SA Rare Bird News Report - 04 April 2011
Trevor Hardaker
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 21h10 on Monday, 04 April 2011. 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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Starting in the Western Cape, there are still a number of great provincial rarities around which have had local twitchers running from pillar to post. On the weekend, a small group of YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOPS with at least 3 males in it was still present along the Gamka River running through Beaufort West whilst, out on the road to Rietbron, 3 TEMMINCK’S COURSERS were also still present. On the Garden Route, the SOUTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER is attracting quite a bit of local attention and was still showing well earlier today whilst, in Wilderness, at least 2 MARSH WARBLERS were present yesterday as well.
Closer to Cape Town, there was confirmation on Saturday that the LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was still present at Helderberg College whilst 2 FULVOUS DUCKS at Intaka Island Wetland Reserve have also attracted a fair bit of attention over the weekend and were still present there today. A single EUROPEAN ROLLER was also still present near Pearly Beach early last week. |
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Fulvous Duck at Intaka Island Wetland Reserve © Per Holmen |
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Yellow-crowned Bishop in Beaufort West © Graham Searll |
Yellow-crowned Bishop in Beaufort West © Trevor Hardaker |
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Temminck’s Coursers near Beaufort West © Graham Searll |
Temminck’s Courser near Beaufort West © Trevor Hardaker |
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Southern Carmine Bee-eater at Nature’s Valley © Graham Searll |
Southern Carmine Bee-eater at Nature’s Valley © Trevor Hardaker |
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In Kwazulu Natal, the LESSER MOORHEN at the Wattled Crane Hide at Loskop Dam at the Karkloof Conservation Centre is still on view and has recently been reported with a juvenile bird as well.
Moving into Mpumalanga, a EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD was reported yesterday near White River along the road to klipkoppies Dam.
Then into the North-west Province where the COLLARED PRATINCOLE remained on view on the weekend at the Kgomo Kgomo floodplain.
In Limpopo Province, there has been no further news of the RUPPELL’S VULTURE reported recently at Shelanti Game Ranch but this same site turned up a HOODED VULTURE on Saturday, seemingly slightly west of where this species normally occurs.
Namibia produced a rather interesting record on Friday when a SENEGAL COUCAL was reported in an area between Windhoek and the International Airport. This is several hundred kilometers further south than where this species normally occurs.
And finally, of unknown origin and presumed to be an escapee, a RINGED TEAL was reported from Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary in Gauteng on Saturday. |
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Lesser Moorhen at Loskop Dam © Karin Nelson |
Ringed Teal at Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary © Elaine Smith |
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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. |
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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
MY WILDLIFE PHOTOS See my photographic attempts at:
ZEST for BIRDS Trevor Hardaker and John Graham 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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