SA Rare Bird News Report - 12 February 2015

[Trevor Hardaker]

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Thursday, 12 February 2015. 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 with the scarcities, EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARDS were reported over Hugh Wyndham Park in Parktown North (Gauteng) last Thursday, near Phabeni Gate in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday, on a farm just south of Polokwane yesterday and at Avis Dam in Windhoek this morning.   On to the rest of the news and, starting in the Western Cape, the Velddrif area retained attention this week with both the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and up to 10 CASPIAN PLOVERS still being present at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif until at least Tuesday (not seen yesterday despite extensive searching).   Elsewhere, a EUROPEAN ROLLER was located yesterday about 2km outside Bredasdorp on the road to Arniston.   Also of interest, the SOUTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL mentioned in Monday’s report at Onrus has spent the last few days on the rocks in Vermont and was still present there this morning. Another animal has also returned to the Robberg Peninsula in Plettenberg Bay, first seen again on Monday and now there for a number of successive season already.
			European Honey Buzzard near Phabeni gate © Arno Pietersen
Red-necked Phalarope at Velddrif © Howard Langley			Caspian Plover at Velddrif © Howard Langley
Southern Elephant Seal at Vermont © John Bowman
In the Eastern Cape, both FULVOUS DUCKS were still present at Mayfield Sewage Works in Grahamstown yesterday whilst an odd CUCKOO was seen about 10km north of Graaff Reinet in Acacia woodland yesterday. It was apparently first seen very briefly a few days prior, but was able to be photographed yesterday for the first time. Whilst the photos are not conclusive at this stage, initial thoughts from a number of people have suggested that it may well be a LESSER-type CUCKOO. Let's hope that the bird can be relocated and more detailed photos of it can be obtained because that would be a rather exciting record indeed!
Fulvous Duck at Mayfield Sewage Works © Hugh Retief		Possible Lesser-type Cuckoo near Graff Reinet © Alan Collett
Up in Gauteng, a LAPPET-FACED VULTURE was located just off the D99 road at Ingwe Bush Camp in Hekpoort on Tuesday, a good record for the area, whilst a RED-FOOTED FALCON was reported from Rietvleidam Nature Reserve near Pretoria on Friday and the SLATY EGRET continues to draw attention at Gnu Valley.   In Mpumalanga, the SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER was still present at Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park this afternoon.   Across into the North-west Province where the attention has been focused on Kgaswane Nature Reserve where several TREE PIPITS have remained on and were still showing well to visitors until late yesterday afternoon at least.
Lappet-faced Vulture in Hekpoort © Andrew Keys		Red-footed Falcon at Rietvleidam Nature Reserve © Billy Terre Blanche
Slaty Egret at Gnu Valley © Clyde Porter		Tree Pipit at Kgaswane Nature Reserve © Mark Tittley
In Botswana, I have also received 2 slightly delayed records of EURASIAN REED WARBLERS that were netted and ringed, the first originally trapped on 25 January (and then re-trapped on 1 February) at Maun Letaka Manor and then another bird trapped at Lake Ngami on 28 January.   And finally, in Namibia, the RED-THROATED PIPIT was still present at Avis Dam in Windhoek this morning. Just to give some feedback on the twitch stats, so far I have received confirmation that 165 birders have been to see this bird. Leading the way are the Namibians (obviously!) with 66 birders, then Gauteng with 56, the Western Cape with 19, Mpumalanga with 5, the Eastern Cape with 4, Limpopo and the Free State with 3 a piece, the North-west and Botswana with 2 each, Kwazulu Natal only having 1 representative and the remaining 4 individuals from outside of the subregion.
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 -------------------------------------------------------------