SA Rare Bird News Report - 11 March 2021
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, 11 March 2021.
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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Just a few scarcity reports to mention from the last few days…
EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD:
· One over Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (Western Cape) on Tuesday. · One at the Garden Route Botanical Gardens in George (Western Cape) on Tuesday. · One at Matatane River Lodge (KZN) on Tuesday. · One in a garden in Garsfontein (Gauteng) on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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European Honey Buzzard in Garsfontein © Koos Nel | European Honey Buzzard at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens © Gigi Laidler | ||||||||
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On to the rest of the news and, starting in the Western Cape, it was surprisingly quiet with just a couple of EUROPEAN ROLLER records coming through, one seen just outside Genadendal at -34.052, 19.512 on Tuesday and another seen on the George airport road to Herolds Bay just outside Skimmelkrans Boerdery on Monday afternoon. | |||||||||
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European Roller near Genadendal © Dana Goldberg | European Roller along the George Airport road © Brian Taggart | ||||||||
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Up in the Northern Cape, a slightly delayed record has come through of a GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER seen on 4 March 2021 along the Mata Mata Road, close to Kamqua water hole, in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
In the Eastern Cape, all eyes remained on the Sundays River mouth where the mega SOOTY GULL continued to show well to the gathering crowds today while there were also still at least one BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER in Colchester this afternoon and 3 RED KNOTS present at the Kromme River estuary in St Francis Bay earlier today as well. | |||||||||
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Sooty Gull at the Sundays River mouth © Marie Delport | Sooty Gull at the Sundays River mouth © Neil Ebedes | ||||||||
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Sooty Gull at the Sundays River mouth © Wynand Sauerman | |||||||||
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Sooty Gull at the Sundays River mouth © Gerbus Vermaak | Sooty Gull at the Sundays River mouth © Morag Gray | ||||||||
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Sooty Gull at the Sundays River mouth © Hilton Thomson | Grey-headed Kingfisher near Mata Mata © Sigmund Storm | ||||||||
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Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the spotlight remained on Mpempe Pan where Southern Africa’s 19th BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER remained to entertain twitchers this afternoon. There were also still at least 13 TEMMINCK’S COURSERS still around at Duzi Turf next to Darvill Bird Sanctuary in Pietermaritzburg this afternoon while slightly delayed news has also come through of a DUSKY LARK seen on a private farm at Banners Rest in Port Edward on 2 March 2021, well out of range for this species. The bird was apparently only seen on that one day and has not been seen since. | |||||||||
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Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Mpempe Pan © Wayne Johnson | Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Mpempe Pan © Richard Crawshaw | ||||||||
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Dusky Lark in Port Edward © Paddy Hagelthorn | |||||||||
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In the North-west Province, several STRIPED CRAKES were still giving views at Kgomo Kgomo yesterday.
Up in Limpopo, a single male AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE was found at a small wetland in the Makuleke concession near Pafuri in the Kruger National Park on Monday and was still there yesterday.
And finally, in Namibia, the popular YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES were back in the gardens of Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge in Katima Mulilo on Tuesday again. | |||||||||
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African Pygmy Goose in the Makuleke concession © Zane du Plooy | Yellow-throated Leaflove at Caprivi Houseboat Safari Lodge © Curt Sagell | ||||||||
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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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