SA Rare Bird News Report - 11 November 2013
Trevor Hardaker
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 11 November 2013. 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. 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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Before I get started with this report, this is just to let you all know that there will not be a formal report on Thursday as I have to give a talk to the Cape Bird Club on that evening.
On to some news and there is no doubt that Kwazulu Natal stole the spotlight with the discovery of Southern Africa's 15th ever GOLDEN PIPIT on Friday morning in Richard's Bay. Unfortunately, much to the disappointment of many twitchers, this bird followed the pattern of so many of the previous birds in that it disappeared shortly after being seen and could not be relocated in the area. The province also delivered some other regionally good birds last week, all from Mavela Game Reserve, which included SOUTHERN RED-BILLED HORNBILL, LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO, RED-HEADED WEAVER and LESSER GREY SHRIKE whilst yesterday, a EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD was seen soaring over Durban North.
In Gauteng, all the usual attractions remained in place towards the end of last week with both the WHITE-BREASTED CUCKOO-SHRIKE and the MOUNTAIN WAGTAIL at Groenkloof Nature Reserve whilst there was a bit of a surprise on Saturday morning when 2 GREEN SANDPIPERS were seen together at Rietvlei Nature Reserve (at least one individual still present there this morning). | ||
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Golden Pipit in Richard’s Bay © Sara Kilian | ||
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Mountain Wagtail at Groenkloof Nature Reserve © Bill Richter | White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike at Groenkloof Nature Reserve © Bill Richter | |
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Green Sandpiper at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Bill Richter | Green Sandpipers at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Arnout van Haarlem | |
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In the North-west, a YELLOW-BILLED STORK was reported from a farm dam near Boschpoort late last week whilst, on the weekend, the GREY PLOVER as well as 2 BAR-TAILED GODWITS were present at Borakalalo Nature Reserve.
In Limpopo Province, a MONOTONOUS LARK was reported from Rust de Winter Nature Reserve on Friday morning, an unusual record for this area whilst the weekend also saw continued reports of good numbers of both GREY-BACKED SPARROW-LARKS and LARK-LIKE BUNTINGS in the vicinity of Mooiplaas waterhole in the Kruger National Park. | ||
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Grey Plover at Borakalalo Nature Reserve © Niall Perrins | Bar-tailed Godwit at Borakalalo Nature Reserve © Niall Perrins | |
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Yellow-billed Stork near Boschpoort © Tony Archer | ||
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Grey-backed Sparrow-lark near Mooiplaas waterhole © Hugo le Roux | Lark-like Bunting near Mooiplaas waterhole © Hugo le Roux | |
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Moving into the Eastern Cape, the GREATER PAINTED SNIPE was still present at Ottersvlei on Saturday whilst a BROWN SNAKE EAGLE was reported from the Ngiyo Floodplain close to Kenton as well. And then, earlier today, an AUSTRALIAN GANNET was located on Bird Island in Algoa Bay.
Down into the Western Cape, the best report concerned 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Strandfontein Sewage Works on Saturday morning. At least one bird remained present there throughout the weekend and was still present earlier today. Other good provincial birds included an AFRICAN JACANA at the temporary wetlands in Philippi (now present in this area for several months) whilst a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was reported near George Airport on the weekend and a SAND MARTIN was seen near Eland’s Bay as well.
In Namibia, at least 40 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were still present at the Walvis Bay Salt Works on the weekend as well.
And finally, in Mozambique, a pelagic trip on Saturday out of Maputo turned up some good birds including a WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD, a BLACK TERN (seemingly the first record ever for the country), an ARCTIC TERN and a SOOTY SHEARWATER. | ||
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Red-necked Phalarope at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Peter van As | White-tailed Tropicbird on Maputo pelagic trip © Gary Allport | |
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Please remember to send through your details to be included on the various listing clubs that are hosted at www.zestforbirds.co.za. This website also has an extensive rarities gallery that has many additional photos of a number of rarities that are mentioned in these reports. | ||
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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. | ||
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Kind regards Trevor | ||
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TREVOR HARDAKER Cape Town, South Africa
Follow our local exploits in the field at: http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/
See our photos and trip reports at:
ZEST for BIRDS Pelagics, rarity photos, listing clubs and more:
SA RARE BIRD NEWS Get the latest rarity news by joining at: http://groups.google.co.za/group/sa-rarebirdnews
SOUTHERN AFRICAN RARITIES Online database of all SA rarities ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
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