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Issue 26 LARKNovember/December 2019 N e w s l e t t e r o f B i r d l i f e P o l o k w a n e

Affiliated to Birdlife South Africa The Lark is the newsletter of Birdlife Polokwane and is published bimonth- Contents ly. It publishes reports of club activities, trip reports, photographic contri- Regulars butions and any natural history notes of birds or events involving birds. Contributions are accepted in English African Oystercatcher or Afrikaans and are accepted at the discretion of the editors. Non-mem- 41 Bird briefs bers are also welcome to contribute, Big Bite Birds: bite force especially if it is of relevance to birds and head morphology in birds • Bird instinct • Coats or birding in the Limpopo Province. of Wings • African Finfoot - When submitting images, please sub- crab diet • Short-clawed Lark mit high resolution images without range extension • Overwin- any borders or frames. tering African Pygmy Kingfish- er • Age progression in South- The editors reserve the right to edit ern Banded Snake Eagle. articles as necessary. All images are copyright protected and the proper- ty of the author/s of the article un- 67 Interesting sightings less otherwise stated. Please send all 16 August - 15 October 2019 your contributions to the editors at [email protected]. 70 Migrant arrivals The opinions expressed by contribu- tors in this newsletter are not neces- sarily those of the editors, the Birdlife 72 Upcoming events Polokwane committee or Birdlife South Africa. This newsletter is best DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE: read in a ‘two page 15 December 2019 view’ format. ADVERTISING Cover European Honey Buzzard SPACE AVAILABLE © Derek Engelbrecht. Contact Lisa Grosel 083 380 2322

1 The Lark 26 The Lark • November/December 2019 • Issue 26

Club News, Trip Reports and Members’ contributions Going, going, Gurney's Birding at Randfontein Willem Van der Merwe Dawie De Swardt

4 23 Rust De Winter Dam 17 Jody De Bruyn

He koma swenonyana 2019 Derek Engelbrecht

Specials galore at Club Ranch Safaris 29 Jody De bruyn The Lark 26 2 ,

Editor's chirps

Spring has sprung and the Willow Warbler has sung! Quite a number of migratory species have arrived, and over the next couple of weeks the last remaining 'outstand- ing' migrants will boost our trip tallies. This issue once again highlights what a birding hotspot the Limpopo Province, and specifically the Greater Polokwane region, is: Gurney's Sugarbird, Red-throated Wryneck, Pel's Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, African Skimmer, African Finfoot, and Half-collared Kingfisher all feature in this issue. We are the envy of many people from all corners of the world, and we should promote our region and the local guides. And what better medium to promote our region than The Lark. Please send us your trip reports: it not only makes for good reading, but it is also a valuable reference source for birders planning to visit our region. We also want to congratulate Jody with his haul of Limpopo specials on a morning outing to Rust De Winter (read his report in this issue). We hope you enjoy reading this issue and we are eagerly awaiting your interesting contributions. Raelene and Daniel

P.O. Box 699 Fauna Park 0787 Tel: 015 263 6473 www.birdlifepolokwane.co.za www.facebook.com/birdlifepolokwane

President Joe Grosel • Chairperson Jody De Bruyn • Deputy chairperson Mark Friskin • Secretary Marcia Van Tonder • Treasurers Nick Baglow and Julia Friskin • Website and IT coordinator Jody De Bruyn • PRO and venue coordinator Lisa Grosel • Events co-ordinator Richter Van Tonder • Research and mon- itoring Derek Engelbrecht • Newsletter editors Raelene Engelbrecht and Daniel Engelbrecht • Additional members Anneliese Pretorius, Conrad Van Tonder, Willem Van der Merwe, Les Reynolds, Johan Van Vuuren

3 The Lark 26 Going ... going ... Gurney's In search of South Africa's northernmost sugarbirds

Dawie De Swardt

s part of an ongoing isolated from other populations project on various as- and they also represent the north- pects of the natural ernmost population of the species historyA of isolated populations of in South Africa. One of the objec- Gurney's Sugarbird in the Limpopo tives of the study is to obtain blood Province, I got the opportunity to ring sugarbirds at the Lajuma Re- search Centre, in the Soutpansberg, Limpopo Province. The Gurney’s Above The Silver Proteas favoured by Gur- ney's Sugarbird are restricted to the highest Sugarbirds of the Soutpansberg are elevations in the Soutpansberg. The Lark 26 4 samples for DNA analysis for Evan wilderness character. It is a popular Haworth, a Master of Science can- destination for eco-tourists, scien- didate at the University of Pretoria. tists and students for a variety of Evan is doing a study on sugarbird projects. Lajuma is also declared as genetics and is investigating con- a Natural Heritage Site and forms nectivity between populations of part of the Luvhondo Nature Re- Gurney’s Sugarbird. We also collect serve within the UNESCO Vhem- demographic data (by obtaining re- be Biosphere Reserve. captures when revisiting the sites) Samuel Peta (a SANBI intern and a host of other biological data, based at the University of Lim- primarily related to their breeding popo) and I arrived at Lajuma at strategies. about 12:00 on the 13th August The sugarbirds occur in as- 2019 where we were met by Ryan sociation with Protea roupelliae Van Huyssteen. To reach the sugar- (Silver Protea) on the plateaus of bird site on Lajuma peak, the high- mountain ranges, usually above est point in the Soutpansberg at 1700 masl. In 2018, I targeted approximately 1700 masl, involves Schnellkop and Hwiti Mountain a 40 minute hike. However, as we near Haenertsburg (see De Swardt had to carry all our ringing equip- and Engelbrecht 2019). Afterment (net poles for eight 12 m nets, Ryan Van Huyssteen invited me rucksack with nets and their equip- to visit Lajuma Research Centre ment, a ringing box with rings, to ring Gurney’s Sugarbird there, I etc.) it took us considerably longer planned a field excursion for Au- to reach the site - more than an gust 2019. hour! After we ‘summited’, I scout- Lajuma Research Centre is ed for possible sites amongst the situated in the western Soutpans- proteas to erect the mist nets. Site berg in the Limpopo Province, selection was a little complicated between Louis Trichardt (Makha- as the proteas were scattered rather do) and Vivo. This area is also a far apart and in small clumps. We recognized centre of floristic di- were fortunate to have met up with versity and endemism, a diversity a few visiting students descending of vegetation types ranging from from Lajuma peak and they helped grassland to forests, breathtaking us lug the heavy equipment to the mountain scenery, clear mountain top, and also assisted us with set- streams and waterfalls, interesting ting up the first of two nets at a archaeological sites, and a pristine large, flowering Silver Protea. We

5 The Lark 26 were getting our equipment ready to move to the next site when we saw a sugarbird male fly into the net. I cannot begin to express how excited we were to have caught our first sugarbird at Lajuma. It certainly wasn’t the first sugarbird I caught within minutes of raising a mist net, but it was a very good start to the research trip and an immense relief! The sugarbird was ringed, measurements recorded and a blood sample was taken for genetic studies. I also took the opportunity to explain to the others how to sex a male Gur- ney's Sugarbird based on its wing and tail length, and the bulged primary feather. Once we had pro- Above Lugging the heavy ringing equipment cessed our first catch, we made our up to Lajuma peak is no mean feat - but Ryan way to the lower site to erect some did it with a smile! more nets. Following this, we de- scended and finally arrived at the cottage just after 5 pm. The next day, 14th August, was a solo trip for me to Lajuma peak ders at the lower of the two sites. I as Sam had to do his own fieldwork managed to catch two Lazy Cistico- and Ryan had other commitments. las and two Bar-throated Apalises, Upon reaching the netting sites, I but there were no signs of sugarbird opened the nets and prepared my activity and I was getting a bit con- ringing station amongst the boul- cerned. Most of the morning was

The Lark 26 6 Above Extracting the first ever Gurney's Sugarbird caught in the Soutpansberg © Ryan Van Huyssteen.

Left What a beauty! Note the long tail of male Gurney's Sugar- birds © Ryan Van Huyssteen. .

spent walking around looking for alternative sites for mist netting, but there were no other protea bushes around. At about 10:00, I went to check on the top net and, surprise-surprise, there was another sugarbird in the net waiting for me. My first thought was that 7 The Lark 26 Above Bar-throated Apalis caught and ringed on Lajuma peak.

Right Number 2! Note the yellow pol- len (possibly from the endemic Aloe flowering at the time) on the chin of the sugarbird.

it was a recapture of the previ- ous day, but I was very delight- ed when I took the bird out of the net and saw that it was a different, unringed individual! The bird was taken to my ringing station amongst end of the next day. the boulders where I recorded the Little did I know - although measurements, collected blood for I should have known as I was in DNA analysis and ringed the bird the mountains after all - that the before releasing it again. The rest of Thursday would be a misty day the day was very quiet at the nets with strong winds. Sam offered to and later that afternoon I closed the join me (as the plan was to take nets and started my descent back to down the nets), but our day start- the cottage. I decided that 3 days ed with a flat tyre. After fixing the targeting sugarbirds on Lajuma puncture, we walked in misty con- peak would be sufficient, and that ditions to the top where the wind I would take down the nets at the was really howling. We decided to The Lark 26 8 take the nets down and head back Follow-up visits to the Lajuma sites - the nets were also wet as a re- (there is another site not too far sult of the misty conditions. Later from Lajuma) will be done in Feb- that day, I decided to put up some ruary 2020, and the following years nets in a bushy area near the vlei when the proteas will be more to catch some other bird species. abundant than during the win- This proved to be a good decision ter months. My study of Gurney’s as I was rewarded with several spe- Sugarbirds in Lydenburg showed cies within just a couple of hours: Gurney’s Sugarbirds exhibit site fi- Southern and Greater Double-col- delity to protea stands, so it would lared Sunbirds. Cape Batis, Ter- be interesting to obtain recaptures restrial Brownbul, Yellow-streaked on follow-up visits and to deter- Greenbul, and an Emerald-spotted mine their population densities in Wood Dove, amongst others. the Soutpansberg and other sites in The Soutpansberg Gurney’s the Limpopo Province. Sugarbird population was the first to be studied and ringed by me. References This population is isolated from De Swardt DH, Engelbrecht GD 2019. the escarpment population (where Gurney's Sugarbird. Ringing in the Hwiti a project in Lydenburg is still on- Mountain area. The Lark 21: 26-31. going after 30 years!) and those in the Wolkberg and Bewaarkloof Author e-mail: [email protected] regions in the Limpopo Province.

9 The Lark 26 Above Bully Canary © Richter Van Tonder Birding at Randfontein Willem Van der Merwe

ur August club out- situated only a few kilometres from ing was to Schalk and Haenertsburg, but has quite a dif- Annette Van Schalk- ferent, much drier climate, seeing wyk’sO farm at Randfontein in the as it lies in the rain shadow of the Wolkberg mountains. The farm is high peaks of the Wolkberg moun- The Lark 26 10 Above The hilly terrain at Randfontein with the Bewaarkloof mountains in the background © Derek Engelbrecht. tains. The farm itself is hilly rather than mountainous, and not too difficult to traverse. Richter, Leonie, and I met Schalk and Annette at the farm’s entrance. Since Leonie a good diversity of trees and other has a bit of difficulty walking, she plants. I’ve been there before, main- stayed mostly at the farmhouse. But ly for plant surveys, so it was inter- she didn’t have a bad deal! Right esting to be on the lookout for birds outside Schalk and Annette’s liv- this time. And I was not disappoint- ing room, the birds come to drink ed! The farm yielded over 70 bird water and to feed, and just sitting species within quite a short dis- there and looking out of the win- tance of walking. Many of the spe- dow, Leonie (and later the rest of us cies we recorded were only heard, also) were able to enjoy wonderful such as for instance Purple-crested sightings. Turaco calling from the forested Schalk took Richter and I gorges on the farm. The birds we around the farm a little bit. The saw, however, included some bril- environment is dry bushveld, with liant sightings. It is always pleas- 11 The Lark 26 ing to see Golden-breasted Bun- trees, out in the open and in good tings, Grey-backed Camaropteras, light. This is the most of them I’ve Familiar Chats, White-throated ever seen together, and we had ex- Robin-Chats, and both Kalahari and White-browed Scrub Robins. Below White-browed Scrub Robin © Richter We had especially fine sightings of Van Tonder Brimstone Canaries - a large group of them, almost a flock, perched on Bottom Golden-breasted Buntings were plen- tiful in the garden © Richter Van Tonder.

The Lark 26 12 Above The Red-throated Wryneck we saw at cellent views, allowing us to see Randfontein was the inspiration behind this drawing © Willem Van der Merwe how they differed from the smaller, more familiar Yellow-fronted Opposite, top to bottom, left to right Canaries. Another special of the White-throated Robin-Chat, Lazy Cisticola, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Crested Bar- day was a Red-throated Wryneck, bet, Jameson's Firefinch, and Yellow-bellied who was giving its unmistakable Greenbul © Richter Van Tonder. 13 The Lark 26 The Lark 26 14 ‘kwee-kwee-kwee’ call. As it goes, to produce a wryneck painting. we heard the call first, and then had Back at the farmhouse, we to search around for a while until joined Leonie and Annette to watch we spotted it. The wryneck again the garden visitors. These were of gave us some wonderful views and a greater diversity than I had ever for Richter some excellent photos! expected! In the bird baths, lots It was interesting to hear it call in of different species mingled and the winter, but the wrynecks were splashed and took care of their likely already starting to gear up feathers. These included a wealth of for spring and the breeding sea- waxbills, including beauties such as son. Wrynecks are very unusual Green-winged Pytilia, Violet-eared woodpecker relatives, without the Waxbill, and both Jameson’s and specific wood-pecking adaptations. I don’t see them often and this en- counter was enough to inspire me Below Team Randfontein 2019.

15 The Lark 26 African Firefinches - and of course and for quite a long time as they the ubiquitous Blue Waxbills. I saw hopped around undisturbed. We Jameson’s Firefinch better than ever also managed to add another tar- before, and could directly com- get, Southern Black Tit. Other spe- pare it with the African Firefinch, cies we got that are not very often a possible source of confusion. seen closer to Polokwane, included Elsewhere on the farm we also saw Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Yel- Red-billed Firefinches, making it a low-breasted Apalis, and Sombre clean sweep of the local firefinch- Greenbul. es on Schalk and Annette’s farm. After our time on the farm, For me a treat was the Yellow-bel- Richter and I drove around a bit lied Greenbul who also came for more, getting closer to Haenerts- a splash, and I also enjoyed seeing burg, to see if we could get some the Emerald-spotted Wood Doves. additional birds for the pentad. On the lawn and amidst the garden And we did! These included typical plants there hopped an interesting grassland bird species of the region selection of warbler-like species. such as African Stonechat, Levail- These included the Lazy Cisticola lant’s Cisticola, Red-collared Wid- (one of the targets of the day), Ned- owbird, Cape Canary, and Drakens- dicky, and Tawny-flanked Prinia - berg Prinia. A small pond yielded and it was amazing and educational the Egyptian Goose. Raptors of the to see all three together, since the day included a Rock Kestrel and a three of them are species that can soaring African Hawk-Eagle. be confused for each other in the All in all it was a pleasant and bush. We could note how the Lazy fruitful day of birding - and I give Cisticola was somewhat bigger and a big thank you to Richter, Schalk, darker than the prinia, and longer Annette and Leonie! tailed than the Neddicky. It was ex- ceptional to see these birds up close Author e-mail: [email protected]

The Lark 26 16 he koma Swenonyana 2019 Derek Engelbrecht

ne of the highlights second year Zoology undergradu- of my second year ate course, is to highlight various Zoology module at morphological features of birds, the UniversityO of Limpopo is the to show the students how to per- bird ringing demonstration. We form selected measurements, and dubbed this practical 'He koma to tell them about the hows, whys, swenonyana' which translates to and value of bird ringing. There is 'We catch birds'. The aim of the always great excitement with this practical, which forms part of the practical as the students are eager 17 The Lark 26 to get a closer look at our feathered clearly evident. friends. Despite a fairly strong wind This year's bird practical was at times (the mist nets move which on the 29th August 2019. Fellow makes it easier for birds to see), we ringer, Billy Attard, and two trainee had a successful day and managed ringers, Marianne McKenzie and to get Marianne within 20 species Leonie Kellerman, made up this of the 500 species mark required year's ringing team. We divided the for trainee ringers. At the close of class into groups: I was responsible nets, we had ringed 50 birds repre- for the 'networking' demonstration senting 19 species. Laughing Doves and the whys of bird ringing, while topped the numbers table with 11 Billy showed the students how to perform selected measurements and how to ring a bird. Whilst lis- Opposite The next generation of ornitholo- tening to Billy explaining the hows gists. of bird ringing to the students, Below Billy Attard demonstrating the ringing his love and passion for birds was process to second year Zoology students.

The Lark 26 18 Above, top to bottom, left to right Fiscal Flycatcher, White-browed Scrub Robin, Speckled Mousebird, Kalahari Scrub Robin, a feisty Acacia Pied Barbet showing the toothed bill on Billy's fingers, Namaqua Dove.

individuals ringed, followed by senting four species. Details of the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow retraps follow: and Southern Masked Weaver (six Blue Waxbill AR97813 individuals each) sharing second First ringed as an adult on place, and Scaly-feathered Finch 2018-08-20 at the same local- and Blue Waxbill completing the ity on the campus of the Uni- rostrum with four individuals each versity of Limpopo by Billy in third place. Attard. There were four retraps repre- Distance between initial ring- 19 The Lark 26 SZOA022 Class of 2019

The Lark 26 20 ing site and retrap site: 0 km. ing site and retrap site: 0 km. Days elapsed: 375 days (1yr, Days elapsed: 729 days (1yr, 0m, 10d). 11m, 30d). Fiscal Flycatcher AR97684 Scaly-feathered Finch AR97510 First ringed as an adult male First ringed as an adult on on 2017-08-31 at VC Lane on 2018-09-05 at the same locality the campus of the University of on the campus of the Universi- Limpopo by Derek Engelbre- ty of Limpopo by Derek Engel- cht. brecht. Distance between initial ring- Distance between initial ring- 21 The Lark 26 ing site and retrap site: 0 km. Days elapsed: 375 days (1yr, 0m, Days elapsed: 359 days (0yr, 10d). 11m, 25d). Catch of the day? There were Scarlet-chested Sunbird AR97827 a few contenders: Namaqua Dove, First ringed as an immature Acacia Pied Barbet and a Black- male on 2018-08-20 at the same faced Waxbill, but the Cardinal locality on the campus of the Woodpecker took this year's hon- University of Limpopo by Billy ours. Attard. Distance between initial ringing Author e-mail: [email protected] site and retrap site: 0 km.

Above Scarlet-chested Sunbird.

The Lark 26 22 Catching up with rare Limpopo visitors at

Rust De Winter Dam Jody De Bruyn

ust de Winter Dam is over the past few months. With the situated on the south- ever-popular birding destination ern border of the Lim- of the neighbouring Mkhombo popoR Province about 20 km’s east Dam’s water levels being very low of Pienaarsrivier. There has been at present, Rust de Winter Dam an influx of rare birds to this dam came under the spotlight of birders’

23 The Lark 26 Sand Plover that was found at the dam, and with best intentions of finding the bird, I set out for a long walk along the shoreline. On a pre- vious visit to the dam, I managed to find two Caspian Terns, again an indication that birds were on the move. They are usually found at Mkhombo Dam. Who knows what else could be found? The shallow waters were packed with waterfowl; Red-billed Teal, Cape Teal, White-faced Whis- tling Duck, Fulvous Duck, Cape Shoveler, Southern Pochard, and Spur-winged Goose all making it onto my list. African Pygmy Goose have been recorded at the dam pre- viously, but today they were missing. There were a few small flocks of African Spoonbill, and a few Lit- tle Egrets, Great Egrets and Grey Herons wading in the shallows. The most common birds found at the dam were African Ja- cana, Egyptian Goose and Kittlitz’s Above Greater Sand Plover. Plover. They were commonly found while I was walking and scanning the shoreline. I had sightings of a eyes. The dam has an impressive single Grey-headed Gull and a few shoreline, and this is most certainly White-winged Terns that were for- an attraction for many migratory aging in the shallows. After close to waders. an hour’s walk along the shoreline, I On Saturday the 14th Septem- finally found the Greater Sand Plo- ber, I left Polokwane at 4 am and ver. I managed to slowly creep clos- arrived at the dam just after 6 am. er, but I could see the bird was quite News filtered through of a Greater restless, and I kept my distance at

The Lark 26 24 about 40 m away. The slightly larger I left the Greater Sand Plover and plover with its striking non-breed- continued along the dam’s shore- ing plumage with white breast and line. I added Black-winged Stilt and belly made it stick out from the rest Pied Avocet to my list before I got of the ever present Kittlitz’s Plovers. sightings of a Grey Plover. It took After numerous photos taken, flight and moved along the shore- 25 The Lark 26 Above Caspian Tern is a rarity in the Limpo- line with a flock of Ruff. Some of po Province and it was great to add it to this the other waders I managed to list year's provincial bird tally.. included Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, and Three-banded Plover. As I neared the end of my walk, I spotted a bird The Lark 26 26 Above This Grey Plover was an unexpected that had a very long curved bill. I surprise. could hardly believe it, but it was a very skittish Whimbrel, and I could only manage a distant photo of it. my car and enjoyed some refresh- On my walk back I managed ments. Very happy to have been to get a sighting of Great Crested able to connect with all the lovely Grebes in the deeper water - an- birds that Rust de Winter Dam has other bird that has been difficult to offer. I suspect that I will be re- to find in the Limpopo Province. turning to this magical shoreline, Black-necked Grebe has also pre- searching for some more specials viously been recorded at the dam. in the not so distant future. Fish Eagles can be seen around the dam, and every now and then you Author e-mail: [email protected] will hear their iconic call. After a long walk, I was back at 27 The Lark 26 Above These Great Crested Grebe and Top Whim- brel topped off a brilliant morning's birding.

The Lark 26 28 Specials Galore @

Jody De Bruyn

29 The Lark 26 ur convoy of three After a quick coffee break, we cars arrived at Club headed out in search of ‘the owl’. Ranch Safaris just af- The clumps of massive trees were ter 6:30O am on the 21st September the ideal hideaway spots for this 2019. For the eight of us that joined elusive species. Our eyes and ears the day-outing, there was lots of were on alert, slowing moving and nervous anticipation as to whether scanning the trees, but we were we would get sightings of the main the one’s that were spotted first. birding goal for the day - the Pel’s Suddenly, from the canopy, an or- Fishing Owl. Club Ranch Safaris is ange-brown owl flew out. Success! situated on the Limpopo River, and Pel’s Fishing Owl (a lifer for six in nearing our destination we started the party). It perched in a tree a lit- listing some birds which includ- tle further along and gave everyone ed; Namaqua Dove, Meve’s Star- good views. In total we got to see ling, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, Southern White-crowned Shrike,

Grey Tit-Flycatcher, White-crested Opposite What an amazing bird! Pel's Fishing Owl Helmetshrike, African Fish Eagle, © Richter Vam Tonder. African Spoonbill, and Marabou Below Everyone savouring the great views we had Stork. of the Pel's Fishing Owl © Richter Van Tonder.

The Lark 26 30 Above Wire-tailed Swallow.

three owls (two adults and a juve- Top White-crowned Lapwing in the Limpopo River. nile). We continued birding the area next to the river and added the following species to our list: White-crowned Lapwing, Wire- Cardinal Woodpecker, Brubru, tailed Swallow, Wood Sandpiper, African Pied Wagtail, Red-headed African Palm Swift, Grey Heron, Weaver, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, and Hamerkop, Three-banded Plover, Ashy Flycatcher. 31 The Lark 26 Above The secretive and sought after White-backed Night Heron was an unexpected bonus for the day. We scanned the river to see what else we could add to our trip list when, suddenly, a bird came bursting out of the low hanging to settle towards the back of a thick branches on the river. Were my bush. eyes deceiving me or did I just see We continued adding birds what I thought I did? I lifted my such as Burchell’s Coucal, Water binoculars as the bird landed on a Thick-knee, Striated Heron, Com- branch in the open. White-backed mon Scimitarbill, Yellow-throat- Night Heron!! What a special bird ed Bush Sparrow, Southern Black to see. It moved stealthily through Tit, African Darter, Tawny-flanked the branches, appearing and dis- Prinia, and a lovely female Ben- appearing behind the leaves. An- nett’s Woodpecker. We made our other bird appeared - now there way back to the camp where we all were two! We watched as the birds enjoyed some refreshments. moved along the trees, and seemed After the morning’s success The Lark 26 32 33 The Lark 26 Above Yellow-bellied Greenbul. we moved around the camp site, to see what else we could round Opposite, top Southern Black Tit. up. White-browed Robin-Chat, Opposite, middle Bennett's Woodpecker. Collared Sunbird, Little Spar- rowhawk, Lesser Honeyguide Opposite, bottom Meyer's Parrot © Richter Van and Meyer’s Parrot made it onto Tonder. our list. A Yellow-bellied Green- bul gave us great views, while Extremely satisfied with the Black-collared Barbet, Crest- morning’s successes, we left the ed Barbet, Black-backed Puff- camp site and headed home. On back, and Tropical Boubou were our way out, Brown Snake Eagle, all heard calling. Three horn- Goliath Heron, Wahlberg’s Eagle, bill species were listed: African Marico Flycatcher, and Sabota Lark Grey, Red-billed, and Southern were added to our list. We ended Yellow-billed Hornbill. Mara- with a total of 111 species for the bou Stork soared above us, and pentad. Thanks goes out to every- was soon joined by Yellow-billed one who joined the trip. Stork, White-backed Vulture, and an African Harrier-Hawk. Author e-mail: [email protected] The Lark 26 34 Birds in Art

African Oystercatcher

Text and Artwork Willem Van der Merwe

he African Oyster- trays its presence by its resounding catcher Haematopus ‘klee-eep … klee-eep’ calls as it flies moquini is a sturdy low over the beach. The scientific shorebirdT with a stout and power- name means ‘Moquin’s blood-foot’ ful bill that it uses expertly to cap- and commemorates its discoverer, ture and ingest its mollusc prey. In Alfred Moquin-Tandon, as well as overall length, it reaches 40-45 cm referring to the red legs and feet of with a bill measuring up to 9 cm. the species. Unusually for birds, the females are slightly larger than the males. This A bill the bane of bivalves is a fairly rare species, with only Bivalves are the molluscs that about 6 000 adult birds estimated to have a pair of shells fitting tightly exist. It lives all around the shore- together, like oysters and mussels. line of South Africa and Namibia, The oystercatcher deftly deals with rarely straying further north to An- these. It pries a mussel out of its gola and Mozambique. No other bed, turns it over, and pecks a hole shorebird looks like it. It often be- in the softer bottom of the shell. 35 The Lark 26 African Oystercatcher © Willem Van der Merwe

Then it inserts its bill in the hole, cases, the oystercatcher will insert and bites the adductor muscle in its bill into the gap between the half, the one that the mussel uses to shells, if the mollusc opens up, and keep its shells tightly closed. Then it sever the muscle in the same way. is easy to peck out and swallow the It also chisels limpets off the rocks soft body of the mollusc. In other on which they fasten themselves, The Lark 26 36 or hammers directly through their the African species. The two spe- shells to get at the flesh. Apart cies co-occur occasionally in South from molluscs, oystercatchers will Africa. The Eurasian Oystercatch- also feed on other small critters er is a rare visitor to our southern of the shores: worms, crustaceans, shores. It can easily be told from insects, and even fish if they can the African Oystercatcher because catch them. it has a white belly and white wing In the closely related Eurasian and tail feathers. It also prefers sub- Oystercatcher, feeding behaviour tly different coastal areas. While has been found to significantly African Oystercatchers mostly change the outward form of the roam the rocky places, the Eurasian bird’s bill. Some oystercatchers ac- birds prefer sandy or muddy parts. tually don’t feed on oysters much, In South Africa, African Oys- instead probing into the beach tercatchers live and breed mainly in sand for worms and other digging the south and southwest. Like oth- critters. These oystercatchers have er seabirds, they make use of small finely pointed bills, which afford a off-shore islands for breeding and delicate grasp. Those oystercatch- feeding, since they’re safer there ers that feed more on molluscs and from predators and disturbance. other bivalves, have broader-tipped It is the limited presence of these beaks that are more powerful chis- islands that chiefly constrains the eling tools. It is the foraging strat- numbers of breeding oystercatch- egy in itself that causes the change ers in South Africa. in the beak. The horny material The breeding season for oys- of which the beak is made, called tercatchers is from October to keratin (the same as fingernails), March. Oystercatchers are monog- grows very rapidly, and the wear amous; there is not much display and tear on it fashions it into shape. between the mated birds, but they Birds usually learn a specific forag- chase each other, sometimes with a ing strategy from their parents, and butterfly-like fluttering flight. They it stays in the family, but individ- nest in sandy or pebbly places. A ual birds can actually adopt a new pair will stick to the same nest year method and in response their bills after year. The nest is just a small will change. hollow scraped out with the feet. That’s for the Eurasian Oys- Often, African Oystercatchers sit- tercatcher; it’s not yet known if uate these nests close to tangles of something similar goes on with dried-out, black seaweed, so that

37 The Lark 26 the bird sitting on the nest is hid- can live for 35 years, breeding for 25 den or camouflaged. Normally the of those years. Oystercatchers face female lays two eggs, but some- several threats. Sometimes a nest is times one or three. The spotted washed away by a high spring tide; eggs look just like beach pebbles. the eggs are sometimes eaten by Male and female both incubate. In Kelp Gulls or by mongooses. A nat- the sweltering summer heat these ural risk is the occasional ‘red tides’ birds so often breed in, it’s more or algal blooms that release toxins important to keep the eggs cool in the water, poisoning the shellfish than keeping them warm, and on the birds feed on. Mostly the birds hot days, instead of sitting on the suffer from humans. South Afri- eggs, the female will stand with her ca’s beaches are quite popular with body above them, shading them. people, and these disturb nesting Sometimes she will soak her bel- birds, or trample their eggs. Some ly feathers in the seawater prior to people think it's fun to drive along sitting on the eggs. She will distract unspoilt coastlines with their four- people and predators away from wheeled drive vehicles, and again the nest with noisy and injury-fak- many nests and eggs get crushed. ing displays. The chicks emerge Fortunately, at present oys- after 32 days or so. They have soft, tercatchers benefit from the pro- dense down covering their bod- tection of many of their nesting ies and hatch with open eyes; they beaches, and communities are soon are able to walk, and can also also more informed of their needs. swim if necessary. If a chick fears There are projects afoot to ring danger, it crouches down among birds and track their movements. tangles of seaweed or other beach The population, though small, is detritus, where its spotted down currently stable, and the African camouflages it well. It walks along Oystercatcher is not considered en- the beach with its parents, but can’t dangered. Worldwide, on all conti- yet feed itself. They will extract the nents except Antarctica, 11 species edible parts from shellfish for it. of oystercatcher occur, and another Only when it is adult and its bill one, that lived on the Canary Is- is full-size, will it be able to open lands, recently became extinct. It oysters, mussels, limpets and other was the closest relative of the Afri- shelled molluscs for itself. can Oystercatcher. Many chicks die, but oystercatchers that survive their youth Author e-mail: [email protected]

The Lark 26 38 39 The Lark 26 Birdlife Polokwane Shopping bags @ R30-00/bag Contact Julia Friskin Mobile: 0839968841

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The Lark 26 40 Bird Briefs

Big Bite Birds: to collect because they serve as a bite force and head mediating link between form and morphology in birds function. Some birds may not be Clay E Corbin and Derek Engelbrecht able to forage fast enough on cer- E-mail: [email protected] tain prey items to offset energetic demands of breeding. Or, possibly, a bird may be good at capturing flying insects because they have ven with a short trip the capacity to close their mouth to eastern South Af- quickly. On the other hand, be- rica, one would be cause that bird has the ability impressedE by the biodiversity, (and the morphology) to close its particularly to someone from the mouth quickly, it may not be able United States (CEC). The habitat to do it forcefully enough to crush and biological diversity, including the exoskeleton of a beetle or a avian diversity, rivals that of west- seed. Collecting performance data ern North America. Hence this is is important in studies of the func- a perfect place to gather perfor- tional ecology of animals. For ex- mance data on birds from a wide ample, Large Ground Finch of the variety of ecological, behavioural, Galapagos has a massive bill and and historical backgrounds. it eats large, durable seeds. This Performance data on birds has been noted by many natural- comes in a wide variety of formats ists, including Charles Darwin in such as foraging speed (the num- the mid 1800s. However, how hard ber of attempts at capturing prey this species can bite, relative to over time), bill-closing velocity other Galapagos finches with dif- (how fast a bird can close its mouth ferent bill shapes, was not actually around a prey item), and bite force recorded until recently (Herrel et (the force a bird can apply to a al 2005). Interestingly, that crush- prey item). These important yet ing ability comes at a trade-off of often ignored data are important closing speed. 41 The Lark 26 Above Clay Corbin (right) and David Pretorius (left) collecting bite-force data from a Cape Vulture Performance measurements in the Blouberg Nature Reserve. of foraging behaviour (i.e. bite force) may seem fairly crude, especially when considering the intricacies of actual foraging be- and measure bite-forces and haviour (think of a Brown-hooded bill shapes. We used mist nets Kingfisher handling a scorpion), to capture the birds and used but they potentially may explain a callipers and rulers to measure lot about how a bird is shaped the morphological features such as way it is. What we do not know is bill length, width, and depth. if behaviour and performance can For bite force, we used a force be predicted across a large sam- transducer mounted on a pair of ple of birds from a wide variety plates. Most birds are motivated of habitat, dietary, and historical to bite their captors. So, the idea backgrounds. is to position the plates between Hence, early in 2014, we the tip of the upper and lower set out to catch a large variety bill of the bird and the bird bites of birds from various habitats down. The transducer transfers The Lark 26 42 Above Collecting bite-force data from a Barratt's Warbler in Woodbush Forest Reserve. that force to an amplifier with a readout. However, in reality, and unlike lizards (CEC pers. obs.), birds can tell the difference be- Our first efforts were 14 tween fingers and a pair of met- nets set at De Loskop. We were al plates! This can be a problem joined by Sello Matjee and Lucy with a barbet in hand! Hence an Mashao, two students from the 80 mm thin rectangular plastic University of Limpopo. We cap- stick was gently inserted between tured over 60 birds from 30 dif- the upper and lower bill, rotat- ferent species. Some of these birds ed to open the bill and then the either did not bite hard enough bill was placed over the plates. to register on the amplifier, were In most cases, the birds will bite not motivated to bite or had mor- down with alacrity. If not, a fin- phology not conducive to col- ger placed on either side of the lecting data with our force set-up bill will get them to close down (e.g. sunbirds, doves, Common with force. Scimitarbill). Most birds bit vol- 43 The Lark 26 untarily. The highlights of the ef- fort were first measurements of bite force on hard-biting Crested Barbet with a force around 13 N and Crimson-breasted Shrike at around 9 N. These numbers may not seem high, but consid- er the width of the keratin at the bill’s edge is only a few tenths of Crested Barbet a millimetre wide, and shrikes having most of this force trans- mitted through a hook on the end of their bill, thus significantly increasing the effectiveness of the force. Other birds captured, ringed, and measured included Rattling Cisticola, Barn Swal- low, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Long-billed Crombec, Red-faced Crimson-breasted Shrike Mousebird (which provided CEC with a first-time view of missing distance from us and the nets. apteria), Sabota Lark, Chinspot The birds captured and measured Batis, White-browed Scrub Rob- included Spotted Flycatcher, Yel- in, Marico Flycatcher, and South- low-bellied Greenbul, two king- ern Pied Babbler. fisher species (African Pygmy After De Loskop, we trav- and Brown-hooded), and Grey- elled to Blouberg Nature Re- backed Camaroptera. At the Fig serve where we spent three days Forest, we added Dark-capped collecting data on birds from an Bulbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, a extremely diverse community. few species of estrildid finches, We were joined by Johan Van Black-backed Puffback, and Or- Wyk, reserve manager of Blou- ange-breasted Bushshrike. At our berg Nature Reserve. We were last site, we were not really target- also joined by a troop of baboons ing different species, but a species which, left to their own devices, which has achieved notoriety as may wreak havoc in ringing op- one of the Big Biters in ringing erations. Luckily, they kept their circles. We were able to wran- The Lark 26 44 gle 12 hard-biting White-browed Sparrow-Weavers into our nets. While we were at Blouberg, we took the opportunity to visit the facilities of the Cape Vulture Conservation pro- gramme where David Pretorius and team were Above A close-up view of the sharp end of a Cape busy measuring four vultures pri- Vulture.

or to their release back into the Top No study on bite-forces of birds would be com- wild. We jumped at the chance plete without data from the hard-biting White- to attempt to measure bite-force browed Sparrow-Weaver. 45 The Lark 26 Above Our field station in the Blouberg Nature Re- on these individuals! The plates serve. were inadequately small but we managed to at least get a hint of the force generated by these large headed birds. With body masses did not catch a lot of individu- between 5.6 and 7 kg, bites ranged als from any one species, but we from 45-67 N! These were our did capture a group of interesting highest readings, yet we suspect species. These included Choris- with proper equipment, these ter Robin-Chat, Barratt’s War- birds can bite much harder. More bler, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, study is needed measuring per- White-starred Robin, Bar-throat- formance and capacity in these ed Apalis, and a Brown Scrub ecologically important birds. Robin. We captured a Lemon Satisfied with our efforts at Dove that had little motivation Blouberg Nature Reserve, our third to bite (a characteristic observed locale was in Woodbush Forest Re- in other Columbiform species in serve near Magoebaskloof. Unlike North America, the Caribbean, at Blouberg Nature Reserve, we and southern Africa (CEC pers. The Lark 26 46 Fig. 1. Average maximum bite force (N) and Bill depth (mm) in bird species of Limpopo. We added a trend line to the data and the scores of some notable species.

obs.)). Blouberg Nature Reserve were We succeeded in our en- Blue Waxbill, Green-winged Py- deavour to get bite-force data tilia, and White-browed Scrub from a diverse assemblage of avi- Robin. Even within the Blouberg an species: we captured over 130 Nature Reserve, habitat differ- individual birds across more than ences produced very different 40 species! These species varied species; only four of the 18 (22%) in ecology (e.g. aerial insectivores species captured were common to to scavengers) and morphology more than one site: two estrildids, (e.g. large conical billed barbets African Pygmy Kingfisher, and to long decurved billed sunbirds). Yellow-bellied Greenbul. The main sites where we sampled Morphology seems to birds had very little overlap in predict how hard a bird can bite species composition. For exam- across all of this ecological and be- ple, the only overlap in species havioural diversity. To show this, captured between De Loskop and we plotted the bite force against 47 The Lark 26 a commonly believed predictor cal advantage may not be that im- of mechanical advantage, namely portant to a fishing or pouncing bill depth (mm)) (Fig. 1). In this bird but having a large, spear-like plot, the maximum bite force (N) bill would. for each bird within a species was averaged. As bill depth increas- References es, bite force increases. This is Herrel A, Podos J, Huber SK, Hendry AP not surprising and many species 2005. Bite performance and morpholo- score above and below a best-fit gy in a population of Darwin's finches: line through the data. That line implications for the evolution of beak represents what one would expect shape. Functional Ecology 19: 43-48. a bite force to be for a bill of a given depth. For example, the Little Sparrowhawk has a bite-force es- sentially equal to what one would predict based on its bill depth. On the other hand, some birds bite harder that one would expect. The two shrike species (Crim- son-breasted and Red-backed) have a bite force roughly equal to that of the sparrowhawk but with much smaller bills. Muscu- lar and biomechanical differences in these bird’s heads may help to explain these patterns. The two kingfisher species have bite forces lower than what one would predict based on their bill dimen- sions. This makes sense given the bill is used in ecologically different ways than most of the other species in the graph. Biomechani-

Right Catching forest birds in Woodbush Forest Reserve.

The Lark 26 48 Bird instinct this is your first laying attempt, and Hugh Chittenden you have never seen the colour of E-mail: [email protected] the eggs you lay, what nest site, or colour substrate would you choose to lay it on so that it is well camou- uch of bird be- flaged? Once it’s been laid, it cannot haviour is moulded be moved! upon instinct or in- The 'nest' below was located nate Mbehaviour. Birds have a high in early February 2019 near Gariep degree of instinct and a lower level Dam in the southern Free State. of intelligence, as opposed to hu- The grey-scrolled egg was perfectly mans, who have a high degree of placed on a greyish gravel substrate intelligence and a lower level of in- in the middle of the road! stinct. The soil type (especially co- To understand the following lour) immediately surrounding the example of instinct better, place selected nest area would not have yourself in the position of a young matched the egg colour and would Double-banded Courser that is thus have rendered it less camou- about to lay its first egg. You won't flaged, so the chosen site was ideal! know what the colour of that egg will be, but you would want to make

sure it is placed in a position where Below The Double-banded Courser nest and egg it'll be camouflaged and safe. So, if found near Gariep Dam.

49 The Lark 26 Above The nest and egg of a Double-banded Cours- The following Double-band- er on sandy, Kalahari-type soils in the Soetdoring ed Courser nest/egg was pho- Nature Reserve. tographed at Soetdoring Nature Below A closer view of the Gariep Dam egg on the Reserve near Bloemfontein. Here, left that matches the substrate gravel colour, and the the same bird species lays an egg browner, Soetdoring egg on the right, that match- that is a distinctly browner colour, es the surrounding ground colour - both laid by the same bird species. and is a close match to the Kalaha- ri-type sandy soils of that region. This time a few antelope and rab- bit droppings help to camouflage the egg.

The Lark 26 50 Sticking with coursers, not something that they learn to but moving away from Dou- do, it’s just another fascinating ble-banded, I was once fortunate example of instinctive behaviour. to find the nest of a Three-band- One can only marvel at instinct ed Courser in Hwange Nation- or the innate behaviour of birds. al Park, Zimbabwe. Within the courser family, they are unique Acknowledgments - I would like to thank In- in that they bury, or partially grid Weiersbye for allowing me to use her Dou- bury, their eggs in a nest scrape, ble-banded Courser nest photograph. (below) and surround the egg with small pebbles or debris. All Three-banded Coursers Below Three-banded Courser at its nest in the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Note the par- partially bury their eggs, this is tially buried egg.

51 The Lark 26 Coats of Wings But we are here to talk birds. I was Derek Engelbrecht interested to see which bird spe- E-mail: [email protected] cies are featured in South African municipal, provincial and the national CoA. The results present- here is something ed here are based on an internet about the stately ap- search concluded on the 26th May pearance of Coats of 2019. ArmsT (CoA) which never ceases Our national CoA feature the to amaze. Just looking at munic- Secretarybird - and rightfully so. ipal CoA, you can glean a great It is such a stately and regal bird deal about the character of an area that I can think of no other suit- from it. For able bird example, it except per- is possible haps a Cape to see what Long-billed kind of in- Lark. In- dustry or terestingly, agriculture none of the forms the provincial b a c k b o n e CoA feature of the area, birds. Of the which fa- eight metro- mous per- politan, 44 son comes district, and from the 226 local area, and municipal- the biodi- ities, birds versity of feature in the area, e.g. some way or plants or animals. It is quite aston- another in 63 (23%) of these. Sad- ishing how often biodiversity fea- ly, some municipalities have de- tures in South African municipal cided to forego their stately (and CoA. In terms of plants, it is clear informative) CoA for something that aloes, particularly Aloe ferox which, although it may be artis- and Aloe marlothii, are important tically pleasing, tells us nothing plants in a South African context. about the character of the place.

The Lark 26 52 Which province tops the birds in CoA which cannot be identified to a spe- list? cific species. Two municipalities KwaZulu-Natal comfortably (Greater Kokstad and Makhudu heads the list with 15, followed by thamaga) have domestic chickens the Limpopo Province with eight, in their CoA. These unidentifiable and the Northern and Western species and domestic chickens Cape provinces coming in third aside, 27 bird species are honoured with six species each (Fig. 1). In- on South African municipal CoA terestingly, or rather sadly, Gauteng (Fig. 2). has no birds featuring in any of their municipal CoA. Come on Are some species favoured on CoA? Gauteng! South Africa's favourite birds, as judged by the number of CoA How many bird species feature in featuring the species, are the iconic municipal CoA? African Fish Eagle and the majestic Thirteen municipalities fea- Cape Vulture. Our love for the Sec- ture symbolic birds, mainly Phoe- retarybird (Birdlife South Africa's nix-like or mythical eagles, in their Bird of the Year 2019) is also evi- CoA. A few included unidentifiable dent, featuring in four municipal birds (Impendle LM and Matatiele CoA as well as the national CoA. LM (waterfowl)), whereas Them- Surprisingly, the Ostrich (or parts belihle LM has feathers in its CoA thereof, e.g. feathers), feature in

53 The Lark 26 four CoA, while South Africa's na- (Namaqua DM), Short-clawed tional bird, the Blue Crane, features Lark (Polokwane LM - although in only three CoA. they seem to prefer three lines and a star lately), and Trumpeter Horn- Are there any surprises on the list of bill (Zululand DM). birds in CoA? In conclusion, there is an The lack of passerines on the interesting diversity of birds to list (only five species) is a bit of a be found on municipal CoA. As surprise, but they are competing mentioned above, these birds rep- with some real iconic birds, e.g. resent the community and tell us Kori Bustard, Southern Ground something about the character of Hornbill, Secretarybird, Cape and the area. It is therefore with a bit Palmnut Vulture, Blue and Wattled of trepidation that I see many mu- Crane, and Southern Bald Ibis to nicipalities opt for a more modern name but a few. logo, which in many instances tells Some interesting records on us absolutely nothing about the this elite list of bird species include area - apologies Ekhuruleni MM. Blue Swallow, (Harry Gwala DM), As for our hometown, Polokwane, Greater Double-collared Sunbird I'm sorry, but three lines and a star (Waterberg DM), Long-tailed Wid- just doesn't do it for me. ow (Umlalazi DM), Pygmy Falcon

The Lark 26 54 55 The Lark 26 The Lark 26 56 African Finfoot - crab diet itored just after 08:00 at Mtunzini Hugh Chittenden Lagoon for approximately an hour E-mail: [email protected] on the morning of 10th August 2019.

he diet of African Fin- foot is insects (that they glean from the water's Above The male African Finfoot that was observed edge),T crabs, snails, frogs, and mol- feeding in the Mtunzini Lagoon. luscs. In other words, virtually any- Below The male moved along a canal catching crabs thing that moves on the margins of on the exposed banks. quiet waterways. A male was mon-

57 The Lark 26 Above Once close to the prey, the bird would lunge This male moved slowly up at rapid speed, catching the prey before they had a chance to disappear down their burrows! a canal feeding as it moved away. During this feeding session, last- Below About two-thirds of the 'out-of-water' attacks ing just over 14 minutes, the bird were successful. caught and ate five small crabs. Apologies for the quality of the images - the bird was quite some distance away, and mostly in poor light during this feeding session.

The Lark 26 58 Top and middle On seeing prey, mode of attack was rapid stealth approach till it was close enough to exit the water, and lunge. The mud crab is arrowed.

Right All the crabs were bashed against the mud-line before being swallowed. Who'd want to be a mud crab?

59 The Lark 26 The Lark 26 60 Short-clawed Lark range of the Short-clawed Lark. extension Joe's MSc study on Short- Derek Engelbrecht and Joe Grosel clawed Larks found virtually no E-mail: [email protected] genetic, biometric, or vocal differences between the eastern and western populations, suggesting either a 'recent' separation of the hat do Francisco two populations, occasional con- de Ulloa, Martin Frobisher, John Davis,W Henry Hudson, Joe Gro- sel and Derek Engelbrecht have Below Distribution of the Short-clawed Lark, showing the larger western population in south-east- in common? They all looked for ern Botswana, the North West, and Northern Cape a Northwest Passage. However, Provinces, and the isolated eastern population cen- whereas the first four looked for a tred largely on the Polokwane Plateau. The question sea passage connecting the Atlan- mark refers to the historic records from the Steen- bokpan-Stockpoort population. The yellow band tic and Pacific oceans, the last two represents our hypothesized 'Northwest Passage', looked for a link between the west- while the mauve band represents a possible 'South- ern and isolated eastern population west Passage' linking the two populations.

61 The Lark 26 tact enabling gene flow, or per- with the easternmost birds of the haps a single sympatric popula- wester population. One problem tion with a narrow contact zone though: the 'gap' is characterized by between the eastern and western unsuitable sandveld, broad-leaved parts of its range. The latter option bushveld, and the northern and seemed feasible as there are histor- southern edges of the Waterberg ical records of Short-clawed Lark and Makgabeng Mountain ranges from the Steenbokpan-Stockpoort respectively. If Short-clawed Larks region in the far western Limpo- occupy the Northwest Passage, po Province, but no records since they will have to rely on patches 2009. The Steenbokpan-Stockpoort of suitable 'island habitats' in what population would belong to the would be mostly unsuitable habitat western population of the species for Short-clawed Lark. To date, we and would be a mere 150 km from have not succeeded in finding this the westernmost range of the east- so-called Northwest Passage. But ern population centred largely on were we looking in the wrong area? the Polokwane Plateau. Thus, we focused our efforts on a 'Northwest Passage' linking the westernmost Below Short-clawed Lark from the Bojanala region birds of the eastern population southeast of Pilanesberg National Park in the North West Province.

The Lark 26 62 There are two known records explore the lesser known regions! of eastern population Short-clawed No sooner had Etienne Marais Lark south of the Polokwane Pla- notified us of this discovery, and we teau. Both records were from rural, went onto Google Earth, zooming in communal farmland in the Sekhu- to have a look at the habitat where khune and Marble Hall areas. the 'new population' was discov- Short-clawed Larks preferred hab- ered. It seemed typical habitat of itat is rural, communal farmland. the species, and photos sent to us We were therefore very excit- by Etienne confirmed this. Scroll- ed when we heard about the 'dis- ing on Google Earth, it became covery' of an isolated population clear that there is an entire 'belt' of of western Short-clawed Lark in suitable habitat, i.e. mainly rural, rural, communal farmland south- communal farmland, from the Bo- east of Pilanesberg National Park janala region (easternmost of the in January 2019 by Paul Da Cruz. western population) to Lebowa This, and subsequent records in the kgomo (southernmost of the east- general area, represent an approx- ern population) of the species. imately 90 km eastward extension Come on atlasers, let's see if we can of the western population's range. find the Southwest Passage! Well done to those intrepid atlasers who went off the beaten track to

Left Does this look familiar? You would be excused for thinking you are some- where on the Polokwane Plateau, but this is a photo of the habitat at Bojanala where the 'new' population was discovered © Etienne Marais 63 The Lark 26 Overwintering African will pop up again! Pygmy Kingfisher Marianne McKenzie Derek Engelbrecht comments: This is E-mail:[email protected] an unusual record for our area. Judged by the amount of dark patches on the bill, this e had a juvenile African is a juvenile bird as you indicated - over- Pygmy Kingfisher who wintering African Pygmy Kingfishers tend W to be juveniles. Although there are sporadic frequented our garden in Broeder- stroomdrift east of Tzaneen in Au- reports of overwintering African Pygmy gust and September this year. Kingfishers in southern Africa, most records It had a favourite perch in an of overwintering birds are from the coastal Acacia/Vachellia sieberiana just in lowlands of KwaZulu-Natal and Mozam- front of our patio, and enjoyed a bique. Your record from the Tzaneen area, dip in the swimming pool on hot although situated in a sub-tropical climate, days. is unusually far inland for an overwinter- I haven't seen it for a few ing bird. Interestingly, I recorded another weeks, and am a bit concerned intra-African migratory kingfisher, the because an African Goshawk has Woodland Kingfisher, at Letaba Estates been very active in the area, but I (not too far from your record) in August keep hoping this little gem of a bird 2018 and again in August this year.

The Lark 26 64 Age progression in Southern Banded Snake Eagle Hugh Chittenden E-mail: [email protected]

ransition plumages between juvenile and adult for Southern BandedT Snake Eagle have never been fully described.

1 uveniles fledge with creamy-white un- derparts and dark brown dorsal plumage with white flecking. Cere is pale yellow, Jand eye colour is slightly paler than adults. 65 The Lark 26 econd plumage birds are similar in many respects to an adult Brown Snake 2 Eagle, but with an orange (not grey) cere Sand gape, and variable white flecking below.

hird plumage, or older immature plumage differs with white belly plumage developing, barred dark Tbrown. Chest and throat is brown. Pale flecking to dorsal plumage becomes evident. Cere and gape remain an orange colour. 3

dult plumages are well described in literature. Age from fledging to acqui- 4 Asition of adult plumage is unknown. The Lark 26 66 Interesting sightings 16 August 2019 - 15 October 2019 Share your interesting sightings, interactions, behaviour etc. seen within a 100 km radius of Polokwane. Please submit your sightings to [email protected] and include the date, locality and a brief write-up of your sighting. Photos are welcome but will be used at the discretion of the editors. *= SABAP2 Out of Range record; ** Re- gional rarity; *** National Rarity Compiled by Derek Engelbrecht Non-passerines African Finfoot - 10 September 2019. A male present on a small dam for a few days (Daniel Engel- brecht). African Cuckoo-Hawk - 25 August 2019. A bird crossing the road at the Tzaneen Country Lodge at dusk (Daniel Engelbrecht). 14 September 2019. A bird seeming- ly chasing swifts over open water at dusk at Letaba Estates (Derek Engelbrecht). African Finfoot © Daniel Engelbrecht

67 The Lark 26 African Openbill - 7 September Marabou Stork - 14 September 2019. Two birds seen at a small 2019. A single bird seen at Letaba farm dam at the Eiland junction Estates (Derek Engelbrecht). on the R71 (Jody De Bruyn); 10 Martial Eagle - 16 August 2019. A September 2019. A single bird juvenile bird seen near Letaba Es- seen at a private farm dam east of tates (Derek Engelbrecht). Tzaneen (Johan Botma).

African Openbill © Jody De Bruyn White-fronted Plover - 10 Septem- ber 2019. A single bird at Letaba African Skimmer - 20 August Estates (Derek Engelbrecht)*. 2019. Seven birds (six adults and an immature bird) at a private farm dam east of Tzaneen (Derek Engelbrecht)***. Half-collared Kingfisher - 10 Sep- tember 2019. A single bird seen at Letaba Estates (Daniel Engel- brecht).

White-fronted Plover © Derek Engelbrecht Yellow-billed Stork - 14 September 2019. A single bird was present for at least two days at Letaba Es- tates (Derek Engelbrecht). Half-collared Kingfisher © Daniel Engelbrecht The Lark 26 68 Passerines nets on Lajuma peak, Sout- Brown-throated Martin - 14 Sep- pansberg - see article on page 4 tember 2019. A small flock at Let- (Dawie De Swardt and Ryan Van aba Estates (Derek Engelbrecht)*. Huyssteen)*. Cape Rock Thrush - 2 October Lark-like Bunting - 16 August 2019. One seen south of Chue- 2019. Several individuals on nespoort (Sean Christopher-Slat- the Tweefontein Road (Jody De tery). Bruyn). Common Myna - 16 June 2019. Mountain Wagtail - 18 August At least 8 individuals at a farm- 2019. Two birds foraging along house near Legkraal (Richter Van a small stream on a private farm Tonder)*. near Letsitele (Derek Engelbre- Grey-rumped Swallow - 16 August cht)*. 2019. Large numbers seen at Let- Quailfinch - 16 August 2019. aba Estates (Derek Engelbrecht). Several birds seen and heard in Gurney's Sugarbird - 11 August a field at Letaba Estates (Daniel 2019. Two birds caught in mist Engelbrecht)*.

69 The Lark 26 ARRIVED 16 August 2019 - 15 October 2019

migrant arrivals 16 August 2019 Wahlberg's Eagle - A bird seen African Black Swift - Several at Letaba Estates (Derek Engel- individuals seen in a mixed spe- brecht). cies flock of swallows and swifts Wood Sandpiper - Several birds (Derek Engelbrecht). seen at Letaba Estates (Derek Alpine Swift - Several individuals Engelbrecht). seen in a mixed species flock of 18 August 2019 swallows and swifts (Derek En- White-rumped Swift - Sever- gelbrecht). al birds seen in a mixed species Common Greenshank - Three flock of swifts at Letaba Estates birds seen at Letaba Estates (Derek Engelbrecht). (Derek Engelbrecht). 24 August 2019 Common Sandpiper - At least Little Stint - Several individuals two birds seen at Letaba Estates seen at a private farm dam near (Derek Engelbrecht). Letsitele (Derek Engelbrecht).

The Lark 26 70 25 August 2019 about 3 km south of the Blou- African Cuckoo - A bird seen at berg Nature Reserve (Richter Lushof east of Tzaneen (Derek Van Tonder). Engelbrecht). Wahlberg's Eagle - The breed- 28 August 2019 ing pair seen at their nest in Ruff - Several individuals seen at the Polokwane Game Reserve Letaba Estates (Derek Engel- (Mark Friskin). brecht). 5 October 2019 Woodland Kingfisher - a Sin- Red-chested Cuckoo - Sil- gle bird seen at Letaba Estates vermist near Haenertsburg (Derek Engelbrecht). (Jody De Bruyn and Richter 3 September 2019 Van Tonder). African Reed Warbler - Birds Willow Warbler - A bird heard heard calling from a reed bed calling and later seen in Welge- at Letaba Estates (Derek Engel- legen (Daniel Engelbrecht). brecht). Booted Eagle - A single bird soaring over Letaba Estates (Jo- han Botma). 5 September 2019 Klaas's Cuckoo - Mokopane (Bruce Goetsch). 10 September 2019 Marsh Sandpiper - Two birds seen at Letaba Estates (Derek Engelbrecht). 21 September 2019 Spotted Flycatcher - Mokopane (Bruce Goetsch). 23 September 2019 European Bee-eater - A flock flying over Polokwane (Julia Friskin); 5 October 2019. Birds heard in Welgelegen (Daniel En- gelbrecht). 29 September 2019 European Roller - A bird seen

71 The Lark 26 EVENTS

Birdlife Polokwane Year-end Function Date: 27 November 2019 Time: 18:30 Venue: To be announced

The Lark 26 72 Club outing Where? Selati Game Reserve Date: November 2019 (date to be confirmed) Contact: Derek Engelbrecht Cell: 082 200 5277

Shopping list: White-breasted Cuckooshrike (Witborskatakoeroe), Ar- nott's Chat (Bontpiek), Senegal Lapwing (Kleinswartvlerk- kiewiet), African Barred Owlet (Gebande Uil), Thick-billed Cuckoo, (Dikbekkoekoek), and a variety of birds of prey.

Saturday 30 November 2019

Verskeidenheid waad- en watervoëls, Gevlekte Sand- patrys (Burchell's Sandgrouse), Pienkbeklewerik (Pink- billed Lark), Witkatlagter (Southern Pied Babbler), Sek- For the first timeretarisvo there ëwilll (Secretarybird) also be provincial BBD counts. All participants will be loaded in each of the nine provincial BirdLasser events and scores will be kept as to how many species each team records in a province. Please note this will only be available for teams using BirdLasser. The link for Limpopo Province is: Limpopo: https://www.birdlasser.com/events/bbd2019LIM 73 The Lark 26 LIMPOPO REGION

SHARPEN YOUR RAPTOR SKILLS.

RAPTOR IDENTIFICATION COURSE. LETABA REST CAMP, 20-23 FEBRUARY 2020 Join the SANParks Honorary Rangers, Limpopo Region, together with leading birding expert and ecologist, Joe Grosel, in honing your raptor identification skills. Joe’s legendary knowledge and practical approach will help you ID raptors of all shapes, sizes and colours in no time, while his personal anecdotes and birding knowledge will keep you entertained and informed. Activities for the weekend include morning and afternoon bird- and game-spotting drives on open game viewing vehicles. The course will be hosted in the Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park which offers some of the best raptor viewing on the continent.

Date: Price: Contact: 20 – 23 February 2020 The cost of this exciting Raptor Charles Hardy Venue: Identification Course is 083 457 1721 R2 490* per person. [email protected] Letaba Camp, Kruger National Park The price includes tuition, all birding activities and outings, teas and lunches as well as stationery, literature and a full colour raptor identification manual. * Excludes park entrance, conservation fee & accommodation.

N.B: Participation is restricted to 16 people. Non participating partners will be welcome to accompany the outings subject to availability. All proceeds from the weekend will be for the Honorary Rangers Environmental Fund.

Partners SANParks Honorary Rangers - Volunteers in Support of SANParks. All proceeds from this event will go towards projects identified by SANParks www.sanparksvolunteers.org | [email protected] Lark 26 74 Cinderella's page

Birdlife Polokwane honours the LBJs of this world which may never make it onto a cover page

75 The Lark 26