SA Rare Bird News Report - 17 May 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 17h30 on Monday, 17 May 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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Starting in the Western Cape, the most exciting news was certainly the discovery of Southern Africa’s 24th WHINCHAT on a farm along the road to Prinskraal near Bredasdorp yesterday afternoon. Although the bird couldn’t be found at the original location this morning, it was found again this afternoon just a short distance to the west at -34.651, 20.070. A pelagic trip out of Hout Bay yesterday produced a SOUTHERN FULMAR and 2 SPECTACLED PETRELS while other birds of interest included a SQUACCO HERON on Steenberg Golf Course yesterday, another SQUACCO HERON found at Blomkraals bridge, 1,5km from Black Oystercatcher Winery, near Elim, the DOUBLE-BANDED COURSERS still near Moorreesburg at -33.207, 18.517 yesterday and a FAIRY FLYCATCHER seen in a garden in Napier on Saturday. The records of out of range CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTINGS also continued with one still along Tafelberg Road on Table Mountain yesterday, one along Rocket Road above Sandy Bay yesterday, one found in Mossel Bay at -34.181, 22.126 on Friday and another seen near The Point in Mossel Bay yesterday as well while there were also a few RED-BILLED QUELA records too with a group of 20 seen in Lighthouse Road in Kommetjie yesterday and another group of about 10 seen at Olifantsbos near Cape Point yesterday as well.
Over on the Garden Route, slightly delayed news of a RED-BILLED OXPECKER seen at Botlierskop Nature Reserve at -34.008, 22.182 on Tuesday was received and, when followed up, 2 birds were found close by at -34.012, 22.172 this morning. There was also some excitement when an ABDIM’S STORK was found along the Seven Passes Road, inland of Sedgefield, at -33.942, 22.752 on Friday and was still in the same general area yesterday while both an AFRICAN JACANA and a SQUACCO HERON were found at Woodbourne Pan in Knysna on Friday and a GOLIATH HERON was present on the Keurbooms River in Plettenberg Bay this morning. | |||||||||
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Whinchat between Arniston and Struisbaai © Gary Hayman | |||||||||
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Southern Fulmar on pelagic trip © Trevor Hardaker | Spectacled Petrel on pelagic trip © Trevor Hardaker | ||||||||
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Southern Fulmar on pelagic trip © Alice Moller | |||||||||
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Fairy Flycatcher in Napier © Steve Peck | Red-billed Oxpecker at Botlierskop Nature Reserve © Pieter Bester | ||||||||
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Abdim’s Storm on Seven Passes Road © Caton Schutte | Abdim’s Storm on Seven Passes Road © Amanda Walden | ||||||||
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Abdim’s Storm on Seven Passes Road © Estelle Smalberger | Squacco Heron at Woodbourne Pan © Rob Hope | ||||||||
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In the Eastern Cape, the popular LESSER NODDY was still at Cape Recife today while a dead AFRICAN CRAKE was found in St Francis Bay on Saturday. The rest of the records referred to HOUSE CROWS with one seen at Cape Recife on Friday and another 2 seen at the braai area close to the old Summerstrand Hotel at -33.994, 25.679 on Friday as well while the 2 HOUSE CROWS were also still at Klipfontein near Bushmans River yesterday. | |||||||||
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Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Craig Widdows | Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Foden Saunders | ||||||||
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Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Edwin Polden | Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Barry Kurten | ||||||||
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Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Stan Blumberg | Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Gerbus Vermaak | ||||||||
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Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Wilma Meiring | |||||||||
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Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Jorrie Jordaan | Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Roy Tustin | ||||||||
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Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Susan Schlebusch | Lesser Noddy at Cape Recife © Trevor Flugel | ||||||||
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House Crow near old Summerstrand Hotel © Gerrie Horn | House Crow at Klipfontein © Denise Hoffmann | ||||||||
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House Crow at Klipfontein © Susan Schlebusch | House Crow at Klipfontein © Charles Pote | ||||||||
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In Gauteng, a BUSH BLACKCAP was found at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve at -26.482, 28.212 on Saturday and was still there today.
Across in Mpumalanga, the Devon region provided a couple of nice birds with a YELLOW-BREASTED PIPIT at -26.462, 28.831 and a SICKLE-WINGED CHAT at -26.463, 28.83 on Saturday. | |||||||||
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Bush Blackcap at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve © Massimo Di Domenico | Bush Blackcap at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve © Warren Mckay | ||||||||
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Bush Blackcap at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve © Mark Tittley | Yellow-breasted Pipit in the Devon region © Etienne Marais | ||||||||
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The North-west Province produced a PURPLE ROLLER at Harrisburg, between Orkney and Leeudoringstad, yesterday
Over in Limpopo, an AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE was reported at Camp Discovery at -25.294, 28.421 on Saturday.
Up in Namibia, after a long period of no reports, the mega ROSS’S TURACO was confirmed as still being present at Taranga Safari Lodge, west of Rundu, on Saturday.
And finally, in Mozambique, the MALAGASY POND HERON was still at Dunes de Dovela yesterday. | |||||||||
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Purple Roller at Harrisburg © Tony Archer | Malagasy Pond Heron at Dunes de Dovela © Paul Funston | ||||||||
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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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