March 2021 The Nectar Feeders OdeThe toNectar a Pentad Feeders IntensiveIntensive CareCare atat SANCCOBSANCCOB Promerops: Magazine of the Cape Bird Club Issue No. 319, March 2021 (Best viewed as two-page spread in Adobe Acrobat Reader) Promerops 319 March 2021 xx March 2021 PO BOX 2113 CLAREINCH 7740 Website: www.capebirdclub.org.za e-Mail: [email protected] CAPE BIRD CLUB COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND OTHER OFFICE BEARERS Hon. President Peter Steyn 021 685 3049 [email protected] COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chairman Priscilla Beeton 084 803 9987 [email protected] Vice-Chairman Johan Schlebusch 082 804 9025 [email protected] Treasurer Joy Fish 083 278 7374 [email protected] Secretary Gillian Barnes 021 782 5429 [email protected] Membership Linda Merrett 021 685 7368 [email protected] Conservation Dave Whitelaw 021 671 3714 [email protected] Webinars Mike Buckham 083 462 9220 [email protected] Youth & Education Khanyisane Falake 061 450 2265 [email protected] OTHER OFFICE BEARERS Information Sylvia Ledgard ————— [email protected] Book Sales Gavin & Anne Greig 021 794 7791 [email protected] Camps Gillian Barnes 021 782 5429 [email protected] Courses Johan Schlebusch 082 804 9025 [email protected] e-Newsletter Cheryl Leslie 082 924 7035 [email protected] Media Liaison Linda Johnston 021 712 3707 [email protected] Meetings Priscilla Beeton 084 803 9987 [email protected] Outings Daryl de Beer 021 715 4374 [email protected] Promerops Fiona Jones 021 671 2594 [email protected] Sightings Simon Fogarty 082 348 2465 [email protected] Webmaster Gavin Lawson 021 705 5224 [email protected] THE CAPE BIRD CLUB IS AFFILIATED TO BIRDLIFE SOUTH AFRICA Please send your news, articles, travel reports, observations, Editing & Production: and comments to Fiona Jones at [email protected]. Fiona Jones The deadline for contributions to the next issue is 10 May 2021. Front Cover: A beautiful White-fronted Bee-eater (a Western Cape rarity), photographed at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens in June 2019 ... Photographer : Cliff Dorse Opposite: A feisty Fork-tailed Drongo striking a pose … Photographer : Jessie Walton The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those held by the Cape Bird Club. 3 March 2021 Promerops 319 EDITORIAL Well Covid-19 is still with us, and restrictive regulations continue to fluctuate in time to the capricious rhythm of the pandemic. It has been a difficult time for all of us – and a tragic time for some – but there’s one thing we can depend on, and that is that we still have our birds. The presence of all the beautiful birds around us is enough to lift our spirits and help us cast off our worries, even if only for a passing moment. Thank goodness for our birds – I could not imagine a world without them. And I am not alone – this issue of Promerops is packed with articles that clearly bring to light our shared passion for our avian friends. Firstly there is the article by Dr David Roberts, seabird veterinarian at SANCCOB, who, together with his colleagues, has saved and cared for countless seabirds in distress. On page 10 he discusses some of the interesting cases he has dealt with, and reveals the care and commitment that SANCCOB staff and volunteers bestow on our coastal birds. In our next feature, on page 16, Dr Chris Lotz has shared with us his article on certain nectar-feeding birds – the sugarbirds and sunbirds of Africa and the hummingbirds of America – providing a fascinating account of the dietary requirements and physiology of these amazing creatures. Then, on page 22, Ian Rijsdijk waxes lyrical about his favourite pentad (3400_1830) in his “Ode to a Pentad”. And no wonder! The birds, the sounds, and the sights that can be experienced in this Strandfontein pentad are skilfully depicted, and one cannot help but be drawn in by Ian’s enthusiasm. And, on page 24, Penny Dichmont gives an animated description of her Christmas Day outing with Margaret Maciver to the Constantia Greenbelt, where they enjoyed some wonderful sightings of raptors and a festive picnic lunch. Apart from our feature articles there are many other shorter articles in this issue to cheer you during lockdown. I hope you find them as interesting as I have done. We are very fortunate, in this issue of Promerops, that so many members (and some non-members) have been willing to contribute time and effort to providing articles for our enjoyment. I wish to thank them very much for their generosity – and would also like to encourage our many other members to share their birding experiences and love of birds with us. You don’t need to be an expert birder – you just need a bird-related story to share with us. Please do. Fiona Jones Stumped for a gift for NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Promerops is your magazine - written by CBC someone special? members, for CBC members. Why not give fun, friendship, Contributions are invited in English or Afrikaans excitement, new knowledge, on birdwatching, birding news, bird behaviour, and outdoor enjoyment? observations, birding trips, conservation or research projects. English bird names should be those listed in the latest BLSA Checklist of Birds Give them a gift subscription and Afrikaans names should be those listed in to the Cape Bird Club ... the latest BLSA Voëllys, both of which are available online at https://www.birdlife.org.za/ and give delight for the whole year! media-and-resources/bird-checklists/. Please email your contributions to the editor, Visit the Cape Bird Club website for Fiona Jones at [email protected]. more details: www.capebirdclub.org.za The deadline for the next issue is 10 May 2021. Penguin photo by David Nunn (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) March 2021 4 Promerops 319 Jerome September, Mitchells Plain IN THIS ISSUE … Morné Issel, Grassy Park Michel and Paula Leroy, Pinelands Help Monitor our City Birds ………………….. 7 Annette and Michael Mehnert, Rondebosch East Bird’s Eye View ………………….……………………. 8 Annette Theron and David Chapman, Betty’s Bay Basil and Lyn Vrettos, Constantia Intensive Care at SANCCOB ………………….. 10 Rozalle Thomas, Pinelands Spring on the Orange River ……….…….…... 14 Sibusiso Mazomba, Soweto Wendy and John Lawson, Oranjezicht Up with the Bunting ………………………..……. 15 Elise Engelbrecht, Bloubergstrand The Nectar Feeders ………………………………… 16 Elmien de Kock, Higgovale Vanessa Marks, Bakoven To be a Francolin or a Spurfowl …………. 18 We look forward to meeting you at our evening Observations …………...………………………...…… 20 meetings when lockdown restrictions allow. In Ode to a Pentad ……..…………………..…………. 22 the meantime please join our Zoom meetings which offer illustrated talks by experts on a Greenbelt Birding on Xmas Day ………….. 24 variety of birding and related topics. We also Rarity Sightings ……….…….………….………...... 28 have regular field outings to an array of excellent birding venues when gatherings are CBC Programme …………………………….….…… 31 permitted. Please see the CBC Programme on page 31 and our e-Newsletters for more details. Welcome to our new members! Thank you for your donations ... Our grateful thanks go to the following We are delighted to welcome these new members for their generous donations: members to the Cape Bird Club … Mr J Schlebusch, Prof TD Noakes, Mrs SJ Brass, Emile du Toit, Kirstenhof Dr JE Fincham, Mr B Gibson, Dr & Mrs WG Roger and Julia Milligan Greig, Dr C Prior, Mr J de V van Zyl, Mr J and children Tom and Helen, Constantia Ragsdale, Mrs AT Zuyl, and Mr RD Barnes. Tina James, Durbanville Your donations are very much appreciated and Carol Watson, Constantia Hills will be put to good use! Jean Stephenson, Pinelands Clare Gibbon, Constantia Irene and Billy Webster, Milnerton Flock and LAB Graeme Prevôst and Nerina Wilkinson will be going and their son Sebastian, Fresnaye virtual this Katherine Klaasen, Greenpoint Alistair and Carol Stewart, Somerset West year! Geraldine Goodwin, Newlands In 2021, BirdLife South Africa’s annual general meeting Gail Baerecke, Claremont (Flock) and the Learn About Birds (LAB) Conference will Moiragh and Andrew Girdwood, Newlands take place on an online platform. Jason and Karolina Parkin LAB will be held on 27 and 28 May, and the 92nd BLSA and daughter Charlotte, Stellenbosch AGM will take place at 10h00 on Saturday 29 May. Martin Prew, Simon’s Town Register for Flock at https://www.birdlife.org.za/support Michael Jennings, Welcome Glen -us/events/flock-2021/ … and to qualify for LAB’s ‘early Lilian Dudley, Kalk Bay bird’ rates, register before 31 March at https//www. birdlife.org.za/support-us/events/learn-about-birds-lab- Lucy Linley, Claremont conference/. Sharon Coetzee, Zonnebloem 5 March 2021 Promerops 319 CAPE BIRD CLUB AGM NOMINATION FORM The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the I am a member of the Cape Bird Club and am CAPE BIRD CLUB will take place at prepared to stand for election to the CBC 20h00 on Thursday 11 March 2021 Committee for the year 2021/2022. at the Nassau Centre, Groote Schuur High School, Palmyra Road, Newlands. Should NAME OF NOMINEE (Block letters) Covid-19 restrictions necessitate holding a Zoom meeting, the starting time …………………………………………………………………… will be at 19h30 on 11 March 2021. Signed: …………………………………………………………. CAPE BIRD CLUB AGM AGENDA NAME OF PROPOSER (Block letters) 1. Apologies ……………………………………………………………………… 2. Confirmation of the Minutes of the Signed: .………………………………………………………… previous AGM held in March 2020 3. Matters arising from the Minutes NAME OF SECONDER (Block letters) 4. Chairman’s Report for the period March ………………………………………………………………… 2020 to February 2021 6. Financial Report for the year ended 31 Signed: ………………………………………………………... December 2020 7. Election of Committee Members for 2021/2022 8. General / Any other business Did YOU forget to renew (In terms of the CBC constitution, nominations for your club membership? office bearers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon.