SA Rare Bird News Report - 18 February 2019

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Trevor Hardaker

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Feb 18, 2019, 1:02:52 PM2/18/19

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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

This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 18 February 2019. 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		SARBN is proud to be associated with the following brands:






Let me start my apologising for the lack of reports going out while I was in the Kruger. I spent most of my days out of cellphone reception unfortunately and only managed to get to see any of my messages very late at night by which time it was already too late to send out any news. Next time I do a trip like this, I will definitely try and find someone to stand in for me while I am away, but it is always tough asking people to do this job for me… Anyway, I'm going to try and catch up now on everything that happened while I was away, so please excuse the slightly longer than usual report. Let's get going with the scarcities first. EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD: · One at Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Gauteng) yesterday. · One in Langenhoven Park in Bloemfontein (Free State) on Saturday. · One at Roodeplaat Dam (Gauteng) on Saturday. · One in a garden in Bryanston (Gauteng) on Friday. · One in a garden in Garsfontein, Pretoria (Gauteng) on Friday. · One at the junction of the S114 and S143 in the Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga) on Thursday. · One at Glen Avon farm in Somerset East (Eastern Cape) on Sunday, 10 February. · One at Waterfall Estate in Midrand (Gauteng) on Sunday, 10 February. · One in a garden in Rustenburg (North-west) on Sunday, 10 February. · One at Teza (KZN) on Friday, 8 February. · One at Kgaswane Nature Reserve in Rustenburg (North-west) on Friday, 8 February. · One at Ntafufu Eco Lodge in Port St Johns (Eastern Cape) on Wednesday, 6 February. · One at Amanzimtoti Bird Park (KZN) on Wednesday, 6 February. GREEN SANDPIPER: · One just downstream of Pafuri picnic site in the Kruger National Park (Limpopo) on Monday. · One at Mhlondozi look out in the Kruger National Park (Mpumalanga) on Monday.


European Honey Buzzard in Garsfontein © Pedrie Oosthuiizen	European Honey Buzzard in Bryanston © Fran Coole


European Honey Buzzard at Kgaswane Nature Reserve © Wynand Sauerman	European Honey Buzzard at Waterfall Estate © Ron Searle


European Honey Buzzard at Roodeplaat Dam © Johann Fouche	European Honey Buzzard in Port St Johns © Sabine von Lengeling


European Honey Buzzard at Amanzimtoti Bird Park © Tyron Dall	European Honey Buzzard in Rustenburg © Tiaan van Heerden

On to the rest of the news and, starting in the Western Cape, perhaps the best bird of the recent period was an ELEGANT TERN that was found on Pan P3 at Strandfontein Sewage Works on Friday, 8 February and remained around moving between there and Pan P4 until at least Sunday, 10 February, after which no further reports have been received. This same site also produced a WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL found on Pan P1 last Monday that was still there on Tuesday. A GOLIATH HERON was still at Rondevlei Nature Reserve on Saturday, 9 February, while a pelagic trip out of Simon's Town produced a SPECTACLED PETREL and a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER. Up on the west coast, there were 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and 3 GREATER SAND PLOVERS present at Kuifkop Salt Pans in Velddrif on Saturday, a GOLIATH HERON was reported at De Plaat in Velddrif on the same day, a LESSER SAND PLOVER was seen at the saltmarsh to the south of the Geelbek restaurant in the West Coast National Park yesterday, a GREATER KESTREL seen along the road to Abrahamskraal in the park yesterday and a single CASPIAN PLOVER was present on the northern side of the boardwalk to the Geelbek hide, also in the park, on Thursday, 7 February. Another good record was a single RED PHALAROPE found on a private farm dam just over 40km from Clanwilliam yesterday at -31.988, 19.001. Moving eastwards in the province, a FRANKLIN'S GULL was found at Stoney Point in Betty's Bay on Wednesday and a KNOB-BILLED DUCK was seen yesterday along the river in Stanford whilst, over on the Garden Route, the SOOTY FALCON returned for its 8th consecutive season at Emily Moon Resort in Plettenberg Bay on Friday and was still there yesterday (its arrival is quite a bit earlier than in previous seasons) while there was still a EUROPEAN ROLLER along the Wittedrift Road near Plettenberg Bay at -34.005, 23.373 yesterday and the AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL still held on at the Cape Nature jetty in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday as well.


Elegant Tern at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Michael Mason	Elegant Tern at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Kevin Shields


Elegant Tern at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Gilbert Reinhardt


Greater Kestrel in the West Coast National Park © Andrew de Blocq	Greater Sand Plover at Velddrif © Andrew de Blocq


Red-necked Phalaropes at Velddrif © Andrew de Blocq


Red Phalarope near Clanwilliam © Zenobia van Dyk	Red Phalarope near Clanwilliam © Steve le Grange


Sooty Falcon in Plettenberg Bay © Mike Bridgeford	European Roller in Plettenberg Bay © Mike Bridgeford


African Pied Wagtail in Plettenberg Bay © Mike Bridgeford

Up in the Northern Cape, a GREATER PAINTED SNIPE was seen at Samevloeiing waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on Sunday, 10 February while another rather out-of-place record was of a DWARF BITTERN seen at Cubitje Quap waterhole on Tuesday, 5 February which was still there on Saturday, 9 February.


Dwarf Bittern at Cubitje Quap © Rose Mills	Dwarf Bittern at Cubitje Quap © Christiaan Viljoen

In the Eastern Cape, the biggest excitement was an adult male GREATER FRIGATEBIRD that was found at the Sundays River mouth at Colchester on Saturday afternoon and remained in place for many twitchers to connect with it still showing well throughout most of today. Also of interest, a single LESSER CRESTED TERN was picked up in the Tern roost at the Sundays River mouth this afternoon as well. Elsewhere, a DWARF BITTERN was reported at a pond just outside the Wild Coast Sun on Sunday, 10 February, while the LESSER SAND PLOVER was still at the estuary at Hamburg until at least Friday, 8 February.


Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Jorrie Jordaan	Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Keith Joubert


Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Marie Delport


Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Stewart MacLachlan	Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Larry McGillewie


Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Lynette Rudman	Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Mike Pearson


Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Barry Kurten	Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Matthijs Ravensberg


Greater Frigatebird at the Sundays River mouth © Martin Potgieter	Lesser Crested Tern (on right) at the Sundays River mouth © Martin Potgieter

Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the subregion's 19th GOLDEN PIPIT remained on at Mavela Game Lodge in Manyoni Private Game Reserve until at least Tuesday after which there have been no further reports of it, despite intensive searching. If that is indeed the last of it, that would mean that it stayed for 44 days, missing the record for the longest staying bird held by the 1986 Rust de Winter bird by 5 days. There was also some excitement when a young LESSER FRIGATEBIRD was seen for a short while off Zinkwazi Beach on Friday afternoon whilst another individual, possibly even the same bird, was present at the St Lucia estuary on Sunday, 10 February. Staying at St Lucia, the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER was still there until at least Tuesday while an ABDIM'S STORK was seen there on Sunday, 10 February. The SOOTY FALCON was still at Mbazwana on Thursday whilst a DWARF BITTERN was seen at Kumasinga hide in Mkuze Game Reserve last Monday, 2 ALLEN'S GALLINULES were present at Muzi Pan last Monday and a LESSER MOORHEN was reported on a private farm dam in the Gingindlovu area on Saturday. Presumably the same GREAT SNIPE that was reported from Lake Sibaya towards the end of last year was seen again on Saturday at -27.381533, 32.684729, an AYRES' HAWK EAGLE was seen over Richard's Bay on Friday, 8 February, at least one WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL was still at the Sappi wetlands in Stanger on Friday, another ABDIM'S STORK was reported at Karkloof on Saturday, 9 February and, finally, a RED-FOOTED FALCON was seen with a group of Amur Falcons near Underberg on Friday.


Golden Pipit at Mavela Game Lodge © Bernadette Wessels	Golden Pipit at Mavela Game Lodge © Dave Rimmer


Golden Pipit at Mavela Game Lodge © Helmo van der Schyff	Allen’s Gallinule at Muzi Pan © Bernadette Wessels


Dwarf Bittern at Kumasinga hide © Bernadette Wessels	Dwarf Bittern at Kumasinga hide © Leon Bruggemann


Lesser Frigatebird at St Lucia © Christine Griffiths	Abdim’s Stork at St Lucia © Dennis Roberts


Eurasian Oystercatcher at St Lucia © Michael Wright	Eurasian Oystercatcher at St Lucia © Christine Griffiths


Great Snipe at Lake Sibaya © Margie Taylor	Sooty Falcon at Mbazwana © Michael Wright


Lesser Frigatebird at Zinkwazi beach © Leigh Eggers	Lesser Moorhen near Gingindlovu © Sandy Clayton


Abdim’s Stork at Karkloof © Tyron Dall	Red-footed Falcon near Underberg © Pam Kleiman

Heading into Gauteng, the popular GREY WAGTAIL was still at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens yesterday, the SPOTTED CRAKE was still at Marievale Bird Sanctuary on Thursday, the SLATY EGRET remained on at Gnu Valley farm in Muldersdrift until at least Wednesday, 6 February, the RED-FOOTED FALCON was still 20km west of Krugersdorp along the N14 until at least Thursday, 7 February, and a female WESTERN MARSH HARRIER was still at Marievale Bird Sanctuary on Saturday, 9 February. Another WESTERN MARSH HARRIER, this time a male, was seen at Bullfrog Pan in Benoni on Wednesday, 6 February while a MOUNTAIN WAGTAIL was seen along the Jukskei River in Waterfall Estate on Sunday, 10 February.


Grey Wagtail at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens © Justin Nicolau	Grey Wagtail at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens © Richter van Tonder


Mountain Wagtail at Waterfall Estate © Ron Searle	Slaty Egret at Gnu Valley farm © Neil Ebedes


Spotted Crake at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Mark Tittley	Red-footed Falcon west of Krugersdorp © Hugo le Roux

In Mpumalanga, a DENHAM'S BUSTARD was found just south of Devon at -26.449, 28.798 on Saturday, a LESSER MOORHEN was seen at a small coffer dam at Kusile Power Station, 30 km east of Bronkhorstspruit, on Wednesday with larger numbers counted at the same site subsequently and a CORN CRAKE was found near Komatipoort on Friday, 8 February. In the Kruger National Park, a pair of AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE were found at Orpen Dam on Saturday, 9 February and then a pair, possibly the same individuals, was found not too far away at Leeupan on Saturday (and still there yesterday) while the last week and a bit saw reports of RED-FOOTED FALCONS coming from near Malalane gate, along the H2-2 at Ship Mountain and along the S127 north of Satara.


African Pygmy Geese at Orpen Dam © Dirk Neethling	African Pygmy Goose at Leeupan © Marc Cronje


Corn Crake near Komatipoort © Ruan Minnaar	Lesser Moorhen at Kusilw Power Station © Willie van den Heever

Across in the North-west Province, an AFRICAN SKIMMER was found at Emanzini Fishing Resort on Roodekoppies Dam on Thursday (but not seen again after that) and a LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE was reported near Borakalalo Nature Reserve at -25.191, 27.75 on Saturday. Up in Limpopo Province, the big excitement came with the discovery of Southern Africa's 21st GOLDEN PIPIT just a short distance down the Capricorn Loop road from the S50 junction in the Kruger National Park near Mopani camp on Thursday. Fortunately, a number of twitchers that were close by managed to connect with it over the next few days and it was still present there until at least Saturday afternoon (no reports since then). Another incredible record was a COLLARED FLYCATCHER seen along the Mpongolo Loop near the entrance to Babalala picnic site in the Kruger National Park at -22.927, 31.232 on Wednesday while a COMMON WHITETHROAT was found at Thornybush Game Reserve on Saturday, 9 February, the first record for the reserve, and the PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER remained on at Deloskop near Polokwane until at least Friday, 8 February.


Golden Pipit on Capricorn Loop © Dirk Neethling	Golden Pipit on Capricorn Loop © Lance Robinson


Golden Pipit on Capricorn Loop © Adam Riley


Golden Pipit on Capricorn Loop © Arno Ellmer	Golden Pipit on Capricorn Loop © Cliff Dorse


Golden Pipit on Capricorn Loop © Jackie Liebenberg	Golden Pipit on Capricorn Loop © Marc Cronje


Common Whitethroat at Thornybush Game Reserve © Juan Pinto	African Skimmer at Roodekoppies Dam © John Drowley

Over in Namibia, a EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER was seen at Sandwich Harbour on Sunday, 10 February while the same day produced a HOUSE CROW at Walvis Bay Sewage Ponds (presumably the same long-staying individual) and at least 24 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Walvis Bay Salt Works. A further 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were also present at Cape Cross Lagoons on Friday, 8 February.


Red-necked Phalaropes at Walvis Bay Lagoon © Mike Houlden	House Crow at Walvis Bay Sewage Ponds © Neil Thomson

Across in Zimbabwe, the SPOTTED CRAKE was still at Ballantyne Park in Harare until at least Wednesday. And finally, in Mozambique, there were 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at Macaneta near Maputo on Wednesday, 6 February while the long-staying immature LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was still opposite Costa do Sol in Maputo yesterday and an apparent HARTLAUB’S GULL, only the second record for the country, was present there yesterday as well. Also creating some excitement was a BASRA REED WARBLER seen yesterday north of Gorongosa National Park at -18.189, 34.529, still a very tough bird to connect with in the subregion although Mozambique is slowly becoming more reliable for them, particularly in the latter half of summer.


Spotted Crake at Ballantyne Park © Roger Macdonald	Spotted Crake at Ballantyne Park © Jim Mackie


Spotted Crake at Ballantyne Park © Laurence Shadwell	Pectoral Sandpiper at Macaneta © Etienne Marais


Lesser Black-backed Gull in Maputo © Gary Allport	Hartlaub’s Gull in Maputo © Gary Allport


Basra Reed Warbler north of Gorongosa National Park © Mike Buckham

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 TREVOR HARDAKER Cape Town, South Africa