SA Rare Bird News Report - 29 December 2022
Trevor Hardaker
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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 | |||||||||
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 18h00 on Thursday, 29 December 2022.
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.
None of the records included in this report have undergone any adjudication process with any of the subregion’s Rarities Committees, so inclusion in this report does not constitute any official confirmation of the particular record. Observers are still encouraged to make the necessary submissions accordingly.
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, a male KNOB-BILLED DUCK (and possibly a second individual was well) was seen flying over De Goede Hoop Estate in Noordhoek on Monday afternoon while a number of FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS were still at Strandfontein Sewage Works today. Up on the west coast, the BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER remained on at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park on Tuesday, a GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER was found in Britannia Bay on Tuesday, only the 4th record for the province, and there were also still 6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif yesterday. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was found at Paardevlei at -34.085, 18.812 on Tuesday and was still there this afternoon, while the other PECTORAL SANDPIPER was also still at Rooisand Nature Reserve on Tuesday as well. BROWN SNAKE EAGLES were seen on the van der Stel Pass 1km from Bot River and on the Karwyderskraal road at -34.347, 19.150 yesterday while a single SOUTH AFRICAN CLIFF SWALLOW was also seen at the latter site yesterday. Further east, 2 GREATER SAND PLOVERS were still at Uilenkraal River estuary, east of Gansbaai, this afternoon, a dead female EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR was found along the R43 about 2 km from Uilenkraal River estuary on the way to Baardskeerdersbos on Tuesday and a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was reported south of Bredasdorp near the Elim turnoff today. Several EUROPEAN ROLLERS were reported with one at Sempurna Estate in McGregor on Tuesday, one at Ruigtevlei on Tuesday and at least one still on the Uplands road near Plettenberg Bay yesterday as well. Continuing on the Garden Route, a EURASIAN HOBBY was seen at the Swartvlei Beach in Sedgefield on Tuesday, the AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL was still at the Keurbooms River picnic site in Plettenberg Bay on Tuesday while the Plettenberg Bay region also had a GREATER SAND PLOVER at Bitou Vlei yesterday and 3 RED KNOTS and a GREATER SAND PLOVER at the Keurbooms River estuary this afternoon. Inland, 2 RED-BACKED SHRIKES were reported along the Lammertjiesleegte Loop in Karoo National Park at -32.315, 22.542 on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Fulvous Whistling Ducks at Strandfontein Sewage Works © Graham Pringle | Grey-headed Kingfisher in Britannia Bay © Mariaan de Jager | ||||||||
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Red-necked Phalarope at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Mike Bridgeford | Red-necked Phalaropes at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Jacques Giliomee | ||||||||
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Pectoral Sandpiper at Paardevlei © Stanislav Novotny | Brown Snake Eagle on van der Stel Pass © Johan van der Westhuizen | ||||||||
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Brown Snake Eagle on the Karwyderskraal road © Frank Hallett | Brown Snake Eagle on the Karwyderskraal road © Garret Skead | ||||||||
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Greater Sand Plovers at the Uilenkraal River estuary © Lester van Groeningen | Greater Sand Plovers at the Uilenkraal River estuary © Wessel Uys | ||||||||
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Greater Sand Plover at the Uilenkraal River estuary © Graham Luden | European Roller on the Uplands road © Evan Schoeman | ||||||||
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Up in the Northern Cape, an AFRICAN CRAKE and a DWARF BITTERN were present at a waterhole at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve on Monday.
In the Eastern Cape, the PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER was still at the Keiskamma River estuary in Hamburg on Tuesday while at least 4 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATERS were also still at Gamtoos River estuary on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Pacific Golden Plover (centre) in Hamburg © Stewart MacLachlan | |||||||||
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Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, a THICK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen on the Sand Forest walk at Ndumo Game Reserve yesterday while other lingerers included one CASPIAN PLOVER still at Mpempe Pan at -27.717, 32.490 yesterday, the ALLEN’S GALLINULE still at Muzi Pan yesterday and the juvenile CAPPED WHEATEAR still just south of the boardwalk along the beach at St Lucia yesterday. Elsewhere, a SOOTY FALCON was found near Mtunzini at -28.952, 31.736 on Tuesday, 3 YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKERS were seen in Phinda Private Game Reserve on Tuesday, a LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE was reported over New Hanover on Tuesday and a DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK was seen in Mkuze Game Reserve on Tuesday.
Into the North-west Province where a PINK-BACKED PELICAN was present at Rockwall Dam near Rustenburg today while the TEREK SANDPIPER was still at the pan near Stella at -26.56, 24.875 until at least Tuesday.
And finally, in Namibia, the YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES remained on at Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge in Katima Mulilo yesterday while the ELEGANT TERN was still at Mile 4 Salt Works near Swakopmund on Tuesday, | |||||||||
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Thick-billed Cuckoo in Ndumo Game Reserve © Luke Cuthbert | Dark Chanting Goshawk in Mkuze Game Reserve © Julia Clarence | ||||||||
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Capped Wheatear in St Lucia © Caroline Fox | Terek Sandpiper near Stella © Thomas Hohls | ||||||||
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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.
Kind regards Trevor | |||||||||
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TREVOR HARDAKER Cape Town, South Africa |
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