KWAZULU-NATAL RECORDER'S REPORT - MARCH 2006

Greetings to all bird fans. I must firstly apologise for a little confusion in my last report. I said that I would include the old names with the new ones for a while, but our Editor decided that we must take the plunge and learn the new ones quickly, and removed them from my report. The most exciting summer sightings have been the Bitterns at Ntsikeni Vlei for those willing to sacrifice sleep, and the Red Phalarope at Darvill that was much more accessible.

RARITIES: HARLEQUIN QUAIL Coturnix delegorguei KZN Rarity One, La Mercy airport site, January 2006, Lynne de Beer, Roy Cowgill and others.

BLACK-RUMPED BUTTONQUAIL Turnix nanus KZN Rarity Two, La Mercy airport site, 2 January 2006, Wayne Jones, Lynne de Beer and Jenny Norman. One, Creighton area, 30 December 2005, Howard Rayner, Malcolm Gemmell and others. One, Creighton area, 14 January 2006, John Bradshaw, Malcolm Gemmell and others. One, Creighton area, 5 March 2006, Richard McKibbin.

MADAGASCAR CUCKOO Cuculus rochii National Rarity One, Phinda Resources Reserve, 6 February 2006, Daryl Dell and others.

LEVAILLANT’S CUCKOO Clamator levaillantii KZN Rarity One, Game Reserve, 27-29 December 2005, Garth Aiston.

GIANT EAGLE OWL Bubo lacteus KZN Rarity

PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET Glaucidium perlatum KZN Rarity One, Waterfall, , 7-14 February 2006, Norma Olivier.

AFRICAN CRAKE Crecopsis egregia KZN Rarity One, La Mercy airport site, 28 January 2006, Garth Aiston.

SPOTTED CRAKE Porzana porzana KZN Rarity One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, 18-19 December 2005, Barry Swaddle, Mike Spain and Gus Ovendale. (Rarity form submitted.) One, Sappi Stanger, 2-6 January 2006, Gill Leisegang, Elena Russell, Jenny Norman, Andrew Kruger and Byron McGaw.

LESSER MOORHEN Gallinula angulata KZN Rarity One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, 22 December 2005, David Hoddinott, Adam Riley and others.

PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER Pluvialis fulva National Rarity One, Richards Bay Sanctuary, 4 February 2006, Andrew Sutherland and others.

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus KZN Rarity One, early December, , Jon Anderson. One, Ndumo Game Reserve, 16-19 December 2006, Athol Marchant and others. Two, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, 8 January 2006, reported by Jon Anderson.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER Tringa melanotos National Rarity One, Lake St Lucia estuary, early December, Jon Anderson. One, Lake St Lucia Estuary, 29 December 2005, Bruce Lawson.

RED PHALAROPE Phalaropus fulicaria KZN Rarity One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, , 1 February 2006 onwards (19 Feb), Barry Swaddle, Noray Babcock, Mike Spain and subsequently many others. (Rarity forms submitted.)

EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus National Rarity One, Mouth, 22 January 2006, Rynhard Kok. Reported by Trevor Hardaker to be still present on 13 February 2006.

COMMON BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus National Rarity One, harbour mouth, 15 to 23 December 2005, Athol Marchant, David Allan and Alistair McInnes. One, Durban Bayhead, 6 January 2006, Garth Aiston.

EUROPEAN HONEY-BUZZARD Pernis apivorus KZN Rarity One, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, early December 2005, Dan Sonnenberg. One, Ndumo Game Reserve, early December, Jon Anderson. Two, Esikhaweni, south of Richards Bay, 12 December 2005, Adrian Haagner. Two, Cathedral Peak, , 14-16 December 2005, Ben Smit, Meyrick Bowker and Robyn Phillips. Two, Kube Yini Private Game Reserve, 20-25 December 2005, Digby Cyrus. One, Malala, near Hluhluwe, 24 and 26 December 2005, James Harvey. Three, Game Reserve, 27 and 28 December 2005, Andre Botha and others. One, , 1 January 2006, David Allan. One, Kloof, 1 January 2006, Roy Cowgill, Steve Davis and others. One, Mbona Estate, Karkloof, 1 January 2006, Richard Boon. One, Westville North, 3 January 2006, Derek Spencer. One, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 8 January 2006, Lynne de Beer, Wayne Jones and Hamish Campbell. One, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 10 January 2006, Mark Brown. One, Nature Reserve, 12 January 2006, Gina Baldo and Glen Carpendale. One, Hilton College, 6 February 2006, Ben Smit and others. Ben reports seeing eight different individuals this summer. Two, north of Richards Bay, 23-28 February 2006, Adrian Haagner. One, near entrance to , 5 March 2006, Adrian Haagner. One, Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, 8 March 2006, Richard McKibbin. Honey-Buzzards have also been reported from Otto’s Bluff and Dalton Wildlife Reserve near Wagendrift Dam by Hans Grobler.

WESTERN MARSH-HARRIER Circus aeruginosus National Rarity One, Ntsikeni Vlei, 1 January 2006, Howard Rayner, Malcolm Gemmell and others.

PALLID HARRIER Circus macrourus KZN Rarity One, KwaMawela Wildlife Reserve near Mooi River, 16 January 2006, Hans Grobler and Dave Johnson.

MONTAGU’S HARRIER Circus pygargus KZN Rarity Two, Creighton area, 31 December 2005, Howard Rayner, Malcolm Gemmell and others.

SLATY EGRET Egretta vinaceigula KZN Rarity One, Ndumo Game Reserve, early December, Jon Anderson. One, Ndumo Game Reserve, 16-19 December 2006, Athol Marchant and others.

WHITE-BACKED NIGHT-HERON Gorsachius leconotus KZN Rarity One, Dumat Dam, Country Club Estate, November 2005, Alan and Ena Davis. One, Dumat Dam, Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate, February 2006, Wayne Sykes and Ray King.

EURASIAN BITTERN Botaurus stellaris National Rarity One, Ntsikeni Vlei, 10 December 2005, Malcolm Gemmell and others. One, Ntsikeni Vlei, 14 January 2006, John Bradshaw, Malcolm Gemmell and others.

GREATER FRIGATEBIRD Fregata minor National Rarity One, offshore of Richards Bay, 6 January 2006, reported by Trevor Hardaker. A frigatebird of uncertain identity was seen by Paul Funston at the Lake St Lucia estuary on 8 January 2006.

BLACK COUCAL Centropus grillii KZN Rarity Three, La Mercy airport site, 2 January 2006, Derek Coley, Wayne Jones, Lynne de Beer and Jenny Norman. One, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 29 January 2006, Hamish Campbell and Greg Brown. Two, La Mercy airport site, 19 February 2006, Mike Wright and Richard McKibben. One, La Mercy airport site, 19 March 2006, Adrian Haagner.

COMMON WHITETHROAT Sylvia communis KZN Rarity One, Cathedral Peak, Drakensberg, 18 December 2005, Ben Smit, Meyrick Bowker and Robyn Phillips. One, Pongola Game Reserve, 21 February 2006, Lyndon Roberts.

DUSKY LARK Pinarocorys nigricans KZN Rarity One, Esikhaweni, south of Richards Bay, 12 December 2005, Adrian Haagner. Two, Pongola Nature Reserve, 19 March 2006, David Hoddinott and Andrew Sutherland. (Rarity form submitted.)

MAGPIE MANNIKIN Spermestes fringilloides KZN Rarity Five, Lyngarth Road, Kloof, 9 August 2005, Peter and Jenny Spence and Anthony and Juliet Stead. Regularly seen at a feeder in Margate, December 2005, Gary and Wendy Holburn. Three, Krantzkloof Falls Estate, 27 February 2006, Tim and Caroline Wood. (Rarity form submitted.)

MOUNTAIN PIPIT Anthus hoeschi KZN Rarity One, Creighton area, 31 December 2005, Howard Rayner, Malcolm Gemmell and others.

SHORT-TAILED PIPIT Anthus brachyurus KZN Rarity Two, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 13 January 2006, Murray Christian.

OUT-OF-RANGE SIGHTINGS: BROAD-BILLED ROLLER One, near Pennington, 10 December 2005, Gerald Teale and Clive Quickelberge.

EUROPEAN BEE-EATER A flock of six, Hilton College Estate, 3 December 2005, Dave White.

AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER One, Umfolozi River Mouth, 22 January 2006, Rynhard Kok.

TEMMINCK’S COURSER One, La Mercy airport site, 14 January 2006, Chris Hines. One, near Enseleni railway station, end of February 2006, David Davidson.

LAPPET-FACED VULTURE One, KwaMawela Wildlife Reserve near Mooi River, 13 February 2006, Hans Grobler.

WOOLLY-NECKED STORK Barry Porter reported that a pair was between Uvongo and Margate, during Easter 2005. Four, Port Edward, 14-15 January 2006, Gill Leisegang, that have apparently been present for some months. One, Himeville/Underberg area, 3 February 2006, Carol Horne.

BLACK-THROATED WATTLE-EYE One, Ixopo, 18 December 2005, Alan Smith.

OTHER SIGHTINGS: Corncrake One, La Mercy airport site, 12 December 2005, Barry Swaddle, Michael Manning and Daryll Clifford. One, Sappi Stanger (Mbozambo Wetland), 28 December 2005, Wayne Jones. One, Umvoti River Mouth, 29 December 2005, Wayne Jones. Up to 10, La Mercy airport site, 2 January 2006, Wayne Jones, Lynne de Beer and Jenny Norman. One, Umvoti River mouth, 3 January 2006, Wayne Jones. One, La Mercy airport site, 28 January 2006, Garth Aiston. One, La Mercy airport site, 19 March 2006, Adrian Haagner.

Denham’s Bustard One, Sodwana Bay, 25 December 2005, Wendy van Elden.

Bronze-winged Courser One, Widenham, South coast, early January 2006, Lester van Groeningen. One, Inhlazi Commercial Game Ranch, Otto’s Bluff, 26 January 2006, Hans Grobler. Two, La Mercy airport site, 18 March 2006 Roy Cowgill, Steve Davis, Lynne de Beer, Jenny Norman and others.

African Cuckoo Hawk One, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 13 January 2006, Murray Christian.

Booted Eagle One, Kube Yini Private Game Reserve, 20-25 December 2005, Digby Cyrus. One, Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, 20 December 2005, Andrew Kruger.

Sooty Falcon One, Mseleni Hospital, Zululand, 12 December 2005, Jacques Malherbe. One, Paddock area, 12 February 2006, Barry Porter and others. Two, Mtunzini, 11 March 2006, Adrian Haagner, Duncan Pritchard and others.

Peregrine Falcon One, near Stanger, 3 January 2006, Wayne Jones. One subadult, Umgeni River Mouth, 12 February 2006, Garth Aiston.

Marabou Stork One, near Umlaas Road, 17 January 2006, Charles Mitchell.

Banded Martin Four, Airfield, 21 February 2006, Murray Christian.

Icterine Warbler Several, La Mercy airport site, 19 March 2006, Adrian Haagner.

Wailing Cisticola One, Shongweni, 3 January 2006, Peter Wragg and David Styles.

Mountain Wheatear One, Winston Park, 2 March 2006, Chris and Rie Mathews.

Red-billed Oxpecker One, on cattle next to the Umgeni River near Wyebank, 20 January 2006, Terry Walls.

Red-headed Quelea A small group, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, 22 December 2005, David Hoddinott, Adam Riley and others. A flock, at a dam near Harding, 26 December 2005, Gary and Wendy Holburn and others. A small group, Sappi Stanger, 28 December 2005, Wayne Jones. About 20, near Creighton, 4 March 2006, Dan Sonnenberg and Malcolm Gemmell.

Red-billed Firefinch One, at a feeder in Margate, 13 December 2005 onwards, Gary and Wendy Holburn.

Village Indigobird One, at a feeder in Margate, 17 and 29 December 2005, Gary and Wendy Holburn.

House Crow Five, Esikhaweni, south of Richards Bay, 12 December 2005, Adrian Haagner.

Caveat: the sightings recorded here have been submitted directly to me or have been posted on the SABirdNet, and have not been vetted by any rarities committee for validation. As such, the information presented here should be used with due consideration. However, the KZN Rare Birds Committee is now functional and where rarity forms have been submitted, these have been noted. The following records have been accepted by the KZN Rarities Committee as at 23 March 2006, and a further nine reports are being processed.

Species Observer Place Date Abdim's Stork David Hoddinott near Ladysmith 16-Oct-05 Green Sandpiper David Hoddinott Morton's Drift 13-Oct-05 Red-footed Booby David Hoddinott Pelagic off NE KZN 22-Nov-05 Red-tailed Tropicbird David Hoddinott Pelagic off NE KZN 26-Nov-05 White-tailed Tropicbird David Hoddinott Pelagic off NE KZN 26-Nov-05 Barau's Petrel David Hoddinott Pelagic off NE KZN 26-Nov-05 Dusky Lark Adrian Haagner Nozalela Mineral Sands 13-Dec-05 Lesser Moorhen David Hoddinott Darvill Bird Sanctuary 23-Nov-05 Spotted Crake Elena Russell Sappi Hide - Stanger 02-Jan-06 Spotted Crake Andrew Kruger Sappi Hide - Stanger 04-Jan-06 Black Coucal Roy Cowgill La Mercy Airport site 08-Jan-06 Black-rumped Buttonquail Roy Cowgill La Mercy Airport site 27-Dec-05 Harlequin Quail Roy Cowgill La Mercy Airport site 27-Dec-05 Abdim's Stork Garth Aiston near Ladysmith 16-Oct-05 Spotted Crake Mike Spain Darvill Bird Sanctuary 19-Dec-05 Eurasian Bittern Malcolm Gemmell Ntsikeni Vlei 10-Dec-05 Red Phalarope Mike Spain Darvill Bird Sanctuary 03-Feb-06

Steve Davis: Honorary Recorder 23 March 2006 Tel: 031 2054459 59 Edmonds Road e-mail: [email protected] Glenwood Fax: 031 2731302 4001