Southern African Rare Bird News Monday 8 August 2022

[Garret Skead]

Dear SARBN subscribers

Starting in the Western Cape, there were at least two NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSSES at the trawling grounds today, seen from a pelagic trip from Hout Bay (see photo attached (c) Matthew Orolowitz), and a juvenile NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS was also seen at a trawler off Cape Point on Wednesday last week. A WHITE-BACKED VULTURE was reported over Belville in Cape Town on Friday afternoon, seen flying north, and an immature WHITE-BACKED VULTURE was seen over the R27 near Yzerfontein on Thursday. It's interesting to note the presence of an immature bird now, given that the individual which has been resident on the west coast for some years is an adult. In Robertson, the AFRICAN FINFOOT was seen again along the Breede River in front of Silwerstrand on Saturday afternoon. On the Garden Route, two SQUACCO HERONS were seen at the Rondevlei-Langvlei linking channel near Sedgefield on Sunday, and COMMON SCIMITARBILLS were reported from Meiringspoort today (at -33.368, 22.556), and also from a location 80km south of Beaufort West on Friday. An out-of-range CINNAMON-BRESTED BUNTING was seen at Riebeek Wes yesterday, at -33.358, 18.868. There were an incredible 24 ROSEATE TERNS reported off Pearly Beach on Sunday during a dedicated sea watch.

In Limpopo, the WOOD WARBLER remained at Sefapane Lodge today. It seems to be becoming slightly more tricky to find these days. It was seen today near the second bridge, and then chased off by monkeys and barbets, and seemingly not seen again during the day. The difficulty in finding it could also be a product of declining interest and smaller numbers of twitchers.

In Gauteng, two AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE were seen on a private farm in the Seringveld area along the Krokodilspruit north of Pretoria today.

In Kwazulu-Natal, at least two RUFOUS-BELLIED HERONS were seen in the Pan Loop at St Lucia Wetland Reserve this morning (see photo attached (c) Themba Mthembu).

In the Northern Cape, there were some good sightings in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park recently, with a LESSER FLAMINGO (2 August), a pair of CAPE SHOVELERS (1 August), and a pair of SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCKS (26 July) seen at Moravet waterholes.

And finally, in the Free State, a pair of PEARL-SPOTTED OWLETS were seen on Saturday evening between Bloemhof and Hoopstad on Saturday evening at -27.693, 25.848, which I believe is a good record for the province.

Kind regards

Garret