2014 Rare Bird Sightings Other Parks @ 150306

2014 Rare and Unusual Bird Sightings In South African National Parks (apart from Kruger) The records listed in this document are courtesy of Trevor Hardaker’s SA Rare Bird Network (SARBN) at [email protected] , submissions via the SANParks website, or direct contact between birders and SANParks staff. They reflect birds that are considered rare, vagrant or accidental in the parks, or that reflect highly unusual behaviour or special sightings.

December 2014 Camdeboo National Park A Pink-backed Pelican , was seen at the Khwalimanzi hide in Camdeboo National Park on 19 December.

Pink-backed Pelican © Jan du Toit

Karoo National Park An Amur Falcon was reported from the upper section of the Karoo National Park, in about the same area one was reported last year, so it might be the same individual returning.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Then, on to some slightly delayed news and let's start with Southern Africa's 2nd ever ORTOLAN BUNTING that was photographed at Kieliekrankie in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on 29 December 2014. Unfortunately, news of this only surfaced late on Thursday evening and, given the accessibility issues with the site, it seems unlikely that this is going to become a twitchable bird, if it is even still there... This follows the only other record of this species in Southern Africa which was on 13 November 2013 at Namibrand in Namibia, so also constitutes the first record for SOUTH AFRICA.

Ortolan Bunting at Kieliekrankie © Glynis Bowie

Some nice records for the Kgalagadi National Park were found during a trip there in early December. The first of these, a Little Bittern seen at Kieliekrankie, and a Greater Painted- Snipe was found at Craig Lockhart waterhole.

Little Bittern© Jenny Andersen

Greater Painted-Snipe© Jenny Andersen Marakele National Park 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were reported from Marakele National Park during the last week of December.

West Coast National Park In the Western Cape (on the theme of long-staying vagrants) the Common Redshank was reported from Geelbek Hide in West Coast National Park on the 31 st . November 2014 Addo Elephant National Park Coastal Islands No fewer than 3 AUSTRALIAN GANNETS were recorded on the 13 th on Bird Island in Algoa Bay, one of them being a new, un-banded individual.

Augrabies Falls National Park In the Northern Cape, at least 2 GREY TIT-FLYCATCHERS were present in the main campsite at Augrabies Falls National Park close to the old picnic area over the weekend (8 th and 9 th ), an unusual species this far west.

Garden Route National Park A single LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was also reported along the R102 between Nature's Valley and The Crags on Tuesday 25 th .

An AFRICAN CUCKOO HAWK was reported on the 19 th on the fynbos flats along the road down into Nature's Valley.

African Cuckoo Hawk near Nature’s Valley © Mike Bridgeford

A young COMMON CUCKOO was located on Sunday 16 th at Harkerville between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay at 34 03.114 S 23 14.394 E

Common Cuckoo at Harkerville © Christo Nel

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park A SQUACCO HERON was located at Bitterpan in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park last Tuesday looking a little out of place in the Kalahari Desert.

Squacco Heron at Bitterpan © Willem Vilander

Mapungubwe National Park – surrounding area News filtered through this morning (28 th ) from Botswana that a juvenile EGYPTIAN VULTURE had been seen yesterday on the western edge of the Northern Tuli Game Reserve on a property called Tuli Wilderness. Although this bird was first seen in Botswana, it did apparently also cross into South Africa at one stage. This is just west of Mapungubwe National Park and visitors to the area should certainly be on the lookout for this much sought after species for many serious listers, and a reliably twitchable and accessible one at some time in the future will no doubt draw a fairly significant crowd. To the best of my (the editor of SARBN) knowledge, this also represents the first record of this species in Southern Africa in 2014 following on from 3 records last year in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana in February, near Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park (documented under rare bird sightings for Kruger 2013 ) in May and between Ixopo and Highflats in KZN in December. Birding visitors to Mapungubwe are advised to be on the lookout for this bird as it is a short distance to the park. The distinct wedge-shaped tail and the elongated nape feathers distinguish it from an immature Hooded Vulture.

Egyptian Vulture at Tuli Wilderness, just west of Mapungubwe © Stratton Hatfield

West Coast National Park A COMMON REDSHANK at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park was still present until at least Saturday 30 th .

Common Redshank at Geelbek © Justen Dralle

At least one COMMON REDSHANK was still present at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park on Tuesday 25 th whilst several LARK-LIKE BUNTINGS were also still around Abrahamskraal in the park.

A COMMON REDSHANK was at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park continues to draw attention and was still present until at least Tuesday 11 th .

Common Redshank at Geelbek © Cassia Gallagher

At least one COMMON REDSHANK remained present at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park until at least Saturday 1 st .

Common Redshank at Geelbek © Frans-Hendrik Joubert LARK-LIKE BUNTINGS were reported from Abrahamskraal in the West Coast National Park on the weekend of the 1 st and 2 nd .

Lark-like Bunting at Abrahamskraal © Frans-Hendrik Joubert

October 2014 Garden Route National Park (Nature’s Valley Section) BLACK-COLLARED BARBETS certainly seem to be moving in en force with another record on the 29 th of 2 birds near Nature’s Valley. If one takes the R340 to Nature’s Valley, you will cross the Salt River Bridge - soon after, you will see the sign for the Moreson Farm on the right hand side. Directly opposite this sign is a small dirt road that you can follow. The Barbets were seen moving all along this road in the taller trees. no access to private property is needed. (GPS coordinates: S 33°56'12,498" E 23°30'30,7584")

Black-collared Barbets near Nature’s Valley © Gareth Robbins

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park There was some surprise in the 1st week of October when a MARSH OWL was located north of Twee Rivieren in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Marsh Owl north of Twee Rivieren © Maya Beukes

Marakele National Park A WHIMBREL was located along the banks of the Matlabas River in the Marataba Section of the Marakele National Park on Tuesday 14 th . It is in a private section of the reserve, so prior arrangements will have to be made if anyone wants to try and connect with the bird.

Whimbrel in Marakele National Park © Liam Charlton

West Coast National Park A long staying COMMON REDSHANK was still around on the 17 th .

Common Redshank at Geelbek © Frans-Hendrik Joubert

A LESSER SAND PLOVER was located at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park on 8 th and, today 9th ; the same site still had at least one COMMON REDSHANK on show up until at least the 10 th . Close by, and also in the park, a single BLACK-HEADED CANARY was also present at Seeberg earlier today (9 th ). September 2014 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park In the Northern Cape, a slightly delayed record from 17 September has been received of a SQUACCO HERON in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a rather unusual bird for this part of the country!

Squacco Heron in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park © Maya Beukes

Tanqua Karoo National Park In the Northern Cape (and only just north of the border of the Western Cape), last Friday (12 th ) saw a rather excited birder happen upon a COMMON (aka KURRICHANE) BUTTONQUAIL walking along the road in the Tanqua Karoo National Park between the main Reception offices and Abraham's waterhole just after the 4x4 track. This is way out of range for this species and also in habitat where one would not typically expect them, so is certainly an interesting find indeed.

Common Buttonquail in Tanqua Karoo National Park © Mike Saunders August 2014 Garden Route National Park Yet another WHITE-BROWED SCRUB ROBIN was netted and ringed near Nature's Valley on Wednesday 27 th , probably the 5th or 6th individual to have now been caught in this general area (although no birders have actually seen them there when specifically looking for them!).

White-browed Scrub Robin at Nature’s Valley © Mark Brown

West Coast National Park A single COMMON REDSHANK remained present at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park on the weekend of the 23 rd and 24 th . July 2014 Addo Elephant National Park In Algoa Bay on Bird Island, a SOOTY TERN was present on the island on Tuesday 22 nd and a single AUSTRALIAN GANNET was located there yesterday 23 rd .

Sooty Tern on Bird Island © Rabi’a Ryklief

Australian Gannet on Bird Island © Rabi’a Ryklief

A WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER was, once again, present around Bird Island in Algoa Bay on Saturday 19 th , almost certainly the same individual that has returned there now for several successive seasons.

Garden Route National Park – Tsitsikamma Section A LONG-CRESTED EAGLE that has been hanging around the Bloukrans complex in the Tsitsikamma National Park over the last few days around the week of the 14 th of July. It was still present up to Saturday 26 th .

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park In the Northern Cape, from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park with Thursday 10 th delivering 5 SOUTHERN PIED BABBLERS at Nossob, and Friday 11 th producing a HAMERKOP at Vaalpan waterhole on the Upper Dune road.

In the Northern Cape, there was a little bit of a surprise on Friday 4th when a LITTLE GREBE was located in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park "in the middle of nowhere" about 5km from Samevloeing waterhole. It really did look a little out of place sitting on the gravel road there.

Little Grebe near Samevloeing waterhole © David Engelbrecht

Table Mountain National Park A single SPECTACLED PETREL was seen during a sea watch from Cape Point on Friday 18 th , a rather unusual species to get from the shore.

West Coast National Park At least 2 COMMON REDSHANKS were still present at the Geelbek hide in the West Coast National Park on Sunday the 20 th and again on Wednesday 30 th .

June 2014 Garden Route National Park A TUFTED DUCK has also been reported at Rondevlei in Wilderness (the second season that it has returned to this site). The status of this species in Southern Africa is still hotly disputed as these birds tend to arrive with Southern Pochards every year and may well be genuine vagrants. It's very hard to tell for sure, but this species certainly has reasonable credentials to turn up here on its own, so make sure you have "pocketed" one of these along the way in case it becomes an armchair tick at a later stage when it is finally given the green light to be admitted to the list.

Tufted Duck at Rondevlei, Wilderness © Mariette Gertenbach

A SQUACCO HERON was present at the canal near Rondevlei over the weekend (14 th /15 th ).

Squacco Heron near Rondevlei © Rob Bowie Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park On 17th June there were 2 immature KNOB-BILLED DUCKS located at Samevloeing waterhole.

Knob-billed Duck at Samevloeing waterhole © Riaan Human

West Coast National Park

There were at least 2 COMMON REDSHANKS present at Geelbek on the morning of the 16 th .

Common Redshank at Geelbek © Pieter Vrey

On the 11 th at least one single AUSTRALIAN GANNET was still present on Malgas Island in Saldahna Bay, just outside the park.

Australian Gannet on Malgas Island © Bruce Dyer At least 4 COMMON REDSHANKS were reported as still being present at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park last week (first week of June) – which is interesting as they normally migrate to Eurasia.

Common Redshanks at Geelbek © Mariana Delport May 2014

Garden Route National Park Area – Nature’s Valley Section There was some excitement on the Garden Route yesterday (28 th ) when yet another WHITE- BROWED SCRUB ROBIN was mist-netted near Nature’s Valley, This is now the 5th record from this area in the last year of a species that was previously virtually unknown from the province.

White-browed Scrub Robin at Nature’s Valley © Mark Brown Garden Route National Park Area – Tsitsikamma Section In the Eastern Cape then, a very interesting report concerns a pair of ABDIM’S STORKS that were reported from a farm inland of the Storms River mouth section of the Tsitsikamma National Park, (pentad 3400_2350) where they were seen feeding amongst a group of Hadeda Ibis and Kelp Gulls on 22nd May. This is an uncommon bird for the province and quite a late record for this intra-African migrant.

Abdim’s Stork near Storm’s River © Louise and Bob Reed Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park A record from mid May was of 2 GREATER PAINTED SNIPES at a small pan just outside Twee Rivieren in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

A small group of SOUTHERN PIED BABBLER’S were reported from Nossob in the Kgalagadi on Thursday 8th . While there has been a few records of this species in the park before, it nevertheless is a good species for the area.

An exciting report of South Africa’s third record of a CITRINE WAGTAIL ! The bird was seen on 3rd and 4th May at the Urikaruus Waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The identity of the bird only became evident once the photographs were examined recently. This area is at a wilderness camp within Kgalagadi but you may want to obtain permission to visit the area if you are in the park to try to locate it again. The interesting aspect about this record is it appears the bird could be a summer-plumaged female bird based on the plumage characteristics that can be seen and from the input of European birders. This is a MEGA record and is worthwhile keeping an eye open for if you happen to be in the area! Please send any update if it is encountered again, as there are many birders who would very much like to add this bird to their life lists.

Citrine Wagtail at Kgalagadi NP © Lance Robinson

April 2014 Mapungubwe National Park The Mapungubwe area delivered an AFRICAN WOOD OWL at Mopane Bush Lodge on Saturday 12 th and no fewer than 4 AFRICAN SKIMMERS at the Samaria wetlands.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park A juvenile AFRICAN HAWK EAGLE was reported at Grootkolk in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on Tuesday 22 nd , well outside of its normal range.

African Hawk Eagle at Grootkolk © Dennis Walden Up in the Northern Cape, there was some surprise last Monday (14 th ) when a group of 7 FULVOUS DUCKS were located at Moravet waterhole along the upper dune road in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in a temporary pool caused by all the recent rains in the area. Apart from the environs around Kimberley, this bird is almost unknown from the province and this is certainly well out of range.

Fulvous Ducks at Moravet waterhole © Micho Ferreira

West Coast National Park The BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER , once again, attracted quite a bit of attention and was still showing well to excited twitchers just a few hours ago on the 7 th . For those who got bored with it, they could also turn their attention to up to 3 COMMON REDSHANKS with at least one of them still present today.

Broad-billed Sandpiper at Geelbek © Mike Buckham

Broad-billed Sandpiper at Geelbek © Freddie Strauss

Common Redshanks at Geelbek Common Redshank at Geelbek © Anton Putter © Freddie Strauss

BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER – a single bird was relocated after a few weeks absence of sightings and still present on the 5th of April, pushing tide at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park along with at least 3 COMMON REDSHANKS – reported by Cliff and Suretha Dorse.

A single LARK-LIKE BUNTING was reported from Geelbek on Saturday 5th as well.

March 2014 Addo Elephant National Park An as yet unidentified PRATINCOLE was located at Hapoor Dam in Addo Elephant National Park on the 30 th . The observers are unsure of the particular species and provisional cell phone images confirm it is definitely a pratincole but species confirmation will have to wait until higher res images are reviewed, so it might have to wait until then before being able to confirm the species unless someone else sees and photographs it in the interim. Nevertheless, still a fantastic record for the area indeed!

There was some excitement on the 17th on Bird Island in Algoa Bay when a RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD was located there. According to the island staff, the bird has apparently been in the general area for at least a week now, but they did not know what it was or what significance it held. It was also confirmed that at least one AUSTRALIAN GANNET was still present on the island this afternoon as well.

Augrabies Falls National Park A GREAT REED WARBLER was reported near the restaurant at Augrabies Falls National Park last week (20 th ), quite a far westerly record for this species.

Note on expansion of Red-billed Oxpecker and Chestnut Weaver into parks and the province in general in the Northern Cape Up into the Northern Cape where there was some surprise on the weekend (15 th /16 th ) when 6 RED-BILLED OXPECKERS were located along the Askham road whilst a further 4 birds were reported along the Olifantshoek road from Van Zylsrus. Another exciting record was that of a CHESTNUT WEAVER building a nest in a Southern Masked Weaver colony at the base of the ‘kop’ of Spitskop in Spitskop Nature Reserve in Upington. Following on from records in 2011 of birds at Nossob in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, then Tswalu Kalahari Reserve and then at Twee Rivieren, also in the KTP, then in 2012 again in the KTP just south of Union’s End and in 2013 at Augrabies Falls National Park, this becomes only the 6th ever record of this species for South Africa.

Garden Route National Park Area Down on the Garden Route, there was also some interest with an AFRICAN CUCKOO HAWK located in George on Wednesday 19 th and a large number of AMUR FALCONS were present over the northern bank of Swartvlei near Sedgefield on the 23 rd .

West Coast National Park 3 COMMON REDSHANKS remained at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park and were seen feeding together on the 30 th .

Both COMMON REDSHANKS were reported from Geelbek over the long weekend (21 st to 23 rd )

February 2014 Bontebok National Park At Bontebok National Park, a single male AMUR FALCON was present just inside the entrance to the park on Saturday 22 nd .

Karoo National Park 2 RED-BACKED SHRIKES (both females) were recorded in the Karoo National Park earlier today (17 th )

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Up into the Northern Cape, a slightly delayed record from 2 nd February surfaced yesterday of an AFRICAN HOBBY seen and photographed just south of Nossob in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This is an incredible record for the province and, after some research, appears to only be the 2nd ever record for the province following one back in the 1980's.

African Hobby near Nossob © Sanet Rossouw Mokala National Park Although not a rarity in the true sense of the word, it is also worth reporting that a xanthocroic CRIMSON-BREASTED SHRIKE was located yesterday at Mokala National Park. It was apparently seen along the road when driving from Lillydale to Mosu on the right hand side at the following co-ordinates: S 29.11183 E 024.38044.

West Coast National Park The 2 COMMON REDSHANKS at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park remained present on Saturday 22 nd whilst, on the 23 rd , a single SAND MARTIN was reported from the area as well.

Into the Western Cape where the AUSTRALIAN GANNET reported from Malgas Island in Saldahna Bay on Monday remained present on Tuesday whilst, on Wednesday 19 th , a second individual was located on the island as well. Perhaps even more exciting was the discovery, on Tuesday 18 th , of a GULL-BILLED TERN flying around the island. Unfortunately, it was not seen in the island’s tern roost at any stage, so birders should keep a look out at any tern roost on the west coast for this mega bird, a species with less than 40 records ever for Southern Africa.

Australian Gannet on Malgas Island © Bruce Dyer Both COMMON REDSHANKS were still present at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park until at least Tuesday 18 th .

10 th - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER – this rather tough to find individual was seen and photographed again from the Geelbek hide this morning at 10h10 – reported by Peter Sharland. Both COMMON REDSHANKS are still present at Geelbek too.

9th - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER - the bird was still present on the incoming tide this morning at Geelbek (also a COMMON REDSHANK) - reported by yours truly and a whole group of others.

© Pieter la Grange 8th - BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPER – a single individual has just been located at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park – reported by Vernon Head and all the members of the Western Cape Birding Forum who are there for a conference.

January 2014 Addo Elephant National Park On the 16 th a RED-BACKED SHRIKE was reported at Domkrag Dam in Addo National Park whilst, close by at the dam in front of the Safari Tents, a single YELLOW-BILLED STORK was also present.

Camdeboo National Park A YELLOW-BILLED STORK was reported from Camdeboo National Park near Graaff-Reinet on Saturday (17 th ) and was still present the following day too. This is now at least the 3rd record for the province in the last few months, possibly the same individual that is wandering around.

Garden Route National Park Area Over on the Garden Route, several AMUR FALCONS were still present along the Uplands Road near Plettenberg Bay yesterday whilst the BLACK HERON remained at Thesen Island in Knysna until at least Thursday 30 th .

The BLACK HERON at Thesen Island in Knysna was confirmed as still being present yesterday (26 th ), whilst the discovery of an ABDIM'S STORK on the Uplands Road near Plettenberg Bay on Friday morning (24 th ), another provincial mega, also created some local excitement. It was still present on Saturday morning (25 th ), but not yesterday (26 th ). However, the fact that there were numbers of birders now in the area led to several other good birds being reported in the area including a EUROPEAN ROLLER, a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE and several AMUR FALCONS whilst the other great record concerned a couple of calling WING-SNAPPING CISTICOLAS here, probably only the second ever record for the province! A pair of LONG-CRESTED EAGLES was also reported over the golf course in George on Friday whilst further AMUR FALCONS were noted near Rondevlei in Wilderness on the weekend (25 th /26 th ) as well. And finally, 2 VERREAUX’S EAGLE OWLS were reported from Hunter’s Home in Knysna very early this morning (27 th ).

The BLACK HERON that arrived at the Knysna Lagoon at the end of 2013 was still present in the week of the 13 th of January.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park On Thursday 30 th a group of 5 WHITE-CRESTED HELMET-SHRIKES were encountered at Rooibrak waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, well west of their normal range and possibly even a new record for the province, although this is still to be confirmed.

A number of interesting records in the first 2 weeks of the year from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park included 2 TEMMINCK’S COURSERS north of Urikaruus, 12 WOOD SANDPIPERS at Moravet, ABDIM’S STORK at Kwang, BLACK STORK at Bedinkt, DIDERICK CUCKOO at Marie se Gat and several reports of GREAT SPOTTED and AFRICAN CUCKOOS across the park.

Rob Bowie photographed a Barred Wren-Warbler in Mata-Mata in the Kgalagadi National Park. Barred Wren-Warbler does occur in the Northern Cape – but much further east than this. We are not sure if it has indeed been recorded in the park before.

West Coast National Park Two COMMON REDSHANKS remained present at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park until at least yesterday (26 th )