SA Rare Bird News Report - 03 January 2016

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 17h15 on Sunday, 03 January 2016. 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
I am finally back at home after our trip through KZN... it has taken a little while to try and sift through all the various records that I have received and I also need to apologise for the lack of updates and alerts sent out while I was away. I started having trouble with sending emails from my phone and they just would not go through at all – very frustrating! So, to all of those that sent me emails and never got replies, I apologise. I was not trying to ignore you, I just couldn’t reply. I will try and get to all of your emails that are now bogging down my inbox in due course.   Then, also just to wish all SARBN subscribers the best for 2016 and may the rarities start to flood in...!   So, here is a brief (or not really!) synopsis of all the records I have received in the last few weeks. I hope I have managed to include them all and have not missed out on any. I will now start reporting as normal on SARBN and the next formal report will go out again on Thursday evening, so please keep those reports and photos coming through.   Two things stand out for me with all these recent records… firstly, are we about to see another irruption of African Openbills across the subregion starting and, secondly, are we possibly going to see a minor invasion of Corn Crakes into the drier western parts of the subregion this season?   Anyway, here we go...   SUBREGION MEGAS:   ELEGANT TERN – a single bird first located on in the tern roost at Laaiplek near Velddrif (Western Cape) on the pier off Rivier Street, just east of Noord Keerom Street, on 21 December and still present until at least 25 December.   WHINCHAT – the popular bird at Mount Gorongosa (Mozambique) present until at least 23 December and twitched by at least 49 birders already.   EURASIAN BLACKCAP – a female bird still present on Mount Gorongosa (Mozambique) until at least 18 December.   ROYAL TERN – a single bird reported from the mouth of the Kunene River (Namibia) on 18 December.   RED-RUMPED SWALLOW - an immature bird was mistnetted a little way north of Lephalale at -23.315190, 27.980300 on 16 December.   MADAGASCAR CUCKOO - a single bird located at Karongwe Private Game Reserve near Hoedspruit on 15 December.   COMMON NODDY - a single bird seen just below the lighthouse on the north-eastern corner of Inhaca Island near Maputo in Mozambique on 11 December.
Whinchat at Mount Gorongosa © Hennie Peters		Whinchat at Mount Gorongosa © Etienne Marais
Madagascar Cuckoo at Karongwe Private Game Reserve © Natie le Roux		Madagascar Cuckoo at Karongwe Private Game Reserve © Ross Hawkins
Elegant Tern at Laaiplek © John Graham
SUBREGION RARITIES:   LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL – single bird still present at Mkhombo Dam until at least yesterday.   PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER – single individual still present at Gouritzmond (Western Cape) until at least 30 December.   WESTERN MARSH HARRIER – single individual still present at Marievale Bird Sanctuary (Gauteng) until at least 30 December.   PECTORAL SANDPIPER – single bird still present at the Otter hide at Marievale Bird Sanctuary until at least 30 December.   RED-NECKED PHALAROPE – at least one bird still present at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif on 30 December.   FRANKLIN’S GULL – a single bird seen at Mile 4 Salt Works in Swakopmund (Namibia) on 30 December, another in full breeding plumage seen along the beach at St Lucia (KZN) on 23 December and another at Cape Recife near Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape) on 12 December.   SOOTY TERN - a single bird seen from Mission Rocks beach along the Eastern Shores in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on 27 December.   BLACK-TAILED GODWIT – a single bird located at Marievale Bird Sanctuary on 26 December, both birds also still present at Mkhombo Dam (Mpumalanga) yesterday.   EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER – 3 individuals present at Walvis Bay (Namibia) on 22 December, another 2 seen on the same day just south of the Umlalazi River mouth in Mtunzini (KZN).   AUSTRALIAN GANNET – at least 2 birds present on Malgas Island in Saldahna Bay on 21 December.   GREY WAGTAIL - a single bird located at Grown Energy farm at Sena (the Bohm's Bee-eater site) in Mozambique on 12 December.
Pacific Golden Plover at Gouritzmond © Pieter la Grange		Pacific Golden Plover at Gouritzmond © Willie Linde
Pacific Golden Plover at Gouritzmond © Dirk Human		Pacific Golden Plover at Gouritzmond © Gerhardus Malherbe
Franklin’s Gull at Cape Recife © Kevin Mitchell		Franklin’s Gull at Mile 4 Salt Works © Mark Boorman
Western Marsh Harrier at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Luke Johnson		Pectoral Sandpiper at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Alan Bedford-Shaw
Black-tailed Godwit at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Norman Lok
SUBREGION SCARCITIES:     EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD   Western Cape: One in Hunters Way, Hout Bay on 23 December.   Eastern Cape: One over Belmont Golf Club clubhouse in Grahamstown on 28 December. One at the Kromme River in St Francis Bay on 27 December.   Kwazulu Natal: One earlier today at -28.37338 S, 30.28852 E near Nqutu. One at Bonamanzi Game Reserve on 31 December. One at Dhlinza Forest on 31 December. One at Brettenwood in Ballito on 29 December. One over Mtunzini on 28 December. One at St. Lucia on 22 December. One at Zimanga Private Game Reserve on 21 December. One at Oribi Gorge on 16 December. One at the Sappi Stanger hide on 14 December. One at Umhlanga Nature Reserve on 12 December.   Mpumalanga: One at Serenity Forest Eco Reserve on 2 January.   Gauteng: At least one bird still present at Rietvlei Nature Reserve until 31 December. One over Nkwe Caravan Park south-east of Pretoria on 30 December. One at Broederstroom at Hartebeespoort Dam on 29 December. One at Northern Farm on 28 December. Two birds together at Mabusa Nature Reserve on 27 December. One in Centurion garden on 15 and 16 December. One at Delta Park on 13 December.   Free State: One over Pretorius Kloof in Bethlehem on 13 December.   North-west Province: One in Brits on 29 December.   Limpopo Province: One at Emaweni Game Breeders farm near Naboomspruit on 28 December. One in Entabeni Game Reserve on 16 December. One at Thornybush Game Reserve on 14 December.   Namibia: One at Gammams Water Treatment Plant in Windhoek on 31 December. One in Auasblick on 30 December. One east of Windhoek on 30 December. One at Prospect Farm on 25 December.     GREEN SANDPIPER   Kwazulu Natal: One still present along the lower canals at Darvill Bird Sanctuary until at least 23 December. One still present at Intaba Ingwe until at least 12 December.   Mpumalanga: One in the Sabie River at the first turnoff to the river on the S30 (Salitje Road) east of the Sabie River from Lower Sabie, approximately 13,2 km north of the junction of the S30 and S128 on 20 and 21 December.   Gauteng: One still present at the Vlei Bridge in Rietvlei Nature Reserve until at least 1 January.
European Honey Buzzard at Rietvlei Nature Reserve © Dee Roelofsz		European Honey Buzzard at Nkwe Caravan Park © Mark Tittley
European Honey Buzzard at St. Lucia © Ernst Vermeulen		European Honey Buzzard at Nkwe Caravan Park © Mark Tittley
European Honey Buzzard in Grahamstown © Andrew de Klerk		European Honey Buzzard at Mabusa Nature Reserve © Matthew Axelrod
Green Sandpiper at Darvill Bird Sanctuary © David Allan		Green Sandpiper along the Sabie River © Erhard Kruger
REGIONAL RARITIES:   Western Cape:   WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL – a single bird located today at Voelvlei near Vleesbaai at -34.274, 21.838   AFRICAN JACANA – single bird still present this morning at Strandfontein Sewage Works at the usual spot near the entrance boom, another at Voelvlei near Vleesbaai on 22 December and one still present at the De Zalse Gholf Club until at least 18 December.   SQUACCO HERON – a single bird located at Paarl Bird Sanctuary yesterday, another seen flying inland along the river at Still Bay on 21 December.   JACOBIN CUCKOO – at least 4 different birds seen yesterday on a farm between Still Bay and Gouritzmond. (The birds should be viewable from the public gravel road between Still Bay (take the Melkhoutfontein turnoff) and Gouritsmond. About halfway (20 km) on this road driving towards Gouritsmond, there is a left turn to Albertinia and the birds were seen on the left about 500m before this junction.). One also present earlier today at Voelvlei near Vleesbaai.   BLACK CUCKOO-SHRIKE – a female seen at Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve near Robertson on 30 December.   LESSER GREY SHRIKE – one bird seen along the Swartrivier Road at -34.257, 19.232 on 29 December.   BROWN-HOODED KINGFISHER – a single bird seen in a garden in Sunbird Circle in Kommetjie on 24 December.   MARABOU STORK – a single bird seen on the Hermon Road at Tomis Butchery on 23 December.   YELLOW-BILLED STORK – 2 birds present at Voelvlei near Vleesbaai until at least 22 December.   RED-BACKED SHRIKE – a male bird present at Elandsberg Farm near Hermon on 21 December.   AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL – one along the Touws River south of Ladismith on 19 December.   AMUR FALCON – one adult male seen south of Ladismith along the R323 on 19 December.   GREAT EGRET – a single bird present at Voelvlei near Vleesbaai until at least 17 December.   LONG-TAILED PARADISE WHYDAH – a male bird (possible escapee) seen in a Pinelands garden feeding with Pin-tailed Whydahs on 15 December.   SAND MARTIN – single bird seen at Strandfontein Sewage Works on 13 December.
Squacco Heron at Paarl Bird Sanctuary © Louis du Plessis		Red-backed Shrike at Elandsberg Farm © John Fincham
Jacobin Cuckoo near Still Bay © Tertius Gous
Northern Cape:   LITTLE BITTERN – a bird encountered on 26 December between Twee Rivieren and Mata Mata in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.   AFRICAN CRAKE – a single bird found in the accommodation gardens at Witsand Nature Reserve on 25 December.   WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER – 2 birds seen along the Echo Loop at Augrabies National Park on 22 December.   CASPIAN PLOVER – at least 2 birds present at New Holme Guest Farm between Hanover and Colesburg on 24 December, another 2 birds on a farm near Strydenburg (-30.155, 23.663) on 18 December.   CORN CRAKE – a single bird seen at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve on 24 December.   WOODLAND KINGFISHER – at least one bird present at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve on 23 December.   PALM-NUT VULTURE – an immature bird near Strydenberg (-29 57 22.91611, 23 40 37.01477) on 13 December.
Little Bittern in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park © Peter Willering		African Crake at Witsand Nature Reserve © Annamarie le Roux
Palm-nut Vulture near Strydenburg © Foden Saunders		Woodland Kingfisher at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve © Liam Charlton
Corn Crake at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve © Liam Charlton
Eastern Cape:   SAND MARTIN – a single bird seen along the Alexandria-Richmond road yesterday, at least 4 birds present at the Gamtoos River mouth on 26 December.   MONTAGU’S HARRIER – a sub-adult male seen at Grasmere turn-off between St Francis Bay and Humansdorp on 1 January, another male reported along the Vukani Loop in Addo National Park on 28 December.   SEDGE WARBLER – at least 4 birds present at Kei mouth on 31 December.   BROWN SNAKE EAGLE – one bird seen about 30km north-east of Graaff-Reinet on 31 December.   LESSER GREY SHRIKE – one bird located along the Vukani Loop in Addo National Park on 25 December (and still present until at least 28 Dec).   AFRICAN OPENBILL – a single bird at the airstrip at Paradise Beach on 24 December, possibly the same bird seen flying over Paradise Beach towards the Krom River, St Francis on 29 December.   HARTLAUB’S GULL – a single bird seen at Cannon Rocks on 23 December.   LESSER MOORHEN – a single bird located at Zwelitsha Pans on 13 December (and still present until at least 16 December).
Montagu’s Harrier near St Francis Bay © Mike Buckham		Montagu’s Harrier in Addo National Park © David Green
Lesser Grey Shrike in Addo National Park © Colin Urquhart		Lesser Grey Shrike in Addo National Park © Lynette Rudman
Lesser Moorhen at Zwelitsha Pans © Rodnick Biljon		African Openbill at Paradise Beach © Ron Searle
Brown Snake Eagle near Graaff-Reinet © Alan Collett
Kwazulu Natal:   RED-FOOTED FALCON – one bird present earlier today at -28.37338 S, 30.28852 E along a small dirt road west of Nqutu, also a female present on the Underberg polo field on the Sani Pass road on 28 December.   AFRICAN OPENBILL – one bird at Tala Game Reserve earlier today, a single bird reported yesterday a couple of km before the Albert Falls Dam turn-off. Up to 40 birds present at the lowest feedlot ponds near Albert Falls on 27 December with more on view at the dam itself on the same day. Six seen at Hermannsburg on 29 December, two more at Malandeni Sewage Farm on 28 December and another at Ambers in Howick on 20 December.   SPOTTED CRAKE – one at the Sappi Stanger hide on 1 January.   LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE – a single bird seen at Albert Falls Dam on 31 December, another 2 birds recorded at Hilton College Nature Reserve on 22 December.   HARTLAUB’S GULL – single bird at Lake Mzingazi in Richard’s Bay on 30 December.   AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE – a pair of birds found at Brettenwood in Ballito on 29 December.   WHITE-BACKED NIGHT HERON – a single bird located on a private farm near Hluhluwe on 28 December.   CASPIAN PLOVER – up to 4 birds present at Mziki Marsh in Phinda Private Game Reserve on 28 December.   CAPPED WHEATEAR – single bird present at Mziki Marsh in Phinda Private Game Reserve on 28 December.   TEMMINCK’S COURSER – at least 5 birds present at Phinda Private Game Reserve on 28 December.   EURASIAN HOBBY - a single bird at Phinda Private Game Reserve on 28 December, another encountered on Sani Pass just east of the South African border post on 14 December.   LESSER MOORHEN – a single bird at Sappi Stanger bird hide on 27 December, another located at Zimanga Private Game Reserve on 22 December.   SADDLE-BILLED STORK - a sub-adult bird seen at a farm dam alongside the N3 in the KZN Midlands on 25 December. It was just past the Hidcote turnoff as one is heading from Mooi River to Estcourt. Co-ordinates were 29.13564S 29.96125E.   GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER – a single bird seen in a garden in Amanzimtoti on 25 December.   RED-BILLED BUFFALO WEAVER – a single female seen at the last stream crossing before entering Mkhuze Game Reserve on 24 December.   AFRICAN SKIMMER – single bird present in tern roost at Kosi Bay on 19 December (and still present on 21 December).   BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER – a group of 5 birds seen along the road adjacent to Bluff Vlei Nature Reserve in Durban on 18 December.   SOOTY FALCON – a single bird seen at Tembe Elephant Park on 16 December.   EURASIAN BITTERN - a single bird seen close to the Sappi Stanger bird hide at S29.34757 E 31.30784 on 14 December and present there for at least a few days after that.   ABDIM'S STORK - single bird seen on the farm Dartford along the closest Coleford road to Underberg on 12 December (and still present on the 13th).
African Openbill at Albert Falls Dam © Decklan Jordaan		African Openbills at Malandeni Sewage Farm © Dave Marshall
Hartlaub’s Gull at Lake Mzingazi © Dominic Rollinson		African Pygmy Geese at Brettonwood © Chris Macdonald
Caspian Plover at Phinda Private Game Reserve © Daryl Dell		Temminck’s Coursers at Phinda Private Game Reserve © Daryl Dell
Capped Wheatear at Phinda Private Game Reserve © Daryl Dell		Sooty Falcon at Tembe Elephant Park © David Allan
African Skimmer at Kosi Bay © Paul Bartho
Mpumalanga:   GREAT SNIPE – a single bird reported from Dullstroom (Dunkeld Cottages) on 1 January. Bird flushed from bank of one of the trout dams at 25 24 6 S; 30 4 45 E.   LESSER MOORHEN – a single bird seen in the wetlands at Wakkerstroom on 29 December.   CASPIAN PLOVER – still present at Mkhombo Dam until at least 26 December.   GREY PLOVER – still present at Mkhombo Dam until at least 19 December.   WHITE-FRONTED PLOVER – still present at Mkhombo Dam until at least 19 December.     Gauteng:   AFRICAN FINFOOT – still present at Otter bridge at Rietvlei Nature Reserve until at least 31 December.   RED-FOOTED FALCON – a single female along the Eendracht Road at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve on 31 December.   LESSER MOORHEN – one located at Hamerkop Bird Sanctuary in Florida on 30 December (and still present earlier today), another located at Rondebult Bird Sanctuary yesterday.   AFRICAN OPENBILL – at least one bird still present at the corner of Roots and the R54 in Louisrus, Vanderbijlpark until at least 29 December, 2 birds present there up to 26 December. Another bird found at Marievale Bird Sanctuary on 30 December.   PINK-BACKED PELICAN – single bird spotted on the bridge crossing Roodeplaat Dam on the Kameelfontein Road on 26 December.   TAWNY EAGLE – single bird seen at Marievale Bird Sanctuary on 26 December.   BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER – single bird present at Hamerkop Bird Sanctuary in Florida on 17 December (and still there the next day).
Pink-backed Pelican at Roodeplaat Dam © Eduard Teichert		Tawny Eagle at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Luke Johnson
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater at Hamerkop Bird Sanctuary © Bradwin Adendorff		Lesser Moorhen at Hamerkop Bird Sanctuary © Etienne Hinrichsen
Lesser Moorhen at Rondebult Bird Sanctuary © Lennard Vroom
Free State:   LONG-CRESTED EAGLE – one bird seen about 12km west of Ladybrand on 15 December.   WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL – a single bird at Loch Lomond in Bethlehem on 13 December.     North-west Province:   AFRICAN OPENBILL - a single bird seen at the drift close to Madikwe River Lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve yesterday, another seen at Prozesky Bird Sanctuary in Potchefstroom on 18 December.   AFRICAN CRAKE – a single bird present on a farm about 70km north of Vryburg for a few days from 25 December.   RED-FOOTED FALCON – a female bird present at Barberspan Nature Reserve on 21 December.   LESSER MOORHEN – a single bird located at Klerksdorp Dam on 20 December.   CASPIAN PLOVER - up to 7 birds present at the Kgomo Kgomo floodplain on 13 December.   LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO - a single bird located at the entrance to Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve on 12 December.
Levaillant’s Cuckoo at Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve © Tony Archer		Lesser Moorhen at Klerksdorp Dam © Tony Archer
Limpopo Province:   CASPIAN PLOVER – a single bird present at Mooiplaas waterhole near Mopani in the Kruger National Park on 31 December.   RED-FOOTED FALCON – a female bird seen at Witlande in the Mabilingwe Nature Reserve near Bela Bela on 27 December.   TREE PIPIT – single bird seen in the Wolkberg region on 20 December.   AFRICAN HOBBY – single bird reported in the Soutpansberg Mountains near Entabeni on 19 December.   BLACK-CHESTED PRINIA - a single bird located near Nwambi Pan in the Makuleke Concession in the Kruger National Park on 12 December.
African Hobby near Entabeni © Martin Knoetze		Black-chested Prinia near Mwambi Pan © Duncan McKenzie
Namibia:   CORN CRAKE – single bird found on the lawn around the pool at Le Mirage Desert Lodge in Sossusvlei on 1 January and another at Otavi a few days prior to that. These are possibly only the 3rd and 4th records ever for the country!   MARSH OWL – single bird seen at Palmwag on 31 December.   CASPIAN PLOVER – between 20 and 30 birds present just outside the King Nehale gate to Etosha National Park on 22 December.     Botswana:   CORN CRAKE – a single bird seen next to Belmond Kwai River Lodge (NG 19) a few km's from Kwai Village and Moremi North Gate on 13 December.     Mozambique:   CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING – single bird seen on the San Sebastian Peninsula near Vilanculous on 21 December.
Marsh Owl at Palmwag © Franck Bruneliere		Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on the San Sebastian Peninsula © Manuela Krog
Corn Crake at Sossusvlei © Tarry Butcher
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 -------------------------------------------------------------