Southern African Rare Bird News Thursday 30 December 2021
Garret Skead
Dear SARBN subscribers
Starting with the EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARDS, birds were seen at the following locations:
- Chisipte, on Monday, Zimbabwe
- Nietbvoorbij in Stellenbosch on Monday, Western Cape
- Lower Tokai, Cape Town on Monday, Western Cape
- Rooisand Nature Reserve on Tuesday, Western Cape
- Palmiet Nature Reserve, Westville on Tuesday, Kwazulu-Natal
- Umgazi River, Port St Johns on Tuesday, Eastern Cape
- Two birds in Parys on Tuesday, Free State
- Fernwood, Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday, Western Cape
- N2 at the Van Staden’s river off-ramp on Wednesday, Eastern Cape
- Near Kleinemond on Wednesday, Eastern Cape
- Avis Dam, Windhoek, on Wednesday, Namibia
- Leopard Creek, Malelane near stand 45 on Wednesday, Mpumalanga
- Letaba Day visitors area, Kruger National Park on Wednesday, Mpumalanga
- Pringle Bay entrance road on Thursday, Western Cape
- Mazvikadei Banket, on Thursday, Zimbabwe
- Kube Yini Private Game Reserve (3 individuals) on Thursday, Kwazulu-Natal
- Seven Passes Road inland of Sedgefield on Thursday, Western Cape
WESTERN CAPE:
On Monday evening, a non-breeding BLACK TERN was found in the Tern roost at the Milnerton lagoon, and the plot thickened later with the discovery of a second bird, both of which were enjoyed by twitchers, and viewed from the open access location at -33.888, 18.487. Photo attached (c) Gabriel Jamie. At least one bird was seen again on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, joining the Tern roost on the sand bank. The province held onto its national rarities, with BAIRD’S SANDPIPER on display at Macassar sewage works on Thursday morning (photo attached (c) Luke Goddard), and the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER seen at Keurbooms River estuary on Thursday morning (location pin: -34.027, 23.390). The COMMON WHITETHROATS remained at Roam Private Game Reserve, with two birds seen on Wednesday morning. At least two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were still present at Strandfontein sewage works on S7 on Wednesday morning, viewed from -34.088, 18.519. The GREATER SAND PLOVER was still at Uilenskraal River east of Gansbaai on Wednesday morning. No less than three BROWN SNAKE EAGLES were seen in the province on Thursday, at Cape Point National Park (-34.310, 18.450), Stilbaai (-34.335, 21.413) and soaring over Somerset West towards Sir Lowry’s Pass. EUROPEAN ROLLERS continued to be reported from the province with regularity, with a bird seen at Strandfontein sewage works on S8 on Wednesday, at -34.089, 18.532, another near the Breede River at -34.306, 20.594 and near Vanwyksdorp at -33.749, 21.215. The bird reported from Sedgefield on Dec 27 was still present on Wednesday afternoon, and joined by a RED-BACKED SHRIKE at the same spot on Tuesday (-34.008, 22.772). In the region north of Riversdale, a RED-BACKED SHRIKE was seen on Wednesday (at -33.9, 21.216) and a LESSER GREY SHRIKE was also found (at -33.893, 21.208) on the same day. Two female RED-BACKED SHRIKES were seen on Thursday near Beaufort West on Dejagerspas Rd. The FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS remained at Paardevlei, with at least one bird seen on Wednesday morning. The male EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE visited the same garden in George on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, at 4 Meadow Rd.
KWAZULU-NATAL:
The biggest news of the day was the discovery of a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER this afternoon at around 4pm, at Mpempe Pan, alongside a PECTORAL SANDPIPER, located at -27.219, 32.480. (Photo sent out with mega alert email). In addition, the province delivered a mega bird for the country on Tuesday morning, with an OLIVE BEE-EATER found in the grasslands on the western edge of Ongoye forest at -28.834, 31.652. The bird flew off shortly thereafter and hasn’t been seen since. Staying in Zululand, a DWARF BITTERN was seen on the Phinda access road (D448) on Tuesday midday, and two were seen at Manyoni Private Game Reserve on Wednesday. Another DWARF BITTERN was also seen at Vukazini Pans at Tembe Elephant Park on Wednesday. At the Umhlanga Estuary river mouth, a EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER was found on Wednesday morning in a group of up to 14 African Oystercatchers, but this location is not accessible for the general public. However, it may be worth checking the area between the uMdloti and uMgeni estuaries for this group of birds, as the group apparently roams into publicly accessible areas.
EASTERN CAPE:
A single female VIOLET-BACKED STARLING was found on Tuesday morning in Hankey, at -33.830, 24.882, and the male EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE was still at the Urquhart caravan park near Graaff-Reinet on Wednesday morning (at -32.245, 24.526).
FREE STATE:
The province has seen some exciting records in the last few days. Starting with the MADAGASCAN CUCKOO, present at Soetdoring until at least Wednesday afternoon. Photo attached (c) Peter Sharland. Apparently the roads are now dry and drivable with a sedan vehicle. On Thursday morning, a SLATY EGRET was seen at Soutpan, at -28.745, 26.054, and nearby, an AFRICAN CRAKE was found at -28.761, 26.049. A little further afield from Soutpan, a BAILLON’S CRAKE was seen at -28.681, 26.280 on Thursday. There was also a EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE at Soetdoring on Tuesday, at -28.835, 26.038. There were two DWARF BITTERNS seen at the same coordinates as previously reported on Tuesday (-28.762, 26.051), and 5 birds were seen at Florisbad on Wednesday afternoon. A CORN CRAKE was reported near Frankfort on Wednesday, at -27.138, 28.440).
GAUTENG:
DUSKY LARKS were reported from the Dinokeng area on Monday, and on Tuesday morning at -25,165, 28.183, and two pairs of WATER THICK-KNEES were seen on Monday afternoon, at Dinokeng Dula-Nokeng dam road junction and on the far bank of the dam. A HOODED VULTURE was seen at VulPro close to Hartebeespoort on Tuesday afternoon.
MPUMALANGA:
In the Kruger National Park, a SOOTY FALCON was seen on Monday morning between Berg-en-dal and Malelane. Also in the park, two BLACK COUCALS were seen at -24.899, 31.909, which remains a species of significant local interest, although acknowledged not as a true rarity but as an uncommon summer visitor to certain locations in South Africa. ALLEN’S GALLINULE was also reported from the Thandanyathi hide on the S28 on Thursday. The RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was still present at Farm Wagendrift near Piet Retief on Wednesday. For access, contact Johann Engelbrecht on 0828252823.
LIMPOPO:
In the Kruger National Park, an ALLEN’S GALLINULE was seen just south of Babalwa picnic site on Tuesday morning, at -22.922, 31.257.
NORTHERN CAPE:
A male PALLID HARRIER was reported between Vanderkloof Dam and Petrusville on Wednesday.
NAMIBIA:
A single FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK was seen at Avis Dam near Windhoek on Wednesday morning.
