A number of very interesting records surfaced during the summer months and my thanks go to all who regularly submit records.  Several local rarities were noted during atlasing efforts from people taking part in SABAP2 and there were also a few interesting garden bird observations.

National Rarities / Nasionale Rariteite

• Slaty Egret.  Rooikeelreier : one bird was found at MKhombo Dam where it remained for a period of several weeks with several people seeing the bird, 29 Nov 08 (BLNG,RGd); with probably the same bird still there, 11 Dec 08 (CK,KR); this species was sighted again at Marievale, one of the few regular localities for it, 06 Jan 09 (DD).

• Western Marsh-Harrier.  Europese Vleivalk : a sub-adult bird was observed at Marievale, 29 Jan 09 (DD); one bird was seen over the floodplain at Kgomo-Kgomo, 09 Feb 09 (AH,ABe); with another bird sighted here, 23 Mar 09 (DD).
• Green Sandpiper.  Witgatruiter : one bird was at Northern Farm where it remained for a couple of weeks, 10 Jan 09 (J&JI); one bird was seen on the Zaagkuildrfit road where this and possibly at least one other bird was seen over a few weeks, 15 Feb 09 (DD).

• Thrush Nightingale.  Lysternagtegaal : this species was encountered again on the Zaagkuildrift road when one bird was heard and briefly seen, 15 Feb 09 (RGy).

Regional Rarities / Streeksrariteite

• Marabou Stork.  Maraboe : one bird visited the vulture restaurant near Hartbeespoort Dam, no doubt attracted by the feeding activity, 28 Dec 08 (KW).
• European Honey-Buzzard.  Wespedief : a bird was seen soaring above the hill at Aloe Ridge, near Muldersdrift, in pentad 2555_2750, 06 Dec 08 (AM,JB); a pale form bird was at Delta Park, Johannesburg, 28 Dec 08 (GLd); this species was seen soaring at Northern Farm during the club visit, 10 Jan 09 (BLNG); one bird was found in the Amanzintaba valley, north-east of Bronkhorstspruit, 21 Feb 09 (KR,RGd,RC); a sighting was had of one bird on the Schurveberge road west of Pretoria in pentad 2545_2800, 22 Feb 09 (EM). This species has been downlisted from national to regional rarity, but reports are still noteworthy.

• Pallid Harrier.  Witborsvleivalk : a male bird was seen quartering the grassland in the area of the Waaikraal Road in pentad 2555_2830, east of Pretoria, 30 Nov 08 (PT,RF); a female bird was seen in a field at Marievale where the grass was being cut, 13 Feb 09 (DD).
• Corn Crake.  Kwartelkoning : one bird was seen crossing the Zaagkuildrift road on Birding Big Day, 29 Nov 08 (L&HK).
• Allen's Gallinule.  Kleinkoningriethaan : this species was seen during the club visit to Montle Metse, on the southern side of Rust de Winter Dam in pentad 2515_2825, 18 Jan 09 (BLNG,LvD); this species was present at the Kgomo-Kgomo wetlands, 09 Feb 09 (AH,ABe); with several birds still at this locality, 28 Feb 09 (FP,EEk).
• Kori Bustard.  Gompou : one bird was seen in a field together with several Abdim's and White Storks in pentad 2450_2855, about 50km east of Settlers in Limpopo Prov., this sighting being 200km from the known range of this species and probably represents a relict population in the region, 08 Feb 09 (AM,JB).
• Square-tailed Nightjar.  Laeveldnaguil : during a night drive at Rietvlei NR one bird was again caught and photographed, being the second confirmed record for the reserve, considerably out of the known range, 22 Feb 09 (BLNG,RGy).
• River Warbler.  Sprinkaansanger : during the club camp to Bosveld Paradys, near Marble Hall, a bird was ringed in the late afternoon and could be observed at close quarters before being released, 07 Feb 09 (BLNG,GJvR); one bird was seen over a period of at least 3 weeks in a garden in Buffelsdrift, north-east of Pretoria, 22 Mar 09 (BLNG,RGd).

Other Interesting Observations / Ander Interessante Waarnemings

• Black Stork.  Grootswartooievaar : a single bird on an electricity pylon on the Kleinsonderhout dirt road east of Pretoria in pentad 2555_2830 , 30 Nov 08 (PT,RF) is further south than usual; one bird was at a farm dam in pentad 2555_2720, which lies to the west of Magaliesburg village in North West prov., 16 Dec 08 (AM,ED).
• African Cuckoo Hawk.  Koekoekvalk : one bird was observed in Valhalla, Centurion, 07 Feb 09 (L&HK).
• Ayres's Hawk-Eagle.  Kleinjagarend : a good sighting at eye level was enjoyed of a bird along Tom Jenkins Drive in the vicinity of the Union Buildings in Pretoria, 11 Feb 09 (ZB).
• Long-crested Eagle.  Langkuifarend : a pair of birds was seen near Aloe Ridge in pentad 2555_2750, 06 Dec 08 (AM,JB); one bird was observed in Irene, 22 Feb 09 (MG).
• Ovambo Sparrowhawk.  Ovambosperwer : one bird was seen in Equestria, in eastern Pretoria, 23 Nov 08 (RF); one bird perched obligingly out in the open at Roodeplaat NR, 19 Dec 08 (F&RP).
• African Marsh-Harrier.  Afrikaanse Vleivalk : 2 birds were at Marievale, 29 Jan 09 (DD).
• Montagu's Harrier.  Blouvleivalk : 2 male birds were seen flying over a field where the grass was being cut at Marievale, 13 Feb 09 (DD); a female bird was identified as being this species in the Marievale area, 22 Feb 09 (GLd).
• African Harrier-Hawk.  Kaalwangvalk : a single bird was seen in Doringkloof, Centurion, 24 Feb 09 (MG).
• Osprey.  Visvalk : one bird was at Rust de Winter Dam, 02 Nov 08 (LvD).
• Peregrine Falcon.  Swerfvalk : an adult bird  perched in a tree and could be observed in detail during the club visit to Groenfontein, near Bronkhorstspruit Dam, 16 Feb 09 (BLNG); one bird was seen on an electricity pylon where the R55 meets the Erasmia road in Centurion, in pentad 2545_2805, 22 Feb 09 (EM).
• Red-footed Falcon.  Westelike Rooipootvalk : a solitary female was present amongst a large group of Amur Falcons at Northern Farm, 02 Jan 09 (AM); a male bird was at Mkhombo Dam, 21 Feb 09 (MG).
• Natal Francolin.  Natalse Fisant : one bird was seen in a garden in Faerie Glen, Pretoria, an area where this species is not known from, 04 Apr 09 (SP).
• African Crake.  Afrikaanse Riethaan : this species was a surprising find in a field adjacent to a dam at Northern Farm, south-west of Pretoria, 10 Jan 09 (BLNG).
• Lesser Moorhen.  Kleinwaterhoender : one bird was at Rietvlei NR, 24 Jan 09 (RGy); a number of birds were on the Kgomo-Kgomo floodplain, 09 Feb 09 (AH,ABe); two juvenile birds were seen in the Seringveld Conservancy, north-east of Pretoria, in pentad 2535_2825, 02 Apr 09 (EM,LvD,RGd).
• Greater Painted-snipe.  Goudsnip : a road killed bird was found near Pienaarsrivier in pentad 2545_2825, 10 Nov 08 (PLm); a male bird was a first record for Northern Farm, 31 Jan 09 (RvS).
• Water Thick-knee.  Waterdikkop : one bird was at Elandsvlei, near Bapsfontein, in pentad 2555_2825, 29 Nov 08 (WB); this species was a surprise find and first record for Northern Farm, 28 Dec 08 (JH).
• Bronze-winged Courser.  Bronsvlerkdrawwertjie : this species was at Rietvlei NR, 24 Jan 09 (RGy); one bird was in the road at midday near Rust de Winter Dam NR, 05 Feb 09 (F&AvV).
• African Cuckoo.  Afrikaanse Koekoek : this species was a surprise find at Marievale, 14 Jan 09 (DD).
• African Grass-Owl.  Grasuil : 2 birds were in a field at Marievale, 13 Feb 09 (DD).
• European Roller.  Europese Troupant : a single bird was a first for Delta Park, Johannesburg in 37 years, 24 Dec 08 (GLd); one bird in pentad 2605_2715, on the western edge of Gauteng, is further south than normal for this species, 03 Jan 09 (AM,ST).
• Lilac-breasted Roller.  Gewone Troupant : one bird was an unsual sighting at Marievale, 14 Jan 09 (DD); a single bird was in pentad 2550_2755, just to the north of Northern Farm, and further south than usual for this species, 14 Feb 09 (AM,JB,RS).
• Melodious Lark.  Spotlewerik : the nest of this species was an interesting find in grasslands west of Centurion in pentad 2550_2805, 20 Jan 09 (EM,FP).
• Dusky Lark.  Donkerlewerik : this species was found on the De Wagendrift Road, north-east of Pretoria, 31 Dec 08 (DD); a single bird was at Northern Farm, south-west of Pretoria, where it remained for at least two weeks, 03 Jan 09 (KL); with possibly the same bird seen here again, 10 Jan 09 (J&JI); this species was at Dikhololo, near Brits, 21 Mar 09 (JJ).
• Pink-billed Lark.  Pienkbeklewerik : one bird was found on the Kleinsonderhout road, east of Pretoria, 21 Nov 08 (PT,RF).
• Garden Warbler.  Tuinsanger : one bird was sighted in a Monument Park, Pretoria, garden for the first time in 20 years, 25 Jan 09 (F&AvV).
• Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.  Geelsanger : at least one and possibly two birds were seen and heard in riverside vegetation near Fochville, representing a new locality for this species, 17 Jan 09 (LvD,RCo).
• Lesser Grey Shrike.  Gryslaksman : one bird was a rare sighting at Delta Park, in Johannesburg, 28 Dec 08 (GLd).
• Wattled Starling.  Lelspreeu : a record of a single bird at Delta Park, Johannesburg, is an uncommon sighting, 24 Dec 08 (GLd); with a flock of 15 birds seen here, 28 Dec 08 (GLd).
• Cuckoo Finch.  Koekoekvink : a male bird was observed in a mixed flock of bishops and widowbirds in pentad 2550_2820, just east of Rietvlei Dam NR, 04 Dec 08 (FP); a male and female bird were near Skeerpoort, west of Hartbeespoort Dam, 04 Dec 08 (AB); a juvenile bird being fed by a cisiticola species (not clearly identified) was seen by a number of club members at Northern Farm, 10 Jan 09 (BLNG).
• White-winged Widowbird.  Witvlerkflap : a male bird was an unsual find at Delta Park, Johannesburg, 28 Dec 08 (GLd).

Observers / Waarnemers:

Adrian Haagner (AH)

André Bernon (ABe)

André Botha (AB)

André Marx (AM)

BirdLife Northern Gauteng members (BLNG)

Clive Kaplan (CK)

Dave Deighton (DD)

Ehren Eksteen (EEk)

Eran Dvir (ED)

Eric Ehlers (EE)

Etienne Marais (EM)

Faansie & Ronel Peacock (F&RP)

Faansie Peacock (FP)

Frans & Adele van Vuuren (F&AvV)

Geoff Lockwood (GLd)

Gerrie Jansen van Rensburg (GJvR)

Jane & Joe Irvine (J&JI)

Jannie Jansen (JJ)

John Bannon (JB)

John Hill (JH)

Ken Borland (KL)

Kerri Wolter (KW)

Kevin Ravno (KR)

Leon & Helen Kay (L&HK)

Lisl van Deventer (LvD)

Michal Groenewald (MG)

Pat Tattersal (PT)

Petro Lemmer (PLm)

Rihann Geyser (RGy)

Rob Geddes (RGd)

Rod Cassidy (RC)

Roger Fieldwick (RF)

Ron Searle (RS)

Rudi von Staden (RvS)

Rynetta Coetzee (RCo)

Sonia Pretorius (SP)

Stephan Terblanche (ST)

Willem Boshoff (WB)

Zephné Bernitz (ZB)

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 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