SA Rare Bird News Report - 03 July 2017

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 20h00 on Monday, 03 July 2017. 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
Just before I get going with the report, this is just to let everyone know that, due to another commitment on Thursday evening, there will not be a formal report going out then, but I will keep on sending out alerts and updates during the course of the week as and when I receive them.   Alright, on to the news and, starting in the Western Cape, the male NORTHERN SHOVELER continued its stay at Paarl Bird Sanctuary and was present again throughout the weekend for birders to enjoy while the long-staying SQUACCO HERON was also still present in the canal off Zeekoevlei along Fishermans Walk Road yesterday. Elsewhere, most of the action seemed to be on the Garden Route where the GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO was still at Reflections Eco-Reserve at Rondevlei in Wilderness on Friday while the same site also still held a WHITE-BROWED SCRUB ROBIN until at least Saturday. Sadly, there was no further sign of the young VIOLET-BACKED STARLING recently recorded at Great Brak River, but the KNOB-BILLED DUCK was still present at the wetland just inland of Little Brak River earlier today as well.
Squacco Heron at Zeekoevlei © Margaret Maciver		Knob-billed Duck at Little Brak River © Bryn de Kocks
Great Spotted Cuckoo at Reflections Eco-Reserve © Mike Bridgeford		White-browed Scrub Robin at Reflections Eco-Reserve © Mike Bridgeford
White-browed Scrub Robin at Reflections Eco-Reserve © Bryn de Kocks
Twitchers at Reflections Eco-Reserve © Tim Carr
In the Eastern Cape, there was some excitement yesterday when 2 BLACK HERONS were located along the Bonza Bay River at the Edly Symmons Road walkway in East London, still a rather rare species in the province while local listers were also excited by the discovery of a single WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER between Cannon Rocks and Boknes yesterday about 50m east of the turning into Mossel Street and about 1km east of Cannon Rocks. Also still lingering, the WESTERN MARSH HARRIER was seen again briefly this morning at Hope Farm dam near Port Alfred whilst the wide-ranging WHITE-BACKED VULTURE paid a visit to Sibuya Game Reserve this afternoon and was visible just off Southwell Road.
Black Heron along Bonza Bay River © Peter King		Black Heron along Bonza Bay River © Rodnick Biljon
White-backed Vulture at Sibuya Game Reserve © Chris Ovens
Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the shining light of the current subregion rarities, the MALAGASY POND HERON at the dam at Mziki, was still in place today entertaining the latest groups of twitchers to make the pilgrimage to come and enjoy this mega bird. Elsewhere in the province, an AYRES' HAWK EAGLE was spotted yesterday afternoon at Umlalalzi Nature Reserve, not too far away from Richard's Bay where a bird has been seen fairly regularly recently.
Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © Peter Rosewarne		Malagasy Pond Heron at Mziki © Tony Archer
Ayres’ Hawk Eagle at Umlalazi Nature Reserve © Dirk van Zijl
In Gauteng, the pair of WIRE-TAILED SWALLOWS were also still present at Rooiwal Power Station on Saturday while another interesting record concerned the discovery of a freshly dead AFRICAN CRAKE found in a garden in Parkhurst in Johannesburg yesterday, an unusual winter record for this species.   Across in Mpumalanga, at least 2 YELLOW-BREASTED PIPITS were still present on the koppie just north of Greylingstad yesterday as well.   Over in the North-west Province, the overwintering EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD was spotted visiting a garden in Stilfontein again yesterday afternoon.   Up in Limpopo Province, the 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS were still present at Engelhardt Dam near Letaba in the Kruger National Park on Saturday.   And finally, in Namibia, there was some surprize on Saturday when a single RED-EYED DOVE was located in a garden in Pionierspark in Windhoek (still present there yesterday). The nearest known population is along the Fish River in Mariental about 260 km SSE of Windhoek. But there is certainly precedent for these movements with a previous record from the same garden in April 2008 while another bird was seen in a garden in the neighbouring suburb of Academia in July 2015.   Also of interest, an orange-billed TERN was seen earlier today in Walvis Bay at -23.013, 14.437. Unfortunately, the bird remained distant, so the photos are inconclusive in confirming which species it might be, but it looks as if it might be a LESSER CRESTED TERN. Hopefully, it will be seen again and better photos can be obtained to be able to take the ID further and confirm it.
European Honey Buzzard in Stilfontein © Elna Grobler		Red-eyed Dove in Windhoek © Wessel Swanepoel
African Skimmer at Engelhardt Dam © John Adamson
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     Follow our local exploits in the field at: http://hardakerwildlife.wordpress.com/   See our photos and trip reports at: www.hardaker.co.za     ZEST for BIRDS 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     SOUTHERN AFRICAN RARITIES Online database of all SA rarities www.rarities.co.za -------------------------------------------------------------