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The following are largely unconfirmed records from Bulletins of the African Bird Club and are for information only.
The following records were reported for the period June–December 2007. A Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis, seen on a road in the Pokola logging concession, on the periphery of Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, northern Congo, on 30 June constitutes a new species for the country. An immature Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus observed near Epena in Lac Tele Community Reserve on 12 November will also be a first for Congo-Brazzaville, if confirmed.
Other noteworthy records from Lac Tele include a Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo on 10 November (this species is known from only three sites in Congo-Brazzaville), a Striped Crake Aenigmatolimnas marginalis on 5 December (third record here), a Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola on 2 December (first record in northern Congo) and a Red-capped Lark Calendrella cinerea on 11 November (second record for Congo-Brazzaville).
One thousand Royal Terns Sterna maxima on a sandbank in the Kouilou River mouth in early October is a large group at this site. During the same period, 30 African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris were seen in Pointe Noir harbour, whilst Reichenbach’s Sunbird Anabathmis reichenbachi was observed on the Lefini River, 500 km inland.
The following records were reported for the period January - June 2007. A Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis was seen in Conkouati - Douli National Park during waterbird counts in June; if confirmed, this will be the first record for the country. In the same month, House Sparrow Passer domesticus was seen for the second time in Pointe Noire. Recent additions to the list of Lac Tele Community Reserve include Olive Ibis Bostrychia olivacea, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi, Willcocks’s Honeyguide Indicator willcocksi and Preuss’s Weaver Ploceus preussi. A Zenker’s Honeyguide Melignomon zenkeri was heard singing in mid-June 2007. The waterbird survey in February in Lac Tele proved very productive, with internationally important numbers of African Darter Anhinga rufa and Purple Heron Ardea purpurea. Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens has also returned to breed, having been exterminated by hunting in the 1960s. Chattering Cisticola Cisticola anonymus, a forest-edge species, was seen in the centre and north of the reserve, but is uncommon elsewhere in northern Congo.
Records from March - October 2006 include the following. A Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca (with orange feet, black eyes and a black throat) was seen on the beach in Conkouati-Douli National Park in August. Common Kestrels Falco tinnunculus were seen mobbing crows in Brazzaville suggesting they breed there. Also in Brazzaville, African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris were seen feeding at night in the spotlights of a riverside restaurant on the Congo River.
In Lac Télé Community Reserve (LTCR), Long-legged Pipit Anthus pallidiventris was finally confirmed as the common savanna pipit—a range extension. Black Spinetail Telacanthura melanopygia, Grey-throated Flycatcher Myioparus griseigularis, Shrike Flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus and Forest Penduline Tit Anthoscopus flavifrons were added to the reserve list in October, July and April and May 2006 respectively. A male Cuckoo Finch Anomalospiza imberbis was seen in savanna during high floods in October; this species appears not to have been documented in Congo. A juvenile Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting Emberiza tahapisi was seen in short grass in September - a first for the Likouala region.
First and last arrival dates for migrant birds leaving and returning to LTCR in 2006 include the following: Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 24 April (last); Black Kite Milvus migrans parasitus 2 June (last) and 11 September (first); Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus 17 January (last); Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus 2 April (last); Great Snipe Gallinago media 17 February (last) and 27 August (first); Common Swift Apus apus 5 May (last) and 12 August (first); White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis 4 June (last) and 1 October (first); Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga 23 April (first) and 10 October (last); South African Cliff Swallow Hirundo spilodera 19 April (first) and 6 October (last); the dates for the latter two species coincide with the departure and arrival of Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 9 April (last) and 2 September (first); Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 5 March (last) and 4 November (first); Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 5 April (last); Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus 8 April (last); Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 14 October (first); and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 23 April (last) and 5 October (first).
In Lac Télé Community Reserve, Great Snipe Gallinago media were common in January-February 2006, with up to four seen in a day. Weyns's Weaver Ploceus weynsi was still in the area.
Records from April-October 2005 include the following. A female Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus was seen in Lac Tele Community Reserve in early October. A Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris was killed at Tchissinga, near Diosso north of Pointe-Noire, in April; apparently the species is quite regularly caught in semi-forested hills along the coast. In Brazzaville, Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus was recorded breeding in August and Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola was calling in April. In Lac Tele Community Reserve, an African Grass Owl Tyto capensis was seen in July and more than 850 Rosy Bee-eaters Merops malimbicus were found breeding in at least two colonies. Four Palearctic migrants, Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, Great Snipe Gallinago media, Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus and Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, were observed in the savanna on 5 September, which is rather early. Weyn’s Weaver Ploceus weynsi was seen again on a few occasions.
The most remarkable observation was made at Lac Télé in January 2005, where large flocks of Weyns's Weavers Ploceus weynsi, totalling at least 5,000 birds, were assembling every evening just outside Epéna before flying to roost in scrubby fallow fields a few kilometres away. The species was also observed on the western border of the reserve on the Bailly River. This constitutes a new species for the country and western Africa, although its occurrence is perhaps unsurprising as it has been recorded on the other side of the Congo River in DR Congo, from Mbandaka to Bumba. In February–March, Common Cuckoos Cuculus canorus, among them rufous individuals, were seen c.15 times in the Lac Télé Community Reserve; this is also an addition to the country's list. Yet another first is Wahlberg’s Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus, of which two were seen on the road between Impfondo and Epéna on 2 May; they were poking around cavities in a large dead tree hosting Grey-throated Barbets Gymnobucco bonapartei. The white, black-tipped outer tail-feathers, uniform dark brown upperparts, grey underparts and sharp bill were noted. This species has not been recorded anywhere near north Congo, but has a disjunct distribution over much of western Africa.
Other records of interest from the Lac Télé area include the following. A Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (the snow-white throat, breast and belly were noted) was claimed 40 km east of Epéna on 28 April; this species has previously only been seen on the coast. Twelve Marabou Storks Leptoptilos crumeniferus were moving north on 22-23 January; the species is quite rare here as it is large and edible. During annual waterbird counts in late February it was often seen with Woolly-necked Storks Ciconia episcopus, over 80 of which were observed on 20 March with both Marabou and Yellow-billed Storks Mycteria ibis. Montagu's Harriers Circus pygargus were seen at three sites in late January-early February. A Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus flew past Epéna on 5 January. In early January Great Snipe Gallinago media were quite common in burnt grassland; by the end of the month they had moved on, possibly to other areas in the extensive grassland savanna in the reserve (one was seen further south on 20 February). A Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus was seen mobbing an African Grass Owl Tyto capensis, whereas another Western Marsh Harrier was being mobbed by a pair of Marsh Owls Asio capensis on 5 January, suggesting they were breeding in the dry season. A Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga was observed at Dongou, 50 km north of Impfondo, on 30 April and a Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 2 km south of Impfondo on 2 May. Congo Sunbird Cinnyris congensis was found to be fairly common around Epéna.
Last page update 3rd July 2008
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