SA Rare Bird News Report - 06 March 2014

[Trevor Hardaker]

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Thursday, 06 March 2014. 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
Starting in the Western Cape, most of the attention is still on De Mond Nature Reserve where at least 2 BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPERS and a couple of GREATER SAND PLOVERS have continued to entertain the regular flow of twitchers that have found their way into the reserve (still present until at least yesterday). Up the West Coast, yet another PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER was located at Laaiplek in Velddrif on Tuesday and was also still present there yesterday, this now being at least the 4th individual of this species currently in the Cape. Also, after a long silence of updates, the BLACK HERON at Thesen Island in Knysna was confirmed as still present on Tuesday as well whilst, earlier today, there were still good numbers of AMUR FALCONS along the Uplands Road near Plettenberg Bay.   In the Northern Cape, there was some surprise on Tuesday when a GREY GO-AWAY-BIRD was located on the farm Witpan south of Reivilo, seemingly one of only a handful of records for the province ever.   The Eastern Cape hasn't held back either and the ever popular HUDSONIAN GODWIT on the Krom River at St Francis Bay was still drawing attention today from a flood of twitchers from literally all over the country who have made the pilgrimage to catch up with this 8th record of the species for Southern Africa. It has also been confirmed that the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was still present at Cape Recife until at least Saturday.   In Mpumalanga, the weekend saw confirmation that at least one SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER was still present at Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park.   And finally, across to Gauteng where the influx of MARABOU STORKS also continues with a bird noted at the dump in Rosslyn earlier this week.
Broad-billed Sandpiper at De Mond Nature Reserve © Dylan Vasapolli			Greater Sand Plover at De Mond Nature Reserve © Dylan Vasapolli
Pacific Golden Plover at Laaiplek © Eddie and Linda du Plessis			Lesser Black-backed Gull at Cape Recife © Bryan Groom
Hudsonian Godwit at St Francis Bay © Dylan Vasapolli
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 -------------------------------------------------------------