the WOOD WARBLER / WITPENSHOFSANGER, which continues to reside in the garden of Sefapane Lodge in Phalaborwa, Limpopo (See photo attached (c) Jandré Verster). The bird was still present today, and the lodge owners kindly continue to welcome visiting birders to view the local celebrity, found by British birder Nick Addey exactly two weeks ago.
In Kwazulu-Natal, the ARNOT’S CHAT remained on site until at least Thursday, and this report also comes with a reminder that the bird is on private land, and access must be arranged in advance with one of the local lodges, or with Wade Lee (0834587555) or Ivor van Rooyen (0745082480). The EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER seems not to have any migratory inclinations at this stage, and remained at Peace Cottage near Umdloti today. Two AFRICAN PENGUINS were seen off Mapelane on Sunday.
In the Free State, a somewhat out of range SOUTHERN YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL was unfortunately found dead, near Sasolburg on Sunday.
In Mpumalanga, two THREE-BANDED COURSERS were seen today in South Timbavati Nature Reserve, on private property.
In the Eastern Cape, a FAWN-COLOURED LARK was seen on Friday between Mierfontein and Knypfontein farms south of the Gariep Dam at -30.705, 25.496, which is an excellent sighting for the province, apparently representing a first provincial record.
In the Western Cape, the most interesting record belongs to that of a LEVAILLANT’S CUCKOO in Clovelly on Friday. Sadly, the bird was found dead, seemingly due to a window collision. This is the first confirmed record for the province, but under disappointing circumstances. On a happier note, a NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS was seen on a pelagic trip from Simon's Town on Saturday. Elsewhere, the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER remained at Keurbooms estuary in Plett until at least Sunday. A LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was seen outside Bredasdorp on the Arniston road, and the AFRICAN FINFOOT remained at the Robertson site yesterday. A BROWN SNAKE EAGLE was reported near Mossel Bay on Saturday at -34.262, 21.884, and there is certainly no shortage of FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS floating around the Zeekoevlei / Rondevlei wetlands of Cape Town, with at least 50 present at Rondevlei yesterday.
In Namibia, no less than two EGYPTIAN VULTURES were seen in Etosha National Park last week. A magnificent adult bird was reported from Klippen waterhole on Thursday (see photo attached (c) Sarsha Rinkovec), and a juvenile was seen at Dolomite camp on Wednesday.
Mozambique continued to rake in the rarity goodies, with a COMMON REDSHANK seen at San Sebastian peninsula on Friday (see photo attached (c) Estelle Smalberger), along with at least 9 SAUNDERS’S TERNS, 40 DAMARA TERNS and 50 CRAB-PLOVERS! This area continues to delight birders and produce surprises, and I am sure there are more rarities to be expected in future at this location.
Thanks to all the observers who have sent me updates. Please remember that for now I will be running SARBN. Trevor is away and will mostly not have cellphone signal or connectivity, so please don't send updates to him for now.
Kind regards
Garret
