KWAZULU-NATAL HONORARY RECORDER'S REPORT – FEBRUARY 2014 Hello to all birders! Here’s wishing you a good birding year, and judging by the reports received, it has already started well. Things have been very busy with lots of migrants and other unusual birds. European Honey Buzzards have been particularly prolific over summer, both in KwaZulu-Natal and all over the country, but the two real goodies were a Golden Pipit that made a brief appearance at Richards Bay and a reliably-seen Egyptian Vulture between Ixopo and Highflats – keep your eyes peeled in this area for it!

RARITIES: LEVAILLANT’S CUCKOO Clamator levaillantii KZN Rarity One, Mavela Game Lodge, Zululand, 6 October 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Ulundi area, 25 October 2013, J Sharpe (Rarity accepted) and Rina Pretorius. One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, 30 October 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). A pair, Mavela Game Reserve, Zululand, 6 November 2013, Andre Bernon.

BLACK COUCAL Centropus grillii KZN Rarity One, Kube Yini Private Reserve, 1-3 January 2014, Doggy Kewley, Digby and Rose Cyrus.

VERREAUX’S EAGLE-OWL Bubo lacteus KZN Rarity One, Ophathe Game Reserve, 27 October 2013, Klaus Heyer (rarity accepted).

NORTHERN BLACK KORHAAN Afrotis afraoides KZN Rarity Three, Chelmsford Nature Reserve, 2 December 2013, Dave Bishop (rarity accepted).

STRIPED FLUFFTAIL Sarothrura affinis KZN Rarity One heard, Hermon Farm, Kokstad, 3 November 2013, Peter Spence (rarity accepted).

LESSER MOORHEN Gallinula angulate KZN Rarity Two, Weenen Game Reserve, 11 July 2013, Ingrid Weiersbye (rarity accepted). Two, Weenen Game Reserve, 30 November 2013, M Potgieter (rarity accepted). One, Port Edward, 29 December 2013, Stan Culley (rarity accepted). One, near Sani Pass border post, mid-January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus National Rarity One, Nyamithi Pan, Ndumo Game Reserve, 23 November 2013, Penny de Vries. One, Ndumo Game Reserve, 12 December 2013, Sally Harris.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER Calidris melanotos National Rarity One, Phinda Resources Reserve, 17 October 2013, Daryl Dell. One, Muzi Pan, 31 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus moquini KZN Rarity Five, between Richards Bay and Umfolozi River, 19 December 2013 Richard Johnstone (rarity accepted). Two, Umfolozi River mouth, 1 February 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

CASPIAN PLOVER Charadrius asiaticus KZN Rarity Six, Mpempe Pan, Ozabeni, 20 October 2013, M Pretorius (rarity accepted). Seven, Mpempe Pan, Ozabeni, 24 November 2013 to 31 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

CRAB PLOVER Dromas aredola National Rarity One juvenile, Umlalazi River, Mtunzini, 17 - 20 November 2013, Fred Mittermayer and Frans van Vuuren. One juvenile, Umfolozi River mouth, 23 November – 6 December 2013, Andre Bernon, Frans van Vuuren, Rolf and Karen Wiesler, and Simone Swiel. One, Umfolozi River mouth, 30 December 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

GULL-BILLED TERN Sterna nilotica National Rarity One, Kosi Bay estaury, 24 October 2013, Ryan Tippett.

DAMARA TERN Sterna balaenarum KZN Rarity One, Richards Bay tern roost, 12-15 October 2013, Mark Kirk and David Hoddinott. One, Umfolozi River mouth, 15 October 2013, J Cox (rarity accepted).

SOOTY TERN Onychoprion fuscatus National Rarity One, Richards Bay tern roost, 12 October to 2 December 2013, Mark Kirk, Caroline Fox, Andre Bernon, Nikolas Vounnou. Fifteen, offshore Durban, 22 November 2013, Niall Perrins and others. One, offshore Durban, 24 November 2013, Niall Perrins and others.

EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD Pernis apivorus KZN Rarity One, Tembe Elephant Reserve, 9 October 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Durban North, 10 November 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 1 December 2013, Barry Swaddle and Michael Manning. Single birds at Mkhuze Game Reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve, Hilton and Illovo Beach, 14- 15 December 2013, (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Mkhuze Game Reserve, 19 December 2013, Athol Marchant. One, Western Shores, Isimangaliso Wetland Park, 9 January 2014, Paul and Sally Bartho (rarity form submitted). Two, Spioenkop Nature Reserve, early January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Hermannsburg, 19 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Lake Bhangazi, 24 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report). Two, Umhlanga Sewage Works, 25 January 2014, James Rawdon (rarity form submitted). One, near Jozini, 29 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Umbogavango Nature Reserve, 29 January 2014, Peter Spence (Rarity form submitted). One, near Tembe Elephant Park, 30 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, between Tembe and Nibela, 30 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Cape Vidal, 30 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Nibela Peninsula, 31 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

EGYPTIAN VULTURE Neophron percnopterus National Rarity One adult, between Ixopo and Highflats, 6 December 2013, Clinton Carbutt and John Craigie.

WESTERN MARSH HARRIER Circus aeruginosus National Rarity One female, Midmar Game Reserve, 21 December 2013, Walter and Gerald Scharlach (rarity form submitted).

MONTAGU’S HARRIER Circus pygargus KZN Rarity One male, Rietvlei, 15 November 2013, Tim and Caroline Wood (rarity accepted).

STEPPE EAGLE Aquila nipalensis KZN Rarity One juvenile, Giant’s Castle Vulture Hide, 17 November 2013, Jan van Biljon.

LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE Aquila pomarina KZN Rarity One, Bisley, Pietermaritzburg, 4 December 2013, D Robinson (rarity accepted). One, Mkhuze Game Reserve, 18 December 2013, Athol Marchant.

AFRICAN HAWK EAGLE Aquila spilogaster KZN Rarity One, between Nkandla and Kranskop, 23 November 2013, Tobias van Seydlitz.

AYRES’S HAWK-EAGLE Hieraaetus ayresii KZN Rarity One, Bluff, Durban, 9 October 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, 18 November 2013, Roy Harris. One, between Rietvlei and York, 23 November 2013, Barry Swaddle (rarity accepted).

PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus KZN Rarity A pair, Westville, 7 December 2013, Bob Rickards.

RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON Ardeola rufiventris KZN Rarity A pair, Isimangaliso Wetland Park, 10-27 October 2013, Alan van Zyl. One, Bhangazi Lake, Cape Vidal, 2 November 2013, Richard McKibben. A pair, Bhangazi Lake, Cape Vidal, 9 December 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, near old Durban Airport, 24 December 2013, Barry Swaddle.

DWARF BITTERN Ixobrychus sturmii KZN Rarity One, Kube Yini Private Reserve, 27 December 2013, Digby and Rose Cyrus. One, Palmiet River, Westville, 17 January 2014, Ilse Genders (rarity form submitted).

WANDERING ALBATROSS Diomedea exulans KZN Rarity One, offshore Durban, 22 November 2013, Niall Perrins and others.

NORTHERN GIANT PETREL Macronectes halli KZN Rarity One, offshore Durban, October 2013, Niall Perrins, David Allan, Martin Taylor and others.

GREAT-WINGED PETREL Pterodroma macroptera KZN Rarity Several, offshore Durban, 5 October 2013, Niall Perrins, David Allan, Martin Taylor and others.

BARAU’S PETREL Pterodroma baraui KZN Rarity One, offshore Durban, October 2013, Niall Perrins, David Allan, Martin Taylor and others. Six, offshore Durban, 22 November 2013, Niall Perrins and others. One, offshore Durban, 23 November 2013, Niall Perrins and others. One, offshore Durban, 24 November 2013, Niall Perrins and others.

EASTERN CLAPPER LARK Mirafra fasciolata KZN Rarity At least six, Chelmsford Nature Reserve, 2 December 2013, Dave Bishop (rarity accepted).

DUSKY LARK Pinarocorys nigricans KZN Rarity One, Phinda Private Game Reserve, 22 January 2014 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

PLAIN-BACKED SUNBIRD Anthreptes reichenowi National Rarity One, near Kumasinga hide, Mkhuze Game Reserve, 26 October 2013, Brian Wilson. One, Mkhuze Game Reserve, 10 January 2014, Jon Anderson.

RED-HEADED WEAVER Anaplectes rubriceps KZN Rarity A pair, Mavela Game Reserve, Zululand, 6 November 2013, Andre Bernon.

BLACK-FACED WAXBILL Estrilda erythronotus KZN Rarity One, Pietermaritzburg, 15 January 2014, Colin van Heerden.

GOLDEN PIPIT Tmetothylacus tenellus National Rarity One, Richards Bay, 8 November 2013, Sara Kilian.

SHORT-TAILED PIPIT Anthus brachyurus KZN Rarity Two, Borreray Farm, near Loteni, 25 December 2013, Stuart McLean (rarity form submitted).

OUT-OF-RANGE SIGHTINGS Bronze-winged Courser One, Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve, 25 December 2013, Neville and Marjorie Brooks. One, Ladysmith, 13 December 2013, Dave Marshall and Peter Nelson.

Cape Vulture One, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 1 December 2013, Barry Swaddle and Michael Manning.

Lappet-faced Vulture One in a flock of White-backed Vultures, Nambiti Private Game Reserve, Ladysmith, 29 December 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report).

Tawny Eagle One, Giant’s Castle Vulture Hide, 10 January 2014, Arrie Klopper.

Bush Blackcap One, Igwalagwala trail, St Lucia, 19 October 2013, Penny de Vries, 21-24 October 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). One, Musgrave Road, Durban, mid-November 2013, reported by Rob Harvey.

OTHER SIGHTINGS Silvery-cheeked Hornbill One was reported from a garden in Kloof on 15 October 2013 and well seen. This would probably be an escape as these birds are not known to move from their normal distribution from eastern Zimbabwe northwards.

African Finfoot One, Umgeni River near Kwadabeka bridge, 2 November 2013, Bart Fokkens.

Wahlberg’s Eagle One, Westville, 14 October 2013, Derek Spencer.

White Stork A flock of about 100 was present at the sports fields at the Edgewood campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal from 22 January for at least a week, Norman Freeman.

Southern Giant-Petrel One, Richards Bay tern roost, 12 October 2013, Mark Kirk.

Red-headed Finch A pair in a garden in Durban North, 11 October 2013 (SA Rare Bird News Report). A pair in Glenhills, north Durban, 10 November 2013, Colin Soper.

Magpie Mannikins A small flock, Bluff Nature Reserve, 26 December 2014, Des Porter.

KZN Rarities Accepted The following previously reported KZN records have been accepted by the KZN Rarities Committee since the October 2013 Honorary Recorder’s Report. These include records forwarded to the Committee for adjudication from SABAP2 field cards.

SPECIES OBSERVER DATE LOCALITY Peregrine Falcon C Oettle 1 July 2013 Hermannsburg Sickle-winged Chat Adam Riley 8 September 2013 Karkloof White-backed Night Heron N Kloppers 22 September 2013 Lake Iphiva Damara Tern Johan van Rensburg 23 September 2013 Umfolozi River

Caveat: the sightings recorded here have been submitted directly to me or have been posted on the SABirdNet or SA Rare Bird News, and have not been vetted by any rarities committee for validation unless otherwise noted. As such, the information presented here should be used with due consideration.

Steve Davis: Honorary Recorder 5 February 2014 Tel: 031 2054459 59 Edmonds Road e-mail: [email protected] Glenwood Fax: 031 2731302 4001