SA Rare Bird News Report - 17 January 2022
Trevor Hardaker
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
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 | |||||||||
|
|
| |||||||
This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 18h00 on Monday, 17 January 2022.
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 |
| SARBN is proud to be associated with the following brands: | |||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
|
|
| |||||||
| |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
PLEASE CONSIDER FOLLOWING ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY CLICKING ON THE LINKED ICONS BELOW: | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
|
|
| ||||||
| |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Starting in the Western Cape, the EUROPEAN ROLLER was seen again near Good Hope Nursery on Plateau Road yesterday afternoon, the COMMON CUCKOO was seen again in Bel Ombre Meadow in Constantia this afternoon and the AFRICAN JACANA was still around the Scotto hide at Rondevlei Nature Reserve on the weekend while there were as many as 5 AFRICAN PALM SWIFTS at Dolphin Beach Pans yesterday. At least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER remained on Pan P1 at Strandfontein Sewage Works yesterday and the popular BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was still at Macassar Sewage Works until at least Friday. Other lingerers included the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE still at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif on Friday and the GOLIATH HERON still at the dam along the R304 on Saturday while there were as many as 5 AMUR FALCONS still along the Swartrivier Road near Bot River on Friday (but not reported since then). A EUROPEAN ROLLER was found at Ayama Wine Farm near Wellington at -33.628, 18.826 on Saturday, another EUROPEAN ROLLER was found along the road near the entrance to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve on Saturday and the GREATER SAND PLOVER was still at the Uilenkraals River, east of Gansbaai, at -34.602, 19.417 yesterday. A RED-BACKED SHRIKE was reported south of Bredasdorp at -34.657, 19.893 on Saturday while at least 5 FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS were seen just north of the entrance to De Mond Nature Reserve earlier today.
Over on the Garden Route, there was also plenty happening with 2 AFRICAN CRAKES seen near Vleesbaai at -34.238, 21.867 on Saturday, a EUROPEAN ROLLER found near Brandwag at -33.992, 21.971 on Saturday, several LESSER STRIPED SWALLOWS still at the bridge at George Dam on Saturday, a MARSH WARBLER reported at Kingswood Golf Estate in George at -33.971, 22.435 on Saturday and the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER still at the Keurbooms River estuary in Plettenberg Bay yesterday while, along the Uplands Road near Plettenberg Bay, 3 GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTINGS were seen at -33.950, 23.290 yesterday while there were also as many as 3 EUROPEAN ROLLERS in the vicinity of -33.952, 23.318 yesterday as well. A male RED-BACKED SHRIKE was also seen just east of Beaufort West at -32.328, 22.769 yesterday.
Up in the Northern Cape, as many as 24 BLACK-WINGED PRATINCOLES were present at New Holme Guest Farm near Hanover yesterday, a LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER was reported on a farm between Loxton and Fraserburg on Saturday and a GREAT EGRET was seen in the Auob riverbed near Auchterlonie in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on Friday. | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Red-necked Phalarope at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Bryan Maritz | Red-necked Phalarope at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Mary Clarke | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Amur Falcon along the Swartrivier Road © Robert Cooper | Amur Falcon along the Swartrivier Road © Pamela Cooper | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Amur Falcon along the Swartrivier Road © Charles Britz | Amur Falcon along the Swartrivier Road © Stanislav Novotny | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Common Cuckoo in Bel Ombre Meadow © Matthew Orolowitz | African Crake near Vleesbaai © Elmarie Brits | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
European Roller near Brandwag © Flip Schonken | European Roller along the Uplands Road © Regard van Dyk | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Golden-breasted Bunting along the Uplands Road © Regard van Dyk | Eurasian Oystercatcher on the Keurbooms River estuary © Regard van Dyk | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Red-backed Shrike near Beaufort West © Jaco van Veuren | Great Egret in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park © Bob Baigrie | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
In the Eastern Cape, there have been some interesting records with both a LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER and a LESSER GREY SHRIKE found in Middelburg yesterday while another LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER was found in Rocklyffe on Sea Road in Cove Ridge, East London at -33.066, 27.803 yesterday and was still present in the same area today. Elsewhere, the popular SOOTY FALCON was still in the same area near Assegaai Trails, inland of Kenton-on-Sea, today while a couple of AFRICAN WATTLED LAPWINGS were found on the Cedarville Flats at -30.245, 29.028 today with a single RED-FOOTED FALCON close by as well and another RED-FOOTED FALCON was seen about 10km from Cathcart in the direction of East London on Saturday. | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Lilac-breasted Roller in Cove Ridge © Pierre Hensburg | Lilac-breasted Roller in Cove Ridge © Larry McGillewie | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| |||||||||
Lilac-breasted Roller in Cove Ridge © Foden Saunders | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Lilac-breasted Roller in Middelburg © Tino Herselman | Lilac-breasted Roller in Middelburg © Willie van Heerden | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Lesser Grey Shrike in Middelburg © Tino Herselman | Red-footed Falcon (on left) near Cathcart © Susan Schlebusch | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Sooty Falcon near Assegaai Trails © Lynette Rudman | Sooty Falcon near Assegaai Trails © Donovan Hulett | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the popular EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER was still near Peace Cottage at Umdloti today and the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was also still at Tiox Hide in Umbogavango Nature Reserve in Amanzimtoti until at least Friday while a GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER was reported at Bayete Zulu Lodge on Manyoni Private Game Reserve on Saturday and the reserve also hosted a BLACK KITE on Friday. The ALLEN’S GALLINULE was also still on the private farm dam in Port Edward yesterday as was at least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Mpempe Pan.
Into the Free State where the mega MADAGASCAN CUCKOO was still at Soetdoring Nature Reserve until at least Saturday while as many as 3 DWARF BITTERNS were still at Soutpan at -28.760, 26.049 earlier today and another DWARF BITTERN was reported from Soetdoring Nature Reserve at -28.823, 26.053 on Saturday. | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Eurasian Oystercatcher at Umdloti © Stewart Clarke | Eurasian Oystercatcher at Umdloti © Kris da Silva | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Eurasian Oystercatcher at Umdloti © Mark Hardouin | Eurasian Oystercatcher at Umdloti © Priscilla Hardouin | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Eurasian Oystercatcher at Umdloti © David Hoddinott | Eurasian Oystercatcher at Umdloti © Dave Sanders | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Allen’s Gallinule in Port Edward © Stan Culley | Pectoral Sandpiper at Mpempe Pan © Warren Sutherland | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Black Kite at Manyoni Private Game Reserve © Wade Lee | Madagascan Cuckoo at Soetdoring Nature Reserve © Johnny Wilson | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
In Gauteng, a single AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE was seen at Cedar Lakes Estate in the Fourways area on Friday.
The North-west Province produced 2 PINK-BACKED PELICANS at Rockwall Dam near Rustenburg yesterday while a single LESSER MOORHEN was also seen at Kroondal Dam outside Rustenburg yesterday as well.
Limpopo chimed in with a SLATY EGRET seen on a farm between Naboomspruit and Potgietersrus today.
Up in Namibia, 4 FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS were present at Goanikontes Oasis, inland of Swakopmund, yesterday.
And finally, in Botswana, a STRIPED CRAKE was seen at a pan at Botlhapatlou, north of Gaborone, on Friday. | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
Pink-backed Pelican at Rockwall Dam © Shaun McGillewie | Fulvous Whistling Ducks at Goanikontes Oasis © JP Koch | ||||||||
|
| ||||||||
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 |
|
|
|
| |||||
| |||||||||
|
| ||||||||
| |||||||||
| |||||||||
