SA Rare Bird News Report - 10 October 2013
Trevor Hardaker
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h05 on Thursday, 10 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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This week has seen Gauteng hogging the spotlight with the BUSH BLACKCAP arriving in Gisela Ortner's garden in Randburg on cue every morning at just after 06h30. The last few days have seen regular crowds gathering there in the early morning before heading off to work to enjoy the bird and this morning was no different with the bird showing well and entertaining the gathered admirers.
Thanks to Andre Marx for providing the information, it would seem that there are only 3 previous records of this species in Gauteng. The first one is from Krugersdorp in 1999. This was then followed by one in Northcliff in Johannesburg in 2000 and the most recent one that many of you might have twitched as well was in Heidelberg in June 2009.
Following a similar theme, the GREEN SANDPIPER at Rietvlei Nature Reserve also seems to be a very early morning bird and was, once again, on view this morning from the bridge, as described previously, between 05h45 and 06h30. | ||
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Bush Blackcap in Randburg © Dylan Vasapolli | Bush Blackcap in Randburg © Jason Boyce | |
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Bush Blackcap in Randburg © Roelof van der Breggen | Bush Blackcap in Randburg © Juan Pinto | |
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Bush Blackcap twitch in Randburg © Juan Pinto | ||
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Green Sandpiper at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Jason Boyce | Green Sandpiper at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Dirk Human | |
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In Limpopo Province, a RUDDY TURNSTONE located along the Maltabas River in the Marakele Pty section of Marakele National Park yesterday was a nice local find. The province didn’t stop there and also produced 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES on Tuesday (still present yesterday) at an irrigation reservoir on the farm De Loskop about 30km north of Polokwane on the Dendron / Alldays road.
Heading down south into Kwazulu Natal, an AYRES' HAWK EAGLE was seen yesterday afternoon soaring over the Bluff area in Durban whilst, on Sunday, the RED-HEADED WEAVER was confirmed as still being present at the Zululand Rhino Reserve.
Down into the Western Cape, a trip that returned back into SA waters from Gough Island on Tuesday afternoon turned up a single WHITE-BELLIED STORM PETREL, still very much a sought after species in the subregion, whilst supporting acts included a WANDERING ALBATROSS and at least 20 RED (GREY) PHALAROPES.
And, finally, in Mozambique, a couple of COMMON MYNAHS were reported from Maputo on Monday. | ||
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Ruddy Turnstone in Marakele National Park © Liam Charlton | Ruddy Turnstones at De Loskop © Richter van Tonder | |
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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:
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SOUTHERN AFRICAN RARITIES Online database of all SA rarities ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
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