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This might be of interest to some of you. I was surprised to find this speckled (rock) pigeon at Mazithi dam on 15 May. This was my first sighting of this bird within Kruger. I guess they could perhaps occur around Berg-en-Dal and Olifants camp.

WildWings, the Speckled Rock Pigeon is quite common in Kruger. There is a distribution map online which I'm not allowed to link to which shows you can expect it all over in specific areas and camps. A short quote from this particular site:

"The Speckled Pigeon is neither Endemic or near Endemic to the Kruger National Park. It is however a common resident."

If you want the link, I can PM it to you.

Then I must be missing something, because I've never seen one, and I'm there 200 days a year (perhaps not in the right areas). Newman's, although outdated, claims it to be rare as well.

I have a bit more time now than earlier. :-D

I PM'd you the link with the distribution maps where they have been spotted before and as you'll see, that's just about all over Kruger but in a strange way. I come from Gauteng where they're as common as the house sparrow so was wondering after a couple of trips why I've never seen them on any trip to KNP. There is a trick to them. They're not as rare as some of the birds that would have birders running, but Locally common residents especially in the vicinity of camps, South to North. If I'm not mistaken Chris Patton's KNP Birdlist call them Rlr or such? Resident localized rare? So yes indeed, you may just have never seen them where you were. I've never seen them in KNP myself as far as I remember.

Where's some bird guru when you need them. I'm sure they'll be able to explain it way easier than the mess I'm making.

Thanks GP. Had a look at the link. Seems they are locally common and then it just depends where you are in Kruger (and I spend less time in the right areas). They are definitely more common in urban areas, so not quite the same appeal as some vagrants. Nevertheless, it seemed an interesting observation to me. Hopefully next time I can offer you a much more interesting bird.

Not uninteresting at all, WildWings!! I was onto it in a flash because it was the first time I've seen a pic of one taken in KNP!! :-D It always bothered me that I never saw a supposedly localized bird. I was on my way into town this morning so didn't get my first post right the way I wanted. That was a very nice sighting for me who thought they didn't exist in KNP.

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I've only seen them at the so-called Mutale lookout, which overlooks some rapids in the river of that name. The river eventually flows into the Luvuvhu, and the lookout is in the Makuleke CNP, very close to the western boundary with Makuya Park.

Johan

Hi WildWings...interesting to see one outside of a camp. I have seen them in Camp, think it was Letaba, just got to check my records