The Trekkie's Forum

This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 21h00 on Thursday, 26 January 2012. 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

   
Due to a work commitment, there will be no formal report on Monday evening, but I will keep the important news flowing as and when I receive it…

WESTERN CAPE
Starting in the Western Cape, the PECTORAL SANDPIPER on Pan P1 at Strandfontein Sewage Works was still showing well earlier today whilst at least 7 FULVOUS DUCKS were also present on Pan P6.  The EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER at Seeberg in the West Coast National Park was also still around on Tuesday and, yesterday, at least 2 AUSTRALASIAN GANNETS were also still lingering on Malgas Island in Saldahna Bay. A single AMUR FALCON was reported from the Lesser Kestrel roost in Wellington on the weekend.

FREE STATE
The Free State delivered an odd record yesterday when a BLACK TERN was reported from Loch Athlone in Bethlehem. There are not too many inland records of this species in the subregion at all, so a great record for the area!

KWAZULU NATAL
In Kwazulu Natal, a RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was discovered this afternoon at the St. Lucia estuary.

MPUMALANGA
The wayward pelagic species continue to be reported with Mpumalanga turning up yet another SOOTY TERN at Renosterkoppies in the Kruger National Park whilst Limpopo Province really pulled out all the stops and produced a RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD at Rankin’s Pass which took shelter in a local policeman’s swimming pool! Unfortunately, this latter bird eventually died as well.

NAMIBIA
Finally, a few interesting records from Namibia with a single COMMON REDSHANK and at least 13 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES at Walvis Bay on the weekend whilst a PIED KINGFISHER was also present, a very unusual record for this part of the subregion. A GLOSSY IBIS was also present at Walvis Bay Sewage Works.

This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 21h00 on Thursday, 02 February 2012. 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

   
Once again, I’m afraid to say that there will be no formal report on Monday, but it’s not due to a work commitment this time, it is because I have a commitment with BirdLife Overberg…

WESTERN CAPE
Starting in the Western Cape, the PECTORAL SANDPIPER on Pan P1 at Strandfontein Sewage Works was still showing well yesterday whilst a single RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was also reported from Pan S8 on Monday. The HUDSONIAN GODWIT at Langvlei near Vleesbaai was also still on view on Tuesday - this latter species has now become seriously “unblocked” and is really hanging around for a very long time. If you don’t take the opportunity to chase down this mega now, then you are only going to kick yourself later!

A pelagic trip out of Simon’s Town on the weekend turned up a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER whilst an observer aboard a trawler on the Agulhas Banks was delighted to pick up a SOOTY ALBATROSS on Friday. Other birders continued to enjoy the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER at Seeberg in the West Coast National Park on Sunday while good numbers of AMUR FALCONS continue to be reported over on the eastern side of the province and a LESSER GREY SHRIKE was reported about 20km east of Nelspoort on Saturday.

Just for completeness sake, I have also included below a photo of the AUSTRALASIAN GANNET reported from Malgas Island last week.

EASTERN CAPE
In the Eastern Cape, at least 5 AMUR FALCONS were also present on the weekend near Oyster Bay whilst an immature LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was once again picked up at Orient Beach in East London on Monday.

KWAZULU NATAL
Moving into Kwazulu Natal, a HARLEQUIN QUAIL was recorded yesterday at Umzumbe whilst, on the weekend, there were several reports of a BLACK HERON from the Umgeni River area.

NORTH WEST
The North-west Province produced yet another RED-FOOTED FALCON just outside Mooinooi on Saturday whilst a EURASIAN HONEY BUZZARD was reported along the Kgwadiri Loop at Borakalalo Nature Reserve on the weekend as well.

LIMPOPO
In Limpopo Province, there has been some excitement with the discovery of breeding SENEGAL COUCALS in the north of the Kruger National Park. The location is on the left of the H1-7, about 100 m from where the H13-1 (tar road from Punda Maria) makes a T-junction with the H1-7, in the direction of Shingwedzi. This is apparently the first confirmed breeding record for the Kruger and may well represent the first record for South Africa, although I would love to hear if anyone knows any differently.

NAMIBIA
Finally, in Namibia, a BLACK HERON was recorded on the weekend at Otjivero Dam about 90km east of Windhoek, a species that there are only a few records for in central Namibia.

Shame tannies.

LISTING REQUEST

I will be updating all the listing clubs on www.zestforbirds.co.za later this evening with all the latest totals received, so if your total has changed and you have not yet sent me an update, please try and get something through to me during the course of today, so that your latest totals can be reflected on the next update.

It's been a rather slow birding season this one with regards to rarities in our area.

Mark has tried man..he can do only so much!!

No Spotted Crakes and No swimming Bitterns yesterday, but i did look and try.