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Right, like with LITS we can start a rare sighting fro birds, it can either be actual mega-rare birds, or some very interesting things you've seen a bird do.

Off the top of my head, ultra rare birds ive seen have been
1. The lammergeier (bearded vulture)
2. Palm-nut vulture [endemic to kosi bay]

Our best rare bird is probably African Finfoot. We had an absolutely brilliant sighting. Unfortunately, no camera then.

I have seen some remarkable birds in the last 2 years.
Some included:
Grey-headed Parrot
Grey Crowned Crane
Senegal Lapwing
Black Harrier
Forest Buzzard
African Crowned Eagle
Squacco Heron
Pel's - 4 times.

Crowned eagle in the forests near Biyamiti.

Peculiar bird sightings. Fish eagle fight (4) over a fish one had snatched, near Engelhard Dam and Birchell's coucal killing a chameleon right in front of the Mantambeni hide.

I have two enormous gaps - Pels and African Broadbill.

For me in SanPark areas:
In KNP
Pels,
Narina Trogon
African Finfoot
Tambourine dove
Black-crowned night heron

In Kgalagadi and this for sure tops my list... the yellow variation of the crimson-breasted shrike! Absolutely awesome bird

Pels at the waterhole of Talamati, in the late dusk.
I've also seen a bat-hawk taking bats at the old Lower Sabie Keartland Guest House.

My uncle's farm in schoemanskloof (valley of Old Joe's Kaai) has a resident (?pair of?) narina trojons, which he is able to call into surrounding trees/veg when we go out onto walks.

My parents entered the Park yesterday, for a 2wk stay - ahhhhhh! Very happy for them, but what about me?!?!?!?

Hope this doesn't seem like bragging but we could all keep a look out for this Ultra rare bird.

In May 2002, in KTP at Dalkeith near Mata Mata, I saw and photographed a European Turtle dove, only the 3rd ever record for Southern Africa and only photo from our region.





The second pic is not mine but gives a clearer idea.

Do these birds migrate and was it blown off course

Yes BB that could be part of the puzzle. They apparently do migrate to North Africa each year and very occassionally when it is time to head due north, an individual will get confused and head due south, then just continue looking for home.

Hello there fellow bird nuts!

Seen Pels twice. The 2nd occasion we saw a breeding pair together.

Allen's Gallinule (Juvenile at Lake Panic - April 06)
Pallid Harriers (Two males in close proximity between Letaba and Phalaborwa - April 06)
Lesser Flamingo (Engelhard Dam - 2002)
Lanner Falcon (Olifants River causeway - April 06)

Would the black eagles on Table Mountain count, and the endangered black oystercatcher in TMNP?

Hi, Bush Babtist

Wow!, Black Eagles on table mountain are very good sighting. I've climbed up there ton's of times and never got to see them.
Although, I think the the black oystercatcher is really common along the West Coast and Cape Point.

Is the Burchells Coucal an uncommon species to see in the Cape Town area

Hi LS,

The oystercatcher can often be seen at Boulders in amongst the penguins, and is quite common thanks to the efforts of conservationists, but it is still endangered.

I have never seen a Burchell's coucal on home turf, so I consider it uncommon here. Anybody know where to see them?

The pair of black eagles were soaring 15 metres off the table top when I last went up. I posted a photo in another thread entitled 'spot the eagle' with the city in the background.

Bush Baptist,
There is one pair I see quite often at Rietvlie (Flamingoe vlie) during the past year. Very good looking birds, it was much bigger than thought it would be!