National Rarities / Nasionale Rariteite

• Western Marsh-Harrier.  Europese Vleivalk: a female bird was at the Kgomo-Kgomo wetlands, 17 Jan 10 (LH); with a male and female bird sighted again at this locality, 28 Feb 10 (RGd).
• Green Sandpiper.  Witgatruiter: 2 birds that were still present at Northern Farm were photographed on this day, 09 Jan 10 (DD).

Regional Rarities / Streeksrariteite

• White-backed Night-Heron.  Witrugnagreier: one bird was sighted at the low level bridge at the Moretele River, Borakalalo NR, during the club visit, 31 Jan 10 (BLNG).
• African Openbill.  Oopbekooievaar: 2 birds were seen flying over Northern Farm, 10 Jan 10 (AT); a single bird was at Rietvlei NR, 15 Jan 10 (SO); 3 birds were observed in Brits, 16 Jan 10 (JJ); with another sighting of one bird at Northern Farm, 07 Feb 10 (LS); a single bird was present in the Kyalami area, 01 Mar 10 (RS). The astonishing irruption of this species into areas far outside its normal range continued with several additional sightings in the Gauteng area, some of which are reported here.
• European Honey-Buzzard.  Wespedief: a single bird was at Northern Farm, 09 Jan 10 (DD); 2 birds were at the Sammy Marks Museum, east of Pretoria, 10 Jan 10 (RGy); one bird was photographed at Midstream Estate, Centurion, 10 Jan 10 (JZ via DvR); one bird was present about 24km north of Witbank along the Klipspruit River, 02 Feb 10 (ST); one bird seen soaring over the Fountains area of Pretoria, 12 Feb 10 (ST).

• Steppe Eagle.  Steppe-arend: one bird was seen on the Zaagkuildrift road (about 70km north of Pretoria), 28 Feb 10 (RGd).
• Ayres's Hawk-Eagle.  Kleinjagarend: an immature bird that was the unfortunate victim of a road kill was found in Hamilton Street, Arcadia, in Pretoria, 04 Feb 10 (MS via WB).
• Sooty Falcon.  Roetvalk: a sub-adult bird was observed perched for a period of 20 minutes at Delta Park, Johannesburg, 05 Jan 10 (GLd). There are very few known records of this species for Gauteng; an injured bird was taken to FreeMe from the Muldersdrift area last summer, and there is an old record from Marievale from more than 25 years ago.
• Tree Pipit.  Boomkoester: 2 birds were first observed at Kgaswane NR, Rustenburg, 20 Feb 10 (ST). Several additional records of this uncommon species in South Africa were received from this same locality over the next 2 weeks and at one stage up to 10 birds were seen together!

Other Interesting Observations / Ander Interessante Waarnemings

• White Stork.  Witooievaar: one bird was seen flying over Delta Park, Johannesburg, 26 Jan 10 (GLd); a single bird was in a field in pentad 2600_2800 at Leeukop Prison, unusual for the locality, 14 Mar 10 (AM,RS).
• Glossy Ibis.  Glansibis: a field of cut and baled grass held a large group of about 600 birds in pentad 2605_2835 west of Delmas, 08 Mar 10 (PT,RF).
• African Cuckoo Hawk.  Koekoekvalk: a juvenile bird was at Smuts House, in Centurion, 24 Mar 10 (TG).
• Long-crested Eagle.  Langkuifarend: a solitary bird was at Rietvlei NR, 16 Feb 10 (JBo); a single bird was observed in pentad 2600_2800 in northern Johannesburg at Leeukop Prison, 14 Mar 10 (AM,RS).
• Shikra.  Gebande Sperwer: a record of this bird at Delta Park, Johannesburg, is most unusual, 10 Jan 10 (GLd).
• Montagu's Harrier.  Blouvleivalk: this species was present in the Zaagkuildrift area, 29 Jan 10 (CK); a male and female bird were seen separately in pentad 2555_2840 at Bronkhorstspruit Dam, 12 Feb 10 (AV).
• Eurasian Hobby.  Europese Boomvalk: 2 birds were at Delta Park, Johannesburg, 26 Jan 10 (GLd); an immature bird was in the Zaagkuildrift area, 29 Jan 10 (CK); with an adult bird again at Delta Park, 09 Feb 10 (GLd).
• Crested Francolin.  Bospatrys: this species was at Leeukop Prison in an area of intact bush, and probably exists as an isolated population in pentad 2600_2800 in northern Johannesburg, 31 Jan 10 (AM,SO).
• Buff-spotted Flufftail.  Gevlekte Vleikuiken: the distinctive call of this species was heard from a garden in Rietfontein, Pretoria; the bird responded to playback, 11 Jan 10 (AV).
• Lesser Moorhen.  Kleinwaterhoender: a pair of birds with 4 chicks was at Sefudi Dam, Borakalalo NR, 31 Jan 10 (BLNG).
• White-bellied Korhaan.  Witpenskorhaan: a group of birds on the edge of Centurion in the Wierda Park area is most unusual, 13 Feb 10 (EM).
• Black-winged Pratincole.  Swartvlerksprinkaanvoël: a large flock of over 700 birds was foraging over a field of recently cut grass in pentad 2605_2835 west of Delmas, 08 Mar 10 (PT,RF).
• Alpine Swift.  Witpenswindswael: this species was seen at UNISA, Pretoria, during an oncoming thunderstorm, and was present again a few days later, 02 Feb 10 (ST).
• Grey-headed Kingfisher.  Gryskopvisvanger: one bird was at Borakalalo NR, 30 Jan 10 (DSo).
• Cape Crow.  Swartkraai: 2 birds circling overhead in pentad 2605_2805 in the Edenvale area is an unusual occurrence, 25 Mar 10 (BG).
• Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.  Geelsanger: a single bird was seen in pentad 2550_2755 just east of Northern Farm in the Rhenosterspruit Conservancy, a new locality for the species, 05 Mar 10 (JB,RS).
• Bokmakierie.  Bokmakierie: a record of a bird near Brits is most unusual, 01 Mar 10 (JJ).
• Violet-backed Starling.  Witborsspreeu: 3 birds were in a garden in Magalieskruin, Pretoria, 02 Feb 10 (HA); 2 birds were observed in the Kyalami area, 25 Mar 10 (RS).
• Cuckoo Finch.  Koekoekvink: a single bird was at Northern Farm, 14 Feb 10 (EM).
• Red-collared Widowbird.  Rooikeelflap: a displaying male bird was at Delta Park, Johannesburg, an unusual occurrence at this locality, 16 Jan 10 (GLd).

Observers / Waarnemers:

Allon Traub (AT)

André Marx (AM)

Anneke Vincent (AV)

BirdLife Northern Gauteng members (BLNG)

Bryan Groom (BG)

Clive Kaplan (CK)

Dave Deighton (DD)

Dave Sole (DSo)

Drinie van Rensburg (DvR)

Etienne Marais (EM)

Geoff Lockwood (GLd)

Hennie Aucamp (HA)

Jan Zeederberg (JZ)

Jannie Jansen (JJ)

Joey Botha (JBo)

John Bannon (JB)

Lia Steen (LS)

Louis Heyns (LH)

Maryna Steyn (MS)

Pat Tattersal (PT)

Rihann Geyser (RGy)

Rob Geddes (RGd)

Roger Fieldwick (RF)

Ron Searle (RS)

Stephan Terblanche (ST)

Sue Oertli (SO)

Tertius Gous (TG)

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