Compiled by André Marx

The heavy rains during late December and January resulted in a change in conditions in many wetlands throughout the region, with reports of flooding in many areas, and the consequent increase in reports of rain migrants. It has been a good summer for migrant species generally, with a spate of very interesting national and regional rarities occurring in the region, as highlighted in this report. Please continue to send any records, and if you are unsure about its 'rarity status' just ask and I will send you the list of regional rarities for the greater Gauteng region.

National Rarities / Nationale Rariteite

• Eurasian Bittern. Grootrietreier : the booming call of this species was heard at Marievale during the CWAC count there and is a significant observation as it confirms the continued presence of this bird at this site, 30 Jan 2011 (BPR).
• Western Marsh-Harrier. Europese Vleivalk : one bird was at Marievale, a regular locality for this species, 15 Jan 2011 (NP); a female bird was present at the Kgomo-Kgomo floodplain, 13 Mar 2011 (NP).
• Striped Crake. Gestreepte Riethaan : at least one bird was at the Kgomo-Kgomo wetland which had become extensively flooded after good rains, 19 Feb 2011 (RGd).
• Green Sandpiper. Witgatruiter : one bird was at Northern Farm, a locality where this bird turns up annually, 05 Dec 2010 (RS); a single bird was at Borakalalo NR, 18 Dec 2010 (CR); with one bird seen on the Zaagkuildrift road, 08 Jan 2011 (EM).
• Thrush Nightingale. Lysternagtegaal : brief views of one bird were enjoyed on the Zaagkuildrift road, 13 Mar 2011 (EM and others).
  
• River Warbler. Sprinkaansanger : one bird was found on the Zaagkuildrift road, north of Pretoria, 13 Mar 2011 (J&LG); with a further 6 birds found in this area, 27 Mar 2011 (EM and others).
• Grey Wagtail. Gryskwikkie : a solitary bird located at the WS Botanical Gardens in Johannesburg was a major surprise and in the ensuing weeks many local birders managed to see it, 27 Jan 2011 (G birders); This sighting considerably boosted attendance at the gardens with figures provided showing a threefold increase during the first weekend.
  
  
  
  

Regional Rarities / Streeksrariteite

• Marabou Stork. Maraboe : one bird was seen in farmland on the western outskirts of Pretoria, 23 Feb 2011 (ES).
  
• European Honey-Buzzard. Wespedief : one bird was at Northern Farm, 05 Dec 2010 (RS); a single bird was at Rietvlei NR, 03 Feb 2011 (GCx,TS); two birds were at Golden Harvest, Randburg, 15 Feb 2011 (NP).
  
• Montagu's Harrier. Blouvleivalk : one bird, a male, was observed north-east of Ekangala, near Bronkhorstspruit, 31 Dec 2010 (JBc).
  
• Black Harrier. Witkruisvleivalk : this species was seen on the road to Greylingstad, near Devon, on the eastern border of Gauteng, and is an unusual record for summer, 30 Jan 2011 (CK,PP).
  
• Buff-spotted Flufftail. Gevlekte Vleikuiken : a report was received of a bird that had been present in a garden in Hennops Park, Centurion, for a number of months, 19 Jan 2011 (LH via TC); subsequently the bird was seen at dusk when it was possible to photograph it, 3 Feb 2011 (AM, CK, PP, RM).
  

• Denham's Bustard. Veldpou : a record of one bird at Wolfhuiskraal, approximately 70km north of Pretoria, is most unusual, 08 Jan 2011 (EM and others).
  
• Sanderling. Drietoonstrandloper : a single bird was at Kgomo-Kgomo, 16 Jan 2011 (MG,RGd).
  
• Collared Pratincole. Rooivlerksprinkaanvoël : a solitary bird was at the Kgomo-Kgomo floodplain, 23 Mar 2011 (EdB); with further sightings being reported in the next couple of days of what was probably the same bird (G birders). This is an extremely rare species for the region and this is the only regional locality to date where its presence has been confirmed over the last couple of years.

Other Interesting Observations / Ander Interessante Waarnemings

• Pink-backed Pelican. Kleinpelikaan : a bird at Vaalkop Dam, NW Province, is most unusual at this locality, 30 Dec 2010 (F&RP).
  
• Long-crested Eagle. Langkuifarend : one bird was seen on the road to Delmas, near Devon, eastern Gauteng, 30 Jan 2011 (CK,PP); one bird was at Florida Lake, Roodepoort, 24 Mar 2011 (LS).
  
• Brown Snake-Eagle. Bruinslangarend : one bird soaring over the Klipriviersberg NR, southern Johannesburg, is unusual for the area, 15 Jan 2011 (HS,LRo).
  
• Shikra. Gebande Sperwer : this species was observed in a garden in Kempton Park when it caught a Cape Robin-Chat, 07 Jan 2011 (BO); two immature birds at Delta Park, Johannesburg, is unusual for the area, 23 Feb 2011 (GLd).
  
• Peregrine Falcon. Swerfvalk : a pair of birds was regularly seen in the vicinity of the museum and city hall in central Pretoria until late March when they were still present, 12 Jan 2011 (TC).
  
• Red-footed Falcon. Westelike Rooipootvalk : one bird was at Wolfhuiskraal, north of Pretoria, 27 Mar 2011 (EM).
  
• Red-winged Francolin. Rooivlerkpatrys : at least one bird was at Northern Farm, 07 Jan 2011 (EM).
  
• Great Spotted Cuckoo. Gevlekte Koekoek : an interesting record is of two juvenile birds being fed by Common Mynas on the Wallmansthal road north of Pretoria, 13 Jan 2011 (N&KGvD,PB).
  
• European Nightjar. Europese Naguil : one bird stayed in a garden in the Kyalami area, Midrand, for a few weeks, 01 Feb 2011 (RS).

• Woodland Kingfisher. Bosveldvisvanger : one bird was at the Cumberland Bird Sanctuary, Bryanston, 05 Feb 2011 (AM).
  
• European Roller. Europese Troupant : one bird was at the Klipriviersberg NR in southern Johannesburg, 30 Dec 2010 (SK).
  
• Dusky Lark. Donkerlewerik : one bird was seen near Kgomo-Kgomo, 05 Feb 2011 (NP); one bird was found on the Uitvlugt loop road south of Rust De Winter Dam, 13 Mar 2011 (LvD).
  
• Groundscraper Thrush. Gevlekte Lyster : at least 3 birds were in the Klipriviersberg NR area in southern Johannesburg, 15 Jan 2011 (HS,KLa,LRo).
  
• Capped Wheatear. Hoëveldskaapwagter : a first sighting at Delta Park, Johannesburg, in many years of observation at this locality is a very interesting record for the area, 03 Dec 2010 (GLd).
  
• Common Whitethroat. Witkeelsanger : a bird seen at Golden Harvest, Randburg, is unusual for the area, 06 Dec 2010 (NP).
  
• Olive-tree Warbler. Olyfboomsanger : a very interesting record for the Mulbarton area at the Klipriviersberg NR, southern Johannesburg, 06 Jan 2011 (LRo).
  
• Dark-capped Yellow Warbler. Geelsanger : one bird was at Northern Farm, 06 Feb 2011 (AM).
  
• Yellow Wagtail. Geelkwikkie : four birds were still at Rooiwal, north of Pretoria, during the club outing there, 27 Mar 2011 (BLNG); at least 12 birds were at Northern Farm when at least 3 different races were noted, 02 Apr 2011 (AM).
  
• Red-backed Shrike. Rooiruglaksman : a female bird was at Delta Park, Johannesburg, only the third record in 17 years of observations there, 13 Dec 2010 (GLd).
  
• White-browed Sparrow-Weaver. Koringvoël : one bird at Northern Farm was a first record at this locality, 06 Mar 2011 (RS); with another bird also being seen at this locality, 11 Mar 2011 (BLNG).
  
• Cuckoo Finch. Koekoekvink : a juvenile was at the Kliriviersberg NR in southern Johannesburg, 15 Jan 2011 (HS,LRo); one bird was at Rietvlei NR, 03 Feb 2011 (GCx,TS).
  

• Purple Indigobird. Witpootblouvinkie : one bird was in a Glenvista, Johannesburg, garden, 14 Feb 2011 (LRo).

Observers / Waarnemers:

André Marx (AM)
BirdLife Northern Gauteng members (BLNG)
BirdLife President Ridge members (BPR)
Bernie Orr (BO)
Clive Kaplan (CK)
Casper Rootman (CR)
Elba Swart (ES)
Errol de Beer (EdB)
Etienne Marais (EM)
Faansie & Ronel Peacock (F&RP)
Gauteng birders (G birders)
Geoff Lockwood (GLd)
George Cox (GCx)
Hanneline Smit (HS)
Jason Boyce (JBc)
Johann & Lizet Grobbelaar (J&LG)
Kevin Lavery (KLa)
Lance Robinson (LRo)
Lia Steen (LS)
Lisl van Deventer (LvD)
Liz Herholdt (LH)
Michal Groenewald (MG)
Neithard & Kathrin Graf von Dürckheim (N&KGvD)
Niall Perrins (NP)
Phil Penlington (PP)
Pieter Botha (PB)
Richard Montinaro (RM)
Rob Geddes (RGd)
Ron Searle (RS)
Steve Kench (SK)
Tamar Cassidy (TC)
Tony Simons (TS)

This column is mainly concerned with observations of rarities and interesting sightings made within a 100km radius of Gauteng, however observations made further afield are also welcome. 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 André Marx at 083 411 7674, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it