1 1 2 ~ Rare Birds in South Africa 1997 ~ ~ Rare Birds in South Africa 1997 ~ 2 3 3 4 4 5 Eleventh Report of the BirdLife South Africa Rarities Committee 19 December 1997 (G. Cooke). in Mozambique, especially during 5 6 P.A.R. Hockey and the Rarities Committee 164 European Marsh Harrier winter. 6 7 Circus aeruginosus. One female at 243 European Oystercatcher 7 his report has continued the tradition of the previous 10 in being provided. Indeed, this is a much more common reason for rejection 8 the Komatidraai Dam (near Haematopus ostralegus. One juve- 8 able to report a new addition to the South African bird list. This of records than is obvious misidentification. Accepted records have to 9 T Komatipoort) from 23 Novem­ber nile 5 km south of Leven Point, St 9 year’s candidate achieved not only this distinction but, at the same be of a quality that a committee reviewing them 10 to 3 December 1996 Lucia, on 26 January 1997 (M. 10 time, was new to both Africa and the Atlantic Ocean! Unfortunately, in 10 or 20 years’ time would independently arrive at the same con- 11 (M. Mills). One male at Nylsvley Hattingh). 11 12 however, the Buller’s Albatross photographed clusion we reach now. This is an important point to bear in mind Nature Reserve from 253a American Golden 12 13 off the Cape Peninsula was not seen by a single South African birder, when submitting a record: the more information you provide, the 1 to 4 January 1997 (J. Wilson). One, Plover Pluvialis dominica. 13 14 as you will discover below. Another new seabird for Africa, more the Committee has to go on and the better the chances of the possibly two, females One at Mossel Bay sewage works 14 15 Magellanic Penguin, is currently under review by the Committee. scales being tipped in favour of acceptance. at Marievale Bird Sanctuary on 6 on 26 December 1996 (M. Killeen, 15 16 This report also includes the second record of Red-throated Pipit in Present membership of the Committee is Richard Grant December 1997 (D.S. Peacock). This R. McLaren et al.). A sighting at the 16 17 South Africa and the fifth records of White-rumped Sandpiper and (Secretary), Phil Hockey (Chairman), Clive Hopcroft, John Isom, species has been reported regularly same 17 18 Golden Pipit. Mostert Kriek, Peter Ryan, Ian Sinclair and Tony Tree. The Committee’s over the last 10 years, with the place on 2 January 1997 is accept- 18 19 Over the years, the standard of submissions to the Committee has two office-bearers, Phil Hockey and Richard Grant, both plan to relin- summer of 1987–88 producing ed as a ‘Lesser’ Golden Plover but 19 20 undoubtedly increased as birding skills and note-making standards­ quish their posts at the end of 1998. Hockey has been Chairman record numbers. almost certainly refers to the same 20 P. Funston 21 improve. However, we are still certain that several ‘good’ records are since 1986, and Grant Secretary since 1991: both feel they have Red-footed Booby. Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, 24 January 1997. 202 Blue Quail Coturnix bird 21 22 turned down annually because insufficient details of the sightings are earned a break! adansonii. Three males and three (G. Simpson). 22 23 December 1994 (A.E. Bateman, A. 110 Garganey Anas females 20 km north of Dondo, 253b Pacific Golden Plover 23 24 Nixon, A.J. Dechant): presumably querquedula. One at Vogel­fontein, Mozambique, on Pluvialis fulva. Three on 24 25 SYSTEMATIC LIST OF ACCEPTED RECORDS both sightings refer to the same Nylsvley Nature Reserve, 20 to 26 14 July 1997 (A. Marchant the Krom River estuary on 25 26 bird. Another Red-tailed Tropicbird April 1996 et al.). This species is not a South 8 January 1997 (R. Searle). Two 26 27 XXX Buller’s Albatross few islands around New Zealand, 19 May 1997 (A. Crane et al.). The morph (the rarer of the two): as far also performed a ‘double’ in the (F. & I. Honiball, S. & F. Hugo). African rarity, although the paucity ‘Lesser Golden Plovers’ seen at the 27 28 Diomedea bulleri. Surely one of the from where it normally moves only bird was rehabilitated at the as we are aware this is the first Eastern Cape. One seen 120 Egyptian Vulture of recent records nearby Seekoei River estuary on 7 28 29 most unexpected seabirds to be as far as the coasts of south-eastern SANCCOB centre and released off record circling over Baakens Valley Neophron percnopterus. One (for example in The Atlas of January 1997 (also by R. Searle) 29 30 added to the African list, a subadult Australia to the west and the Robben Island on 3 June 1997: it of this morph in southern African in Settlers Park, Port Elizabeth on immature at Lichtenburg Nature Southern African Birds) suggests may have been part of the Krom 30 31 Buller’s Albatross was photo- Humboldt Current region of west- now carries the ring number waters. 31 May 1997 (T. & I. Hops) was seen Reserve on 29 and that it has experienced a substan- River trio. 31 32 graphed at close range among a ern South America to the east. 8-56705. 043 Leach’s Storm Petrel again on 5 June 1997 (S. Brunette). 30 December 1996 (B. Ryan). tial range reduction in southern 265 Green Sandpiper Tringa 32 33 large flock of seabirds attending a There are no previous records from 041 Wedge-tailed Oceanodroma leucorhoa. In Given that this site is 5 km inland, 130 Honey Buzzard Africa in the past ochropus. One near Fontana Pan, 33 34 trawler off the Cape Peninsula on 10 the Atlantic Ocean. Shearwater Puffinus pacificus. October and November 1995, at the chances of two different birds Pernis apivorus. One at Ben Lavin 30 years and may be working its Ndumu Game Reserve, on 17 34 35 August 1995 (R. Ertel). At the time, 015 Dark-mantled Sooty One inside territorial waters least 17 birds were present and being involved is negligible. In the Nature Reserve on way back on to the rarities’ list. This November 1995 35 36 the bird was dismissed as a Yellow- Albatross Phoebetria fusca. One on the Agulhas Bank on calling on Dyer Island past, Red-tailed Tropicbirds in South 26 March 1996 (J. Claassen). One at record is included because of our (J. Norman, M. Zucchini). 36 37 nosed Albatross, and it was only subadult found weak and dehy- 21 May 1996 (B. Dyer, (P. Whittington, B. Dyer, Africa have mostly been ‘five-min- Tembe Elephant poor knowledge of the species’ One seen from the Kubube 37 38 subsequent examination of the drated adjacent to the Royal Cape N. Klages). This species occurs as K. Barnes). Calling birds have also ute wonders’. Recently, however, Park, KwaZulu-Natal on current status Hide, Mkuze Game Reserve,  38 39 photographs that yielded a first for Yacht Club in Table Bay, Cape Town both a dark and a pale morph. The been heard on two west coast there have been a 39 40 Africa. Buller’s Albatross breeds at a on Agulhas Bank bird was the pale islands, suggesting that the breed- few cases of birds remaining Slaty Egret. Ndumu Game Reserve, 20 December 1997. 40 41 ing range of the isolated local pop- for longer – notably two at Port G. Cooke 41 42 ulation is larger than previously Alfred for 12 days in 1981–82, and 42 43 thought. The only other record in one at Cape Point for nine days in 43 44 1997 was of a beached (dead) bird 1995. 44 45 at 921 Red-footed Booby Sula 45 46 St Francis Bay village on 6 June sula. One juvenile ashore on the 46 47 (D.M.V. Brown). This is the first win- beach at Bazaruto Island Lodge, 47 48 ter record of this species in South Mozambique, on 48 49 Africa since the Rarities 24 January 1997 (P. Funston). 49 50 Committee’s inception in 1981. In 070 Slaty Egret Egretta 50 51 early May 1988, however, one was vinaceigula. One at Ndumu Game 51 52 found freshly dead at Cape Recife. Reserve on 20 December 1997 is 52 53 Perhaps the South African birds the most southerly record of this 53 54 remain in the Southern species in Africa (G. Cooke, P. & C. 54 55 Hemisphere throughout the year, Ruinard). The type specimen was 55 56 moving eastwards in winter? collected at Potchefstroom last cen- 56 57 047 Red-tailed Tropicbird tury, but the first record of Slaty 57 58 Phaethon rubricauda. An adult was Egret in South Africa this century 58 59 seen at Mondplaas was one on the Nyl floodplain in 59 60 (E. Cape) on 5 and 7  1989. Since then there has been a 60 61 sight record from Vaalkop Dam 61 62 (1993) and a breeding record from 62 63 Buller’s Albatross. First Atlantic the Nyl floodplain in 1996 (see 63 record: Cape Peninsula, August Africa – Birds & Birding, Vol. 1, No. 2: 1995. 8). R. Ertel

66 RARITIES COMMITTEE REPORT 1997 africa – birds & birding 1998 – volume 3, number 5 RARITIES COMMITTEE REPORT 1997 67 1 1 2 ~ Rare Birds in South Africa 1997 ~ ~ Rare Birds in South Africa 1997 ~ 2 3 3 4 4 5 Umvoti River estuary on evidence to the contrary is supplied, Eleonora’s Falcon Bazaruto the description to eliminate both 15 km south-east of Durban, 5 6 2 January 1998 is the all Tufted Duck records in South Island, Mozambique, Kelp and Herring gulls. 4 August 1996. 6 7 second South African record Africa should be treated as escap- 26 January 1997. Black-headed Gull Rüppell’s Vulture Potsberg, 25 7 8 (A. Marchant). The other South ees. Striped Crake Female: Nylsvley Strandfontein sewage works, Cape August 1989. 8 9 African record was from the same Nature Reserve, Town, 9 March 1997. Crab Plover Umgeni River estu- 9 10 locality in March 1983. RECORDS NOT ACCEPTED 16 February 1997. Pallid Swift Storms River bridge, ary, 17 April 1996. 10 11 726 Golden Pipit Pacific Golden Plover Two: 17 November 1996. Note: this spe- 11 12 Tmetothylacus tenellus. One adult Short-tailed Shearwater Keurbooms River estuary, cies is extremely difficult to sepa- 12 13 male 6 km from Nwanetsi, Kruger 90 km south-east of Mossel Bay, 29 19 March 1997. rate in the field from African Black, 13 14 National Park, on 28 December November 1996. Green Sandpiper Northern European and Bradfield’s swifts. Its 14 15 1997 Red-tailed Tropicbird sewage works, Durban, 10 to 12 occurrence south of the Zambezi 15 16 (L. Bramwell, K. Winter). This is the St Francis Bay, 1 August 1991. January 1997. River is based on a single specimen; 16 17 fifth South African record: three of Madagascar Squacco Heron Common Redshank Springs for a sight record to stand a reason- 17 18 the five records have been from the Hartebeespoort Dam, Bird Sanctuary, 5 February 1995. able chance of acceptance, 18 19 Kruger National Park. All five records 20 June 1996. Spotted Redshank Borakalalo it will need to be accompanied by 19 20 have been of adult males – does Garganey Two: Hlamalala Dam, Reserve, 16 October 1995. very detailed field notes. 20 21 this mean that we are overlooking Kruger National Park, Red-necked Stint Whinchat One male, one female: 21 22 females and juveniles? 29 March to 8 April 1997. Umgeni River estuary, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 9 22 23 European Marsh Harrier Male: 24 and 25 September 1997. March 1997. 23 24 RECORDS ACCEPTED AS Mkuze Game Reserve, Lesser Black-backed Gull Western Violet-backed 24 25 ESCAPED BIRDS 13 November 1995; female: Immature: Spitzkop Dam, Sunbird One male, one female: 25 26 Nylsvley Nature Reserve, 17 January 1997; adult: Umgeni Buffelsbed lookout, Kruger 26 27 Black-bellied Whistling Duck 1 January 1997; male: 60 km south River estuary, National Park, 27 K. Winter 28 Golden Pipit. Kruger National Park, 26 December 1997. Dendrocygna autumnalis. This spe- of Nossob camp, Kalahari Gemsbok 15 February to 23 April 1997. Note: 30 September 1996. 28 29 cies is a resident of tropical Central National Park, 1 January 1997; one although most inland records of 29 30 on 4 November 1997 296 Crab Plover Dromas Chiniziua Forest, Mozambique, on and South America and only the male, one female: New Holme large gulls in South Africa are likely RECORDS PENDING 30 31 (S. Terblanche, T. Woodage, ardeola. Two adults or subadults at 16 July 1997 (A. Marchant et al.). most northerly breeders are par- Farm, near Hanover Road, to refer to this species, it is essential 31 32 R. Swain, P. Robinson). Richards Bay Sanctuary on 5 Acceptance of this record lends tially migratory. It is a popular 15 January 1997. that enough details are provided in Mascarene Shearwater  32 33 268 Common Redshank Tringa February 1997 (P. Outhwaite). support to a previously unaccepted ornamental bird. Three of these 33 34 totanus. One in almost full breeding 331 Black-naped Tern Sterna record between Dondo and ducks were present at the Vaalkop Green Sandpiper. Mkuze Game Reserve, 4 December 1997. 34 35 plumage 3 km from the mouth of sumatrana. One at the Umvoti Chiniziua on Dam on 29 November 1997 S. Terblanche 35 36 the Great Fish River on 8 January River estuary on 17 November 10 January 1996 (the Comm­ittee (H.G. Kruger, E. Prins). 36 37 1998 (A.J. Tree). This may well be the 1996 (S. Jex, D. Morran et al.). Most could not reach consensus on this European Shelduck Tadorna 37 38 same bird reported at this site in South African records of Black- latter record). The status of this spe- tadorna. A pair at the O.P.M. 38 39 October 1996 and seen subse- naped Tern are from this locality. cies in southern Mozambique is Prozesky Bird Sanctuary, 39 40 quently on 29 January 1997. 535 Mascarene Martin very poorly known. Mashona Potchefstroom, on 22 and 40 41 277 White-rumped Phedina borbonica. More than 20 Hyliota 23 October 1995 (F. de Beer, 41 42 Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis. birds seen flying over degraded H. australis, with which this species F. Donaldson et al.). This species 42 43 One at the southern end forest 20 km north could easily be confused, is com- breeds at fairly low 43 44 of Langebaan Lagoon on of Dondo, Mozambique on mon in miombo woodland, so latitudes in the western and central 44 45 20 March 1997 (T. Hardaker, C. de 14 July 1997 (A. Marchant great care needs to be taken in Palearctic. Birds undergo some 45 46 Wit). This is the first South African et al.). Up to 100 Mascarene identifying the much rarer Yellow- southward movement at the end of 46 47 record of this species since October Martins had been reported in this breasted Hyliota. the breeding season, with some 47 48 1986, and only the fifth since the area a few days previously (Africa – 626 Olive-tree Warbler reaching as far 48 49 species was added to the national Birds & Birding, Vol. 2, No. 4:14). Hippolais olivetorum. One at south as wetlands along the North 49 50 list based on a specimen found in These sightings Tshokwane, Kruger National Park on African coast. It is a 50 51 December 1979. Three of the five are only the second published 29 November 1994 (G.H. Patten). popular ornamental waterbird. 51 52 records are from within record of this species in One at Seven Hills Farm, near Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula. A 52 53 150 km of Cape Town. southern Africa. Clancey Broederstroom, from 15 to 30 common duck with a very large 53 54 287 Black-tailed Godwit (1971 – Handlist of the Birds of January 1995 (A.R. Jones). Two at Palearctic breeding range, this spe- 54 55 Limosa limosa. Four birds at Southern Mozambique) implies Tshipise, near Messina, on 9 cies occurs regularly as a migrant in 55 56 a pan fed with water from that the bird is commoner February 1997 (C.A. Brewster). All of Africa as far south as central Kenya. 56 57 the Vaalharts irrigation scheme and more widespread in these records were submitted prior A single male was at Diepsloot 57 58 (27°54’S, 24°46’E) on Mozambique than these two to Olive-tree Warbler being removed Nature Reserve on 29 and 30 58 59 16 January 1997 (M. Anderson, E. records suggest. Increased from the national rarities’ list (see November 1997 (N. & R. Ebedes, T. & 59 60 Oosthuysen). By 18 January, num- coverage of Mozambique by bird- Africa – Birds & Birding, Vol. 2, No. 5: L. Metelekamp). Whilst it is 60 61 bers had risen to nine ers will almost certainly prove this 64–67). All future records of this spe- not impossible that a genuine 61 62 (M. Anderson, W. Sinclair), and six, to be the case. cies should be sent to the appropri- vagrant Tufted Duck could reach 62 63 possibly seven 623 Yellow-breasted Hyliota ate local rare birds panel. South Africa, it will always be diffi- 63 birds were still present on Hyliota flavigaster. A male and a 903 Red-throated Pipit cult to separate such vagrants from 25 January (B. Hawthorne). female were seen together in Anthus cervinus. One at the escapees. Until some strong 

68 RARITIES COMMITTEE REPORT 1997 africa – birds & birding 1998 – volume 3, number 5 RARITIES COMMITTEE REPORT 1997 69