SA Rare Bird News Report - 03 October 2013
Trevor Hardaker
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Thursday, 03 October 2013. 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 | ||
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How nice it is to start this report off for a change in the Free State where provincial listers were all abuzz today when news broke of a RED-CAPPED ROBIN-CHAT in Sasolburg this morning. Several locals have subsequently managed to connect with the bird which seems to be quite settled at the moment in the grounds of the Natref Refinery there. Yet another way out of range record for this species in the last few weeks, it just goes to show what excitement can be derived from keeping a provincial list when birds like this turn up…J If anyone is interested in going for this bird, they need to report to the security gate and ask for permission to enter. (GPS co-ords for the security gate: S2647.908 E2750.999) As this is a high security area, please do not just stop and jerk out scopes, cameras and bins, because you might spoil it for the rest of the visitors.
Also of interest in the province yesterday was a flock of about 30 WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATERS seen on a farm in Bethulie.
Down to the Western Cape where a RED-BILLED QUELEA was reported from near Faure on the Cape Flats on Monday, still quite an odd record so close to Cape Town.
In the Eastern Cape, news came through today that a SOOTY TERN was present on Bird Island in Algoa Bay last week, so PE birders should be checking the coastal tern roosts to see if it perhaps turns up at one of those.
Continuing the SOOTY TERN theme, but this time in Kwazulu Natal, the well twitched St Lucia bird was still on view today as well. And just a follow up (and a photo) on the CASPIAN PLOVER that was reported from Mkhuze in Monday’s report – as it turns out, there were actually at least 8 individuals in the area. For those who are keen to go and look for them, they were reported at -27.718428, 32.481985 just off the R22, south of the turn of to the eastern gate to Mkhuze Game Reserve. | ||
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Red-capped Robin-chat in Sasolburg © Dawie Kleynhans | Caspian Plover at Mkhuze © Rich Lindie | |
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Please remember to send through your details to be included on the various listing clubs that are hosted at www.zestforbirds.co.za. This website also has an extensive rarities gallery that has many additional photos of a number of rarities that are mentioned in these reports. | ||
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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. | ||
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Kind regards Trevor | ||
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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:
ZEST for BIRDS Pelagics, rarity photos, listing clubs and more:
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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
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