Compiled by André Marx

With the onset of excellent rains in January conditions in the bushveld areas in the north of our region resulted in a number of interesting records that included a number of "rain migrants".  In addition, this was a good year for warblers with numbers of migrant warblers and rarities being encountered.  Several interesting reports of garden birds were received as well.

National Rarities / Nasionale Rariteite

• Slaty Egret.  Rooikeelreier : one bird was at Barberpan, in North West Province, 27 Feb 08 (JA).

• European Honey-Buzzard.  Wespedief : a single bird was west of Pretoria Gardens, 15 Jan 08 (RGy); a dark phase bird was at Ezemvelo NR, north-east of Bronkhorstspruit, 02 Feb 08 (EM); one bird was photographed in Wierda Park, Centurion, 05 Feb 08 (EM); two different birds showing varying plumage were at Smuts House, Centurion, 07 Feb 08 (EM); one bird was in Wierda Park, Centurion, 09 Feb 08 (PW); another sighting was of one bird at Rooiwal, 10 Feb 08 (PW). There have been a number of records of this species this summer once again, reaffirming the view that this species is becoming increasingly common.

• Western Marsh-Harrier.  Europese Vleivalk : this species was observed during the Marievale CWAC count, 13 Jan 08 (EE,DN).

• Striped Crake.  Gestreepte Riethaan : a female with two chicks was seen crossing the road near Kgomo-Kgomo, 02 Mar 08 (EM).

• Green Sandpiper.  Witgatruiter : one bird was observed at "crake road" near Kgomo-Kgomo, 13 Jan 08 (LH); with a pair of birds at the same locality a day later, 14 Jan 08 (AT). There were numerous reports of this species this summer in the Zaagkuildrift area, possibly of the same birds that remained in the area for a few weeks.

• Pectoral Sandpiper.  Geelpootstrandloper : one bird was located at Rooikoppies Dam where it remained for a few weeks; several people managed to see the bird, 16 Feb 08 (BLNG).

• Thrush Nightingale.  Lysternagtegaal : one bird was located at the 12km mark on the Zaagkuildrift road where it remained for a number of weeks, during which time it was seen by several birders, 01 Feb 08 (BLNG).

• River Warbler.  Sprinkaansanger : a bird was singing near Vaalkop Dam NR, 12 Feb 08 (F&RP); at least five birds were seen and heard on the Zaagkuildrift road, 15 Mar 08 (BLNG,EM).

Regional Rarities / Streeksrariteite

• Southern Bald Ibis.  Kalkoenibis : two birds were observed about 9km before Ezemvelo NR, 01 Feb 08 (EM); this species was found again at Luiperdskloof, north-east of Pretoria, 09 Feb 08 (EM).

• Tawny Eagle.  Roofarend : one bird was found east of Borakalalo NR, 26 Jan 08 (BLNG).

• Grey Crowned Crane.  Mahem : one bird was in the Devon area, 22 Mar 08 (EM).

• Cape Eagle-Owl.  Kaapse Ooruil : the call of this species was heard on two evenings at Suikerbosrand and a bird believed to be this species was seen overhead, 09 Feb 08 (DN and others). There are no recent records of this species in Gauteng, however it does occur in the vicinity of Suikerbosrand and it is likely to be present there.

• Square-tailed Nightjar.  Laeveldnaguil : during a night drive at Rietvlei NR one bird was photographed and confirmed as being this species, 18 Jan 08 (RGy).

• Pennant-winged Nightjar.  Wimpelvlerknaguil : one bird was flushed a few times at Ezemvelo NR when the distinctive features of this species were noted, 02 Feb 08 (EM).

Other Interesting Observations / Ander Interessante Waarnemings

• Black-necked Grebe.  Swartnekdobbertjie : 15 birds with chicks were counted during the CWAC count at Groenfontein Pan, near Bronkhorstspruit Dam, 23 Feb 08 (AM,RCo,PLe).

• Dwarf Bittern.  Dwergrietreier : good views of one bird were had during the club outing to Buffelsdrift, near Rust De Winter Dam, 20 Jan 08 (BLNG); another bird was spotted during a club outing to the Kgomo-Kgomo area a week later, 26 Jan 08 (BLNG); several birds, including a juvenile, were at a wetland near Mkhombo Dam, about 100km north-east of Pretoria, 22 Feb 08 (AM,PLe).

• Maccoa Duck.  Bloubekeend : one bird was at Northern Farm, south-west of Pretoria, 11 Jan 08 (H&RB).

• Booted Eagle.  Dwergarend : a pale phase bird was seen during the club outing to Longside Farm, west of Pretoria, 03 Feb 08 (BLNG).

• Ayres's Hawk-Eagle.  Kleinjagarend : one bird was seen soaring over Wierda Park, Sandton, 22 Feb 08 (DSw).

• Long-crested Eagle.  Langkuifarend : one bird was a surprise find alongside the N4 just outside Rustenburg, 27 Mar 08 (JJ); a single bird was observed just outside Brits, 03 Apr 08 (JJ).

• Black Sparrowhawk.  Swartsperwer : one bird was seen flying over Moreleta Park, 13 Jan 08 (F&RP).

• Montagu's Harrier.  Blouvleivalk : a single bird was at Suikerbosrand NR, 08 Jan 08 (EM); a first year male was seen quartering the grasslands at Kgomo-Kgomo, 09 Mar 08 (AM,DP,JJ,JB).

• Pallid Harrier.  Witborsvleivalk : one bird was observed alongside the Zaagkuildrift road, 04 Apr 08 (P&GW,BE&AE).

• Osprey.  Visvalk : at least two different birds were at Vaalkop Dam NR, 14 Feb 08 (F&RP).

• Red-footed Falcon.  Westelike Rooipootvalk : a female bird was observed amongst a group of Amur Falcons in the Rietvlei area, 12 Jan 08 (RGy); with another sighting of a female bird at this locality, 28 Jan 08 (BG); one bird was observed at Middelburg, 28 Jan 08 (ST).

• Harlequin Quail.  Bontkwartel : during a club outing this species was seen feeding on the Zaagkuildrift road when the birds could be watched through a spotting scope, 09 Mar 08 (BLNG).

• Blue Crane.  Bloukraanvoël : 22 birds were recorded in the Devon area, 22 Mar 08 (EM).

• Corn Crake.  Kwartelkoning : one bird was observed at the start of the Zaagkuildrift road, 12 Jan 08 (KR); this species was observed on the Zaagkuildrift road after a particularly wet spell, 19 Jan 08 (CK,DSw).

• Blue Korhaan.  Bloukorhaan : 6 birds were in the Devon area, 22 Mar 08 (EM).

• Terek Sandpiper.  Terekruiter : one bird was at Barberspan, an unusual record for an inland locality, 27 Feb 08 (JA).

• Bronze-winged Courser.  Bronsvlerkdrawwertjie : a single bird was in the Rietvlei area south of Pretoria, 12 Jan 08 (RGy); one bird was in Faerie Glen NR in Pretoria, 13 Jan 08 (ST); four birds were observed during a night drive at Rietvlei NR, 18 Jan 08 (RGy); one bird was reported as far west as Schoemansdrift, near Potchefstroom, 26 Jan 08 (AH); one bird was found on a plot of land in the middle of suburbia in the Fourways area, 06 Feb 08 (SO); one bird was heard at night in Moreleta Park, 08 Feb 08 (FP); a single bird was present in the Rayton area for a month, 28 Mar 08 (JvW). It would appear that there was an influx of birds into our region this summer.

• Black-winged Pratincole.  Swartvlerksprinkaanvoël : Hundreds of birds were present on fields at Marievale, 15 Dec 07 (DD); a flock of about 500 birds was at Kgomo-Kgomo, 26 Jan 08 (BLNG); a huge flock of birds (possibly as many as 750-1,000 birds) was at Kgomo-Kgomo, 08 Mar 08 (BLNG).

• Meyer's Parrot.  Bosveldpapegaai : two birds were in a Faerie Glen garden, 02 Mar 08 (EH).

• Woodland Kingfisher.  Bosveldvisvanger : one bird was a surprise visitor to a garden in North Riding, Randburg, 02 Mar 08 (GE).

• Grey-headed Kingfisher.  Gryskopvisvanger : one bird was near the start of the Zaagkuildrift road, near Pienaarsrivier, 13 Jan 08 (LH); one bird was seen near Wolfhuiskraal, north of Pretoria, 08 Mar 08 (AM,JB); one bird was at Mkholwane Lodge, Mdala NR, north-east of Pretoria, 26 Mar 08 (DSo,PLe,RCo).

• Common Scimitarbill.  Swartbekkakelaar : a sighting of this species in Faerie Glen NR in Pretoria is considered unusual, 13 Jan 08 (ST).

• Dusky Lark.  Donkerlewerik : one bird was found in the Zwartkoppies area, east of Pretoria, 16 Dec 07 (RGy); one bird was about 5km east of Hammanskraal, 15 Jan 08 (ER); one bird was at Tswaing, north of Pretoria, 26 Jan 08 (ST); one bird was near the entrance to Ditholo NR, 09 Feb 08 (F&RP); with another at Kwalata, north of Pretoria, 10 Feb 08 (F&RP); one bird was recorded near Beestekraal, 01 Mar 08 (DP,JJ). This species was particularly numerous this summer .

• Common Starling.  Europese Spreeu : an unexpected record was of one bird at Middelburg, 28 Jan 08 (ST). This is not a species known in the cagebird trade and this could have been a genuine "visitor" to the region.

• Fan-tailed Widowbird.  Kortstertflap : several birds were present at Elandsvlei, near Bapsfontein, an unusual occurrence at this locality, 07 Feb 08 (EM).

• Bronze Mannikin.  Gewone Fret : a record of this species at Marievale is considered unusual, 19 Jan 08 (DD).

• Yellow Canary.  Geelkanarie : one individual was at Vaalkop NR, somewhat out of range, 14 Feb 08 (F&RP).

Observers / Waarnemers:

Adrian Haagner (AH)

Allon Traub (AT)

André Marx (AM)

BirdLife Northern Gauteng members (BLNG)

Bo Espensen & Annemarie Ennemark (BE&AE)

Bryan Groom (BG)

Clive Kaplan (CK)

Dave Deighton (DD)

Dave Sole (DSo)

Donald Peake (DP)

Doug Newman (DN)

Déwald Swanepoel (DSw)

Eric Ehlers (EE)

Eric Hough (EH)

Ernst Retief (ER)

Etienne Marais (EM)

Faansie & Ronel Peacock (F&RP)

Grant Esterhuyse (GE)

Helen & Ray Biram (H&RB)

Jan van Wyk (JvW)

Jannie Jansen (JJ)

Joel Avni (JA)

John Bannon (JB)

Kevin Ravno (KR)

Louis Heyns (LH)

Pauline Leinberger (PLe)

Peter & Gina Wilgenbus (P&GW)

Peter Wilgenbus (PW)

Rihann Geyser (RGy)

Rynetta Coetzee (RCo)

Stephan Terblanche (ST)

Sue Oertli (SO)

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 space availability 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 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