SA Rare Bird News Report - 08 March 2010

[Trevor Hardaker]

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 22h15 on Monday, 08 March 2010. 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
As per the recent trend, let’s start this report with the continued AFRICAN OPENBILL invasion across the subregion...   In the Western Cape, at least one bird was still present on the Berg River at Veldrif on the weekend whilst there were also still 3 birds hanging around at Strandfontein Sewage Works and, in George, a single bird was present on the Kingswood Golf Course yesterday.   In Kwazulu Natal, a single bird was reported from Scottburgh on Saturday.   And lastly, in Namibia, a single bird was also present at Avis Dam in Windhoek yesterday.
			African Openbill at Kingswood Golf Course © Christine Ridge-Schnaufer
Moving on to other news…   In the Western Cape, the tern reported from Laaiplek on Saturday certainly yielded the most interest and was still present yesterday. Unfortunately, all the photos of the bird received so far are a little distant, so it is impossible, from the photos alone, to confirm whether this bird is in fact an ELEGANT TERN or whether it is perhaps a LESSER CRESTED TERN. Either way, it is an orange-billed tern and is still a good record for the Western Cape. Apparently, some people are arranging a boat to try and get slightly closer to the roost, so hopefully, there will be some less distant photos forthcoming soon, so watch this space for more news as it is received!   Other news of interest in the province is that the 4 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATERS at Groenvlei near Sedgefield are still around and showed well throughout the weekend. An interesting record from Jakkelsfontein just south of Yzerfontein on the west coast on Thursday was a JACOBIN CUCKOO whilst a single SAND MARTIN was reported from Strandfontein Sewage Works on Saturday.   In to the Eastern Cape where a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was once again located at Orient Beach in East London on the weekend. This could well be one of the individuals that spent a fair amount of time there recently. Other records of note from the province included a BLACK-CHESTED SNAKE EAGLE on the outskirts of King Williamstown whilst the area near Cofimvaba (in the former Transkei) produced both a BLACK-CHESTED PRINIA and a SCALY-FEATHERED FINCH with both species being well south-east of their known ranges.
“Orange-billed” Tern (in centre) at Laaiplek © Clive Prior		Lesser Black-backed Gull at Orient Beach © Jeff Curnick
In the North-west Province, at least one TREE PIPIT was still on show until yesterday at Kgaswane Nature Reserve near Rustenburg.   Lastly, in Namibia, a GOLDEN PLOVER was seen at Rundu Sewage Works on Saturday. At this point in time, it is suspected that it is probably an AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, but once the photos of the bird have been sent through, we will be able to confirm whether this is in fact the case or whether it is perhaps rather a PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER.
Tree Pipit at Kgaswane Nature Reserve © Clive Kaplan			Tree Pipit at Kgaswane Nature Reserve © Clive Kaplan
Of unknown origin, and presumed to be an escapee, the BARE-FACED GO-AWAY-BIRD (or at least it is assumed to be the same individual) that was reported from the Imhoff’s Gift area last year is still hanging on and was present yesterday in a garden in Milkwood Park in Noordhoek.
Bare-faced Go-away-bird in Noordhoek © Adrian Boyd
Don’t forget 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.
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   See my wildlife photos at www.hardaker.co.za     ZEST for BIRDS Trevor Hardaker and John Graham Pelagics, rarity photos, listing clubs and more www.zestforbirds.co.za     SA RARE BIRD NEWS Get the latest rarity news by joining at: http://groups.google.co.za/group/sa-rarebirdnews   -----------------------------------------------------------------------