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Woohoo, I have seen one on the rare list, the common redshank!

Not sure how rare the Blue spotted Dove is....but have them in my garden. I'm living about 5km from Tzaneen. Included a picture of about 30 that I have taken over some months. Open the link to view

Klipbaber

<a href="http://s200.photobucket.com/albums/aa277/Klipvis/?action=view&current=IMGP4153aLarge.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa277/Klipvis/IMGP4153aLarge.jpg" border="0" alt="Blue spotted dove,Blue spotted dove3,Bluespotted dove3"></a>

Wow Klipbaber, to the best of my knowledge these birds have only been seen at Punda Maria, and are very difficult to find. They are usually found between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
You are very lucky

I think Klipbaber is goinf to become a very popular person with these little doves on his property.

There are some other spots where one can hope to find them in northern SA like Muirhead Dams 21km east of Makhado but I've not seen them there.

I was about to point out that vagrents can't really be considered rarities as, in the normal course of things, the wouldn't occur here anyway. To me a rarity is something that you can (sort of) predict. By that I mean that you are in the right habitat, at the right time of year, in the right location, but due to extremely small population size, nomadic habits, or extremely shy and retiring behaviour, the chances of spotting species X is very low.
However that said, to me, and this is very much a personal opinion, species like the Pel's (seen, Shakawe, Jan 2008), Narina Trogan (not seen), and Blue Swallows (not seen) are not 'real' rarities. Their numbers are extremely low but the nesting sites are closely monitored and providing you go to the right place, chances of seeing them are very good. The same applies to Swynnerton's Robin (seen, Dec 2007, Bvumba), althought it was a thrill to see it, some of the joy was lost because we walked to a spot, spished and behold! it appeared.
On the other hand, seeing a Long-Legged Buzzard (KTP Feb 2008, unconfirmed by rarities committee, but that's what I ticked it as) on a random game drive was an amazing and very exciting sighting! And so was the group of Wattled Cranes spotted over theeeeeere on the flood plains in north-eastern Namibia.
I personally feel a bit like I have cheated myself if I can walk up to the nest, or known roost of a 'rarity' and tick it (like the Pels). However, ask me again when I've reached the 600 mark and I am battling to see new ticks!! I will probably have a very different opinion!!

Off the top of my head, my most memorable and 'rare' sighting are:
Fairy Flycatcher
Pels
Wattled Crane
Long-Legged Buzzard
Brubru pair on nest
Swynnerton' Robin
Red-faced Crimsonwing
Livingstone's Turaco
Ground Hornbill (parents & 1 juv)
Brown Firefinch
African Skimmer
Black Eagle
Slaty Egret

And there are probably more but I can think of them at the moment!

It seems to me that the definition of rare sightings differs a lot. The Taita falcon is very scarce, but easy to see if you have the guide (Michael) with you. The question whether it is a very rare sighting is thus open for debate.

I have Magpie (Pied) Mannikins in my garden, quite far off their distribution area. It could be a rare to uncommon bird according to Roberts, but common to me, and many of my neighbours here in Tzaneen

My rarest sighting would be the Grey Wagtail I saw at Debengeni Waterfalls. The pic is not great, but it is mine!!!

Yes I can confirm the sighting of the grey wagtail Skopsie! LOL! I wonder whether they will be back this year....we will have to go check!

But of interest to birders I'm sure!

Sometimes my work takes me to different corners of our continent. When this happens, I try and add on a few days to get some of the local specials. This time around, it was to Uganda, where the Shoebill lurks! We went out early in the morning to Mabamba Swamps, on the edge of Lake Victoria, and found this awesome creature. With the amount of preening it was doing, it can only have been a female!







Another bird common around Kampala was the striking Double toothed Barbet



African Hobby is a bird I've not yet found in Southern Africa, we found two at a nest site, in the middle of Kampala



A difficult bird to get a decent sighting of, but a stunner of a Warbler, this Grey-capped Warbler was heard and then seen in Entebbe Botanical Gardens:



2 days birding just disappeared in a flash, this country needs lots of time to explore, I'll be back there for sure!

Cheers

Niall.

A tufted duck has been reported from Dullstroom nature reserve yesterday. Trevor Hardaker suggests that this bird may be a genuine vagrant... I am not sure what the rarities committee will eventually decide, but I'm going to have a peek... just in case!

Hallo Johan

One male Tufted Duck with about 6 Southern Pochards. It was on the bottom pond at the municipal reserve. The duck was in eclipse plumage.

I had birder from Finland with me two days ago when we found it. In my humble opinion it is a wild duck. The furthest south official record for Africa is Malawi. The Tufted Ducks migrate south and can then tag onto SOuthern Pochards migrating south and overshoot its destination.

It always kept with the Southern Pochards. When we came back to the area later the day the Tufted Duck and Pochards were gone.

Good luck on the chase and please keep me updated. The timing of the TD's arrival and the plumage I think is in keeping with a true vagrant.

Good luck and enjoy!

Anyone seen an Angolan Pita?

YES! December 2009 at Coutadas 12 and again at Mphingwe camp!!

WOW!!!!!! I believe that the rangers in the Northern Section spotted one in the Pafuri area a few years ago with the Big Birding Day in November. Eishhh, I can only as this has been the birdie I want to see most ... and the Shoebill Stork.....

Wow That must have been a sighting and a half


My rare birds would be-

Bohms Spinetail, Pafuri
Narina Trogan, Pilgrims Rest (i know its not in a sanpark, but i had to include it)

You can also get the Narina Trogan at Pafuri, all the more reason to visit the area