Compiled by André Marx

Regional Rarities / Streeksrariteite

• Collared Pratincole.  Rooivlerksprinkaanvoël : a solitary bird seen amongst many Black-winged Pratincoles was still present in late March and early April at the Kgomo-Kgomo wetland north of Pretoria, when it was reported by a number of people, 04 Apr 2011 – see photo (Gbird).

• Burchell's Sandgrouse.  Gevlekte Sandpatrys : several birds in association with Double-banded Sandgrouse were observed just west of Kgomo-Kgomo in North West Province, a locality within the 100km range of the greater Pretoria-Joburg area, 22 May 2011 (RGd).
• Yellow-bellied Greenbul.  Geelborswillie : a record at Damhoek NR in the Magaliesberg in pentad 2545_2735 is a new record for the area and further evidence of the spread of this species into parts of Gauteng, 05 Jun 2011 (LRo).
• Sickle-winged Chat.  Vlaktespekvreter : one bird was found on the Rietkuil Road near Nigel in the same vicinity to where this species was seen last winter, 10 Jul 2011 (RM).
• Red-faced Cisticola.  Rooiwangtinktinkie : this species was found in two different pentads in the Siyabuswa area (2500_2905 and 2505_2900), north-east of Pretoria, and are very interesting records considering that this is generally a species associated with the Lowveld, 03 Jul 2011 (ER,ST).
• Ashy Flycatcher.  Blougrysvlieëvanger : this species was found in an area of riverine forest near Amanzimtaba, north-east of Bronkhorstspruit in pentad 2535_2900 and is a good record for Gauteng, 25 Jun 2011 (LvD)
  
  
  

Other Interesting Observations / Ander Interessante Waarnemings

• White Stork.  Witooievaar : about 40 birds were feeding on burnt ground at Marievale, and this constitutes a large over-wintering group, 02 Jul 2011 (DN).
• African Cuckoo Hawk.  Koekoekvalk : a sighting of one bird near Fochville in pentad 2635_2730 in south-western Gauteng is unusual, 07 May 2011 (CWJ).
• Verreaux's Eagle.  Witkruisarend : a very interesting record is of an immature bird at the Lonehill koppie in Johannesburg where it stayed for a few days during which time it fed on a dassie, 04 Apr 2011 (DB) – see photo; with another record of an immature bird (the same one?) at nearby Norscot Koppies, 12 Jun 2011 (AF,HR).

• Long-crested Eagle.  Langkuifarend : one bird was in the Suikerbosrand area in 2635_2810, 03 Jul 2011 (CG).
• Jackal Buzzard.  Rooiborsjakkalsvoël : a record in the Wolwekraal area near Brits is unusual for this species, 14 Jun 2011 (JJ).
• Black Sparrowhawk.  Swartsperwer : two birds were photographed at Kuilfontein Farm near Nigel (pentad 2630_2830), 09 May 2011 (MT); one bird was photographed in a Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria, garden after it had caught and devoured a pigeon, 23 Jul 2011 (R&LS, via IvH) – see photo; one bird was in pentad 2625_2735 near Fochville, 31 Jul 2011 (CWJ); a pair bred once again in Rust de Winter town north of Pretoria, 15 Jul 2011 (RGd).

• Black Harrier.  Witkruisvleivalk : one bird was observed at Suikerbosrand in pentad 2630_2810, 26 Apr 2011 (RvdB).
• Osprey.  Visvalk : an over-wintering bird was at Abe Bailey NR near Carletonville, 24 Jun 2011 (J&MR).
• Peregrine Falcon.  Swerfvalk : one bird was at the Premier Mine quarry near Cullinan in pentad 2540_2830, 02 Apr 2011 (LvD); a bird was seen at the cliffs at Trichardtspoort, north-east of Bronkhorstspruit, 09 Apr 2011 (LvD).
• Natal Spurfowl.  Natalse Fisant : this species was heard and seen at Modderfontein, an unusual sighting for Johannesburg, 07 May 2011 (LRo).
• African Finfoot.  Watertrapper : this species was observed in the Skeerpoort area near Hartbeespoort Dam in pentad 2545_2740, 22 Apr 2011 (JJ); one bird was found on a quiet stretch of the Hennops River near Erasmia, Pretoria, in pentad 2545_2800, 29 May 2011 (PT,RF).
• African Green-Pigeon.  Papegaaiduif : one bird in a Fochville garden, south-west of Joburg, was a surprise and a first record there in 25 years, 24 May 2011 (J&MR).
• African Scops-Owl.  Skopsuil : during a walk at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens this species was first found roosting during the day and was seen in subsequent visits in the weeks that followed, 07 Jul 2011 (MvL).
  
• Lilac-breasted Roller.  Gewone Troupant : a record of this species in Glen Austen, Midrand, is somewhat out of range, 19 May 2011 (TMe).
  
• Red-billed Hornbill.  Rooibekneushoringvoël : a record of one bird in the Kyalami area is considerably south of where this species is normally found, 19 Jun 2011 (RG).
  
• Southern Pied Babbler.  Witkatlagter : two birds were present at Buffelsdrift, north-east of Pretoria, for a period of a few weeks from July 2011, a locality where they do not normally occur, 1 July 2011 (RGd).
  
• Pink-billed Lark.  Pienkbeklewerik : several birds were seen in pentads south of Devon, 01 Jul 2011 (RLm).
  
• Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler.  Bosveldtjeriktik : a record of this species at Northern Farm north-west of Johannesburg is considered to be a good record for the area, 12 Jun 2011 (AM,BLNG).
  
• Yellow Canary.  Geelkanarie : a record of this species at Bishop Bird Park, Centurion, is somewhat out of range, 22 May 2011 (EM).

Observers / Waarnemers:

André Marx (AM)
Andy Featherstone (AF)
BirdLife Northern Gauteng members (BLNG)
Colin Gerrans (CG)
Craig Whittington-Jones (CWJ)
Doug Black (DB)
Doug Newman (DN)
Ernst Retief (ER)
Etienne Marais (EM)
Gauteng birders (Gbird)
Howard Rayner (HR)
Ingrid van Heerden (IvH)
Jannie Jansen (JJ)
John & Moira Randall (J&MR)
Lance Robinson (LRo)
Lia Steen (LS)
Lisl van Deventer (LvD)
Madeleen van Loggerenberg (MvL)
Mark Tittley (MT)
Pat Tattersal (PT)
Richard Montinaro (RM)
Rion Lerm (RLm)
Rob & Lindsay Scott (R&LS)
Rob Geddes (RGd)
Roelof van der Breggen (RvdB)
Roger Fieldwick (RF)
Rowan Goeller (RG)
Stephan Terblanche (ST)
Theo Meyer (TMe)

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. The majority of reports are included according to their local rarity status and 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 André Marx at 083 411 7674, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it