Recent Sightings

Kruger National Park – 2012 The records listed in this document are courtesy of Trevor Hardaker’s SA Rare Bird News at sa-rarebirdnews@googlegroups.com , submissions via the SANParks website, or direct contact between bir ders and SANParks staff. December 2012 At the end of December the following unusual birds were recorded: Crimson-breasted Shrike about 2km west of the Pafuri Picnic Site, White-winged Tern at Engelhard dam , Glossy Ibis and Pallid Harrier north of Shingwedzi

© Keith Foster

A report of a SOUTHERN BANDED SNAKE-EAGLE, observed for some time near the Nkhuhlu picnic site in the Kruger National Park on Friday (29th), will be a very interesting record for the province if it can be confirmed and photographed. Over in the Kruger National Park a BLACK COUCAL was seen today (27th) along the S128 near Lower Sabie Camp In the Limpopo Province a group of CASPIAN PLOVERS found along the Capricorn Loop north of Mopani Camp today (27th). In Limpopo a report in from the Kruger National Park is that a GREEN SANDPIPER was present this morning (25th) alongside the S127 when driving west to the Timbavati Picnic Site. Mpumalanga has continued to produce some interesting records. A GREY-HEADED GULL was seen at the bridge below Lower Sabie Camp in the Kruger National Park (22nd). This species is generally very uncommon in the park.

Grey-headed Gull at Lower Sabie

© Hylton Allison

MADAGASCAR CUCKOO update – (16th)

News from the Rollinsons this morning is that they have once again heard the

MADAGASCAR CUCKOO in the last hour but have not manage to see it. The latest fix

is on the S114 about 3km south of the junction with the S26. There are people in

Kruger looking for the bird so good luck if you are trying to find it!

MADAGASCAR CUCKOO update – (15th)

Patrick, Paul and Dominic Rollinson are in the Kruger Park at the moment and have

made contact with the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO again. They have heard the bird in

the last hour roughly 1km south of the coordinates given for the bird’s presence on 8

Dec. Those coordinates were that the bird was seen in the vicinity of the S114 road

at S 25 12 462 E 031 37 110 – the bird is now about 1 km south of this point and

visual contact has not yet been made. But I know that a number of people are

looking for the bird this weekend and if everyone congregates around the area it will

be found! Please send any update that can be shared with all those looking for this

most sought after rarity. The MADAGASCAR CUCKOO was once again showing well to a number of twitchers over the weekend. Although its appearances were a little erratic, it would seem that everyone who actually went for it eventually managed to connect with it on the weekend, so that is really good news. Not too far away from here, a GREEN SANDPIPER was reported at Biyamiti Weir on Thursday (6th) whilst the SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVERS were still present at Crocodile Bridge on the weekend as well. Up in Limpopo Province, but still in the Kruger National Park, a EURASIAN CURLEW was reported from Engelhard Dam near Letaba on Thursday (6th) as well.

Green Sandpiper at Biyamiti Weir © Navarre de Villiers

Update on MADAGASCAR CUCKOO (9th Dec): News just in from Yolande Oelsen is that the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO has just been relocated this morning about 1,5km south of the area where the sightings were noted yesterday. Apparently, the bird has been giving great views and there are at least 15 carloads of twitchers there at the moment enjoying the bird! Update on MADAGASCAR CUCKOO (8th Dec): Hennie Peters has just been in touch to confirm that they have had the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO active and calling again this morning along the S114 at S 25 12 462 E 031 37 110, just slightly north of where it was reported previously.

Update on MADAGASCAR CUCKOO (7th Dec): Well, it seems that the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO has not disappeared after all…

News just in from Mary de Wijn (12h20) is that the bird was present and calling along the S114 at S 25 12.844 E 31 37.360 about 2 hours ago for a short while where they were afforded reasonable views, but has since flown off and they have not been able to relocate it yet. So, a concerted effort and some reasonable patience may well still net you this bird if you are still needing it.

Over in Mpumalanga, the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO that has had all the attention for the last couple of weeks in the southern Kruger National Park was still showing well along the S114 and calling incessantly on Tuesday (4th) lunch time, but despite some extensive searching yesterday (5th) and today (6th), there has not been sight nor sound of the bird again. We will now have to wait and see where next it shows itself. Meanwhile, down at Crocodile Bridge, the SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER was still around this morning just at the bridge over the river as one heads out of the camp.

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger Park

Over in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, a GREEN SANDPIPER has also been present for several days now.

© Ken Logan

Green Sandpiper at Sabi Sands Game Reserve © Ben Coley

Update: 4th - John Bradshaw has just been in touch (14h00) to let me know that they are currently watching the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO in the same spot that everyone saw it in on Sunday along the S114 in the southern Kruger National Park. Once again, I could hear the bird calling in the background, so it is obviously very close to the road at the moment! Apparently, they have been looking for it since this morning and only found it a short while ago, so the bird is obviously moving around a bit – just a little bit of patience required to find it.

If you haven’t yet made an effort to go and see it, I would suggest that perhaps you strongly consider it. There has not really ever been such an accessible individual to twitch and who knows when you might next get an opportunity on this species…

3rd December: Mpumalanga continues to stay in the headlines with the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO in the southern Kruger National Park which performed well to a good number of people over the weekend with yesterday's twitch attracting over 30 people to the site at once while the bird sat unperturbed and continued to call incessantly. Literally just down the road, there was an added bonus when an adult SOOTY FALCON was located and many twitchers moved straight from the cuckoo on to the falcon and managed to add another unexpected tick. Just a little further south, the SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER also remained at Crocodile Bridge.

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Robert Wienand

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Brian Phelps

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Juan Pinto

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Johan de Beer

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Louis Heyns

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Peter Sharland

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Diego Pitzalis

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Jan Niemandt

Madagascar Cuckoo in the southern Kruger National Park © Hugo le Roux

Southern Brown-throated Weaver at Crocodile Bridge © Graham Acheson

Sooty Falcon in the southern Kruger National Park © Diego Pitzalis

Sooty Falcon in the southern Kruger National Park © Robert Wienand

Update of MADAGASCAR CUCKOO (Sunday 2 nd) - Lots of messages in this morning from many people who have connected with the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO at 25 12.931S, 31 37.373E. Sounds like there are many happy twitchers out there...:) Also of interest is a SOOTY FALCON at 25 25.082S, 31 33.257E.

A good day to be in Kruger...:) Update on MADAGASCAR CUCKOO (Saturday 1 st) – 09h05 - Andre Marais has just called in to say he is currently watching the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO along the S114 about 5km south of the junction with the S26. I could actually hear the bird calling in the background on the phone, so it is very close to the road! 11h40 - Rob Geddes and Michal Groenewald are currently watching the Madagascar Cuckoo. It has moved slightly and is now at 25 12,44S and 31 37,20E (1st) In the Kruger National Park where a group of 5 CAPE TEALS were reported from Rhidonda windmill about 20km from Letaba on Saturday, seemingly a very good record for the park.

Cape Teals at Rhidonda windmill© Juan Pinto

November 2012 Guy Hausler has just been in touch to let me know that they located a MADAGASCAR CUCKOO along the S139 (Biyamiti road) in the southern Kruger National Park yesterday (16th) afternoon and that the bird is still present this morning. Unfortunately, they have been unable to photograph it as yet, but have sent through sound recordings of the bird calling to me which confirm the identification without a doubt. I have attached one of the sound recordings that Guy has emailed to me for your reference. Guy also included the following information in his email to me: The exact location is as follows: S 25.16'52'' E 31.39'12'' Approximately 11km west of Biyamiti camp on the restricted access road. The bird was found at the above location yesterday evening and again this morning, moving along the tall riverine trees. Today it was observed moving along the river (west) towards the Biyamiti Wier. Anyone in the area should keep an eye out for it. On both occasions, the characteristic call is what attracted our attention. This is still an incredibly sought after species by most keen Southern African listers, so I suspect that the Kruger might be getting some additional unexpected visitors in the next 24 hours..:)

Good luck if you are planning on chasing it and keep us updated! Kind regards Trevor Update: MADAGASCAR CUCKOO : single bird still present 14km west of Biyamiti this afternoon (17th) at 17h00 calling and showing in some big trees near a stationary grader. Update: Robin Gray confirms that they have relocated the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO this morning (18th) about 800m on the Biyamithi side of the windmill along the Biyamithi road. Update: Numbers of twitchers traversed the Biyamiti road in the Kruger National Park looking for the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO this weekend (24th and 25 th) without any success, but I have just, this evening, received a report that the bird was seen early yesterday morning (25th) about 3km east of the junction between the S114 and S139.

Update 28th November: the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO has not disappeared just yet, but has merely moved to a different area…

Johann Kritzinger reports that the bird was located again this morning at the intersection of the S113 and S23 roads (co-ordinates for the site have been given as 25 12.738 S 31 35.595 E) in the Kruger National Park at around 07h00. It was apparently extremely vocal and called the entire time that they were with it, although obviously not continuously. They eventually left the bird after having spent more than an hour with it and there were apparently 3 vehicles there enjoying the bird. This is about 10km north of where it was originally reported from near Biyamiti. The bird has also apparently been photographed and I hope to have an image to include in tomorrow night’s report.

Madagascar Cuckoo in southern Kruger © Johann Kritzinger

Update 29th November: Frans van Vuuren has just been in touch to confirm that the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO is still present this morning. It is now at 25 12.487 S 31 35.626 E which is about 400m upstream of where it was seen yesterday. It appears to be following the course of the Biyamiti River, so that should be where you concentrate your efforts if you are looking for it. Well, there is no doubt that the headline bird of the last few days was the MADAGASCAR CUCKOO discovered near Biyamiti in the Kruger National Park on Friday afternoon. After the initial finders relocated it on Saturday morning, they sent word through of their find and the first alert went out at around 10h30 on Saturday morning. Immediately, some twitchers put plans into motion to get there as quickly as possible and the bird remained on view being reported again late on Saturday afternoon. This bode well for others and, throughout Sunday, the bird was picked up intermittently as it moved along a roughly 2km stretch of the Biyamiti access road always giving itself away with its loud call. It has continued showing and was still present late this afternoon when the most recent of the twitchers connected with it. So, why is this bird causing such excitement…? Well, from what I have been able to ascertain, this is only the 8th confirmed record of Madagascar Cuckoo for the Southern African subregion. The first confirmed record of this species was from Mala Mala in Mpumalanga in November 1986 where it returned for several seasons (there is an unconfirmed report of a bird collected in Durban in the late 1800's). Thereafter, it was recorded in December 1995 in Chinizuia in Mozambique, December 1998 in the Vumba in Zimbabwe, August 1999 in Chinizuia again, October 2006 in Phinda Game Reserve in Kwazulu Natal (this bird also returned to this site for several successive seasons), December 2008 near Biyamiti in the Kruger National Park (very close to where this current bird is) and finally in March 2010 in Catapu in Mozambique. On all of these occasions, the bird was heard calling which helped to confirm the identification. There have also been a number of other potential records of this species where Lesser Cuckoo (an equally rare bird!) could not totally be eliminated as a possibility, so they remain as unconfirmed.

Madagascar Cuckoo near Biyamiti © Johann Grobbelaar

Josh Engel and his group located and photographed a PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Nsemani Dam, west of Satara in the Kruger National Park, on Saturday morning (17th).

Pectoral Sandpiper at Nsemani Dam © Josh Engel

A CUCKOO FINCH was reported along the H2-2 Voortrekker Road between Pretoriuskop and the Afsaal Picnic Site in the Kruger National Park last week (1st)

Cuckoo Finch near Pretoriuskop © Francois Dreyer

A SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER seen in some scrub on the edge of the Limpopo River near Makhwadzi Pan and an OVAMBO SPARROWHAWK seen along the Pafuri main road, both of these records being in the Kruger National Park. October 2012 A GREEN SANDPIPER was also reported from the high water bridge over the Sabie River between Skukuza and Lower Sabie earlier today (22nd).

Limpopo Province also delivered GREEN SANDPIPERS with one along the Palmloop River in the Olifants River Game Reserve and another reported earlier today (22nd) at Boyela waterhole near Sirheni in the Kruger National Park.

Green Sandpiper at Olifants River Game Reserve © Graham Hickson

A GREEN SANDPIPER was located on a sandbank opposite Skukuza in the Kruger National Park earlier today (11th) The SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVERS have been found again at Crocodile Bridge.

Southern Brown-throated Weaver at Crocodile Bridge © Victor Soares

And again on October 13th

Southern Brown-throated Weaver at Crocodile Bridge © Juan Pinto

September 2012 On Saturday (22nd), a GREEN SANDPIPER was reported between Skukuza and Phabeni in the Kruger National Park along the S1 road near the junction with the S4 road.

Green Sandpiper near Skukuza © Gary Cusins

The grey cuckoo-shrike is not the only passage visitor from their usual forest habitats to visit Skukuza Nursery in the last couple of days. Matthew Burnett found the attached white-starred robin yesterday afternoon (11th).

Another interesting record was a blue-mantled flycatcher report by Rich Sowry and Nic Squires from Ngala Camp last week (4th). From the Kruger National Park, the GREY CUCKOO-SHRIKE was still on view at Skukuza Nursery on Saturday (8th) whilst there have also been recent reports of COMMON MYNAS from both Satara Rest Camp and Skukuza Staff Village.

Grey Cuckoo-shrike at Skukuza Nursery © Guy Hausler

Common Mynas at Satara © Guy Hausler

A CHESTNUT-VENTED TIT-BABBLER was reported north of the Levhuvhu River near the Pafuri River Camp whilst, further south, a pair of CRIMSON-BREASTED SHRIKES were seen along the H7 between Satara and Orpen and a GREY CUCKOO-SHRIKE was located at the Skukuza Nursery.

Grey Cuckoo-shrike at Skukuza Nursery © Heinrich Human

August 2012 a BLACK-THROATED WATTLE-EYE was reported from the Crocodile Bridge area of the Kruger National Park last week (26th), a species that certainly seems to be expanding its range into the Lowveld.

Black-throated Wattle-eye near Crocodile Bridge © Bertus Spreeth

(16th) Attached is a photo of a Kalahari scrub-robin that I took on the Nyalaland Trail this week. The photo was taken just south of the Madzaringwe confluence with the Levuvhu River. David Nemakula, the assistant trails ranger said that it had been in the area for a month or so. I know that it is a rare vagrant, but would be interested to know to what extent, as most bird lists and books for the park do not include it. Does anyone know details of any previous sightings?

John Adamson Head Guide (Olifants Rest Camp)

(Brenden Pienaar got a Common Fiscal near Phalaborwa Gate about a month ago, I’m not sure it’s that uncommon. I got red-headed finches near Ngotso Weir drinking from a small puddle on the ground after the first rains in October 2011. I was unable to get a photo of Yellow bishop that was spotted by David Nemakula (trails assistant) while walking Levevhu Gorge. This bird is not mentioned in Ian Whyte and Hugh Chittenden’s book on birds of KNP. Brown robin is another regularly seen resident near the trails camp with limited records for the park.) There has been a single juvenile FLAMINGO present at Sunset Dam in the Kruger National Park for the last few days (at least from 8th August to 12th). Whilst I have received at least 4 reports all indicating that it is a Greater Flamingo, the single image that I have received concerns me a little and makes me think this might be a Lesser Flamingo. However, I would certainly need a better quality image to make a definitive call one way or the other. Also of interest, or perhaps dismay, is a report of a single COMMON MYNA at Lower Sabie camp over the weekend as well.

Flamingo at Sunset Dam © Wallie Latham

This report is going out early tonight just because it’s been an incredibly quiet few days with virtually nothing to report… The only news comes from Mpumalanga where a group of 4 GREY CROWNED CRANES were reported flying high over the Crocodile River and viewed from the R40 in the middle of Nelspruit on Monday morning whilst the flamingo at Sunset Dam in the Kruger National Park can now be confirmed as a LESSER FLAMINGO and was still present on Tuesday, but had disappeared by yesterday.

Lesser Flamingo at Sunset Dam © Justin Bode

July 2012 In Limpopo Province, a single GREATER FLAMINGO was reported from the Engelhardt Dam north of Letaba in the Kruger National Park on Saturday 14th. May 2012 Then, in Limpopo Province, a RED-HEADED FINCH was located at Ngotso Dam north of Satara in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday (29th).

Red-headed Finch at Ngotso Dam © Japie Claassen

April 2012 At Leeupan, in the Kruger National Park, 2 ALLEN’S GALLINULES were once more located at the beginning of the week (9th). March 2012 A trip to Leeupan on the 29th failed to produce the AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE, but one DWARF BITTERN and two ALLEN’S GALLINULES were found. Back at Skukuza camp there was a flood of RIVER WARBLERS, both in the camp just west of the conference centre and in the Nursery parking lot. And finally, in Mpumalanga, the AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE was still present at Leeupan in the Kruger National Park earlier today whilst a RIVER WARBLER was reported at Skukuza about 100m away from the upper deck over the Sabie River this morning (12th)

African Pygmy Geese at Leeupan in the Kruger NP © Hugo le Roux

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February 2012 Moving into Mpumalanga, Leeupan in the Kruger National Park is still holding many of its recent attractions including ALLEN’S GALLINULE and the AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE whilst the real excitement came yesterday when a GOLDEN PIPIT was discovered near Biyamithi weir in the Kruger National Park as well. The GPS co-ordinates for where the bird was seen have been given as 25°17' 0.68" S 31°39' 2.85" E. This repres ents only the 13th known record of this species in Southern Africa although the last bird at Pongola Nature Reserve was a particularly well-twitched individual. Hopefully, the bird will remain in this area and give those that never got the opportunity to see the last bird another chance…

Pygmy Goose at Leeupan © Michael Meidlinger

Golden Pipit near Biyamithi Weir © Jaco Joubert

The ALLEN’S GALLINULE reported from Leeupan in the Kruger National Park earlier last week was still present yesterday as well and there are now in fact 2 individuals there.

Allen’s Gallinule at Leeupan © Johan Nell

The Kruger National Park has offered some interesting sightings recently as well which span both the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. Starting from the north, an AFRICAN HOBBY was seen foraging over Palm Vlei in the Makuleke Contractual Park last Saturday (4th) whilst this past weekend (11th/12th) confirmed that the SENEGAL COUCALS were still present in the spot described in a previous SARBN report and additional sightings included a CUCKOO FINCH about 4km south of Boyela Waterhole and a EURASIAN HONEY BUZZARD along the Mahonie Loop. Other good birds in the park over the weekend included at least 4 ALLEN’S GALLINULES at Leeupan along with 2 WHISKERED TERNS whilst Mazithi Dam produced at least 20 WHISKERED TERNS as well as 3 SOUTHERN POCHARDS and 2 male YELLOW-CROWNED BISHOPS, all good records for the area. Also of interest were 2 CAPE SHOVELERS at Rhidonda Pan between Phalaborwa and Letaba and WHITE-BROWED SPARROW-WEAVER nesting 5km (on left) towards Nkumbe lookout from H1-2/H10 junction (Tshokwane).

Senegal Coucals south of Punda Maria © Niall Perrins

Cuckoo Finch near Boyela Waterhole © Niall Perrins

Allen’s Gallinule at Leeupan © Duncan McKenzie

Whiskered Tern at Leeupan © Duncan McKenzie

In Mpumalanga, a LESSER-type CUCKOO (either Lesser or Madagascar) was seen at Nsemani Dam west of Satara in the Kruger National Park yesterday (8th) January 2012 27th In Limpopo Province, there has been some excitement with the discovery of breeding SENEGAL COUCALS in the north of the Kruger National Park. The location is on the left of the H1-7, about 100 m from where the H13-1 (tar road from Punda Maria) makes a T-junction with the H1-7, in the direction of Shingwedzi. This is apparently the first confirmed breeding record for the Kruger and may well represent the first record for South Africa, although I would love to hear if anyone knows any differently. 26th The wayward pelagic species continue to be reported with Mpumalanga turning up yet another SOOTY TERN at Renosterkoppies in the Kruger National Park

Sooty Tern at Renosterkoppies © Danie @ Kruger NP

24th

Martin Taylor has reported a dark-backed tern (either Sooty or Bridled Tern) flying down the Shingwedzi River this morning in the direction of Kanniedood Dam in the Kruger National Park. Unfortunately, the views were not totally conclusive to allow a definitive identification of the bird at the time, but he will be heading back out there this afternoon to see if he can relocate the bird again and possibly get some photos. Limpopo Province has had a glut of interesting seabirds (never thought I’d ever see myself say that…!) after the recent storms that have ravaged the area including SOOTY TERNS at both Letaba in the Kruger National Park and at Hoedspruit (originally identified as a Bridled Tern erroneously) and a EUROPEAN STORM PETREL at Shimuvini Camp (the latter bird unfortunately subsequently died).

Sooty Tern at Letaba © Brenden Pienaar

It might pay to keep your eyes open if you are in this general area over the next few days… While many of the Lowvelders are still trying to put the pieces back together after the huge storms that ravaged the area earlier in the week, the reports are also now starting to come through of a number of displaced seabirds… Already, this morning (20th), I have seen reports of a SOOTY TERN at Letaba, a BRIDLED TERN in Hoedspruit and a EUROPEAN STORM PETREL at Shimuvini! Please keep the reports and photos coming through to me and I will do a full round-up of all the “storm casualties” in Monday’s report. Who knows what other exciting vagrants are still going to be found in the next few days…

A report from Limpopo Province, just outside Kruger of an immature Ruppell’s Vulture . The bird was seen by a ranger working for Royal Malewane in the Thornybush Game Reserve on the 7th when it was sighted in amongst several White-backed Vultures at a wildebeest carcass. This is another good find, and it would be good if those in the area can keep an eye out for this bird.