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The following largely unconfirmed records have all been published for interest only in Bulletins of the African Bird Club.

In January - May 2011 the following were reported. Almost 200 African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris were at Lake Ngami on 6 March, with 1,000 Great White PelicansPelecanus onocrotalus and 50+ Pink-backed Pelicans P. rufescens also
there. A European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus was reported in Maun in January. Single Denham's Bustards Neotis denhami were seen at Orapa Game Park in mid January and at Pandamatenga Farm on 21 January. A Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus was reported at a pool c.10 km south of Sepupa on the western side of the Panhandle in mid January, whilst a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos was observed in Chobe National Park in March. A Gull-billed TernSterna nilotica was claimed from Lake Ngami on 29 May. Also of note was an immature Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas near Tshabong on 28 March.

An influx of Dusky Larks Pinarocorys nigricans occurred in south and south-east Botswana in February - March, when many small groups were reported, with one as far south-west as Tshabong on 28 March. A Heuglin's Robin Cossypha
heuglini was ringed in Francistown on 26 March (one had also been caught there in April 2010) and two were trapped at the same site on 1 May; a pair was also reported in a garden c.1 km distant - these records represent a westward range extension in eastern Botswana. A group of Burnt-necked Eremomelas Eremomela usticollis was discovered near Kang on 21 May; the Kalahari is outside the expected range of this species.

In May - November 2010 the following were reported. A Black Stork Ciconia nigra was seen at Mashatu, in the Tuli Block, on 6 May and 8 August; a group of seven was at Nata Sanctuary on 24 - 25 August and one at Coombe Farm, on the Limpopo River, on 1 October; most sightings are of singles or pairs, often with young, but seven together is unusual. Notable wildfowl records in south-east Botswana included eight Fulvous Whistling Ducks Dendrocygna bicolor at Bokaa Dam on 22 July, two White-backed Ducks Thalassornis leuconotus at Mogobane Dam on 26 September, 45 Maccoa Ducks Oxyura maccoa at Bokaa Dam on 22 July, 13 at Gamoleele Dam and one at Jwaneng Sewage Ponds on 16 July, 18 at Mahalapye Sewage Ponds on 17 August, and seven at Sojwe Pan on 21 August. A Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, a presumed escape, was seen at Gaborone Game Reserve on 30 July and was still present on 21 September.

Single Ospreys Pandion haliaetus were seen at Nata Sanctuary on 8 September and in Moremi Game Reserve near the Khwai River on 13 September. Some 785 Chestnut-banded Plovers Charadrius pallidus, including a pair with one young of c.1 week old, were seen in the north of Sowa Pan, Makgadikgadi system, on 24 - 25 August; this is the second highest count at this site. A White-headed Lapwing Vanellus albiceps was reported from Stevensford Game Ranch on the banks of the Limpopo River, c.13 km east of Martinsdrift Border Post, in early October; this appears to be one of the westernmost records in this part of the species' range. A Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, a Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata and a Whimbrel N. phaeopus were on the Nata River near Sowa Pan on 25 August; a Eurasian Curlew was also present on 8 September. A Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus was located at Phakalane Sewage Ponds, Gaborone, on 17 October. In Nata Sanctuary, 29 Caspian Terns Sterna caspia were observed on 25 August.

Sightings of Schalow's Tauraco Tauraco schalowi in the Kasane area were reported from Mowana Lodge on 23 September and Marina Lodge on 29 November. A Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti was seen on 3 September at Shakawe, in the Okavango Panhandle; this is the 13th record for Botswana. A Bushveld Pipit Anthus caffer and a Long-billed Pipit A. similis were identified in the Lokgokgotho Hills south of Gaborone on 31 October.

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The following records are from October 2009 - June 2010. Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricollis were at Maun sewage ponds on 19 March (one and at Sojwe Pan on 8 May (38). The major influx of African Openbills Anastomus lamelligerus into South Africa in November–January, with some birds remaining until May, was also noticed in Botswana, with additional sightings being reported from Masetlheng Pan on 9–16 December (one), Bokaa Dam on 13 March (one), Thagale Dam on 2 May (five) and Gaborone Dam on 6 June (one).

Single Ospreys Pandion haliaetus were at Gaborone Dam on 3 February and near Francistown on 5 March and single European Honey Buzzards Pernis apivorus at Kasane on 19 December and Thagale Dam on 23 January. A Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus was seen at Nata Sanctuary on 26 March. In Chobe National Park, 15 Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni were counted on 16 March, 60 the next day and 30+ on 18 March.

Seven Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus were in Nata Sanctuary on 23 December and two on 26 March. At Bokaa Dam, 180 Black-winged Pratincoles
Glareola nordmanni were observed on 10 January, with 75 there on 14 March—all had left by 20th; one was at Thagale Dam on 23 January. A Common Ringed
Plover Charadrius hiaticula was at Thagale Dam on 2 May and another at Shadishadi Pan on 8 May. Two White-fronted Plovers C. marginatus were at Maun
sewage ponds on 10 March and another two at Tshwaane Pan in 2323D3, outside of the species' expected range, on 4 April. Maun sewage ponds attracted a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos on 6 March and Phakalane sewage ponds an African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris on 12 October.

A male African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus was near Maun on 27–29 December. At Mogobane Dam, 150 Common House Martins Delichon urbicum were noted on 18 April. A White-browed Robin Chat Cossypha heuglini was mist-netted in Francistown on 24 April, well outside the species' normal range. Warbler records include a River Warbler Locustella fluviatilis at Crocodile Pools, Notwane, on 12–20 March, a Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla at Xakanaxa on 23 December and two Garden Warblers S. borin singing from dense cover in the Kopong Hills on
3 January, with one at Crocodile Pools on 10 January. Finally, two Croaking Cisticolas Cisticola natalensis were observed at Kazuma Forest Reserve on 14 February.

The following records are from May 2009 - early January 2010. Single Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricollis were observed at Lobatse sewage ponds on 26 July, in the Nata River close to Nata Delta on 7 September and on a small pan near Ghanzi on 26 November. Some 56 Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus, including brown immatures, were counted along the Boteti River between Makalamabedi and Samedupi in late July; c.42 were at Shashe Dam on 26 July, with 55 there on 23 January, and 43 at Nata Delta on 10 August. A single Pink-backed Pelican P. rufescens was seen along the Okavango River between Mohembo and Shakawe on 18 July; 45 were noted along the Savuti Channel between Mantswe Pan and Zibadianja on 17 July, one at Bokaa Dam on 10 January, and 13 at Shashe Dam on 23 January.

An African Openbill Lamelligerus anastomus at a pan in the extreme south-west in November, was well out of range; there was a large influx of this species in South Africa at the same time. Another was at Thagale Dam, north of Mochudi in the south-east on 23 January; this is only the third record for this region of Botswana. Two Black Storks Ciconia nigra were seen at the Crocodile Pools in Mokolodi Nature Reserve on 6 December. Large flocks of c.300 Woolly-necked Storks C. episcopus were noted in Moremi Game Reserve in early January. A single White Stork C. ciconia, probably from the South African breeding population, spent the winter at Malema Pan in Khama Rhino Sanctuary; two were at Mokubilo Pan on 30 July and one was at Lake Ngami on 17 August. Unusual in south-east Botswana, a Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis was at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, near Gaborone, in late October–early November. Few Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus (ruber) roseus were seen in July, other than four at Phakalane sewage ponds, near Gaborone, on 5th, three at Ramotswa sewage ponds and one at Thagale Dam on 12th, and 52 at Bokaa Dam on 26th, a single at Rysana Pan on 31st, with 300 at Nata Delta on 10 August; on 18 October there were 80 at Bokaa Dam. In mid December c.100,000 Lesser Flamingos Phoenicoenias minor were in the country, including c.60,000 along the edge of Sua Pan and 10,000 at Nata Sanctuary.

Two Fulvous Whistling Ducks Dendrocygna bicolor were at Phakalane sewage ponds on 5 July, one at Bokaa Dam on 18 October, and eight at Thagale Dam on 23 January. White-backed Ducks Thalassornis leuconotus were seen at Mogobane Dam on 22 July (one), at Lake Ngami on 29 July (174) and at Mokolodi Crocodile Pools on 6 December (two). At Thagale Dam, 260 Southern Pochards Netta erythrophthalma (with 670 at nearby Bokaa Dam) on 23 January represents a good count. July counts of Maccoa Ducks Oxyura maccoa included two at Phakalane sewage ponds on 5th, five at Jwaneng sewage ponds and 77 at Moshupa Dam on 20th and three at Lobatse sewage ponds on 26th; one was at Mokolodi Crocodile Pools on 6 December and 32 were at Sekagwana Dam, near Modipe Hill, in late December–early January.

An Osprey Pandion haliaetus was at Lake Ngami in late December. Three Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus were at a Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis carcass and four at a pan in Moremi game reserve on 9 August, with six between Xakanaxa and Paradise pools on 15 September. Lappet-faced Vulture Aegypius tracheliotos records included three south of Ghanzi on 28 May, a pair nesting in the Central Kakahari Game Reserve in May, one near Gaborone on 12 July, one with White-backed Vultures Gyps africanus near Mopipi and two near Rakops on 31 July, one near Samedupi on 1 August, two in Khutse Game Reserve in September and one at Nxai pan on 9 September. Single White-headed Vultures Trigonoceps occipitalis were seen at the Khwai River on 9 August and in KhutseGame Reserve in September. A European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus was photographed along the Old Matsiloje road south-east of Francistown on 22 November. A juvenile Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was seen at Gaborone Game Reserve on 21–22 December and a Pallid Harrier C. macrourus in Khutse Game Reserve on 28 November. A pair of Black Sparrowhawks Accipter melanoleucus was between Crocodile Pools, Ngotwane, and Ramotsa on 7 July and one was also regularly seen near Maun in late December–early January. Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni were seen in Khutse Game Reserve on 28 November and a Eurasian Hobby F. subbuteo north of Sua in early December.

African Crakes Crex egregia were frequent along the northern edge of Lake Ngami in late December. An estimated 2,000–3,000 Black-winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus were at the same lake in August. In early December, c100 Black-winged Pratincoles Glareola nordmanni were 20 km east of Sua Spit within Nata Sanctuary, Makgadikgadi Pans; a group of 4–8 was seen at Segakwana Dam, in the south-east, on 24 and 26 December, 180 at Bokaa Dam on 10 January, and one at Thagale Dam on 23 January. A Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus at Lake Ngami on 17 August was early. Thirty-six Ringed Plovers C. hiaticula were at Bokaa Dam on 18 October. At Nata Delta, a single Chestnut-banded Plover C. pallidus and four Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica were seen on 10 August. Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus were present along the Kwando River in the Caprivi on 27 October (one), at Mowana on 1 November (two), and at the sewage works west of Gang in early November (one). A Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres was at Bokaa Dam on 19 September, with two there on 18 October. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia records include two at Lake Ngami in late December, one at Phakalane sewage ponds in early January and two at Bokaa Dam on 10 January. Due to high water levels, there were few records of African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris, but on the Okavango River, where levels were dropping by mid July, two were observed between Mohembo and Shakawe Lodge on 18 July and ten between Phillipo Channel junction, one at the Nxamaseri turn-off and three on the Phillipo Channel on 19 July; at least one was at Mowana Lodge, Kasane and on the Chobe River within the park on 26–27 August.

An African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis was calling at Ngotwane, south of Gaborone, on 28 September—a very early date. Also there, a Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas was calling on 29 September. Of note was a pair of Grey-headed Kingfishers Halcyon leucocephala at Kumakwane, in the Gabane Hills, on 1 November; this is a summer visitor mainly to northern Botswana. A Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava south of Gaborone on 25 September is an early record. A single Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea on a lawn at Chobe Safari Lodge, Kasane, on 12 November was only the fourth record for Botswana. Along the Thamalakane River in Maun, 5–6 Thrush Nightingales Luscinia luscinia were heard in early January.

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The following records are from February–May 2009. In south-east Botswana, three Black-necked Grebes Podiceps nigricollis were seen at Kgoro Pan on 15 February. Five Maccoa Ducks Oxyura maccoa were observed at Gamoleele Dam on 17 January, six at Moshupa Dam on 25 January, one at Hildavale, south of Lobatse, on 15 February and three at Kgoro Pan on the same date. A pair of South African Shelducks Tadorna cana and a single White Stork Ciconia ciconia overwintered at a pan within Khama Rhino Sanctuary and a group of 100 Red-billed Oxpeckers Buphagus erythrorhynchus at Segakwana, near Modipe, north-east of Gaborone, were of note.

Raptors included a European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus at Ngotwane, near Gaborone, on 12 April, two Lappet-faced Vultures Torgos tracheliotos at Kgoro Pan on 15 February) and three at Tau Pan, in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, on 3 March, with a pair nesting east of Deception Valley, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and three at a road kill just south of Ghanzi on 28 May. A pair of Western Banded Snake Eagles Circaetus cinerascens was seen on three occasions near Seronga in April–May. About 60 Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus were counted on the Boro floodplain in the Okavango, near the buffalo fence, on 30 May.

Four Pectoral Sandpipers Calidris melanotos, observed at Lake Ngami on 14 February, stayed until at least 19th. In mid January, a Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus was reported from near Xakanaxa, Moremi. A Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa was seen on an open pan c.2 km from Kwetsani Camp, in the Okavango, on 23 March and a Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus c.20 km south of Kasane on 26 February. On 12 April, a Lesser Yellowlegs T. flavipes was photographed in Moremi Game Reserve; this is the first record for Botswana and only the fifth for southern Africa. Records of European Rollers Coracias garrulus included c.17 along the Nata–Maun road in mid February, four along the A1 north of Artesia and four at Marakalo Ranch in late March.

The following records are from July 2008–January 2009. At Shashe Dam, in eastern Botswana, 42 Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus were
counted on 3 August whilst 14 were observed at Lake Ngami on 27 July and six on the Boteti River near Samedupi on 3 August. In the Okavango Delta, c.57 Slaty Egrets Egretta vinaceigula were noted on the Jao / Kwetsani flats on 4 August. At two breeding colonies in Moremi Game Reserve, 132 Yellow-billed Storks Mycteria ibis were seen at Xaxanaka Lediba on 13 August and 25 at Gadikwe Lediba on 14 August. Over 1,500 African Openbills Anastomus lamelligerus were observed on the Chobe floodplain near Kasane on 3 July, with a Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter
melanoleucus along the river on the same date. In December, a Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, hunting over Impalila Island, and an African Hobby Falco cuvierii were noted. On 21 December, a male Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, 12 Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni and 300 Black-winged Pratincoles Glareola nordmanni were found on Dautsa Flats, west of Sehitwa.

In the south-east, a total of 119 Maccoa Ducks Oxyura maccoa was seen at five sites in July. A single Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor was at Bokaa
Dam on 20 July and single White-backed Ducks Thallasornis leuconotus at Thagale Dam on 20 July and Sojwe Pan on 12 August. A Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla was seen at Planet Baobab near Gweta, north of the Makgadikgadi, in late
November. On 12 December, c.100 Chestnut-banded Plovers Charadrius pallidus were seen at Rysana Pan and 23 at Mopipi Dam, where over 4,000 waders and terns were counted, including 1,000 Black-winged Pratincoles, 1,500 Caspian
Plovers C. asiaticus and two White-fronted Plovers C. marginatus. A Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos, 304 Black-winged Pratincoles and a Caspian Tern Sterna caspia were at Bokaa Dam on 18 January.

In the Makagadikgadi Pans, 31 Chestnut-banded Plovers and three Caspian Terns were seen between Sua Spit and Nata Delta, in the north of Sua Pan, on 10 August. A flock of 500 pratincoles, most of which were Black-winged Pratincoles, was at Mopipi Dam, in the south of the Makgadikgadi system, on 30 November. In
Moremi Game Reserve, a Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus seen at Xakanaxa on 18 November was possibly the same as that seen on 21 August at Dead Tree Island. At Maun, a Garganey Anas querquedula was seen at the sewage ponds on 20 January, whilst a Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audebertii was of note in November. At Lake Ngami c.28,500 waterbirds were counted on 14–16 December, including 550 Fulvous Whistling Ducks, 200 Black-winged Pratincoles, two Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola, a Pectoral Sandpiper, ten Black-tailed Godwits
Limosa limosa and 18 African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris.

Pink-billed Larks Spizocorys conirostris were numerous west of Rysana Pan and at the edge of the central Kalahari Game Reserve in mid August. A Rosy-throated
Longclaw Macronyx ameliae was found on the Jao / Kwetsani flats, in the Okavango, on 4 August. Ten Bronze Mannikins Spermestes cucullatus were drinking at a garden pool in Francistown on 31 October; this is outside their usual
range. Two Common Mynas Acridotheres tristis were also seen in Francistown, consolidating their hold in east and south-east Botswana. A trip along the border with Namibia, east of Mohembo, on 17–18 December produced an African Hobby, a Corncrake Crex crex in 1821B, pairs of Mosque Swallows Hirundo senegalensis at three locations, Purple-banded Sunbirds Cinnyris bifasciatus in 1822A2 and 1822B1, and six Sharp-tailed Starlings Lamprotornis acuticaudatus.

The following records are from the period November 2007–April 2008. Three South African Shelduck Tadorna cana at Lake Ngami on 3 February were the first at this site since the 1970s, and well north of the species’ usual range in south-east Botswana. Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa also occurs mainly in the south-east where 56 were seen in January at various sites; of note were 51 at Jwaneng sewage ponds, one at Sojwe Pan on 15 January and another in the Moshaweng Valley near Kotoloname on 18 January. White-backed Ducks Thallasornis leuconotus bred at Lake Ngami, with numerous broods seen in late January; this species was also seen on the northern arm of Ntwetwe Pan in the Makgadikgadi on 30 January.

A flock of 17 Grey Crowned Cranes Balearica regulorum was seen at Nata Sanctuary in Sua Pan in the Makgadikgadi system on 13 March. Other noteworthy records included a Black Stork Ciconia nigra south of Kasane, a male Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus at Nata Sanctuary on 3 January, a Denham’s Bustard Neotis denhami at Tale Pans, south-west of Lake Ngami, on 4–5 February, a Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and a Eurasian Curlew N. arquata at the Botsash site on Sua Pan in early January and a Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola in the Linyanti on 24–26 November. Black-winged Pratincoles Glareola nordmanni were recorded at Thagale Dam, 50 km north of Gaborone, on 15 January (one), at Sojwe Pan on 13 January (four) and flocks of up to 500 at Lake Ngami on 31 January – 4 February and at Masalanyane Pan, near Sehitwa, on 16 February.

Along the Namibian border, between Mohembo and the Linyanti, an African Hobby Falco cuvierii, a pair of Grey-headed Parrots Poicephalus fuscicollis, a Shelley’s Sunbird Cinnyris shelleyi and four flocks of Sharp-tailed Starlings Lamprotornis acuticaudus were recorded on 9 – 14 February. Shelley’s Sunbirds continue to be reported from the Chobe area.

A Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava was at Thagale Dam, on 15 January. In the southern Kalahari, between Tsetseng and Dutlwe, Buffy Anthus vaalensis, Plain-backed A. leucophrys and Long-tailed Pipits A. longicaudatus were identified on 21–23 April.

The following records are from the period June - December 2007, with one from March. On 22–23 July, 834 Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus were counted on the Chobe River and its floodplain, 19 Pink-backed Pelicans P. rufescens at Shashe Dam, and 180 Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus (ruber) roseus and 31 Lesser Flamingos Phoeniconaias minor at Bokaa Dam. Some 50 Slaty Egrets Egretta vinaceigula were on the Boro River on 14–15 July, 16 on Jao Flats on 17 July, and seven on the Chobe River on 22 July. On 17 June, 63 Maccoa Ducks Oxyura maccoa were found at three sites, the largest count being 44 at Jwaneng Sewage Pond.

Jackal Buzzards Buteo rufofuscus have been noted at least four times since August. Of interest was an Orange River Francolin Francolinus levaillantioides heard near Oodi in November. During waterbird counts in the Okavango in July, 68 Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus were recorded at six sites. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix and Burchell’s Coursers Cursorius rufus were observed at Lake Ngami on 29 July; the latter species was also found at Tshane Tshane Pan.

Grey Plovers Pluvialis squatarola were reported from Bokaa Dam on 22 July (one), where there was also a White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus, and in the Liyanti at the mouth of the Savuti Channel on 24 November (two). Two Caspian Terns Sterna caspia were seen at Shashe dam on 30 September. African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris were observed on the Okavango River near Shakawe on 7–8 August (39) and on the Chobe River on 22 July (42). Large numbers of Grey-headed Gulls Larus cirrocephalus were recorded, including 377 on the Chobe River on 22–23 July and 161 at Nata Delta.

A survey of Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda chuana in south-eastern Botswana in November–December found the species to be common on fallow fields north of Gaborone around Oodi and Kopong, between Molepolole and Thamaga and between Molepolole and Hatsalatladi, and further south around Ranaka and Ntlhantlhe. Two Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis were discovered at Chanoga, on the Boteti River south-east of Maun, on 18 November; this species is rare this far south. A Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus was near Nnywane Dam north of Lobatse on 9 March and a Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus was heard along the Gamoleele River near Molepolole in December.

On 8 September, the first Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus for Botswana was photographed at Mowana Safari Lodge, at Kasane in the north, amongst a large group of Wattled Starlings Creatophora cinerea on the golf course; this irruptive species very rarely strays south of North Africa. Further down the Boteti at Leroo le Tau good numbers of Cape Sparrows Passer capensis were noted from 23–25 September; this sparrow is scarce in northern Botswana.

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The following records are mostly from the period December 2006 - early June 2007, with a few from earlier. Totals of 3,206 Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus and 49 Pink-backed Pelicans P. rufescens were at Nata Delta on 30 January, with another seven of the latter at Sua Spit on 11 February. On 2 January a Black Stork Ciconia nigra was seen at Dopotta, Tuli Block, and four in nearby Majale; two were at Coombe Farm on the Limpopo on 2–3 June. At Sua Spit, in the Makgadikgadi system, there were an estimated 100,000+ Lesser Flamingos Phoeniconaias minor on 11 February, together with 500+ Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus (ruber) roseus. In early March an aerial survey was made of the flamingo colony on Sua Pan. With the lack of rain and intense heat during late January and February only 1,000–2,000 chicks remained, huddled around an already abandoned nesting colony; no adults were on nests.

Away from the northern wetlands, a Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor was at Bokaa Dam on 21 January and three at Sua Spit on 11 February; a count of 500 was made on the Chobe floodplain in January. There were 831 White-backed Ducks Thalassornis leuconotus on the Boteti River and 204 on the Thamalakane River near Maun during January. The total count of Maccoa Ducks Oxyura maccoa in south-east Botswana in January was 91 birds at four sites. Knob-billed Ducks Sarkidiornis melanotos rarely breed in the south-east, exceptions being in the wet summer of 1999/2000, so two ducklings in the Kopong Hills on 4 March 2006 are of note. On the Chobe floodplain 3,559 were seen in late July 2006. A male Northern Pintail Anas acuta was observed in Chobe National Park on 2 February.

Two nests of African White-backed Vultures Gyps africanus were seen with well-grown juveniles on 23 September 2006, between Phitsane Molopo and Metlojane in the south-east, whilst in northern Botswana 172 nests were located in an aerial survey. At least 20 nests were seen near the Limpopo River at Coombe Farm on 2–3 June. A male Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was at Lake Ngami in early January and two were reported from Nata Sanctuary on 30 January, where four Montagu’s Harriers C. pygargus were noted in the month. A single Pallid Harrier C. macrourus was seen further south at Sua Spit in early February. Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus were seen in March/April at three sites in south-east Botswana: near Kanye, at Ngotane near Gaborone and near Mogobane. Jackal Buzzards Buteo rufofuscus were observed near Kanye on 21 January (one) and near Lobatse (a pair). Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus were reported from near Francistown in early January, on the Chobe River near Kasane on 27 January and in Chobe National Park, where two were seen in early February.

The only significant group of Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus was on the Jao Flats, Okavango Delta, where 56 were present on 27 January. There were 12 Grey Crowned Cranes Balearica regulorum at Nata Sanctuary on 30 January and two at Sua Spit on 11 February; this species was also seen at Kazuma Pan on 31 January and at Savuti waterhole, on the western side of Savuti Marsh, on 6 February.

There was a count of 210 Black-winged Pratincoles Glareola nordmanni at Bokaa Dam on 21 January and of over 1,000 at Lake Ngami in the second week of January. In the same month, two White-fronted Plovers Charadrius marginatus were at Bokaa Dam, one at Lake Ngami and eight at Maun sewage ponds. Also at Bokaa Dam in January were five Caspian Plovers C. asiaticus. The only sightings of Chestnut-banded Plovers C. pallidus were in the Makgadikgadi system where 14 were at Nata Sanctuary on 30 January and eight at Sua Spit on 11 February. There was a count of 59 Common Ringed Plovers C. hiaticula at Bokaa Dam on 21 January. African Wattled Lapwings Vanellus senegallus are scarce in south-east Botswana but three were seen at Lobatse on 28 October 2006 and 8–12 on 23 January. Single Green Sandpipers Tringa ochropus were reported from Dopotta, Tuli Block, on 5 January 2006, Gamoleele Dam on 21 January 2007 and along the Chobe River on 8 April. In the southern Okavango Delta, 14 Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa were seen on 26–27 December and 10 at Lake Ngami in the second week of January.

A single Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus was at a small pan near Sojwe Pan on 21 May 2006, five at Nata Delta and 30 at Sua Spit on 10/11 June 2006, with three there on 8 October. Small numbers bred at Lake Ngami in late October. In 2007, 98 were counted at Nata Delta on 30 January and 65 at Sua Spit on 11 February. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull L. fuscus was photographed in the Linyanti in December and two immatures were at Lake Ngami in early January. A flock of 38 African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris was on the Boteti River on 28 January.

Two Grey-headed Kingfishers Halcyon leucocephala were at Dopotta, in the Tuli Block, on 30 December, one near Kazungula in early January and two on the Jao Flats on 27 January. Also at Dopotta, hundreds of Dusky Larks Pinarocorys nigricans were present on 28 December–9 January, with up to ten seen together. The summer drought may have resulted in the appearance of three groups of Grey-backed Sparrow Larks Eremopterix verticalis near Mogobane Dam on 15 April, well away from their usual range. In the south-east five Orange-throated Longclaws Macronyx capensis were on grassland north of Kgoro Pan on 15 October 2006.

Highlights of a trip in south-west Botswana in late April - early May included a pair of Burchell’s Coursers Cursorius rufus at Tshane Tshane Pan, c.100 Stark’s Larks Eremalauda starki at Swart Pan, c.12 in two locations in the Nossob Valley within Botswana, and c.40 at Tshane Tshane Pan, pairs and small groups of Pink-billed Larks Spizocorys conirostris noted on six occasions in dune slacks, a Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys near Sita Pan, a pale Tractrac Chat Cercomela tractrac at Swart Pan and a pair of slightly darker chats at Tshane Tshane Pan, with a total of 39 Dusky Sunbirds Cinnyris fuscus at the northern boundary of Mabuasehube Game Reserve (part of Kgalakgadi Transfrontier Park), probably representing an influx into Botswana.

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Records from June - December 2006 include the following. In July, in the Gaborone area, were 31 Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus, including a pair with a 10–14 day-old juvenile, at Bokka Dam and nine at Moshupa Dam. On the Boteti River, in the southern Okavango Delta, c.1,000 Great White Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus were seen on 28 July and at Lake Ngami some 342 in late July. The highest winter count of Slaty Egrets Egretta vinaceigula was of 27 on the Jao/Ketswane Flats, in the Okavango, in July. A large winter flock of 213 White Storks Ciconia ciconia was at Sojwe Pan on 11 June and 94 were at Lake Ngami on 20 August. Along the Chobe River, between the old Chobe National Park entrance and Ngoma Bridge, more than 16,000 birds were counted in July. A total of 92 Yellow-billed Storks Mycteria ibis, over 10,000 White-faced Whistling Ducks Dendrocygna viduata and 3,500 Knob-billed Ducks Sarkidiornis melanotus were of note. One Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor was seen at Ramotswa sewage ponds. Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa numbered 17 at Bokaa Dam, ten at Gamoleele Dam, one at Bathoen Dam and eight at Jwaneng sewage ponds.

An adult Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus was seen in the Tuli Block on 18 June. Surveys by air in northern Botswana revealed 172 nests of White-backed Vultures Gyps africanus, nine nests of Lappet-faced Vultures Torgos tracheliotus, 12 nests of White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis and many nests of other raptors and storks. In the south Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus sightings have been more frequent, with birds noted near Otse and Lobatse. A flock of Wattled Cranes Bugeranus carunculatus was observed along the Boteti River and another flock of 17 at Mea Pan in May.

Few unusual waders were seen in this period, but there was a Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus at Chanoga on the Botetii River on 11 August, three Sanderling Calidris alba at Sua Spit in the Makgadikgadi system on 8 October and a Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus at Lobatse sewage ponds on 3 November. There were seven White-fronted Plovers Charadrius marginatus at Sua Spit on 11 June and 8 October and one at Shashe Dam on 1 July, whilst seven Chestnut-banded Plovers C. pallidus were seen at Sua Pan and 46 at Mea Pan, including 19 juveniles. Four immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls Larus fuscus were at Lake Ngami on 29 August.

A dead Pennant-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx vexillarius was found at Phakalane, just north of Gaborone on 15 September; this is far south of its usual range. In November a Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus was seen just north of Lobatse, the first record of this migrant in south-east Botswana. Also outside their known range were Bradfield's Hornbill Tockus bradfieldi, Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata and Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus in the Groot Laagte area, north of Ghanzi, on 28 August.

Since the discovery of South African Cliff Swallows Hirundo spilodera nesting at Ramatlabama in 2000, a further four colonies have been located in south-east Botswana, the most recent being c.50 pairs on a derelict house at Papatlo, north-west of Ramatlabama.

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Last page update 3rd May 2012