SA Rare Bird News Report - 18 January 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 18h00 on Monday, 18 January 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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As usual, let’s start with the scarcities first…
EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD:
· One just off the R30 between Theunisen and Brandfort (Free State) at -28.616, 26.534 today. · One in a woodland area in the Cradle of Humankind (Gauteng) this morning. · One at Idle & Wild B&B in Hazyview (Mpumalanga) today. · One along the Zaagkuildrift road (Limpopo) at -25.191, 28.282 this morning. · One at the Grassland Loop exit in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (KZN) yesterday. · One in Parys (Free State) yesterday. · One in Muldersdrift (Gauteng) yesterday and a different individual in the same area this afternoon. · One at Hedianga Farm in Pretoria East (Gauteng) yesterday. · One just north of the Olifants River bridge in the Kruger National Park (Limpopo) yesterday. · One at Modderfontein Nature Reserve (Gauteng) on Friday and still there yesterday. · One on a camera trap at Inanda Country Base, Kyalami, Midrand (Gauteng) on Friday. · One over Avis Dam in Windhoek (Namibia) on Wednesday. | |||||||||
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European Honey Buzzard in iSimangaliso Wetland Park © Ian Ferreira | European Honey Buzzard at Inanda Country Base © Camera trap image | ||||||||
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European Honey Buzzard in the Cradle of Humankind © Christine Read | European Honey Buzzard in Parys © Sanita Kemp | ||||||||
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On to the rest of the news and, starting in the Western Cape, there was still quite a bit of action around Strandfontein Sewage Works with the BAIRD’S SANDPIPER still on Pan S2 until at least Saturday, the FRANKLIN’S GULL still drawing admirers on Pan P2 earlier today and a SAND MARTIN also still hanging around the works on Friday. Also creating some local excitement, a group of 5 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATERS were found near the entrance to Strandfontein Sewage Works on Saturday and moved between here and the Zeekoevlei weir for the rest of the afternoon while at least 3 birds were still around the Zeekoevlei wier this afternoon. Close by, the AFRICAN JACANA was also still present at Little Princess Vlei on Saturday. Up on the west coast, Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif remained popular with all the notable birds like WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER, AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and GOLIATH HERON all still reported from there on Saturday. A “new” AUSTRALASIAN GANNET was also found on Malgas Island in Saldanha Bay this morning and was subsequently banded later today, so that it can be recognised in the future.
Moving eastwards, the EUROPEAN ROLLER was still present along the R43 between Gansbaai and Pearly Beach on Saturday while the Plettenberg Bay region continued to provide local birding entertainment with a YELLOW-THROATED PETRONIA and a EUROPEAN ROLLER on the Uplands Road yesterday, 2 SAND MARTINS along the Rietvlei Road on Saturday and a GOLIATH HERON at Buco Dam on Friday. Moving inland, Karoo birders were also able to enjoy a single LESSER FLAMINGO at Beaufort West Sewage Works yesterday. | |||||||||
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Franklin’s Gull at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Charles Britz | Franklin’s Gull at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Daryl de Beer | ||||||||
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Franklin’s Gull at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Elsa Hoffmann | Franklin’s Gull at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Jacques Gilliomee | ||||||||
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Franklin’s Gull at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Mike Buckham | Franklin’s Gull at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Otto Schmidt | ||||||||
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Franklin’s Gull at Strandfontein Sewage Works © John Graham | Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Ian Rijsdijk | ||||||||
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Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Charles Britz | Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Rob Bowie | ||||||||
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Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Bryn de Kocks | Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Zeekoevlei weir © John Graham | ||||||||
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Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Zeekoevlei weir © Joel Radue | Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Zeekoevlei weir © Garret Skead | ||||||||
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American Golden Plover at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Bart Fokkens | Red-necked Phalarope at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Bart Fokkens | ||||||||
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American Golden Plover at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Cliff Dorse | |||||||||
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The Northern Cape has certainly produced some interesting local records in the last few days as well. In the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a DUSKY LARK was found 3 km north of Monro waterhole yesterday, a juvenile YELLOW-BILLED STORK was found at Kij Kij on Saturday (still there yesterday) and a HADEDA IBIS was seen at Samevloeiing waterhole on Saturday as well. In the Kimberley region, a single PINK-BACKED PELICAN was found at Platfontein at -28.666, 24.63 on Saturday while a group of 4-5 LITTLE BEE-EATERS were found south-east of Barkly West at -28.59, 24.611 on Saturday as well. Also of local interest, a single BLACK HERON was found along the Orange River about 5km downstream from Amanzi Trails River Camp on Saturday too. | |||||||||
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Yellow-billed Stork at Kij Kij © Grant Scholtz | Dusky Lark near Monro waterhole © Richard du Toit | ||||||||
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Hadeda Ibis at Samevloeing waterhole © Dawie Vermaak | Black Heron along the Orange River © Colleen de Villiers | ||||||||
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Pink-backed Pelican at Platfontein © Doug Harebottle | Pink-backed Pelican at Platfontein © Brian Culver | ||||||||
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Little Bee-eater south-east of Barkly West © Doug Harebottle | Little Bee-eater south-east of Barkly West © Brian Culver | ||||||||
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In the Eastern Cape, it was still Kei Mouth front and centre with the mega SOOTY GULL still on view there to the constant stream of twitchers earlier today while the PECTORAL SANDPIPER was also still there until at least Saturday. The PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER remained on at Hamburg today and a single GREATER SAND PLOVER was also still there on Saturday while, in Port Elizabeth, the BLACK HERON was still at Perseverance Pan on Friday as well. | |||||||||
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Sooty Gull at Kei Mouth © Robbie Engela | Sooty Gull at Kei Mouth © Billy Mills | ||||||||
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Sooty Gull at Kei Mouth © Sabrina Elliot | Sooty Gull at Kei Mouth © Corne Erasmus | ||||||||
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Sooty Gull at Kei Mouth © Neil Best | Pectoral Sandpiper at Kei Mouth © Etienne Marais | ||||||||
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Pectoral Sandpiper at Kei Mouth © Sabrina Elliot | Pectoral Sandpiper at Kei Mouth © Lynette Rudman | ||||||||
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Sooty Gull twitchers at Kei Mouth © Thea Jenkins | |||||||||
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Pacific Golden Plover at Hamburg © Thea Jenkins | Greater Sand Plover at Hamburg © Etienne Marais | ||||||||
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Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the SOOTY TERN was still at the St Lucia estuary today, a WESTERN MARSH HARRIER was reported on Vlei loop on the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park yesterday, a DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK was seen south of the airstrip in Mkuze Game Reserve yesterday and a WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL was still present at Mpempe Pan yesterday. Manyoni Private Game Reserve chimed in with a HOODED VULTURE yesterday and a DWARF BITTERN seen at Bayete Zulu on Friday and the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was still at Mmgavusa Dam near Mtunzini yesterday. Elsewhere, a HARLEQUIN QUAIL was seen in the cane fields behind Bellamont Road in Umdloti on Saturday, a BRONZE-WINGED COURSER was found at Thurlow, near the end of the Loop road, yesterday, a LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER was seen in Hilton on Friday and the LESSER MOORHEN was also still at the private farm dam in Port Edward yesterday. It’s also been a good season in the province for LESSER SPOTTED EAGLES with one at Teza and up to 4 at Manyoni Private Game Reserve yesterday and another along the R614, 5 km from Wartburg, earlier today. | |||||||||
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Sooty Tern at St Lucia © Jacques Malan | Sooty Tern at St Lucia © Ian Ferreira | ||||||||
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Lesser Moorhen in Port Edward © Lia Steen | Dark Chanting Goshawk in Mkuze Game Reserve © Colin Summersgill | ||||||||
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Into the Free State, where there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the MADAGASCAN CUCKOO was still at Soetdoring Nature Reserve on Friday (confirmed by researchers with special permits), but the bad news is that general access to birders is still not possible as the reserve remains closed to the general public for now. Elsewhere, there seemed to be a flurry of DWARF BITTERN records in the province with onee found south of Bloemfontein at -29.211, 26.218 on Saturday morning, another found in Ferreira at -29.214, 26.173 on Saturday afternoon and another present at Soutpan yesterday. There was also some surprize when a lone male RED-FOOTED FALCON was found among a group of Amur Falcons on the road leading to Willem Pretorius Game Reserve from the R73 on Saturday morning. | |||||||||
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Dwarf Bittern south of Bloemfontein © Johan van Niekerk | Red-footed Falcon near Willem Pretorius Game Reserve © Neil Venter | ||||||||
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Mpumalanga delivered a RED-FOOTED FALCON at Ezemvelo Nature Reserve at -25.708, 28.971 on Saturday while a GREY PLOVER was found at Leeupan near Leandra at -26.568, 29.002 this morning.
Across in the North-west Province, a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was seen at Kgaswane Mountain Reserve near Rustenburg yesterday and at least 3 LESSER MOORHENS were found at the vlei just outside Maroela Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve on Thursday while perhaps the most exciting record was that of 2 very vocal STRIPED CRAKES heard around the bridge over the Kgomo-Kgomo floodplain at -25.164, 28.083 on early on Friday morning (no visuals unfortunately). | |||||||||
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Lesser Moorhen at Maroela Lodge © Matt Jones | Long-crested Eagle at Kgaswane Mountain Reserve © Bernard Tabane | ||||||||
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Grey Plover at Leeupan © Tobie Pretorius | |||||||||
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Limpopo decided that it was time to be in the limelight for a change and delivered Southern Africa’s 30th (and probably only South Africa’s 4th) NORTHERN WHEATEAR along the Zaagkuildrift road at -25.166, 28.172 yesterday. Initially found in the morning, it then disappeared and was only relocated again yesterday afternoon. It subsequently did a few more disappearing acts but, eventually, those that showed endurance all got to connect with it and it was still on view right until dusk. Unfortunately, despite many birders out there today to look for it, it has not been seen again.
Although the first record of this species in the subregion dates all the way back to January 1899 (!!) from Zumbo in Mozambique, the records have really been spread out since then. I’m not going to list all of them, but just going back to 2010 (just to look at roughly the last decade), there have only been 8 other records excluding this current one. These were from Lake Chivero in December 2010, the cotton fields near Mahuwe in the lower Zambezi Valley in December 2013, at Ngamo Plain on a private concession in the south-eastern part of Hwange National Park in July 2015, at Matetsi Game Reserve in November 2016, at Transport Dam in the Kruger National Park in November 2016, at Gorongosa National Park in July 2017, one that landed on a boat about 120km north-east of Vilanculous in October 2017 and, most recently, one along the road to Hakusembe River Lodge, west of Rundu, in October 2019.
Also of local interest, a GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER was seen along the Zaagkuildrift road at -25.169, 28.153 on Saturday and a LAPPET-FACED VULTURE was seen there this morning at the Wheatear spot. | |||||||||
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Northern Wheatear on the Zaagkuildrift road © Nicolas Harding | Northern Wheatear on the Zaagkuildrift road © Niel Cillie | ||||||||
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Northern Wheatear on the Zaagkuildrift road © Pieter Scholtz | Northern Wheatear on the Zaagkuildrift road © Jody de Bruyn | ||||||||
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Northern Wheatear on the Zaagkuildrift road © Owen Oertli | Northern Wheatear on the Zaagkuildrift road © Lambert van der Nest | ||||||||
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Northern Wheatear on the Zaagkuildrift road © Pieter Verster | Grey-headed Kingfisher on the Zaagkuildrift road © Philip Yiannakou | ||||||||
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Northern Wheatear twitchers on the Zaagkuildrift road © Pieter Verster | |||||||||
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Northern Wheatear twitchers on the Zaagkuildrift road © Adrian Haagner | |||||||||
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Happy Northern Wheatear twitchers on the Zaagkuildrift road © Lambert van der Nest | |||||||||
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Up in Namibia, the YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES were back in the gardens of Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge in Katima Mulilo yesterday.
Across in Botswana, there was some relief when a RED-THROATED PIPIT was rediscovered at Gaborone Dam on Friday about 500m from where they had previously been reported. The bird stayed on in the area and at least 2 birds were still there yesterday (and possibly even a third!!). | |||||||||
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Red-throated Pipit at Gaborone Dam © Ian White | Red-throated Pipit at Gaborone Dam © Francois Dekker | ||||||||
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And finally, in Zimbabwe, the popular MADAGASCAN CUCKOO remained on in Monavale in Harare today still drawing a steady stream of admirers while other good records in the country included a SOUTH AFRICAN CLIFF SWALLOW seen in Mutare yesterday, a BLACK-TAILED GODWIT found at Kariba Bream Farm on Friday and a EURASIAN CURLEW found at Sanyati West at Kariba at -16.739, 28.608 on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Madagascan Cuckoo at Monavale © Claire Sirley | Madagascan Cuckoo at Monavale © Asher Dare | ||||||||
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Madagascan Cuckoo at Monavale © David England | Madagascan Cuckoo at Monavale © Sukristiano Hari Kusminto | ||||||||
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Madagascan Cuckoo at Monavale © Phillip Ewing | Black-tailed Godwit at Kariba Bream Farm © Mitch Riley | ||||||||
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South African Cliff Swallow in Mutare © Gary Douglas | Eurasian Curlew at Sanyati West © Paula Dell | ||||||||
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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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