News

These are largely unconfirmed records published in recent Bulletins of the African Bird Club for information only.

Records from January–June 2010 include the following. An African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus stayed at Windhoek from 8 March to at least 11 April. Also at Windhoek, an Osprey Pandion haliaetus was at Avis Dam on 9 May. A Bat Hawk
Machieramphus alcinus reported from Kakuse Farm, c.70 km northwest of Tsumeb, in early April was notable. A young Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis was found dead at Walvis Bay on 22 June. Three Three-banded Coursers Rhinoptilus cinctus, including a chick, were ringed on Kakuse Farm on 15 May; there are very few records from north-central Namibia and, although the species is sporadically reported from the Caprivi, the nearest reasonably sized population probably is in western Zimbabwe. Two Common Redshanks Tringa totanus remained at Mile 4 Salt Works near Swakopmund throughout the period
and apparently were going to spend the southern winter there; one was also observed at Walvis Bay on 28 February. Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus were seen in Walvis Bay from February to May, with at least three individuals on 28 February and up to 13 on 9 May. A Red Phalarope P. fulicarius was at Mile 4 Salt Works near Swakopmund on 8 April. A Franklin's Gull Larus
pipixcan and a Common Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus were still present at Walvis Bay at the end of February.

Records from July–December 2009 include the folowing. A trip aboard a bottom trawler off the coast of the north of the country (more or less at the latitude of Etosha National Park) in July produced three Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans and at least four Spectacled Petrels Procellaria (aequinoctialis) conspicillata. A Tristan Albatross D. (exulans)dabbenena was seen offshore on 3 August; the bird was ringed and appeared to be from the colony on Gough Island. Another individual was photographed just beyond the 200 nautical mile limit in August. These waters also produced a Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca and a Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea, the latter probably one of the northernmost records of this species. A Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro was photographed on Halifax Island just off Luderitz in mid October.

In early November, a Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus was observed c.50 km west of Katima Mulilo, in the easternmost Caprivi Strip; this species is normally restricted to north-western Namibia. A Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus stayed in Walvis Bay from late September to December at least. Up to three Common Redshanks Tringa totanus were present at Mile 4 Salt Works north of Swakopmund throughout the period, with one also at Walvis Bay from late October. Three Terek Sandpipers Xenus cinereus were at Walvis Bay on 11–12 July; this is generally a scarce species here and decidedly rare in winter. Walvis Bay also held Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus on 11–12 July (ten) and again from late September to December, with up to 31 on 12 November and still up to 15 in mid December (one still in breeding plumage). Also there was a Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus (initially in full breeding plumage) from 23 September until December at least.

In the Caprivi, a Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae was seen on Ntwala Island, near Impalila Island, in mid October; if photographs can be obtained, this would constitute the first substantiated record of the species in southern Africa. A Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius was observed east of Luderitz in July; not only is this further south than its normal range, but the time of the year is also odd. On 22 November, a Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis was located at Monte Christo Guest Farm, c.30 km north of Windhoek; this is more than 400 km south of this species’ regular range in the country.

A Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea was reported at Popa Falls in October (apparently the sixth record for Namibia) and on Friedental farm, c.80 km south-west of Windhoek, in early December. Shelley’s Sunbird Cinnyris shelleyi was seen again in the north, at Shamvura Lodge, Kavango, on 23 September. Of regional interest is a pair of Village Indigobirds Vidua chalybeata (of the white-billed race okavangoensis) at Avis Dam, just outside Windhoek, on 20 December; the nearest known resident population is in the Okavango Delta, at least 650 km to the north-east, but it is perhaps not that surprising given the recent colonisation of Red-billed Firefinches Lagonosticta senegala, its primary host, in the Windhoek area.

Records from January - June 2009 include the following. A very weak juvenile Tristan Albatross Diomedea (exulans) dabbenena was found at Cape Cross on 23 January; it died shortly after having been taken into care. Also on 23rd, a freshly dead Light-mantled Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata was found south of Walvis Bay; this is the first record for Namibia. A Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus was at the mouth of the Swakop River on 24 - 25 January. On 15 January, a Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeuginosus was observed at Shamvura. A European Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus was in the Walvis Bay area on 24 - 25 January, an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica at the Swakop River mouth in January - early February and a Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa at Walvis Bay on 15 January. As usual, Mile 4 Salt Works at Swakopmund held up to two long-staying Common Redshanks Tringa totanus from January to at least 31 May. At least three Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus were in the Walvis Bay area on 24 January; by early February there were at least six, and on 12 June one of a group of at least six was in full breeding plumage. Also there were at least eight Red Phalaropes P. fulicarius on 21 February and a Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus in full breeding plumage from 24 January to at least early February. A Franklin’s Gull L. pipixcan was seen at Okerfontein waterhole, c.25 km west of Namutoni, Etosha National Park, on 3 April; although this Nearctic species is an almost annual vagrant to southern Africa’s coast, it is very rare inland. A remarkable record is that of four Bohm’s Spinetails Neafrapus boehmi with a group of Little Swifts Apus affinis in the vicinity of Windhoek International Airport on 22 March; in Namibia, the species is known only from the Caprivi Strip. Two Angola Swallows Hirundo angolensis were seen flying over the Chobe River at King’s Den Rest Camp (on the Namibian side opposite Sududu Island) amongst many other hirundines, on 12 June. In Mudumu National Park, a Shelley’s Sunbird Cinnyris shelleyi was photographed on 10 May.

A Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris was discovered at Walvis Bay on 24 November 2008; this is the fourth record for southern Africa following the recent sighting of three at Inhambane in Mozambique.Two Common Redshanks Tringa totanus reported from Mile 4 Salt Works in Swakopmund on 24 May remained until June, with up to three there in July - August, up to four in September - October and one in
November - December; the species is now annual at this site. Up to 13 Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus were at Walvis Bay on 23 September, with up to 14 there in early November. The continued presence of Shelley’s Sunbird
Cinnyris shelleyi at Kalizo Lodge near Katimo Mulilo has been confirmed; it has been recorded regularly since 2004 and has now been found breeding - the first confirmed nesting record in the subregion.

^top

Records from December 2007 - February 2008 include the following. A Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula was found in Daan Viljoen Game Park on 10 February. In the Caprivi Strip, an adult Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus was seen at the Kwando River on 4 January and a Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus in
Mahango Game Reserve on 15 December and 2 January. Waders at Mile 4 Salt Works, Swakopmund, included an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica on
15 - 17 December, with two there on 7 January, a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos also on 7th, and a Common Redshank Tringa totanus on 17 December and 7 January. All these species were still present at the end of February. Also there were six Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus from 9 February.

In Walvis Bay, southern Africa’s 15th White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis was observed on 19 January; this was presumably the same individual that was reported at this site at the end of 2007. Also there on the same day was a Common Redshank. Red-necked Phalaropes were seen there on 7 January and remained until the end of February at least, with up to 28 counted. A Red Phalarope P. fulicarius was found on 9 February.

Records from July-November 2007 include the following. A European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus was photographed at Daan Viljoen Game Reserve, near Windhoek, on 3 December. An American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was reported from Swakopmund on 26 October and photographed on 29 October and 1 November. Common Redshanks Tringa totanus were seen at Swakopmund on 3 September (one) and Walvis Bay on 14 November (two). Also there were a Red (Grey) Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius with 12 Red-necked Phalaropes P. lobatus, including one in breeding plumage. A Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus was at the Okandeka Waterhole in Etosha National Park on 6 July; it was last reported on 25 July.

A European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur photographed in the Erongo Mountains on 15 November was still present next day; only two previous records have been published: one, undated, from the north of the country (Birds of Africa 1986) and another, from Etosha National Park, on 17 July 2002 (Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa 2005). On 13 November, several Sclater’s Larks Spizocorys sclateri were found c.130 km south-east of Walvis Bay; this must be at the limit of their range. They were also present in the same area in November 2006. A Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis was first reported from Shamvura Lodge, Kavango Region, on 29 September and photographed on 8 October. Also there, a pair of Souza’s Shrikes Lanius souzae was photographed at its nest containing three small nestlings in November.

The following records are from November 2006 - April 2007. An American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was at Swakopmund sewage works on 29 November where it remained until at least 6 December; one was at Mile 4 salt works on 18 January, with a second individual subsequently, and both still present on 25 February. Three Pectoral Sandpipers Calidris melanotos were at Mile 4 salt works in Swakopmund on 20 February, two at the nearby sewage works on 14 March and one at Walvis Bay lagoon on 25 February. Common Redshanks Tringa totanus were reported from Mile 4 salt works on 1 November and 7 January, with at least three more there in January; three were also present on 14 March. Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus were at Walvis Bay on 23 November (no fewer than 24) and Mile 4 salt works on 24 January (three) and 14 March (one). At the latter site, a Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus was observed on 19 February. Africa’s second Elegant Tern Sterna elegans was discovered at a Sandwich Tern S. sandvicensis roost at Mile 4 salt works on 28 January and remained there until at least 14 March; this may well be the same bird that stayed in the Western Cape, South Africa, in January - February 2006.

^top

The following records are from March–October 2006. Namibia’s first (and southern Africa's third) Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis was discovered near Kalizi Lodge in the Caprivi Strip on 16 June; a bird of the eastern race schistacea was reported from South Luangwa National Park in Zambia in February and also from Rondebult Bird Sanctuary, Gauteng, South Africa, in the second half of April; it is possible that all these sightings involved the same individual. An Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus was seen in Etosha National Park on 8 September. Common Redshanks Tringa totanus were reported from the Kunene River mouth on 22 February, at Mile 4 salt works in Swakopmund on 30 March, 10 April and 20 October, and at Walvis Bay on 10 September. A Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus were still at Mile 4 salt works, Swakopmund, on 30 March. Eleven Red-necked Phalaropes, found at Walvis Bay on 23 July, were still there on 15 August; one was also there on 1 October. At Swakopmund, a Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan was observed on 1 June. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls L. fuscus and 20 Royal Terns Sterna maxima were at the Kunene River mouth on 22 February.

In mid-October 2005, the following were observed off Namibia's coast: Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans, Northern Royal Albatross D. (epomophora) sanfordi, Dark-mantled Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca, two Spectacled Petrels Procellaria (aequinoctialis) conspicillata and nine Red (Grey) Phalaropes Phalaropus fulicarius.

At Walvis Bay, a Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, two Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa and up to six Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus were seen on 16 December 2005 and last reported on 29 January. A Common Redshank Tringa totanus found at Swakopmund Saltworks on 8 January was still present at the end of February. A Red-necked Phalarope was at Swakopmund Saltworks on 20 January and a Red (Grey) Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius at Walvis Bay the next day.

In April-December 2005 the following were reported. A Little Penguin Eudyptula minor was photographed ashore on Ichaboe Island in mid-April 2005. This puzzling record is the first of this Australasian species for Africa and raises the question how the bird got here; the bird was captured and examined but showed no signs of prior captivity. Two Wandering Albatrosses Diomedea exulans were spotted c.60 nautical miles west of Walvis Bay on 22 July, with a Grey-headed Albatross D. chrysostoma in the same area next day. A European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus was seen at Kalizo Lodge, east of Katima Mulilo, in the extreme north-east, on 6 December. Single Booted Eagles Hieraaetus pennatus were at Walvis Bay Sewage works on 22 October and 1 November.

Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus were seen at Walvis Bay on 22 October 2005 and 1 November. Also at Walvis Bay, an American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica was found on 22 October. Single Common Redshanks Tringa totanus were seen throughout the period at Walvis Bay and / or Swakopmund. A Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus was at Walvis Bay on 30 October. Five Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus were at Walvis Bay on 3 June, with four also there on 14 November, and one at Mile 4, Swakopmund, on 4-5 November. Namibia’s first Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis was found at Mile 4 Salt Works, Swakopmund, on 5 May; it was last reported on 11 November. Also at Swakopmund, 20,000+ Common Terns S. hirundo were counted on 14 November, c.2,000 Black Terns Chlidonias niger on 24 October, with 4,000+ there on 14 November, and one White-winged Tern Ch. leucopterus on 5-6 and 13 November, with 40+ there on 14 November.

A Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea was found in Halali Camp, Etosha National Park, on 19 October; it remained there for some time and was photographed on 2 November. Also in Etosha, an Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum was discovered near Namutoni on 24 November. Shelley’s Sunbird Cinnyris shelleyi was regularly observed and also photographed at Kalizo Lodge, near Katima Mulilo, in September–December.

^top

In January-April 2005 the following were reported. Two Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus were at Walvis Bay on 22 January. Thirteen Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa were counted at Lake Liambezi, Caprivi Strip, on 2 January; at Swakopmund, one was present from on 28 February until 14 March at least. A Common Redshank Tringa totanus, found at Swakopmund on 12 January, remained until at least 14 March; another was at Walvis Bay on 22 January. Also at Walvis Bay on 22 January were four Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus, with one at Swakopmund on 28 February remaining until at least 14 March. A Common Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus was at Swakopmund on 12 January. The second Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica for Namibia was at Sikoma Island, Caprivi Strip, on 26 January.

Records from Walvis Bay on 10–11 November 2004 include a Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos, two Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa, six Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus and, rarest of all, a Wilson's Phalarope P. tricolor. A pair of Shelley's Sunbirds Cinnyris shelleyi was sighted regularly at Kalizo Lodge on the Zambezi, in the Caprivi Strip in September 2004; this species is very rarely observed in southern Africa.

Records in the period July 2003 to April 2004 include the following. A Streaky-breasted Flufftail Sarothrura boehmi was photographed north of Etosha in January. A Striped Crake Aenigmatolimnas marginalis was found in a flooded vlei at Katima in April. Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus were reported from Swakopmund Salt Works on 3 July and from Walvis Bay in March and April; an adult has been at the latter site for the last four years at least. Walvis Bay also held a Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos on 15 March and two Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa on 23 March. There were also two breeding plumaged adult females and an adult male Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus on 3 July; this species is regular at this site in the Austral summer (with up to 28 in 2003 and 2004) but unusual in July. Still at Walvis Bay, a Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica, which stayed from 23 March until 2 May, appears to be the first for Namibia. An Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum, observed at length at the entrance to Mahango Game Reserve on 10 November, represents one of very few records in Namibia. At the same location, Northern Grey-headed Sparrows Passer griseus were recorded on 12 July and 10 November; this seems to be a westward range expansion for this species.

In February 2003, a Sooty Falcon Falco concolor was seen hunting for insects at dusk at Halali, Etosha National Park, on 13th. A Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva was observed at Swakopmund, at the mouth of the river, on 22nd. Also in 2003, on the Okavango River on the border of Namibia and Botswana, three large breeding colonies of African Skimmers Rynchops flavirostris were located in Mahango National Park and c50 chicks were ringed to mid October.

Records from November 2001 to March 2002 include the following. Southern Africa's third Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea was found at Walvis Bay on 14 March. An Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus was reported from Etosha National Park on 4 November. Single Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus and Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa were regularly seen at Walvis Bay throughout the period. Two Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus were also found at Sandwich harbour, together with a Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, on 22 January. Reports from the same site included two Broad-billed Sandpipers Limicola falcinellus on 14 April and a Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica on 29 December, 6 to 9 February and 9 April. A Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus was observed at Rendu Sewage Works, in the north, on 31 January. Common Redshanks T. totanus were seen at Walvis Bay on 29 November (one), 12 January (four), 22 February (one) and 6 March (one), and at Swakopmund from 3 December to 3 January (two) and 2 March (two). Throughout the period, Red-necked Phalaropes Phalaropus lobatus were regularly found at Walvis Bay (highest number: five on 12 January) and Swakopmund (with up to four in December and three in March). Four Red Phalaropes P. fulicarius were at Walvis Bay Saltworks on 12 January and a flock of 81 was seen offshore on 11 March. A Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan was discovered at the Swakop River mouth on 29 November and another at Walvis Bay on 7/8 February.

^top

Last page update 15th January 2011