SA Rare Bird News Report - 29 November 2021
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 Monday, 29 November 2021.
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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As usual, let’s start with the scarcity reports over the last few days…
EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD:
· One at Djuma in the Sabi Sands (Mpumalanga) this morning. · One at kuMahlahla Hide in Mkuze Game Reserve (KZN) yesterday. · One over the Nahoon River estuary (Eastern Cape) on Saturday. · One at Albert Falls (KZN) on Saturday. · One along Kameelfontein Road (Gauteng) at -25.659, 28.359 on Saturday. · One along the Wilge River (Gauteng) at -25.608, 29.004 on Saturday. · One at Bezhoek Private Game Reserve (Mpumalanga) on Saturday. · One along the Zaagkuildrift Road just beyond Crake Road (North-west Province) on Saturday.
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European Honey Buzzard at Bezhoek Private Game Reserve © Adolf Joubert | European Honey Buzzard at the Nahoon River estuary © Steve Cook | ||||||||
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On to the rest of the news and, starting in the Western Cape, a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER was seen on pelagic trip out of Hout Bay yesterday while a fishing trip from Hout Bay today produced a SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS. There was also some excitement when a RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD was found at Olifantsbos near Cape Point yesterday before it moved north. It was subsequently seen at several other sites during the course of the morning including Crayfish Factory, Kommetjie beach and Wildevoelvlei before reports dried up. Interestingly, there was also an unconfirmed report of a RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD seen at Moullie Point on Saturday afternoon, but no further information is available about this claim. The lone YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOP was also still at Lake Michelle in Noordhoek earlier today. North of Cape Town, a JACOBIN CUCKOO was reported in the West Coast National Park about 1km from the R27 entrance on Saturday while a single FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK was found on a farm dam in Piketberg on Friday. There were still also a number of FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS at Paardevlei near The Strand yesterday while other lingerers included the PECTORAL SANDPIPER still at Fisherhaven at -34.36, 19.112 on Friday, the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER still around the Klein River Lagoon in Hermanus yesterday, the GREATER SAND PLOVER still at the Uilenkraals River, east of Gansbaai, on Friday and at least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER still at the pan near Witsand at -34.386, 20.826 on Saturday. A LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was seen near Suurbrak at -34.011, 20.735 on Saturday while a WHITE-STARRED ROBIN was seen again in Grootvadersbosch on Saturday as well.
Over on the Garden Route, a BROWN SNAKE EAGLE was seen near Vleesbaai at -34.285, 21.86 on Saturday, a male RED-BACKED SHRIKE was found near the entrance to the Woodville Big Tree at -33.934, 22.649 on Saturday, a BLACK HERON was seen at Rondevlei near Wilderness at -33.996, 22.702 on Saturday and a RED-BILLED OXPECKER was seen at The Crags in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday while there was also some excitement when a GREY WAGTAIL was found along the river near the Rust en Vrede Waterfall near De Rust at -33.395, 22.356 on Saturday and was still there this afternoon. For this latter bird, please note that the vehicle gate is locked, but there is a pedestrian opening next to it which can be used. Apparently, it’s quite a stiff hike from where you park up to the waterfall though. Please also note that the road coming from the Cango Caves side is better and shorter than from De Rust. | |||||||||
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Flesh-footed Shearwater on pelagic trip © Trevor Hardaker | Red-tailed Tropicbird at Wildevoelvlei © Robert Cooper | ||||||||
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Yellow-crowned Bishop at Lake Michelle © Robert Cooper | Yellow-crowned Bishop at Lake Michelle © Pamela Cooper | ||||||||
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Fulvous Whistling Duck in Piketberg © Madelie Burger | Pectoral Sandpiper at Fisherhaven © Stanislav Novotny | ||||||||
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Greater Sand Plover at the Uilenkraals River © Charles Britz | Greater Sand Plover at the Uilenkraals River © Stanislav Novotny | ||||||||
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Red-backed Shrike near Woodville Big Tree © Derick Oosthuizen | Black Heron at Rondevlei © Derick Oosthuizen | ||||||||
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Grey Wagtail near Rust en Vrede Waterfall © Regard van Dyk | |||||||||
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In the Eastern Cape, a BROWN SNAKE EAGLE was seen at Cape Recife yesterday, the BLACK HERON was seen again at Perseverance Pan at -33.811, 25.529 yesterday, a LONG-TAILED PARADISE WHYDAH was reported along Ubejane Loop in Mountain Zebra National Park yesterday, a BLACK KITE was present at Komga pig farm yesterday, a single BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER was found in Gxulu on Saturday and a WHITE-BACKED VULTURE was seen again at Shamwari Private Game Reserve on Saturday as well. | |||||||||
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Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Gxulu © Clive Delbridge | Long-tailed Paradise Whydah in Mountain Zebra National Park © Stewart MacLachlan | ||||||||
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Brown Snake Eagle at Cape Recife © Patrick Kilian | |||||||||
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Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, there was plenty to keep local birders entertained. Southern Africa’s 30th GOLDEN PIPIT was still in the same area near Albert Falls at -29.494, 30.386 earlier today. Now in its 12th day of residence at this site, it is certainly giving twitchers ample opportunity to connect with it. Also causing major excitement was the discovery of the subregion’s 35th WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at the Sappi wetlands in Stanger at -29.362, 31.303 yesterday that was still there today and drawing a steady stream of admirers. An ALLEN’S GALLUNULE was also found at the same site yesterday as well. The MADAGASCAN CUCKOO was still in Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Game Park at -28.193, 32.002 yesterday, the ALLEN’S GALLINULE was still at Muzi Pan at -27.653, 32.405 on Saturday, a LEVAILLANT’S CUCKOO was found near Muzi Pan at -27.633, 32.353 on Saturday and at least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER was still at Mpempe Pan on Saturday as well while a male RED-HEADED WEAVER found at Phongolo picnic site in Ithala Game Reserve on Friday was an interesting record too. Other interesting records included a BAR-TAILED GODWIT found at Thurlow at -29.539, 30.148 on Saturday, the MELODIOUS LARK still south-east of Winterton at -28.875, 29.71 on Friday and the popular SOUTHERN WHITE-FACED OWL which was also still in Gilford Place in Durban North on Saturday while rather delayed and equally depressing news was a report of Southern Africa’s 25th WHINCHAT seen near Cape Vidal on the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park at -28.156, 32.498 on 10 November 2021. | |||||||||
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Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Eduard Teichert | Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Richard Crawshaw | ||||||||
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Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Karen Diederiks | Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Steve van Niekerk | ||||||||
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Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Mark Hardouin | Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Khatja Jhazbhay | ||||||||
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Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Riaan Meyer | Golden Pipit near Albert Falls © Robert Graham | ||||||||
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White-rumped Sandpiper at Sappi Stanger © Mike O’Donaghue | White-rumped Sandpiper at Sappi Stanger © Athol Marchant | ||||||||
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White-rumped Sandpiper at Sappi Stanger © Richard Crawshaw | White-rumped Sandpiper at Sappi Stanger © Steve van Niekerk | ||||||||
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White-rumped Sandpiper at Sappi Stanger © Decklan Jordaan | White-rumped Sandpiper (2nd from right) with Little Stints at Sappi Stanger © Luke Allen | ||||||||
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White-rumped Sandpiper at Sappi Stanger © David Hoddinott | Melodious Lark near Winterton © David Hoddinott | ||||||||
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Allen’s Gallinule at Muzi Pan © Andrew Taylor | Allen’s Gallinule at Muzi Pan © David Taylor | ||||||||
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Red-headed Weaver in Ithala Game Reserve © Julia Clarence | Whinchat near Cape Vidal © Nico Fourie | ||||||||
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Into the Free State where the popular MADAGASCAN CUCKOO was still at Soetdoring Nature Reserve at -28.832, 26.047 yesterday.
In Gauteng, the long-staying SLATY EGRET was still at Gnu Valley farm in Muldersdrift on Saturday.
Across in Mpumalanga, Mkhombo Dam held on to a few specials on Saturday with a SANDERLING at -25.119, 28.882 and a CHESTNUT-BANDED PLOVER at -25.127, 28.86 while there were also still at least 19 CASPIAN PLOVERS there at -25.125, 28.857 on Friday. Elsewhere, a DENHAM’S BUSTARD was reported on the on the Old Verena Spa road at -25.423, 29.048 on Saturday and was still there today while Loskop Dam had some interesting records as well with a RED-CAPPED ROBIN-CHAT found there at -25.415, 29.357 on Friday and still there on Saturday and a NARINA TROGON seen in the same area on both Friday and Saturday as well.
Over in Limpopo, 3 COLLARED PRATINCOLES were reported at Makwadzi Pan along the Limpopo River in the Makuleke Concession near Pafuri in the Kruger National Park on Saturday. | |||||||||
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Madagascan Cuckoo at Soetdoring Nature Reserve © Nikesh Hargoon | Madagascan Cuckoo at Soetdoring Nature Reserve © Johan van Niekerk | ||||||||
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Madagascan Cuckoo at Soetdoring Nature Reserve © Hanti Mathews | Madagascan Cuckoo at Soetdoring Nature Reserve © Trygve Hvidsten | ||||||||
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Slaty Egret at Gnu Valley farm © Daniel Danckwerts | |||||||||
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Up in Namibia, the mega ROSS’S TURACO was still at Taranga Safari Lodge, west of Rundu, on Saturday while a group of 7 FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS were seen at the beach in Swakopmund on Saturday as well.
And finally, in Zimbabwe, 2 SPUR-WINGED LAPWINGS were reported at Lake Chivero near Marimba on Friday. | |||||||||
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Spur-winged Lapwing at Lake Chivero © Piet Zwanikken | |||||||||
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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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