Bokmakierie Newsletter of the Witwatersrand Bird Club April 2015 No 242

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BirdLife SOUTH AFRICA Giving Conservation Wings Ernst Retief, Regional Conservation Manager BLSA, received the beaded Bearded Vulture award at the 2015 AGM - photo by Lia Steen

Barbi Forsyth receiving the Diamond award at the AGM- photo by Lia Steen WITWATERSRAND P O Box 641 BIRD CLUB Cresta 2118 Tel: 011 782 7267 ISSUE NO 242 Fax: 086 512 7696 APRIL 2015 Email: [email protected] Web: www.witsbirdclub.org.za

Inside this issue: 30 Birding in the Hawaan Forest by Anthony Cavanagh 2 Letter from the Chair 32 Rare pipits return following rat erad- 3 A Murder of Crows by Arjan Amur ication on South Georgia – Wildlife Extra 5 Pied Crows are Brill by Leslie 34 Birding by calls by Peter and Sandra Cornish Greaves 6 Jy kan help om aasvoëls van uitwiss- 36 Nylsvley 2015 Woodland Census, 16th ing te red deur VulPro Year by Warwick Tarboton 8 An Anecdote on Ringing by Arie Wl- 38 Rarities and unusual sightings report: liams December 2014 compiled by André 8 A Nesting Log in Waverley by Freda Marx Kirschner 9 A Christmas Holiday in Germany by Anthony Cavanagh 2015 Committee: 13 South Africa’s Favourite Bird by Mark Anderson Honorary President Lance Robinson 14 Counting Birds by Rolf Wiesler Chairman Andy Featherstone 16 Letter to the Editor and John Camp- Vice-Chairman Lia Steen bell’s Observations on Birds in 1820 Treasurer Leanne Webster by Desmond Cole Courses Janice Isom 20 Trackers show Vultures on decline by Kamcilla Pillay Conservation Lance Robinson 23 Carrion Crows in Spain thrive when Evening Meetings Lia Steen they have a cuckoo in the nest - Website Thinie v d Merwe Wildlife Extra Programme Ginny Mes 25 Four Tswana bird tales by Des- mond Cole Club Secretary Lauraine Leigh 29 Extracts from the Korsman Conserv- ancy Member’s Newsletter Febru- ary 2015 Cover Photo: Blue Crane Chick by Cover Design: Philip Tarboton Albert Froneman 1 Letter Lia Steen will be this year’s Vice-Chairman. Murrie Slotar was given a warm farewell From at the Marievale outing and braai organised in her honour. As a parting gift The Murrie was given an original painting of a Bokmakierie by Graeme Arnott. We wish Chair her all the best in her new life in Durban. Thank you Barbi Forsyth, Ginny Mes and Dear Members, Lance Robinson for all the hard work in or- Although it seems a long time ago, I trust ganising and catering for the day. everyone had a relaxing break over the As many of you are aware we decided to holiday period and perhaps managed to try a new venue for our evening meetings fit in a little birding activity of some kind. and held our first one at St Stithian’s School. I had family visiting from the UK and we The security and parking are much supiri- spent a very enjoyable week in Cape or to Delta Park which has sadly been a Town in early January with the obligatory little neglected of late. There will be chal- visit to the penguins for the visitors. Whilst at lenges to overcome at St Stithians but I the penguin colony in Betty’s Bay we wit- would like to urge you to come and try nessed the release of a number of young the venue and see what it is like. It was not fledglings that had been rescued from par- ideal changing during the course of our first ents who had stopped feeding them due Programme and this led to some people to the onset of their moult. It seems that going to the wrong venue despite it being when penguins breed late in the season widely publisized in our Weekly Reminder. there is a danger of this happening and For those of you who were affested by this, these young birds would normally die. please accept my apologies. As our 2015 Calendar Competition proved popular and the calendar well received, we have decided to run another competition this year for a 2016 version. So all you budding Albert Fronemans dust of your cameras and start snapping!, Full details of the competition will be circulated shortly. It is always interesting to receive letters and articles from our members and it was The AGM has been and gone and the 2015 a real pleasure to recieve two submissions Committee duly elected. Janice Isom and from one of our elder statesmen, Desmond Thinie van Der Mewre have joined the Cole. A recent new member to the club Committee taking over the courses and is cartoonist Alastair Findlay who has sent website portfolios respectively. Lance Rob- in an example of his humour. Keep them inson was duly elected as Honorary Pres- coming everybody! ident taking over from Murrie Slotar and Andy Featherstone 2 eating their defenceless chicks,” said study A Murder of Crows? co-author Dr Arjun Amar [note 2] from By Dr Arjun Amar the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology [note 3]. “Although this predation is entirely natural, these observations can be upsetting to witness and often leave people wondering if these predators might be reducing bird numbers.” “Our review suggests that we should be cautious before jumping to conclusions over the impacts these species may have. Just because a predator eats something occasionally does not always mean that they have an impact,” Dr Amar said. However, Pied Crow he cautioned that there was no information for the southern hemisphere, where The Pied Crow population has increased songbirds raise fewer chicks each year. in many parts of South Africa, and with The study, the first of its kind, reviewed this increase has come concern over their all published evidence on whether pre- potential impact on other native wildlife. dation by corvids actually reduces the A new study by researchers at the Uni- overall breeding performance of birds or, versity of Cape Town suggests that, more importantly from a conservation at least for bird species, the unpopular perspective, reduces their numbers. Data crow may not be as big a menace as were collated from 42 studies of cor- people think. Their review found that vid predation conducted in Europe and crows – along with their avian cous- North America over the last sixty years. ins the Eurasian Magpie and Northern Not only were corvids unlikely to have Raven – have surprisingly little impact any impact on their potential prey spe- on the abundance of other bird species. cies, if there was an impact it most of- Collectively known as corvids, these ten affected the breeding success of birds are in fact being menaced by the prey species rather than their sub- mankind in the mistaken belief that re- sequent numbers. Half of cases found moving them is good for conservation. that corvids reduced breeding success whereas less than 10% found that they Published this week in the leading ornithological journal Ibis (note 1), the study reduced prey numbers in the long term. found that in the vast majority of cas- The review analysed the impact of six cor- es (82 percent), corvids had no impact vid species on prey species including game- at all on their potential prey species. birds, songbirds, waders, herons, cranes, sea “Many nature lovers have been distressed birds, waterfowl and raptors. The 42 stud- to witness a crow or magpie raiding the ies used in the review included 326 cases of nests of songbirds, stealing their eggs or corvid–bird prey interaction The impacts 3 were determined partly by comparing 3. The Percy FitzPatrick Institute bird counts before and after corvids were for African Ornithology is a re- either removed or their numbers reduced. search institute situated in the Bi- ological Sciences Department of Mistaken assumptions about corvid pre- Cape Town University. It is one of dation were possibly explained by the the world’s leading ornithological birds’ diurnal nature and the fact that research institutes and is a South they are conspicuous nest predators: “Their African Department of Science importance in prey population regula- and Technology-National Research tion is often assumed prior to any assess- Foundation Centre of Excellence. ment of the evidence,” the study warned. 4. Chrissie Madden is the lead au- Chrissie Madden [note 4], the lead author of the paper. The research was thor on the paper, hoped that the re- undertaken as part of her Conser- view would challenge the perception vation Biology Masters research that all corvids were bad, thereby pre- at the University of Cape Town. venting needless killing: “Our results suggest that this is a mistaken belief and • The full paper is freely avail- that generally speaking people would able via open access.The full ref- be wasting their time killing corvids to in- erence for the paper is: Madden, crease the numbers of other bird species”. C.F., Arroyo, B. & Amar, A. (in press) A review of the impact of Editor’s notes: corvids on bird productivity and 1. The Ibis is a peer reviewed sci- abundance, Ibis. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12223 entific journal published by the • http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ British Ornithological Union. It has journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291474-919X/ been published since 1859 and is earlyview one of the highest ranked international Ornithological journals in the world. http://www.bou.org.uk/ibis/ DEADLINE FOR AUGUST 2015 2. Dr Arjun Amar is a Senior Lectur- ISSUE - 1st JULY 2015 er at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute Contributions, addressed to the Editor, and was the lead supervisor of this can be: research project. Dr Amar has previously worked for both the Royal E-mailed to: [email protected] Society for the Protection of Birds Posted to: The Editor, Witwatersrand (UK BirdLife partner), the Game Bird Club, P O Box 641, Cresta, 2118 and Wildlife Conservation Trust (UK NGO), and the US Fish and Wildlife Delivered to: Delta Environmental Service, where he worked on a crit- Centre, Road No 3, Victory Park ically endangered species of crow Faxed to: 086 512 7696 (the Mariana Crow on the Pacific island of Rota, CNMI). http://www. fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/docs/arjun.html

4 Pied Crows are Brill! Text and Photos by Leslie Cornish Ignore the bad press that Pied Crows get in that they eat passerine nestlings…. (well, they do, but only a bit…) They are actually wonderful and exciting to watch. When I was in Pilanesberg in December 2014, I saw a Pied Crow flapping about The young Pied Crow was holding somewhat clumsily fairly low in a tree. I the twig as though it means business. thought it was collecting nesting material straight from the tree, as I have seen before in Pilanesberg. When I looked more closely, I saw it was a young bird, because it still had the pinkish gape, and also some slight mottling in the plumage. Even more interestingly, it had a twig in its bill, and as I waited, it appeared to be using it to probe on the bark. It seemed pretty dexterous in this, although I did not see it actually catch anything. Unfortunately, this did not con- tinue for long, because one of the parents The Pied Crow was trying to using arrived within a couple of minutes, and fed the twig to probe against the bark. it. I lost sight of what happened to the twig, and the young crow was more interested in food. Soon after, the other parent arrived, and also fed the youngster. I want- ed to stay and watch more twig activity, but alas, my radio called me and I had to go and monitor a leopard sighting…. Now was the crow just experimenting and was what I saw just random? Or was it actually using a tool? It certainly looked like a purposeful use of a twig, and since I could only watch for a few minutes, it is probably no surprise I did not see it actually spear a grub. But then, how many people have seen an Osprey or an African Fish Eagle actually catch a fish? Distraction! A parent arrived with food, and the twig was apparently forgotten. the twig to probe against the bark. 5 tal plaas by die kleiner (11-22kV) houtpale Jy kan help om aas- soos T-strukture, ‘Wish-bone’-Strukture voëls van uitwissing en ‘staggered-vertical’ pale. Eskom is ve- ronderstel om die strukture te verander te red as dit blyk dat dit wildlewe doodmaak, maar omdat hierdie kragpale dikwels in Dit is soms moeilik vir ‘n grondeienaar om verafgeleë plekke voorkom word sulke te weet wat hy as individu kan doen om gevalle gewoonlik nie aangemeld nie en ‘n bedreigde spesie te help bewaar. Hier die slagoffers se oorskot verdwyn voordat is ‘n paar aanbevelings wat dalk net die iets agtergekom word. Dit word gesê dat verskil kan maak tussen die uitwissing en jakkalse geleer het om gereëld kragdrade die oorlewing van aasvoëls in Afrika. te patolleer vir karkasse. Grondeienaars Aasvoëls speel ‘n wesenlike rol in die eko- word aangemoedig om hulle oë oop te sisteem – selfs op moderne plase help hulle hou naby kragdrade, selfs al is daar nie om die omgewing skoon te hou, vry van noodwendig aasvoëls in hulle nabye omge- siektes en ‘n broeiplek vir vlieë te ver- wing nie. Personeel kan ook aangemoedig hoed. Terselfdertyd bespaar grondeien- word om bewus te raak van die probleem aars deurdat dit nie nodig is om karkasse en gevalle te rapporteer, wat hulle nor- van vee wat aan siektes of ander oorsake maalweg dalk nie sou doen nie. Om sulke dood is, te laat verwyder nie. Aasvoëls eet gevalle direk by Eskom te rapporteer is kos wat andersins jakkalse en rondloper- dikwels moeilik en oneffektief, maar as die honde na die plaas kon lok; dis dus ‘n wen- inligting deurgestuur word na Vulpro (of wen situasie vir die boer. een van hulle bewaringsvenote), kan hulle die saak deur die regte kanale aanmeld Ongelukkig sal aasvoëls dalk nie baie en positiewe reaksie kry. langer met ons wees nie; die baie bedreig- ings wat hulle deedae in die gesig staar het Botsings met kragdrade word meer tot ‘n drastiese vermindering in hulle getalle algemeen aangetref by groter strukture gelei. en medium- tot hoë-volt drade, veral as daar grond-drade bokant die fase is. In Die grootste probleme is: hoë-risiko gebiede kan Eskom flappe of • Elektrokusie deur kragdrade spirale aan die drade aanbring sodat die • Botsings met kragdrade voëls die drade makliker kan raaksien, • Toevallige vergiftiging maar sulke plekke moet eers geϊdentifi- • Vergiftiging deur stropers seer word. Aasvoëls oorleef dikwels hierdie botsings, maar kan dan nie weer vlieg nie, • Moeti as gevolg van ‘n gebreekte vlerk of ander • Verdrinking in plaasdamme beenbreuk. Hulle kan selfs weke oorleeef Hoe jy kan help: en etlike kilometers stap maar is natuur- lik dan baie blootgestel aan predatore en Raak bewus - dink vooruit aan die sterf uiteindelik as gevolg van hierdie pred- gevolge van handelinge wat skynbaar atore, beserings, en ‘n gebrek aan kos en skadeloos lyk. water. As sulke aasvoëls betyds opgespoor Elektrokusie deur kragdrade vind mees- word, kan hulle soms gerehabiliteer en

6 weer vrygelaat word. Wees dus altyd op is onlangs vervolg as gevolg van sulke op- die uitkyk vir grondgebonde aasvoëls, ve- tredes. Dit sal almal baat as alternatiewe ral as daar onlangs aasvoëls in die omge- metodes gebruik word. wing opgemerk is. Verskaf asb die inligting Opsetlike vergiftiging kom voor as strop- dadelik aan Vulpro sodat hulle kan optree. ers diere moedswillig vergiftig omdat hulle Een van die belangrikste dinge wat ge- nie wil hê hulle bedrywighede moet ower- doen kan word as‘n vee of wild karkas hede se aandag trek omdat aasvoëls na naby ‘n kraglyn ontdek word, is om die karkas gelok word nie. Moeti-handel die karkas sover as moontlik van die veroorsaak dat sulke dooie aasvoëls op kraglyn af te verwyder – ‘n oop stuk moeti-markte verkoop word vir ekstra veld, met ‘n boom naby vir die aasvoëls inkomste. Soms word aasvoëls direk ver- om op te land, is ideal, en so kan die voels gifting vir moeti-handel. veilig te werk gaan om die veld skoon te Omdat aasvoëls elke dag water moet hou. drink soek hulle water na voedings. Hulle Toevallige vergiftiging verdrink dikwels in plaasdamme, veral as damme nie tot bo vol is nie. Dit kan maklik Daar is twee soorte toevallige vergiftiging: verhoed word deur ‘n struktuur in die dam Die een soort word veroorsaak deur te plaas wat as leer gebruik kan word om veeartseny-medikasie soos nie-steriode uit te klim as hulle in die water sou beland. anti-inflammatoriese middels (NSAIDs). Die reservoir kan met ‘n net toegespan Aasvoëls is besonder sensitief vir NSAIDs en word as ‘n ander waterpunt bereikbaar is selfs ‘n klein dosis kan ‘n aasvoëls binne ‘n of verskaf kan word. dag of twee laat doodgaan. Daar is tans Vulpro is reeds vanaf 2007 aktief. Dit is ‘n net een NSAID wat veilig is vir aasvoels, en organisasie wat toegewy is aan die be- dit is dus belangrik om oor te skakel na die waring van aasvoëls in Afrika en oor die veilige middel; Meloxicam ( ook bekend wereld. Vulpro se basis is in Hartbeespoort, as: Metacam, Petcam, Mobic, Coxflam, maar hulle gee aandag aan vergiftigings, Adco-Meloxicam, Arthrocox, Flexocam, kragdraadbeserings en ander probleme Loxiflam, M-cam, Melflam, Sandoz-Meloxi- oor die hele Suid-Afrika. Hulle sorg vir die cam en Zydus Meloxicam), eerder as om te gaan haal, rehabilitasie en vrylating van wonder of ‘n karkas veilig is of nie. Ander meer as vyftig aasvoëls jaarliks en behar- skadelike middels is wild-vang- middels tig die enigste teelprogram van aasvoëls in soos M99, narkotiese middels (IV medika- gevangenskap vir latere vrylating. Hulle sie of gas) en kalmeermiddels wat gebruik doen ook navorsing op wilde aasvoëlbev- word om diere te vervoer olkings en die effek van veeartsenymiddels Die ander soort toevallige vergiftiging is as op sulke populasies. die teiken van die gif probleemdiere soos Meer inligting is beskikbaar op VulPro se jakklase, rondloperhonde, hiënas, ens. is. ‘n webtuiste http://www.vulpro.com Vergiftigde karkas kan meer as 600 aas- voëls op een slag doodmaak. Die gebruik Kontak Walter Neser by 076 593 9849 van gif om probleemdiere uit te roei is on- of email vir Kerri Wolter by kerri.wolter@ wettig in Suid-Afrika en ‘n hele paar boere gmail.com

7 An Anecdote on A Nesting Log in Ringing Waverley By Arie Wlliams By Freda Kirschner I have just spent a wonderful afternoon I received a birthday gift of a Nesting Log with Steve Brains from Namibia, in January, which was put up in a promi- nent position in a Celtis Africana tree facing He was one of the first to teach Lyn and our patio in Waverley. I how to Catch raptors . Here are a few incidents to share with you. A week later, Black collared barbets started pecking away , and it soon became There was a ringer on his own, (a big No obvious that eggs had been laid in the hol- when you catch raptors) and he caught a lowed nest. raptor on the Balchatri , He managed to remove the raptor from the trap and was We worked out the possible time of hatch- busy putting a ring on the Tarsus when, ing, but long before that time, while sitting one of the raptors legs wriggled out of and reading on the patio, I became aware his hand and lodged very firmly through of a large bird flying across the lawn. I his palm . Not wanting to lose the bird, grabbed my binoculars ,and raced across legs in one hand, claw through the other, the lawn to discover an immature African what was he to do, birders have brains, Harrier Hawk in a Camphor tree. It stayed he bent down to the legs and decided to there for a short while before flying off. remove the talon from his hand with his It was obvious that, while I was immersed teeth, the raptor was not going to put up in my book ,it had taken the bird sitting with this and latched onto his nose with his/ in the nesting log. The mate arrived brief- her beak, can you imagine this, nose and ly the following day and then flew away, hands well occupied with the raptor and never to be seen again. imagine eye to eye with an eagle. Happily, now weeks later, Crested Barbets The outcome of the saga was eventually have taken over, and we are hoping for a the talons were released the bird was with happy end, and the appearance of chicks a ring in place, the ringer had a sore nose a soon. sore hand and a battered pride. We were amazed to see the African Har- What we do to capture data for the rier Hawk, having seen one (a mature sciences. adult) only once before in our garden about two years ago. It landed in a tree and almost immediately flew off. Listen to all, plucking a feath- er from every passing goose, but, follow no one absolutely. (Chinese Proverb)

8 where the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas A Christmas Holiday market) stalls invitingly displayed a wide variety of yuletide fare. in Germany Sue and I were spending a week in Ger- Text and Photos by Anthony Ca- many prior to visiting family in England vanagh for Christmas, and were staying at a The temperature was a rather chilly 5dC very comfortable timeshare flat in Ge- and underfoot the fallen leaves covered mund, a small village in the Federal state the path through the forest, creating a of North-Rhine Westphalia and not far multifaceted brown-hued carpet that rus- from the border with Belgium. Our time- tled with our every footstep. The bare oak share unit overlooked green fields where and beech trees, many with lichen on the hikers could often be seen strolling across bark, grew straight and tall and although the rural countryside and further afield densely wooded, the leafless foliage en- the dense woodlands of the Eifel National abled us to see through the forest to the Park stretched away into the far distance. village of Gemund situated a half kilome- Many of the houses in the village were built ter away on the opposite bank of the Urft in a traditional style that resembled English river. We continued our walk through the Tudor and the town square in the centre Eifel National Park for another kilometer of the village had numerous pubs and tav- erns decorated attractively for the festive season. Needless to say we did our best to sample the many different beers and wines that Germany has to offer.

Walking in the Eifel Forest and then made our way down to the Urft, crossing it via one of the numerous Monschau footbridges. A pair of Mallards paddled their way quietly along the stream and Monschau is a quaint medieval town some just ahead of us a Dipper suddenly flew twenty minutes by road from Gemund into sight and promptly dived into the wa- and only five km from the Belgian border. ter. It re-emerged a few seconds later a Sue and I drove there in our hired car, a little further upstream and continued div- VW polo automatic, and parked in one ing and reappearing in its quest to find a of the designated parking areas, as traffic small morsel of food. We walked along the is restricted in the town centre. The nar- riverbank almost to the end of the village row cobble stone streets of the old town and then turned towards the main street were decorated with Christmas lights and 9 lined on both sides by Tudor style three of training selected party officials but is story buildings. The ground floor shops dis- now a conference venue and tourist at- played Christmas fare and German delica- traction. The bullet riddled sculpture of the cies, and the whole scene had a Victorian torchbearer personifying the National So- Dickens feel to it lacking only Tiny Tim. The cialist ideal of the Herrenvolk stands as a Weihnachtsmarkt stalls also added to the painful reminder of that tragic time. festive spirit. The Rur river runs through the town and a hotel and a number of houses are built on an island formed where the river splits near the main street. Some of the houses extend by a meter over the riverbank and look rather precarious but have nevertheless stood firm for a few hundred years. Footbridges connect these dwellings to the town. We left Monschau and drove past a field of wind driven turbines their three bladed props turning slowly but steadily, and made our way Cologne Christmas market back to Gemund. The next day we drove from Gemund The fields adjacent to the forest in front on to the A1 highway (all the roads were of our flat supported a variety of winter excellent) and north for approx. 100km to birdlife and on our numerous walks we Cologne. We followed the road signs to noted flocks of Yellowhammers, Green- the city centre and could see the cathe- finch, Tree Sparrows and Fieldfare, Great dral clearly against the skyline. The Rhine Tits, Blackbirds, Woodpigeon, Jays, Crows river came into view and barges and oth- and Magpies by the dozen. er watercraft plowed their way along its very wide expanse. We were not sure of the exact route to the cathedral but kept it in sight and found our way to an un- derground car park. We walked up the steps to ground level and came out on the square immediately in front of the Cathedral. This imposing structure was for a time the tallest building in the world when it was finally completed in 1880. (In- itial work started in 1248 and was halted in 1473) The Gothic style architecture, with its intricate stonework and multiple arches, is magnificent and the stained glass win- Woodpigeon dows all depicting different biblical scenes are true works of art. Outside the cathe- The Eifel National Park has one of the few dral there were rows of gaily decorated Nazi built complexes still standing. Vogel- Weihnachtsmarkt stalls selling all sorts of sang was built in 1937 for the sole purpose 10 confectioneries, meats, wines, breads and to car traffic and pedestrians strolled un- Christmas gifts. Gluhwein was a popular concerned around the very clean and tidy beverage and helped keep out the cold. pavements. Trees were decorated with The superbly moulded stein ceramic mugs Christmas lights and the city was celebrat- depicting mainly the cathedral and the ing the festive season in typical German Rhine river, came in all sizes and I bought a tradition. The dozens of market stalls were medium sized one to add to my collection. extremely busy, in particular the gluhwein stalls that always had no shortage of pa- The wildlife park at Hellenthal, a town trons. Sue bought stollen the traditional just south of Gemund has a bird of prey Christmas fruitcake and there were plen- compound and offers a daily raptor flight ty of other items that we’d liked to have show. Nothing compares with seeing birds bought but space and weight are always flying free in their natural habitat, however a critical factor when one is flying. the wildlife park does offer sanctuary to injured birds and gives one the opportunity After a few hours strolling around the of seeing close up, European birds that one Weihnachtsmarkt stalls and the nearby may never otherwise see. The Eagle Owl shopping malls we caught the train back and Golden Eagle were two of the birds to the airport for our London flight. that demonstrated their impressive skills Christmas in Germany is a special time and during the flight show. makes for a very memorable experience. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATION Mark Daynes

Dr PF Hawke

Snowy Owl - Hellenthal Bird Christel Hengst Sanctuary David Jenkins Our week in Germany seemed to go by so quickly and the time came for us to leave Jim McLuskie Gemund and drive to Frankfurt about three hours away, for our flight to London. Ginny Mes We arrived at the airport well in time for Val Odendaal our flight and after returning the hired car we put our cases into storage and bought Brian Phillips day pass train tickets at the tourist information counter. The trains run every few Howard Rayner minutes and we boarded one into the Frankfurt city centre. The area was closed Billy van Eck

11 FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE MISSED THE PHOTO- GRAPHS THAT APPEARED IN MARCH 2015 OF A WEASEL THAT HITCHED A RIDE ON THE BACK OF A GREEN WOOD- PECKER IN HORNCHURCH, ESSEX, ENGLAND - TRUE OR PHOTOSHOPPED? - OPINIONS SEEM TO BE DIVIDED Photos by Martin Le-May

12 rot, African Fish-Eagle, Woodland King- South Africa’s fisher and African Penguin. The Marabou Stork, perhaps not our prettiest bird, only Favourite Bird received nine votes. BirdLife South Africa By Mark Anderson shortlisted 52 bird species, of the country’s incredible 846, for this poll. A number of Chief Executive Officer celebrities, sportspeople and organisations campaigned for their favourite birds. Gar- denShop campaigned for the Cape Rob- in-Chat.The chicken received no votes because, in this poll, “chickens did not count”. Regards Mark Anderson Dear friends and colleagues South Africa’s Favourite Bird is the Cape Robin-Chat. During the past three months, in an online poll, almost 10 000 people vot- ed for their favourite bird. 11.5% of the votes were for the Cape Robin-Chat, a popular garden bird. The other favourite birds, in order of popularity, were the Cape Par-

BIRDLIFE SOUTH AFRICA’S “VOTE FOR SOUTH AFRICA’S FAVOURITE BIRD” POLL SPECIES CAMPAIGNER NO OF VOTES % OF VOTES Cape Robin-chat Garden Shop 1,120 11.5% Cape Parrot Cape Parrot Projects 1,026 10.5% African Fish-Eagle John Robbie 866 8.9% Woodland Kingfisher Isak Pretorius & Warwick 821 8.4% Tarboton African Penguin Ofentse Makonya & Pamele 565 5.8% Isdell Secretarybird Chartered Secretaries Southern 521 5.3% Africa Southern Ground- Mabula Ground Hornbill Project 440 4.5% Hornbill African Hoopoe Continental 338 3.5% Wandering Alba- Trevor Hardaker 309 3.2% tross Blue Crane Endangered Wildlife Trust 289 3.0%

Top 10 results only shown, for full results go to BirdLife SA’s website

13 arranged by the Honorary Rangers. We Counting Birds had to count all species seen in a radius of Text by Rolf Wiesler, photos by 50km around Punda Maria. We were di- Karen Wiesler vided into four teams and each team had an expert - Christopher, Allan, Dylan and February seemed to be our month for Lance, to guide the formal activities. counting birds…. The two “special sightings” around which First we attended the 16th Nylsvley Wood- drives were arranged were both successful: land Bird Census, which is sponsored by Wits Bird Club. On Saturday 14 February, 57 birders set out in drizzly weather for the official census which ran from 06h00 until 08h00 along 18 set routs. Strangely it rained on the way to our destinations, stopped during the count and then started raining again after – a perfect example how birders can arrange anything! A total of 135 species was recorded in the two hours, including four species recorded for the first time in 16 years of censusing – • A late afternoon/sunset drive Lanner Falcon, Long-tailed Paradise Why- gave us views of Grey-headed Parrots dah, Cuckoo Finch and Pied Crow. Over and Pennant-winged Nightjars. the same weekend there was a 24 hour count which ran from Friday, 17h00 to Sat- • A very early morning drive took urday, 17h00. A record breaking 219 species us to the Luvuvhu River Bridge for the were listed during this count. dawn chorus and views of a Pel’s Fishing Owl. Although the Pel’s was very obliging The highlight of my weekend was getting and we all got great views, it was sitting a photographic “lifer” in the form of Bush- with the rising sun directly behind him, so veld Pipits. was not as accommodating from a photo- Continuing with the “counting” month, on graphic point of view! 20-22 February we joined members of There were a number of carcases of zebra the Wits Bird Club at Punda Maria, Kru- and impala in the area which attracted a ger National Park for a birding weekend lot of vultures (although they were so full they were just hanging about in the trees). The reason for all the deaths was due to an outbreak of anthrax in the Pafuri area. It was interesting to hear that although anthrax is a serious and highly contagious disease it is not considered all that serious in the greater ecological expanse of the Kru- ger National Park.

14 Some of my highlights included a couple of Arnot’s Chats and a Dickinson’s Kestrel as well as a herd of elephants cavorting in a waterhole.

BEWARE! Please pay your membership fees by Electronic Overall and excellent weekend which was Transfer, or at the local branch of your bank, as very professionally organised and expertly posted cheques are being intercepted in the post catered! and used for Cheque Fraud. If this happens to you your membership payment is lost!

15 but Naureen and I are unfortunately Letter to the Editor no longer able to participate in field It’s always interesting to receive letters from outings nor evening meetings. I have members whether supportive, critical or of a few short Tswana folk-tales about general interest. The follwoing letter was birds, with translations into English, received from Desmond Cole regarding which I could send you if you are in- the late John Bunning and an article which terested. Wishing you everything of the he had sent him for publication whilst John best for yourself and all your assistants was Editor of Bokmakierie. I am repro- for the New Year, ducing both letter and article and would Yours sincerely, welcome answers to Desmond’s question at the end of his letter: Desmond T. Cole Dear Sir, Professor Emeritus I had hoped to write this note some Note from Editor: Lauraine has obtained months ago, but my printer sudden- copies of the Tswana folk-tales which we ly stopped working and it was two have published later in this edition of Bok- months before I was informed that it makierie could not be repaired and that I need- ed to buy a new one. John Campbell’s Ob- Almost a year ago I received Bok- servations on Birds in malderie, 239, April 2014, and noted with sadness the obituary of L. John 1820 Bunning. That reminded me that I had submitted a few articles to John when By Desmond Cole he was Editor, in June 2001. The one Some five years ago I had occasion to read that interested me particularly was the Rev. John Campbell’s two-volume ‘John Campbell’s observations on birds work on his Travels in South Africa, and in 1820’; for some reason John Bunning while doing so extracted his relatively few published only the first page or a little but quite interesting references to birds. He more of the article; the rest has never was a member of the London Missionary appeared. Society and had been requested to journey to ‘Kurreechane’, known to birders I am now offering the article again with as ‘Kurrichane’, which in the Tswana lan- this letter. I would be particularly inter- guage of Botswana, North West Province ested if any readers of Bokmalderie and adjacent areas, is correctly Kaditsh- could suggest what bird is mentioned wene. He was one of the first Europeans in the penultimate paragraph enclosed to visit that area, having been preceded - only by a few big-game hunters. The next 10 [2, 124], commencing ‘Near mid- person of note to visit the area was Dr An- night a bird ...’. drew Smith, some fifteen years later. Incidentally, at age 92+, I read all issues Campbell’s chronicle ofhis travels makes of the Bokmalderie with great interest, very interesting reading, including some 16 English usages which seem today, near- in my former journal. [This refers to his first ly two hundred years later, to be rather expedition to South Africa]. My Hottentot quaint. He had many pertinent comments driver, not having seen such nests before, to offer on all aspects of the country, its jumped from the waggon to examine topography, fauna and flora. He was, for them. He soon returned, and said that one example, one of the first explorers in south- ofthem had eighteen holes by which the ern Africa to note that there were two dis- birds entered. [April 1820, Meribohwhey]’. tinct species of rhinoceros. The large-scale These were no doubt the nests of the So- shooting of animals ‘for the pot’, not least, ciable Weaver, Philetairus socius, R800. of hippos, is, to say the least, horrifying for The place-name ‘Meribohwhey’ almost wildlife-lovers today. However, it is his few certainly refers to the vicinity of Madibogo comments on birds which are of greatest [Tswana: Madibogo], midway between interest to us here. They are listed below Vryburg and Mafikeng on the present-day with relevant volume and page numbers railway-line. for those readers who may care to look up the notes in the original publication. 1. [Vol. 1, p. 8]. ‘It is reported, that in this part of the country the male of certain kinds of birds alone builds the nest. When he has finished the work, it is examined by the female; should it not please her, she tears it to pieces, and her obedient mate builds another. [3 Feb 1820, north of the Hex River Mountains]’. The reference is presumably to Sosiable Weaver - photo by Warwick the Southern Masked Weaver, Ploceus ve- Tarboton latus, R814. To the best of my knowledge, however, it is not the female which tears 4. [1, 150-51]. ‘After breakfast I visited the the unsatisfactory nest to pieces, but the lake, which appeared to be about five male, before he sets about building anoth- or six miles in circumference. The water er. was as salt as the sea.... About a hundred flamingoes stood in the water, near the 2. [1, 16]. ‘Passing a cliff we observed a place where we were, and smaller parties projecting rock with a flat surface; on this of them were scattered here and there, lay what appeared a cart-load of dung over the lake. They had a very singular carelessly tumbled down. My Hottentot appearance, as they remained almost informed me it was a hawk’s nest, and motionless; and, from the great length of pointed out the entrance to it at the their legs, stood high out of the water. Oc- bottom which hung over the cliff. [Gam- casionally they picked up something from ka River]’. Pretty certainly this was not the water, or the bottom, but I could not a ‘hawk’s nest’ but that of a Hamerkop, perceive what it was. They allowed us to Scopus umbretta, R81. approach very near, without discovering 3. [1, 135]. ‘We passed two great nests on a the smallest timidity. [April, Meribohwhey]’. tree similar to that which I have mentioned From this note it is not possible, of course,

17 to determine which species of Flamingo The ‘Moloppo’ River is the Molopo, which Campbell saw there, the Greater, Phoe- constitutes a major part of the southern nicopterus ruber, R96, or the Lesser, Phoe- boundary between Botswana and South niconaias minor, R97. Possibly they were Africa. both there. The salt lake is presumably 8. [2, 95]. ‘... and travelled over red sand, Madibogo Pan, to the west of south from amidst mimosas, on which we observed the present-day Madibogo station. many of those large nests formerly men- 5. [1, 170-71]. ‘In the valley I listened to the tioned, inhabited by a considerable num- singing of a bird, whose notes resembled ber of birds. The smallest of these nests those of the Blackbird in England. This seemed larger than a sack of com. [June was a rare occurrence in southern Africa, 1820, en route to Turreehey]’. Again the where the greatest part of the birds are Social Weaver, Philetairus socius. The ‘mi- not musical, though clothed in the most mosas’ are presumably Camel-thorn trees, splendid attire. [April 1820, Mashow]’. The Acacia erioloba, which are the trees pre- bird may have been a thrush, either the ferred by Social Weavers in that part of Kurrichane [Kaditshwene], Turdus libonya- the country, and not Acacia karoo, which na , R576, or the Olive, Turdus olivaceus, are often misnamed ‘mimosa’ even today. R577. I have not been able to identify the I have not been able to identify the place- place-name ‘Mashow’; it was, presumably, name ‘Turreehey’. to the north-east ofMadibogo. 9. [2, 96]. ‘... ascending a long rise between 6. [1, 226]. ‘This morning only we learned hills, beautified by many mimosa and stop- that the name of the city was Kurreechane, a-while thorn trees. I had only observed and that Marootzee is the name of the the latter as bushes before, but here they nation, not ofthe town. [5 May 1820, hav- were as large as the mimosa.... Not having arrived 4 May]’. Campbell estimated ing, on my former journey, examined the the population of the ‘city ofKurreechane’ inside of any ofthe large birds’ nests, and [Tswana: Kaditshwene] to be between an opportunity of doing so occurring, we fifteen and twenty thousand; the people halted a short time for the purpose. We cut there, the ‘Marootzee’, are the Bahurutshe, down the limb of a tree on which one of traditionally and ritually regarded as the those nests was built. It was not suspended ‘senior tribe’ of the Tswana people. from the branch, but firmly attached to it. The nest was about the size of a hogshead, 7. [1, 282]. ‘There is a brown bird, about the composed of strong, coarse straw, regular- size of a thrush, called the rhinoceros’ bird, ly thatched, the ends of the straw pointing from its perching upon those animals and downwards, so that no rain could possibly picking off the bush-lice which fix on him, enter. It had eight holes in the bottom for and from which he has no means to ex- admitting the birds; these did not lead to tricate himself. This little creature performs one general chamber in the middle, but the same kind service to the elephant. each led to a distinct apartment which had [May 1820, near the Moloppo River]’. One no communication with the others. They cannot be sure which species of Oxpecker were all lined with the soft downy heads of Campbell saw; probably it was the Red- a particular species of grass well suited for billed, Buphagus erythrorhynchus, R772. the purpose. On dividing the nest across, 18 the large mass above was found to be a the Common [formerly: Kurrichane] But- solid body of straw, designed probably to tonquail, Turnix sylvatica , R205, the Kur- prevent the admission of serpents or other richane Thrush, Turdus libonyana, R576, noxious animals. [25 June 1820, approach- and the Rattling cisticola, Cisticola chinia- ing Turreehey]’. Campbell was clearly na, R672, which are superbly depicted in fascinated by the apartment-house nests colour in his Illustrations of the Zoology of of the Sociable Weavers - and who isn’t? South Africa. The specific name of the Cis- Unfortunately the ‘admission of serpents’ is ticola, chiniana, is derived from the name not always prevented by the design of the of the Tswenyane Hill, near Kaditshwene. nests! The ‘stop-a-while thorn trees’ were By this time, alas, the prosperous ‘city of no doubt Buffalo-thorn, Ziziphus mucro- Kurreechane’ and its environs had been nata, vide the Afrikaans common name sacked and pillaged by envious neigh- ‘Wag-’n-bietjie’. bouring Tswana tribes, and other invaders from more distant areas to the south and southeast.

References: Boeyens, J.C.A. & D.T. Cole. 1995. Kadit- shwene: What’s in a name? Nomina africana, 9 (1) 1-40. [This contains a very extensive bibliography]. Sosiable Weaver Nest - photo by War- John Campbell. 1822. Travels in South Af- wick Tarboton rica, undertaken at the request of the London Missionary Society; being a nar- 10. [2, 124]. ‘Near midnight a bird alighted rative of a second journey in the interior on a tree opposite the tent, whose cry so of that country. 2 vols. London: Francis much resembled the barking of a dog, Westley. that even the dogs themselves seemed deceived by it, and joined in full chorus. Smith, Andrew. 1849. Illustrations of the [30 June 1820, near Chopo, north of River zoology of South Africa: Aves. London: Nokannan & Krooman]’. I am unable to Smith, Elder & Co. identify this, as a night bird in mid-winter, and should be grateful for suggestions. The place-name ‘Chopo’ does not appear on PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR any map available to me, nor is it possi- WEBSITE ADDRESS IS: ble to identify ‘Nokannan’ with any cer- tainty, but they were possibly somewhere www.witsbirdclub.org.za between Vryburg and ‘Krooman’, that is, Kuruman [Tswana: Kudumane]. AND THE EMAIL ADDRESS IS: Some fifteen years after John Campbell [email protected] visited Kaditshwene, Dr Andrew Smith travelled in that area and collected and named a number of birds. These included 19 Town’s Percy FitzPatrick Institute of Afri- Trackers show can Ornithology, Dr Sonja Krüger, Dr Rob- vultures on decline ert Simmons, and Dr Arjun Amar examined the trend relating to the ‘Drakensberg By Kamcilla Pillay Bone-Breaker’. Note: This article is reproduced by kind permission of the Daily News The birds earned the nickname because of their habit of dropping bones from a height to feed off the marrow inside. Amar said that satellite trackers had been attached to 18 Bearded Vultures, revealing Using aerospace technology to look at that collisions with power lines and poison- dwindling bearded vulture populations ing were two major vulture hazards, kill- from afar has offered fresh perspectives on ing half of the birds in the satellite tracking the contribution of human beings to the survey. species’ steep decline. “Once widespread throughout much of In an academic paper titled ‘Anthropo- Southern Africa, the species is now critical- genic activities influence the abandonment ly endangered, with a nearly 50 per cent of Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barba- reduction in nesting sites since the 1960s. tus) territories in southern Africa’ written (They are) now restricted to the Drakens- by bird experts at the University of Cape berg mountains in Lesotho.

Human factors have been pegged as the most harmful to the critically endangered Bearded Vulture - photo by Sonja Krüger 20 Photo by Francesco Veronesi “But even in these isolated mountains the tus)’, also authored by Krüger, Amar and population continues to decline, due to Dr Timothy Reid, data from the satellite human encroachment on nesting sites and trackers backed up the findings made in feeding territory.” the other paper. Results, they said, also suggested that food “The trackers... provided critical informa- abundance might influence the bird’s over- tion on movement patterns and mortality. all distribution, and that supplementary “Tagging enabled dead birds to be re- vulture-feeding schemes might be benefi- covered quickly and their cause of death cial. determined... The tracking data also pro- The study concluded: “We recommend vided new information about the birds’ that mitigation of existing power lines, ranging behaviour.” stricter scrutiny of development proposals, They said some young non-breeding birds and proactive engagement with develop- patrolled an area the size of Denmark, ers to influence the placement of structures and the average adult bird had a home is essential within the home range of a ter- range of about 286km2. ritorial pair.” “The range was much smaller for breeding In a second study conducted between adults, at just 95km2.” 2007 and 2014, titled ‘Differential Range Use between Age Classes of Southern Af- Researchers used meat lures to capture rican Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barba- the birds, which were then each fitted with 21 a 70g solar-powered tracker designed rates of the vultures in South Africa.” to relay detailed information every hour She said at the time that vultures played between 5am and 8pm, including GPS an important role in ecology, the economy co-ordinates and flight speed. and in culture. “The more they travel, the more they risk “They are scavengers, and by disposing colliding with power lines or falling prey to of waste and carcasses they help con- poisoning,” said Amar. trol populations of other disease-carrying Plans for multiple wind farms in and scavengers and pests. In this way they help around the highland regions of Lesotho, he protect human health, as well as that of explained, would likely place even more domesticated animals and wildlife.” pressure on this vulnerable species, and might be “the final nail” in this species’ coffin. Last year, Birdlife South Africa, custodian WEBSITE of the International Union for Conservation We apolgize for the temporary of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened unavailability of the Wits Bird Club Bird Species, globally uplisted the species website. Unfortunately due to a from the ‘Least Concern’ category to ‘Near maliceous hacking of the site we are Threatened’. having to rebuild it. The organisation said there were only 400 individuals and 100 breeding pairs remain- ing in the wild in South Africa (Free State, KZN and the Eastern Cape) and Lesotho TONY NEWEY (mainly restricted to the escarpment and Lesotho highlands). We recently received the news that Tony Newey passed away over the Dr Hanneline Smit-Robinson, terrestrial Christmas period. Many of us re- bird manager at the organisation, said member him with great fondness as South Africa and Lesotho shared the re- being one of the colourful charac- sponsibility of safeguarding the populations ters of Wits Bird Club. He had been of Bearded Vultures in the Lesotho High- living at Marloth Park near the lands and the surrounding escarpment of Kruger Park for some time and had South Africa. not been an active member of WBC “Birds do not observe political boundaries, for quite a few years. If anybody and the populations span South Africa and has a photograph or two of Tony Lesotho. Significant impacts on the birds in taken over the years and / or would one country will spill over to its neighbour. like to relate any stories about the We therefore believe that the project has old days with Tony, please send the a responsibility to respond to the threat information to Lauraine, or directly that the proposed Letseng Wind Farm to the Editor, and we will have a poses to populations of Bearded Vultures, page or two in his honour in the as further declines of birds in Lesotho will August Bokmakierie. severely impact the viability and survival 22 olid in Spain, who led a study into the pros Carrion Crows in and cons associated with this particular Spain thrive when parasitic relationship. they have a cuckoo in Bolopo’s team filmed seven parasitised crow nests and six uninvaded ones in the nest Northern Spain from the 2004 to the 2007 breeding seasons.

A study in Spain has uncovered an interesting relationship between Carrion Crows and Great Spotted Cuckoos, reports Springer’s journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Carrion Crow chicks derive benefits When the cuckoos lay up to three eggs in from having to share their nest, re- the nests of the larger crows, the chicks of searchers have found both species are often raised together suc- cessfully, with the young crows ultimately They observed how intensely the various growing bigger than the cuckoos. chicks begged for food, and how adult Carrion Crows responded to these hunger So it’s not so bad for crow chicks as it can cries when deciding which chick to feed be for other species of birds who find their first. nests taken over by a cuckoo youngster. The sampled parasitised nests contained When our Common Cuckoos utilise the between one to five crow chicks, as well as nests of Reed Warblers, the growing cuck- one cuckoo chick. oo chick will push other eggs and chicks out of the nest. The observations revealed that the cuckoo chicks raised alongside the crow chicks When Great Spotted Cuckoos parasitise were not able to monopolise the food be- and take over Magpie nests, they do not ing brought to the nest. evict the host’s young from the nest. They do, however, succeed in out-competing the It appears that crow caregivers prefer to magpie chicks for food, which often leads feed crow nestlings rather than cuckoo to the latter’s death. nestlings. Carrion Crow chicks, by contrast, sit back The fact that cuckoo chicks begged more and wait for food to arrive while the cuck- intensely than crow chicks balanced mat- oo chick does all the begging, discovered ters out so that the young ones of each Diana Bolopo of the University of Vallad- species ultimately received an equal amount of food. 23 “Despite a higher begging intensity, Great Spotted Cuckoos do not out-compete bigger Carrion Crow nestlings,” says Bolopo. She speculates that the cuckoo’s begging strategies are part of how it has evolved and adapted to a parasitic life in which it has to compete with either similar or larger-sized nest mates. “It might actually be advantageous to crow chicks to share the nest with a cuckoo, because the crow chicks do not have to waste so much energy on begging intensely for food on their own.”

24 maces, etc., which unfortunately cannot be Four Tswana bird reflected in writing. Needless to say, much tales of the richness of expression of the original Tswana versions is lost in the translations. By Desmond Cole 1. Tôntôbane, King of the birds The Tswana people have a wealth of Bogologolo tala, dinônyane disantse folktales, most of them relating to wild ani- dibua .... A very very long time ago, mals. The essential themes for most of these when the birds still spoke, a dispute stories can be traced throughout sub-Sa- arose in the kingdom of the birds haran Africa and perhaps even further about who should be their King.There afield. They provided the basis for Aesop’s was much discussion in the tribal meet- fables, i.e. the tales of ‘Aethiopia’, which ing-place (kgotla) as to how the King were disseminated all over Europe. Much should be chosen. Eventually it was later they were taken across the Atlantic agreed that the one who could fly the by the slaves, whose stories of’Brer Rabbit’ highest should be made King. On the and ‘Brer Wolf (mmutla lepholwje, ‘the appointed day everyone took off into hare and the jackal’) were so thoroughly the air. Of course, poor old Ntšhe, the exploited and expanded upon and re- Ostrich, who had submitted a claim produced in ‘glorious technicolor’ by Walt on the grounds of his size, was elimi- Disney. All these tales were conveyed from nated immediately, and so were all his person to person and from generation to terrestrial kinsmen like Tlhangwê, the generation by word of mouth, so they Secretary Bird, Kgôri, the Kori Bustard. vary considerably in detail from one nar- Kgaka, the Guineafowl, Tlatlagwê, the rator to another. The first of the stories be- Northern Black Korhaan, and many low I heard as a child, and in that version others. LeJcôlôlwane, the White Stork it was on the back of the Vulture, Lenông, acquitted himself well, so did Lenông, that Tôntôbane rode but I was delighted the Vulture, Ntsu, the Eagle, and many to have the version involving the Bateleur of their kinsmen. presented to me several years ago while researching bird names. Eventually it was Makgoane (from: -goa ‘shout’), the Bateleur, who re- The second tale is of relatively recent origin, mained in the sky, high above all the for two of the three participants have not others. Makgoane, is of course, the been in the Tswana area for much more Shouter, the one whose voice is heard than a hundred years, nor were trading so clearly high in the sky, and his aero- stores and the ‘shilling’ known before that. batic expertise is known to everyone. The last two, again, are of indeterminate, When he saw that there was no one but no doubt ancient origin -possibly as above him or even at the same Jevel, much as a thousand years or more. Tradi- he exerted himself to still greater efforts tionally these tales were narrated around and soared higher, to ensure that there the fireside, in the evenings, with all sorts of could be no doubt whatsoever about vocal nuances and physical sound effects, his victory. At last he reached his peak band clapping, finger snapping, facial gri- and called loudly to all those below,

25 ‘Here I am, I am King!’ At that moment characterized by distinctive appear- little Tôntôbane, the Black -chested ance, patterns of behaviour and, per- Prinia, who had sneaked into and haps more significantly, by their calls. been comfortably nestled in the feath- The Bateleur has a number of names. ers on Makgoane’s back, took off into One of them, Kgôsi yamanông, ‘King of the air and flew up, far above Mak- the vultures’ (which he shares with the goane, who was by that time quite Lappet-faced Vulture), reflects his rep- exhausted. Up and up Tôntôbane flew, utation for robbing vultures or usually until he was well above Ma.kgoane, being the first to find a dead animal. then he annqunced his victory to all His taste for carrion leads, incidental- those below him. And so it was that ly, to his being regarded as a vulture Tôntôbane, the smallest.of the birds, rather than as an eagle. Having found became their King and he remains so a dead animal, he is reputed first to to this day. remove the eyes, hence kgônyaitlhô‘ pluck out eye’, a name attributed also to the Egyptian Vulture. However, the most widespread names are probably pêtlêkê, referring to the magnificent sweep of his wings (from: -pêtlêka ‘spread out’), as he soars majestically in the Kalahari skies, and makgoane (from: -goa ‘shout, call loudly’), referring to his loud, challenging call. 2. Nearly all warblers, including cistico- Black-chested Prinia - photo by War- las and prinias, are lumped together in wick Tarboton Tswana taxonomy. The few exceptions include the Rattling Cisticola and the NOTES: 1. In Tswana. ornithological tax- Black-chested Prinia. The former has onomy, a distinction is made between several names referring to his abusive three majoi groups of raptors, of which scolding of any intruder into his terri- two concern us here: /enông, ‘vulture’ tory, kgwêrêkgwêtlhane (little scolder), and ntsu or ntswi ‘eagle’. However, perhaps being the most widely used. very few species within these groups The Black-chested Prinia also has a are consistently identified by specific number of names, including Kgôsi yad- names. A few may be distinguished, inônyane ‘King of the birds’, but he is sometimes, by descriptive names, e.g. probably best known as tôntôbane. disôane ‘white one’, i.e. Cape Griffon; / enông lêletuba ‘dun vulture’, i.e. White- 2. The Muscovy Duck, the Rooster and backed Vulture; and ntsu êphatshwa the Turkey ‘black-and-white eagle’, i.e. Verreaux’s Many years ago, when money was still Eagle. However, two eagles, the Fish money, and one could hear it ring if Eagle and the Bateleur, are consistently one dropped a coin on the floor, Pidi- recognized by specific names. Both are pidi, the Muscovy Duck, Mokoko, the 26 Rooster, and Kalakunu (from Afrikaans (mabêlê), in the cultivated fields. Much ‘kalkoen’), the Turkey, decided to take time must be spent by the boleti, the a walk in the country. Suddenly, look, bird-scarers, trying to reduce the dep- there was a shilling piece lying in the redation of the ripening sorghum by road! They debated as to what they shouting and banging tin cans and should do with it; soon it was decid- drums. Tsôkwane, however, bas lit- ed that one of them should go to the tle respect, in fact only contempt, for trading store some distance away and the bird-scarers. As he struts up and buy some mealies for their lunch. It down he bows, coos and boasts to his was agreed that Mokoko, the Rooster, mate, Mo/eti kemotshwara kakobô .... should go to do the shopping, so off he Mo/eti kemotshwara kakobô ...... The went at a rapid trot. bird-scarer, I grab her by her blanket ...... The bird-scarer, I grab her by her Having bought the mealies, Mokoko blanket ...... ’ found himself a quiet comer, carefully opened the packet and conswned well over half the contents; then he sealed it carefully again before trot- ting off to rejoin his companions. On his arrival they viewed hls purchase with consternation and incredulity. Ha ha ha ha ...! said Pidipidi, the Muscovy Duck, in a hoarse whisper of shock and amazement. Kalakunu, the Turkey, strutted round and roWld the packet Laughing Dove - photo by Warwick of mealies, contemptuously dragging Tarboton the tip of one wing along the ground, and calling out loudly, KaModimo gas- NOTE: The name Tsôkwane, derived emmidi washêlêng-ô! ‘By God, this is from letsôku, ‘red ochre’, refers to the not a shilling’s worth of mealies!’ Ka- reddish blush on the Laughing Dove’s Modimo gasemmidi washêlêng-ô! But back and breast Mokoko, the Rooster, was quick to re- 4. The renowned case of Rex vs Tlatlag- spond, clapping his wings to demand wê attention and calling in his high-pitched voice: Mme kana mmidi otu...ru! ‘But Bogo/ogo/o tala, majwê asantse ale for goodness sake mealies are expe.. mêtsi, dimônyane disantse dibua ...... nsive!’ Mme kana mmidi otu...ru! A very, very long time ago, when the rocks were still soft and the birds could 3. Tsôkwane, the Laughing Dove still speak, there was a great furore in As everyone knows, Tsôkwane, the the land of King Kgôri, the Kori Bustard. Laughing Dove, and other mem- He was, of course, the paramount King bers of the dove family, plus those of of all the terrestrial birds, a wealthy the weaver and sparrow families, are tribe of pastoralists who owned vast the greatest thieves of sorghum grain tracts of grazing land. They included

27 Tlatlagwê, the Northern Black Ko- boundaries.’ By that time, Tlatlagwê rhaan, Kegamakalo, the White bellied was very excited and rather angry. Korhaan, Molcgwêba, the Red-crested A! he shouted again as he leapt up Korhaan, Mongwangwa, the Spot- and started flying around a large tract ted Thick-knee, Lethêêtsane, the of country, Kenê kaya kwa karêka Crowned Lapwing, Segolagolane, the kwa, kaba kaya kakwa, karêka kwa, Double-banded Courser, Sebotha, kaba katla kafa, karêka fa, gapê kat- the Lark, Lekutukubii, the Namaq- la kafa, karêka fa, karêka kwa, karê- ua Sandgrouse, Mokgwarakgwara, ka .kwa ...... , lekafa ...... lekafa ...... lefa Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Lephurrwane, ...... lefa ...... lefa ...... ‘I went there and I the Kurrichane Buttonquail, and many bought there, then I went over there others. and bought there, then I came around King Kgôri charged Tlatlagwê with here and I bought here, furthermore I trespassing on his land. He had spoken came around here and bought here, to Tiatlagwê and warned him, but to and bought there, and I bought there, no avail, and so now all the tribesmen ...... and around here ...... and around were there, foregathered in the trib- here ...... and here ...... and here ...... al meeting place (kgotla). King Kgôri and here ...... ’ presented his case while the assembled Now Kgôri was a very wise old King, multitude listened with shock and dis- and also very much impressed by the approval. Eventually the King com- way in which Tlatlagwê had present- pleted his statement and Tlatlagwê ed his case. So he appointed Tiatlagwê was caJled upon to present his defence. henceforth to be the guardian of all He jumped up onto a termite mound, his lands, with the instruction that he the better to be seen and heard. ‘A!’ should carry out regular inspections. he exclaimed, ‘I bought all that land! And so it is that to this day, from early It is mine!’ morning until after sunset, you will see There were murmurs and gasps of Tlatlagwê fly up periodically to inspect amazement from the assembly; Mok- King Kgôri’s lands, calling out loudly, gwêba, the Red-aested Korhaan, shot Kenê kaya kwa karêka kwa, kaba up into the air and came tumbling kaya kakwa, karêka kwa, kaba kat- back to earth, whistling repeatedly la kafa, karêka fa, gapê katla kafa, to express his surprise. Over and over karêka fa, karêka kwa, karêka .kwa again Mongwangwa, the Thick-knee, ...... , lekafa ...... lekafa ...... lefa ...... lefa lamented this display of arrogance ...... lefa ...... with mournful whistles, while Kegam- ak:alo, the White-bellied Korhaan, was so shocked that he could only reiter- God gives every bird his ate hoarsely, A kgakgamatsô! A kga- worm, but he does not throw kgê! A kgakgê! ..... ‘What an amazing it into the nest. (Swedish thing! Incredible! Incredible! ...... ’ ‘Well’, Proverb) said King Kgôri craftily, ‘if you bought the land you had better show us its 28 Special sightings included a Little Bittern Extracts from the and two African Jacanas. Korsman Conservan- Stevie Sea-gull cy Member’s News- Patrick and Sasha Harvey found a fuffy letter February 2015 ball of feathers on a busy road, saved it Note: This article is reproduced by kind from the traffc, and hand-reared the permission of the Pauline Kaufmann, Na- Grey-headed gull for three months. When tional Sectretary, National Association of Stevie’s squawking grew in intensity they Conservancies South Africa contacted us to ask if he/she could join Korsman’s gull community. At the water’s edge, Stevie took the frst few faps to a new phase of life. Curious gulls few around us at the release. Patrick returned the next day to check on Stevie, who although in the company of other gulls, recognised him with a SQUAWK! which brought a lump to Pat- rick’s throat. CWAC Not a misspelled duck noise! CWAC is a Co- ordinated Waterbird count, an on- going worldwide programme to keep track of a specifc list of waterbird species. A count should be accomplished twice a year at least, in summer and winter. On 21 February, Werner van Goethem assisted by Ken Malherbe counted 28 species and 844 birds from various vantage points around the Sanctuary, although it is very diffcult to estimate how many birds there are on the central reed island.

29 Birding in the landward side. Sue and I had booked a weeks timeshare Hawaan Forest at Breakers in Umhlanga Rocks on the Text and Photos by Anthony Ca- KZN north coast, primarily to see family vanagh and friends still living in the Durban area. Sadly those numbers had dwindled over the years due to migration to pastures greener. Nevertheless Breakers resort is superb and the view from our apartment of palm trees surrounding the gleaming blue swimming pool with the ocean in the background, reminded us of previous holi- days spent in the Indian Ocean islands. The paved promenade is ideal for jogging or for just taking a leisurely stroll, and on one of our daily 5km jogs past the lighthouse Breakers Pool Area and Hawaan Forest and back, we observed a school of dol- phins breaking the surface of the waves in The start of the trail led us under the can- their familiar arched swimming style. opy of the dune forest and onto the primary dune where the natural vegetation We re-entered the forest and walked surrounded us all sides. The sound of the slowly along the trail. Forest birding is waves could still be heard crashing onto the difficult at the best of times and one is shoreline only a few meters away but the more likely to hear a bird before one dense foliage allowed only glimpses of the sees it. Calls heard almost immediately sparkling blue waters of the Indian Ocean. were the pop-pop-pop-pop of the Yel- The humidity level, already rather un- low-rumped Tinkerbird, the bleating of comfortable, rose a few percentage points higher as we made our way slowly along the trail. We descended to the first boardwalk across the southern most reaches of the Umhlanga lagoon and scanned for any movement. A Wooly necked Stork had perched in the highest point of the canopy and could be seen clearly against the cloudless sky, while a Malachite kingfisher flew rapidly across the reed beds and settled quickly onto a new vantage point. Little Bee-eaters hawked for flying insects, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird returning a few seconds later to the same tree branch. We walked over the wooden the Green-backed Cameroptera, and the boards and crossed the still waters of the unmistakable calls of the Sombre and Yel- lagoon before re-entering the forest on the low-bellied Greenbuls. A slight rustle in the leaf litter a few metres away revealed a 30 waters. We spotted a Giant Kingfisher in the overhanging trees and a juvenile Green-backed Heron on the mud flats in its typical hunched stance. A Purple-crested Turaco uttered its raucous call and the Spectacled weaver’s descending five-note call could often be heard. Across the lo- goon and back on the primary dune one climbs up to a more elevated position and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird consequently we had excellent sightings of Southern Boubou, Black Flycatcher, Kur- pair of Crested Guineafowl, and we also richane Thrush, Puffback, Bronze Manni- caught sight of a Red-capped Robin-chat, kin, and the Golden-rumped Tinkerbird. more familiar to me as the Natal Robin. The northernmost section of the trail ends One of the highlights for us was the sighting on the beach adjacent to the mouth of of a pair of Black-throated Wattle-eyes the lagoon. On the forest fringes and from which we’d seen only once before. A Red the beach we had excellent sightings of the Duiker came into view and froze for a Grey Sunbird. Sue and I strolled through few seconds on catching sight of us, before the forest a number of times and saw darting off into the tangled undergrowth. something new on each occasion, and The trail led back to the lagoon and onto each time admiring the flora and fauna of the northern boardwalk of some sixty me- these unique and interesting few kilometers stretching across the tranquil lagoon ters of the KZN coast. No one is sure how the Hawaan forest ac- quired its name but it is known that the forest grows on a dune that dates back over 18,000 years. It is the remnant of a much larger dry coastal dune forest and unfortunately the last of its kind. It is under the guardianship of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of S.A. (WESSA) but the land is owned by the Tongaat Hulett Primary Dune Hawaan Forest Group.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Bokmakierie is published three times annually. Contributions may be in Afrikaans or Eng- lish. English names of birds should be those used in Roberts VII. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Editor, Club, the Committee, Members or those of BirdLife South Africa. The Editors reserve the right to edit articles as necessary. This issue of Bokmakierie has been produced and edited by Andy Featherstone and Lance Robinson.

31 nest of five South Georgia Pipit chicks had Rare pipits return fol- been found in an area previously overrun lowing rat eradication by rats. The South Georgia Pipit is only found on on South Georgia South Georgia and its numbers had been decimated by the invasive rat populations on the island. Its survival as a species was under threat before the eradication work began. The discovery of the pipit nest was made at Schlieper Bay near the western end of the island by a former member of the rat eradication team, Sally Poncet, an expert on South Georgia’s wildlife and this year a recipient of the Polar Medal in recognition of service to the United Kingdom in the field of polar research. Poncet was a member of what has been nicknamed Team Rat during its Phase 1 operations. She discovered the nest while on a Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris expedition (in collaboration with the Government of South Georgia) to survey Wandering Al- batrosses. Alison Neil, Chief Executive of South Geor- gia Heritage Trust says, “The discovery of pipit chicks is thrilling news and shows the rapid beneficial effect of the Habitat Res- toration Project on this threatened species. The rare South Georgia Pipit is “People had spotted pipits exhibiting making a comeback - photo by Ingo Arndt breeding behaviour following the baiting work, but this is the first firm proof that The world’s most southerly song bird, the they are nesting in areas from which they South Georgia Pipit, is fighting back from were previously excluded by rodents. extinction thanks to work carried out by “Pipits cannot breed when rats are pres- an 18-strong international team to eradi- ent, so this discovery is confirmation that cate rats from its island home in Antarctica. birds are quickly responding to their ab- Just as the final phase of the world’s largest sence. rodent eradication project was being un- “We are confident that when South Geor- dertaken by UK charity, the South Georgia gia is once again free of rodents, it will Heritage Trust (SGHT), news came that a 32 regain its former status as home to the chicks of many of the native birds. greatest concentration of seabirds in the The aim of SGHT’s project is to eradicate world.” these invasive rodents and allow millions of South Georgia is one of the world’s last birds to reclaim their ancestral home. great wilderness areas and amongst the A successful trial phase in 2011 was followed wildlife on the island are 90 per cent of by a second phase conducted in 2013. The the world’s Antarctic fur seals and half the results have been signs of rodents having world’s elephant seals. been eliminated rats from almost two- Four species of penguin nest on the is- thirds of South Georgia. land, including King Penguins with around Phase 3 began on 18 January. The chal- 400,000 breeding pairs. The island’s lenge is to complete the baiting of the en- birdlife includes albatross, skuas and pet- tire island during the brief sub-Antarctic rels, as well as the endemic South Georgia summer months and this will be followed Pipit, and the South Georgia Pintail. by two further years of monitoring by the However, although the wildlife is impres- South Georgia Heritage Trust and the sive, it is a shadow of the numbers Captain South Georgia Government. Cook encountered when he discovered Assuming no signs of rodents have been and named South Georgia in 1775. discovered by 2017, South Georgia will be Rats and mice, arriving in the ships of seal- declared free of rodents for the first time ers and whalers, have spread over much since humans first came to the island. of the island, predating on the eggs and

33 Many of the more experienced birders will Birding by calls not bother to look for Black-collared or By Peter and Sandra Greaves Crested Barbet as we know the call and have seen and heard them so often that On a recent Sunday morning a walk we tick the bird without searching too through Walter Sisulu seemed a good idea hard for it. However the trend to use bird so my wife and I put our Bins around our calls as a cell phone notification is becoming necks and off we went. An excellent and very common and I no longer simply tick beautiful morning even if rather quiet, due Red-chested Cuckoo when I hear it as it perhaps to the rain of the previous night could easily be a phone. This reminds me of rather than to the often large number the tale of Mr Lydekker who wrote to the of visitors. Not a lot of birds to be seen or Times of England over 100 years ago to heard until we walked to the bird hide advise that he had heard a Cuckoo calling where there was quite a bit of action. San- in London in February and claimed that dra picked up a lifer to creep ever closer to Yardley’s “Birds of Britain” was wrong in its 400 in Southern Africa and I picked up a statement that the Cuckoo does not ar- new species for my Walter Sisulu list. rive in England until late April. When he re- But the reason for the title is two bird calls canted a few days later with the acknowl- we heard while in the vicinity of the hide. I edgment that he had heard a bricklayer’s was talking to a young boy of 14 who is just assistant imitating the call he started a starting his career as a birder with 165 spe- tradition which survives today of writing to cies but is limited to the local area around the Times to record the earliest call of the Johannesburg as his parents are not keen Common /European Cuckoo in England. to take him to Marievale and Nylsvlei. This raises a scenario in which the established birders amongst us with cars can help the youngsters by taking them with us when we go to the not so local spots. The BIG question for Wits Bird Club is “HOW do we get to contact these young people and invite them to join us when their parents are not interested in birding and certainly will not take the youngsters to the bird club meetings?” A thought well worth the Common Cuckoo - photo by Warwick attention of all BIRD club committees. We Tarboton are always complaining about lack of But back again to my story. On this Sunday youngsters in our clubs but here is a classic morning in mid March I heard a Red-chest- case of a very keen youngster who is lim- ed Cuckoo and the young lad rushed off ited to his local patch and is desperate to to see it but I said to him “I doubt it as most be old enough to drive! Surely we can help have left already and it is probably a cell through schools and their environmental phone ringtone.” He returned 2 minutes clubs! later to say he had seen the bird fly. We But back to the question of bird calls. then met a couple who reckoned they

34 had just heard a Red-eyed Bulbul calling bird has never been recorded at Walter to which I again expressed doubt and the Sisulu. couple produced the new book with calls. So the debate on counting birds purely on The map in the guide book clearly shows the call being heard rears its head again. the bird occurring in the area and the cou- When you hear and want to tick a bird ple were adamant the call sounded like you must be very sure of your calls and the book. A quick check on BIRP shows be sure that nobody in the vicinity is using the bird to have been seen once in May either the field guide or a bird calls mp3 and once in September so although pos- player to call up a bird or just checking sible not to be ticked on call alone. A few to see if the call sounds about right. And minutes later we heard a loud and clear make sure nobody has just answered their African Fish Eagle calling and promptly re- phone! alised it was the field guide with calls as this

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35 all species (9 versus an average of 35) is a Nylsvley 2015 Wood- reflection of this. However, if quelea num- land Census, 16th bers are excluded, this year achieved the highest number of birds counted (3256) in Year 16 years. As usual, numbers in the Acacia (1311 birds, 93 species) were highest, then By Warwick Tarboton Combretum (1123/104 species), then Burkea The 16th annual census of woodland birds (821/86 species). Queleas (1115 counted) in Nylsvley Nature Reserve was done on were again very numerous in Nylsvley this 14 February 2015. It was, as always, well year and there has only been one higher supported, with 57 people participating in count of Cattle Egrets (371) made previous- counting birds along the 18 set routes. Af- ly - in both these species numbers fluctuate ter an initial threat of early-morning rain, widely from year to year. the weather relented and conditions for The regulars in the “top 10” were mostly counting remained good for the allotted the usuals: Cape Turtle Dove (196); Euro- 06h00-08h00 censusing period. pean Bee-eater (187, the most yet count- A total of 135 species was recorded in the ed), Barn Swallow (141), Grey Lourie two hours, four species recorded for the (127), Neddicky (114), Rattling Cisticola first time in 16 years of censusing – Lanner (110), Cape Glossy Starling (103), Ar- Falcon, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, row-marked Babbler (87), Spotted Fly- Cuckoo Finch and, a most surprising omis- catcher (70) and Burchell’s Starling (83, a sion in the previous 15 years, a Pied Crow. newcomer to the top 10). European Honey Buzzard and European The attached graphs show fairly conclu- Hobby, both recorded last year for the first sively that over the past 16 years numbers time were again encountered this year. have been increasing for Red-eyed Dove Two species included in the lists, Tawny (doubling from about 20 to about 45), Eagle and Wing-snapping Cisticola, were Cape Turtle Dove (150 to 200), Woodland not included, pending confirmation. The Kingfisher (25 to 50), Dark-capped Bulbul number of woodland species recorded (10 to 35) and Grey-backed Camaroptera during all censuses has now reached 205, (30 to 50). By contrast, at least five species but about 100 of these are rare visitors or have declined in numbers over the years: vagrants, having ever been recorded only Willow Warbler (numbers have halved), once or twice. As always, it is interesting to Blue Waxbill, Fork-tailed Drongo, White- see that, on average, individual teams re- browed Sparrow-Weaver and Black- corded 42 species per route while the com- backed Puffback. It would be interesting bined total (135) is more than three times to explore these changes further. Willow this. Warbler is one of three common Palearctic This year’s count was a couple of weeks migrants to Nylsvley and, while it has de- later than usual – we aim to always pitch clined, the numbers of the other two, Spot- the census during the last weekend in Jan- ted Flycatcher and Red-backed Shrike, uary but booking glitches sometimes pre- have remained steady over the years. vent this – and the low count of cuckoos of The table attached here lists the top 100

36 species recorded in 2015, sorted in their continued support is much appreciated. order of abundance and showing propor- Everyone who participated in this years tionately in which woodland types they woodland bird monitoring, from the were recorded. organisers, to the cooks, to the dawn patrol, to the people who assisted in This year’s count by Friends of Nylsv- number-crunching afterwards, are most ley was again very well supported by sincerely thanked for their time and effort. members of the Bosveld Voëlklub, the We hope to see you all again next year! Naboomspruit Voëlklub, BirdLife Polok- wane and the Wits Bird Club and their

37 Rarities and unusual sightings report: December 2014 Compiled by André Marx There were a few cracking rarities to start off the summer months, none more note- worthy than two species that have not Western Marsh Harrier - photo by been seen in our region for a number of years; Pacific Golden Plover and Slaty Mark Tittley Egret. A number of local birders were able to see both these species as they remained Plover, Pacific Golden. Strandkiew- at their respective localities for a few iet, Asiatiese Goue: a single bird was weeks. Other interesting birds that wan- present on the shoreline at Borakalalo dered into Gauteng was a Broad-billed GR for at least 2 weeks when many Roller at Emmarentia of all places and a birders were able to see it, 19 Oct 2014 lost Parasitic Jaeger, a pelagic species that (EM). This species is seldom recorded at cannot be expected to survive at an in- inland localities and this is the first re- land locality. This report was compiled in cord for the greater Gauteng region mid-December when local rarities were for a number of years. still being reported. There are certain to be more this summer! My thanks to all who submit sightings and photos to me or via SABAP2 and the various Internet forums. National Rarities/ Nasionalerariteite Egret, Slaty. Reier, Rooikeel-: a remarkable sighting of one bird at Walkhaven, north-west of Johannes- burg in pentad 2555_2750, is the first record of this rare species in the region Pacific Golden Plover - photo by for at least 10 years, 11 Dec 2014 (RM). Tony Archer Harrier, Western Marsh. Vleivalk, Europese: one bird was present at Regional Rarities/ Streeksrariteite Marievale Bird Sanctuary, 8 Nov 2014 Blackcap, Bush. Tiptol, Rooibek-: (Gbird). In the following weeks at least one bird was observed on a few oc- two birds were present, when photo- casions in a garden in Melville, Johan- graphs showed that one was probably nesburg, 15 Aug 2014 (SC). This is the an adult female and the other an im- third record for Gauteng in recent mature male, (Gbird). years of this uncommon bird. It should 38 be looked for in areas of dense forest Roller, Broad-billed. Troupant, cover and in well-treed gardens. Geelbek-: a surprise sighting was of one bird at Emmarentia Dam in Jo- hannesburg on 22 Nov 2014 (CT); in the ensuing weeks many local birders managed to view the bird at this locality. This is only the third record of this species in the greater Gauteng area in the last 10 years.

Bush Blackcap - photo by Shashi Cook

Buzzard, European Honey. Wes- pedief: one bird was in Waverley, Pretoria, 2 Nov 2014 (FdP). Another sighting was of one bird at Leeufontein Estate, near Roodeplaat Dam, 8 Nov Broad-billed Roller - photo by 2014 (LG). Warren Ingram Crane, Wattled. Kraanvoël, Lel-: 16 Aug 2014 in company of Blue Cranes, Sanderling. Strandloper, Drietoon-: Devon area….. one bird was at Leeupan in the East Rand in pentad 2610_2815, 22 Nov 2014 Jaeger, Parasitic (Arctic Skua). Roof- (GL). meeu, Arktiese: a wandering bird was found at Borakalalo GR on 30 Sandpiper, Green. Ruiter, Witgat-: Nov 2014 (NP), before unfortunately at least one bird was at Rietvlei NR, being found dead on 2 Dec. south of Pretoria, 4 Nov 2014 (JdW). Sandpiper, Pectoral. Strandloper, Geelpoot-: one bird was at Marievale Bird Sanctuary, 26 Oct 2014 (DH). Wagtail, Mountain. Kwikkie, Berg-: the bird at Groenkloof NR was still on show in the general area of the stream in the reserve 5 Oct 2014 (GBird). Other Interesting Observations/ Ander Interessante Waarnemings Parasitic Jaeger - photo by Bee-eater, Blue-cheeked. Byvreter, Niall Perrins Blouwang-: two immature birds were 39 in Midrand, 5 Oct 2014 (DH). Turnstone, Ruddy. Steenloper: one bird was located at Borakalalo GR, 24 Oct 2014 (Gbird). Observers/ Waarnemers Dirk Human (DH) Etienne Marais (EM) Francois du Plessis (FdP) Gauteng birders (GBird) Pectoral Sandpiper - photo by Geoff Lockwood (GL) Hayley Steinberg (HS) Dirk Human Jan de Wagenaar (JdW) an unusual sighting for Rietvlei NR on Lance Robinson (LR) 2 Nov 2014, considerably south of this Lizet Grobbelaar (LG) species’ usual range (MvS). Madeleen van Schalkwyk (MvS) Eagle, Ayres’ Hawk. Arend, Klein- Niall Perrins (NP) jag-: a sighting of one bird at the Un- Philip Tarboton (PT) ion Buildings in Pretoria once again is Russell Munro (RM) further evidence of the species’ pres- Shashi Cook (SC) ence at this locality in summer, 27 Nov This column is mainly concerned with ob- 2014 (DH). servations of rarities and interesting sight- Eagle, Lesser Spotted. Arend, Gevle- ings made in the greater Gauteng region, kte: a sighting of one bird at Marievale, defined as 100km from the centre of both that was subsequently photographed, Johannesburg and Pretoria, however ob- is somewhat out of range for this spe- servations made further afield are also cies, 26 Oct 2014 (DH). welcome. While the majority of records are included it is sometimes necessary to Eagle, Wahlberg’s. Arend, Bruin-: a exclude some depending on whether the record of one bird in the Klipriviersberg subject matter has already been well re- NR in pentad 2615_2800, south of Jo- ported. Occasionally records are sourced hannesburg, is an unusual sighting for from the Internet and from SABAP2 re- that locality, as this is a species normally cords. Members are invited to submit de- associated with bush country north of tails of sightings to André Marx at e-mail Gauteng, 29 Nov 2014 (LR & PT). [email protected] or 083 4117674. Owl, Southern White-faced. Uil, Witwang-: one bird was a surprise find in a garden in Atholl in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, 21 Aug 2014 (HS). These birds are known to occasionally wander into suburbia. Snipe, Greater Painted. Snip, Goud- : a single bird was at Glen Austin Pan 40 Tim Appleton gave an excellent talk at UNISA on Rutland Water and the Bird Fair