SA Rare Bird News Report - 03 May 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, 03 May 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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Starting in the Western Cape, the pair of CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTINGS were still along Tafelberg Road near the Lower Cable Station on Table Mountain earlier today while a SAND MARTIN was reported around Pan P2 at Strandfontein Sewage Works on Saturday and a GOLIATH HERON was at Rondevlei Nature Reserve throughout the weekend. Elsewhere, AFRICAN PALM SWIFTS were recorded at Rietvlei Wetland Reserve on Saturday and at Hopefield Sewage Works on Friday, a FRANKLIN’S GULL was reported in Lambert’s Bay on Saturday and 2 AFRICAN RED-EYED BULBULS were seen at Algeria campsite on Saturday as well. Another 2 CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTINGS were found at mouth of the Steenbras River yesterday and there were at least 3 birds present there today while a SQUACCO HERON was noted at Draaivlei Dam in Worcester on Friday. Over on the Garden Route, 2 WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATERS were found along the Gouritz River at -34.085, 21.769 on Saturday and a CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING was found at Reflections Eco Reserve near Wilderness at -33.987, 22.700 on Saturday while, heading inland, the DWARF BITTERN was still at Vierfontein farm near Murraysburg yesterday. | |||||||||
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Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on Tafelberg Road © Alex Aitkenhead | Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on Tafelberg Road © Jenny Wentzel | ||||||||
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Goliath Heron at Rondevlei Nature Reserve © Susie Cornell | Cinnamon-breasted Bunting at the Steenbras River mouth © Bryn de Kocks | ||||||||
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Cinnamon-breasted Bunting at the Steenbras River mouth © Hernus Langeveldt | Cinnamon-breasted Bunting at the Steenbras River mouth © Basil Boer | ||||||||
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White-fronted Bee-eaters along the Gouritz River © Pat Nurse | Dwarf Bittern near Murraysburg © Leonie Fouche | ||||||||
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In the Northern Cape, there were some surprizing records with an AFRICAN CRAKE reported at Tanqua Tented Camp on Saturday morning and a PURPLE ROLLER seen along the road to Oranjekom, near Augrabies, at -28.606, 20.301 on Friday.
In the Eastern Cape, the WHITE-BACKED VULTURE was present throughout the weekend around a Zebra carcass near Arizona Dam in Addo National Park while there were still 2 HOUSE CROWS at Bushmans River on Saturday as well. The 2 ABDIM’S STORKS were still at Witmos farm between Cookhouse and Cradock at -32.547, 25.797 early on Friday morning, but then disappeared and have not been seen again. | |||||||||
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White-backed Vulture in Addo National Park © Stewart MacLachlan | White-backed Vulture in Addo National Park © Patrick Killian | ||||||||
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White-backed Vulture in Addo National Park © Barry Kurten | White-backed Vulture in Addo National Park © Denise Hoffmann | ||||||||
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House Crows in Bushmans River © Tim Cockcroft | House Crow in Bushmans River © Rob Boyd | ||||||||
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Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the popular BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was still at Mpempe Pan until at least Friday while a single CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING was seen on the first loop on the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park yesterday and there were also still at least 5 birds at Thurlow yesterday.
And finally, in Mpumalanga, the AFRICAN OPENBILL was back at the Duck Pond in Secunda on the weekend and was still there yesterday. | |||||||||
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African Openbill in Secunda © Pieter Vrey | African Openbill in Secunda © Christo Herbst | ||||||||
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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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