News
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS DURING MAY 2021
Posted on the 30th May 2021We have again received some very interesting reports during this month, too many to report on. We feature a small selection of our personal favourites:
 |
| The star of the show was undoubtedly the WHINCHAT found in the Prinskraal area. Image by Lester van Groeningen |
 |
| The WINCHAT is only the 24th record of this species in South Africa. Another image by Lester van Groeningen |
Many CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTINGS, RED-BILLED QUELEAS and AFRICAN PALM SWIFTS were recorded, not only in the Overberg, but from various other areas in the Western Cape Province. It seems as if these species will in time become resident in the area. Other species that created excitement included sightings of MARTIAL EAGLE, INTERMEDIATE EGRET, SQUACCO HERON and a FAIRY FLYCATCHER, the first time that Steve Peck had recorded this species on his property at Napier.
The onset of winter and increasing cold fronts are bringing in excellent pelagic species closer to shore. Species recorded this month are BLACK-BROWED and SHY ALBATROSSES, NORTHERN and SOUTHERN GIANT PETRELS, WHITE-CHINNED PETREL, CORY’S, GREAT, MANX and SOOTY SHEARWATERS, BROWN SKUA and EUROPEAN and WILSON’S STORM PETREL. Ocean birding from shore will be very exciting over the next few months, so brave the chilly weather.
 |
| Giant Petrel off Kleinbaai - Lester van Groeningen |
 |
| Roseate Tern off Kleinbaai - Tinus le Roux |
A variety of migratory species were still recorded during May. It will be interesting to see whether these birds will again be recorded during June as several of these species are known to over-winter. Species recorded included the BAR-TAILED GODWIT, COMMON GREENSHANK, GREY PLOVER, BLACK SAW-WING, MARSH SANDPIPER, BARN and GREATER STRIPED SWALLOWS, COMMON and SANDWICH TERNS, AFRICAN REED WARBLER and EURASIAN WHIMBREL.
 |
| Bar-tailed Godwits at De Mond - Riaan Jacobs |
 |
| Common Greenshank at Danger Point |
Eleven members spent a few days surveying the Klaasvoogds area near Robertson. We were delighted to find a small group of RED-BILLED FIREFINCHES, a species that is very uncommon in the region. The GOLIATH HERON and AFRICAN FINFOOT were also recorded along the Breede River at Robertson, again illustrating that the Langeberg region is hugely underrated as a top birding area - see report elsewhere on this website.
 |
| Male Red-billed Firefinch |
 |
| Red-billed Firefinch pair - Riaan Jacobs (2) |
We also feature a few great images forwarded to us by members:
 |
| Sub-adult African Hawk Eagle recorded by Theanette Staal in the Kruger National Park |
 |
| Sub-adult Verreaux’s Eagle photographed by Riaan Jacobs in the Strandveld area |
 |
| This beautiful immature Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk was photographed by Brian Taylor in the Kgalagadi |
 |
| This immature Dwarf Bittern was found by Rynhard van der Merwe in the Kruger National Park |
 |
| Ben Thompson forwarded this lovely image of a male Swee Waxbill taken at Fernkloof |
 |
| Not birding related, but I just could not resist posting this stunning image by Brian Taylor taken in the Kgalagadi |
COMMENTS
2604