Southern African Rare Bird News Monday 3 January 2022

[Garret Skead]

Dear SARBN subscribers 

 

Starting with the scarcity reports, EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARDS were reported from the following locations:

• Kromme River estuary near St Francis Bay, on Thursday, Eastern Cape 
• Sungulwane Homestead open area at Munyawana Private Game Reserve on Thursday (2 individuals), Kwazulu-Natal
• Gamkadam, Beaufort West on Friday, Western Cape 
• Altydgedacht Farm in Durbanville (3 individuals) over the weekend and today, Western Cape 
• Tokai Plantation, Cape Town, on Friday, Western Cape 
• Parson’s Vlei, Port Elizabeth, on Friday, Eastern Cape 
• Mantuma Camp, Mkuze Game Reserve, on Saturday, Kwazulu-Natal 
• Imhoff wetland, Cape peninsula on Saturday,  
• Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (3 individuals) on Sunday, Western Cape 
• Irene Village, Centurion on Sunday, Gauteng 
• Silverboomkloof, Somerset West on Monday, Western Cape 
• Lower Tokai Park, Cape Town, on Monday, Western Cape 
• Fernwood, Newlands, Cape Town, on Monday, Western Cape 
• Bryanston, Johannesburg on Monday, Gauteng 
• Hippo Pools, Hoedspruit, on Monday, Limpopo 

WESTERN CAPE: 

The popular BLACK TERN returned to the Tern roost at Woodbridge Island / Milnerton lagoon on Saturday, following a fairly regular pattern of coming in very late in the evening, but it was not seen last night despite a patient vigil from a number of birders. In addition, an orange-billed Tern was found at the Tern roost on Thursday afternoon. At the time of writing, the exact identification of the Tern is still uncertain, between Lesser Crested and Elegant Tern (birders are encouraged to find it and take more photos!). The BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was still on the mudflats at Macassar sewage works on Sunday morning. The EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER remained at Keurbooms estuary, Plettenberg Bay, until at least Sunday morning, and the COMMON WHITETHROAT was reported again on Friday morning at Roam Private Game Reserve (but not seen since). In Velddrif, two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were seen at the saltpans located at -32.796, 18.181 on Sunday (note that this site is NOT accessed via Kuifkopvisvanger, but can be accessed by parking near the bridge and walking to the pin). The birds were still present today, and a third individual in breeding plumage was also found today at Kliphoek saltpans, at -32.825, 18.199. Photo attached (c) Craig Thomas. On the Garden Route, at least two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were still at the Bitou Vlei on Sunday morning. In Napier, a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was seen on Thursday evening, which is an uncommon species for the Overberg, beyond its now well-established range in the Garden Route. The SADDLE-BILLED STORK was found again close to Heidelberg on Saturday morning, and remained in the same area on Sunday, spending its time next to the same farm dam, and moving into the adjacent fallow fields, at approximately -34.055, 20.843. At De Mond Nature Reserve, a COMMON SCIMITARBILL was seen across the bridge, where the Sterna Trail leaves the river, on Sunday. At least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen on S7 pan at Strandfontein on Sunday morning. The FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS remained at Paardevlei near Strand on Saturday, and another was also seen on the Garden Route this morning, flying over Swartvlei estuary. A surprising record was that of a WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER in Durbanville on Sunday morning, at Phisantekraal Farm (at -33.794, 18.655). The EUROPEAN ROLLER was still hanging around in the vicinity of the Good Hope nursery near Cape Point Nature Reserve on Monday, and EUROPEAN ROLLERS were also seen near Heidelberg (-34.117, 20.932), Witsand (-34.182, 20.902), along the R27 between Laaiplek and Dwarskersbos, alongside the N2 between Swellendam and Riviersonderend, and outside Struisbaai on the Bredasdorp Road over the weekend. Male and female EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLES visited the garden at Meadow Rd in George on Saturday afternoon. Another EURASIAN GOLDEN ORIOLE was seen this morning at Silverboomkloof in Somerset West. An AFRICAN PALM SWIFT was seen on Burger’s walk flying towards Boulder’s Beach on Sunday morning (-34.198, 18.454), and a few birds were also seen at Dolphin Beach pan on Sunday afternoon. The long-staying GROUNDSCRAPER THRUSH was seen on Sunday afternoon at Belvedere Estate near Knysna after a long period of no reports, at -34.047, 22.993, and was still in the same general area this morning. Two LESSER STRIPED SWALLOWS were seen west of George on Saturday morning, at -33.987, 22.332. An AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL was seen this morning at the Knysna Harbour (-34.042, 23.046).  

 

EASTERN CAPE: 

The province delivered a SOOTY FALCON on Sunday afternoon, inland of Kenton-on-Sea, at -33.511, 26.540, perched in the eucalyptus trees at the pin, and was still at the same spot later in the evening and today. At least one PECTORAL SANDPIPER was still present at Kromme River estuary on Thursday afternoon, at -34.137, 24.811, and a MONOTONOUS LARK was found just inside the province near Aberdeen on Friday morning on private land. The EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER at Kenton-on-Sea was reported again on Friday at midday. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was found at Kei River mouth on Saturday, at -32.67, 28.377, and a WHITE-BACKED VULTURE was seen near the Great Kei Bridge at -32.511, 27.98 on Saturday. A female WESTERN MARSH HARRIER was reported from Buffalo City on Sunday, at -33.195, 27.598. At Kei Mouth, a DAMARA TERN was found this morning, feeding a young bird. The BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATERS were still in the Jeffrey’s Bay area at Kabeljous Reserve, seen today at -33.996, 24.938. 

 

KWAZULU-NATAL: 

The BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Mpempe Pan was somewhat elusive in recent days, being seen on Friday, and not found again until Sunday afternoon at 15:00 (and not reported today). Two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen today at Mpempe Pan. The EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER previously reported from a restricted area was found 2km south of Umhloti, on the rocky outcrops in front of Peace Cottage on Friday, and seen again over the weekend and today. This is a publicly accessible site but please refer to discussions on Telegram group (“Chat Group KZN RBA”) for discussions on safe access. DWARF BITTERNS were found at Sungulwane Lodge at Munywana Private Game Reserve, at -27.799, 32.195, as well as Ithala Game Reserve on the main road leading to camp, on Thursday, and a dead individual was found near New Hanover on Monday morning. The ALLEN’S GALLINULE near Port Edward was still at the same farm dam on Thursday afternoon, and another ALLEN’S GALLINULE was also seen at Muzi Pan on Sunday. A RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was discovered at Umbogabango reserve, Amanzimtoti on Friday. Photo attached (c) Michael Jordan. A DUSKY LARK was seen in Phongola Nature Reserve on Sunday. 

 

FREE STATE: 

The MADAGASCAN CUCKOO was still present and vocal at Soetdoring Nature Reserve over the weekend, and seen again today at -28.833, 26.049 today. The SLATY EGRET and a DWARF BITTERN were reported at Soutpan on Sunday afternoon.

 

LIMPOPO AND NORTH WEST: 

The birding was seemingly excellent at the Kgomo-Kgomo floodplain, Zaagkuildrift and surrounds in the last few days, with an influx of migrants associated with good rains. A male STRIPED CRAKE seen on Saturday morning, and a number of AFRICAN CRAKES, DWARF BITTERNS, DUSKY LARKS, LESSER MOORHENS, ALLEN’S GALLINULES and GREATER PAINTED-SNIPES were seen in the area (please see Wider Gauteng group for specifics). Two RUFOUS-BELLIED HERONS were also seen today at Kgomo-Kgomo.  

In the Kruger National Park, ALLEN’S GALLINULES were also reported from Engelhardt dam near Letaba on Saturday (at least 4 individuals), and a GREEN SANDPIPER was found at -22.442, 31.308 on Saturday. 

 

NORTHERN CAPE: 

A single RED-FOOTED FALCON was seen in a flock of Amur Falcons and Lesser Kestrels at Hanover on Thursday afternoon, and another male bird was reported on Sunday morning. There was some surprise when a BLACK HERON was seen on a farm near Prieska on Sunday afternoon (-29.507, 23.011). In the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, I have received two delayed reports of a SQUACCO HERON seen near Samevoeling on 23 December, and a GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE seen on 21 December last year. 

MPUMALANGA: 

Three BLACK COUCALS were seen near Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park on Friday morning, close to the following coordinates: -24.899, 31.893 and still at the same area today, and a DWARF BITTERN was reported from the Mataffin sports fields on Sunday morning. A somewhat out of range juvenile DUSKY LARK was seen in Middelburg on Saturday, at -25.821, 29.485. 

 

NAMIBIA: 

Namibia delivered an excellent record on Friday, in the form of a juvenile LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the Zambezi River (photo attached (c) Curt Sagell), and the YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES were back in the gardens at Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge on Friday morning. The FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK was still at Avis Dam near Windhoek on Thursday, at the eastern end. 

Thank you very much to all of the contributors over the last few days.

I hope all of you have a wonderful 2022, filled with great birding and numerous lifers!

Kind regards

Garret