A number of interesting records emerged in early summer, many involving migrants, with several records of birds occurring south of their usual range.  In addition, a number of interesting local range extensions are being documented with time and irruptions of species far outside their known range, such as the amazing number of African Openbill records across the country, are good reasons to keep unusual sighting reports coming in.  My thanks to the many people who contributed to this report.

National Rarities / Nasionale Rariteite

• Western Marsh-Harrier.  Europese Vleivalk: during the club visit to the Marievale wetlands a female bird was spotted, 01 Nov 09 (BLNG).
• Green Sandpiper.  Witgatruiter: one bird was photographed at Northern Farm, a locality where this species seems to appear annually, 03 Jan 10 (BWS); it was still present a week later when a number of birders had been to see it.

Regional Rarities / Streeksrariteite

• African Openbill.  Oopbekooievaar: a single bird was seen flying over the bridge at the Kgomo-Kgomo wetland, 06 Dec 09 (BLNG); one bird was at Rietvlei NR, 07 Dec 09 (GC – via WB); one bird was in Monument Park, Pretoria, in a field, 17 Dec 09 (F&AvV); one bird was seen flying over school sports fields in Malanshof, Randburg, 18 Dec 09 (DSw). A remarkable spate of sightings of this species took place during November through to end December when it was still continuing with several birds being seen way out of range; in Potchefstroom approx 20 birds, near Memel in the Free State during the club visit there, in several parts of KZN, in the E. Cape and even the W. Cape.

• Southern Bald Ibis.  Kalkoenibis: an immature bird of this species was noted in the Vlaklaagte area east of Pretoria, 01 Nov 09 (CK).

• European Honey-Buzzard.  Wespedief: whilst atlasing in pentad 2540_2800, in the Witwatersberg west of Pretoria, a single bird was seen, 12 Dec 09 (RGy).
• Corn Crake.  Kwartelkoning : one bird was flushed from an area of flooded grassland in pentad 2605_2815 at Blaaupan in the East Rand, 15 Dec 09 (GLd).
• Collared Pratincole.  Rooivlerksprinkaanvoël: a very much out of range bird was photographed at Mkhombo Dam, about 100km north-east of Pretoria, a locality where the species has been observed previously, 13 Dec 09 (KLo).  All flocks of Black-winged Pratincole should be checked for this species (reddish-brown underwing coverts), especially in the eastern part of our region.

• Yellow-bellied Greenbul.  Geelborswillie: a single bird, possibly an immature, was observed at Rietvlei NR, 25 Oct 09 (PT,RF). An interesting range expansion for this species, and which has now also been reported from the Waterkloof area of Pretoria.

• Pale-crowned Cisticola.  Bleekkopklopkloppie: this species was actively displaying in pentad 2620_2840 near Devon, eastern Gauteng, a very interesting record within the Gauteng boundary, 12 Nov 09 (EM).

Other Interesting Observations / Ander Interessante Waarnemings 

• Dwarf Bittern.  Dwergrietreier: a single bird was on 'Crake Road' near Kgomo-Kgomo, 06 Dec 09 (AH).
• Black Stork.  Grootswartooievaar: a bird seen flying over the northern boundary of Northern Farm is an unusual record for the area, 13 Dec 09 (RS).
• Greater Flamingo.  Grootflamink: a group of 9 birds flying over Delta Park, Johannesburg, is an unusual occurrence and a first record at that locality, 29 Dec 09 (GLd).
• Ayres's Hawk-Eagle.  Kleinjagarend: one bird was seen in pentad 2545_2825 north-east of the Magaliesberg near Pretoria, 28 Dec 09 (ST).
• Long-crested Eagle.  Langkuifarend: a single bird was at Rooiwal, north of Pretoria, during the club outing there, 25 Oct 09 (BLNG); one bird was seen alongside the N12 highway east of Joburg near Holfontein, 15 Dec 09 (AH).
• Gabar Goshawk.  Witkruissperwer: a sighting of this species at Bronkhorstspruit Dam NR in pentad 2550_2840 is out of range for the area, 23 Dec 09 (JHu,PLe).
• Montagu's Harrier.  Blouvleivalk: a male bird was in pentad 2620_2840 in the Devon area, eastern Gauteng, 12 Nov 09 (EM).
• Red-winged Francolin.  Rooivlerkpatrys: two birds were at Northern Farm, a new record for this locality, 18 Oct 09 (RS).
• Blue Crane.  Bloukraanvoël: 2 birds were confirmed breeding with 2 young chicks in the Vlaklaagte area, east of Pretoria, in pentad 2530_2850, 05 Dec 09 (AH); three birds were in the same pentad, 03 Jan 10 (EM).
• Greater Painted-snipe.  Goudsnip: a female bird was found at the spruit that flows into Marais Dam at Rietvlei NR, 13 Dec 09 (PT,RF).
• Caspian Plover.  Asiatiese Strandkiewiet: a group of birds was located in the Devon area in pentad 2620_2840 where they remained for a few weeks and were seen and photographed by several people, 12 Nov 09 (EM).
• Caspian Tern.  Reusesterretjie: 4 birds were at Rooiwal Sewage Works during the club outing there, 25 Oct 09 (BLNG).
• Levaillant's Cuckoo.  Gestreepte Nuwejaarsvoël: a bird seen in their garden in Pretoria North is only the second such occurrence in 45 years, 23 Nov 09 (N&IR).
• European Nightjar.  Europese Naguil: a bird seen at dusk was an unusual occurrence in pentad 2600_2800 in the Fourways area, Johannesburg, 24 Nov 09 (JB).
• Grey-headed Kingfisher.  Gryskopvisvanger: this species was present during 2 visits to Borakalalo NR, north-west of Pretoria, a reliable locality for this species, 03 Oct 09 (DD).
• Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill.  Geelbekneushoringvoël: this species was observed over a few days in Olive Street, Valhalla, which is unusual since it is common in the bushveld north of Pretoria but is an interesting record so far to the south of the city, 14 Sep 09 (IB - via A&MK).
• Melodious Lark.  Spotlewerik: this species was an interesting find when seen at Vaalkop Dam alongside calling Monotonous Larks, an unlikely prospect due to different habitat requirements; the probability is that after years of fires and overgrazing suitable habitat has emerged for this species, 15 Nov 09 (F&RP); several birds were displaying in the Rhenosterspruit Conservancy near Northern Farm, in pentad 2550_2755, a first at this locality, 28 Nov 09 (AM,JB,RS).
• Dusky Lark.  Donkerlewerik: a single bird was at Rietvlei NR, an unusual sighting for the reserve, 13 Dec 09 (PT,RF).
• Kurrichane Thrush.  Rooibeklyster: one bird at Delta Park, Johannesburg, was a first record for that locality, 06 Oct 09 (GLd).
• Lesser Grey Shrike.  Gryslaksman: a sighting of 2 birds at Leeukop Prison in pentad 2600_2800 on Birding Big Day was somewhat south of the usual range, 28 Nov 09 (AM,JB,RS).
• Red-backed Shrike.  Rooiruglaksman: this species is an unusual sighting for the Fourways area on the edge of suburban Johannesburg, 24 Nov 09 (JB).
• White-crested Helmet-Shrike.  Withelmlaksman: one bird was in the Valhalla area in Centurion, 23 Nov 09 (L&HK).
• Wattled Starling.  Lelspreeu: a flock of perhaps 1000 birds was seen in the Roodeplaat area, 27 Sep 09 (ER).
• Cuckoo Finch.  Koekoekvink: a male bird was at Suikerbosrand in pentad 2625_2810, 18 Nov 09 (AM).

Observers / Waarnemers:

Adrian Haagner (AH)

Alan & Meg Kemp (A&MK)

André Marx (AM)

BirdLife Northern Gauteng members (BLNG)

Bruce Ward-Smith (BWS)

Clive Kaplan (CK)

Dave Deighton (DD)

Déwald Swanepoel (DSw)

Ernst Retief (ER)

Etienne Marais (EM)

Faansie & Ronel Peacock (F&RP)

Frans & Adele van Vuuren (F&AvV)

Geoff Lockwood (GLd)

Gustav Claasen (GC)

Joan Hundt (JHu)

John Bannon (JB)

Ken Logan (KLo)

Leon & Helen Kay (L&HK)

Neels & Ingrid Roos (N&IR)

Pat Tattersal (PT)

Pauline Leinberger (PLe)

Rihann Geyser (RGy)

Roger Fieldwick (RF)

Ron Searle (RS)

Sister Ina Barkhuizen (IB)

Stephan Terblanche (ST)

Willem Boshoff (WB)

This column is mainly concerned with observations of rarities and interesting sightings made within a 100km radius of Pretoria, however observations made further afield are also welcome. While the majority of reports are included it is sometimes necessary to exclude some depending on whether the subject matter has already been well reported. Occasionally records are sourced from the Internet. All are encouraged to complete rarities documentation for regional and national rarities. Members are invited to submit details of sightings to Pauline Leinberger at 012 807-6898, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or to André Marx at 083 411 7674, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it