BIRD LIST:
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Total species recorded in Lowveld: 584
Total recorded at our 12 localities: 507
Date: 15 Oct. 2001
Mark: III
This list of birds, recorded in the Lowveld and on the adjacent part of the Drakensberg Escarpment, is the third of its kind, undertaken to successfully stimulate awareness among birders of the remarkable wealth of avifauna encountered here. It obviously includes all reasonable species from the rarest, such as single individuals, to the commonest. In some cases, such as the Sooty Terns forced inland by cyclones or the recent remarkable record near Hoedspruit (by experienced British birders who know the species well from the Northern Hemisphere) of a Wilson's Phalarope after high winds, the records are obviously weather-driven rare vagrants. In other cases, rare species are being increasingly recorded probably due to increased birder awareness.
Twelve selected localities in the Central Lowveld with differing habitats and extensive bird lists have been featured, and interesting patterns are gradually emerging. It must be clearly understood that these lists are preliminary, will be much expanded with the progression of time, that a number of localities and many more observers are involved, and that they are not in any way an attempt to compare different localities or different observers. The avifaunal list of an area is dependent on the size of an area, the number of different habitats contained in it, the experience of the observers, the relevant time span and various other factors. What this list does indicate includes the relative richness of the avifauna, the occurrence of certain species considered rare, and the recurrence of species in adjacent less favourable habitats. The recorded occurrence may refer to a rare non-breeding vagrant or migrant or to a regularly observed resident breeding species, or simply reflect seasonal movements including juvenile dispersal. Patterns such as altitudinal migrations, drought-induced irruptions, wet-season influxes and other movements are all involved.
Some species are seriously under-reported due to various factors. There is unquestionably observer bias favouring large or beautiful species as opposed to the greater challenge of the avoided "Little Brown Jobs": part of normal learning curves. There is sometimes confusion with other closely-related species. Some water-associated birds with secretive habits, such as Striped Crake, Baillon's Crake, Lesser Gallinule and Common Bittern, are probably overlooked at watering-points despite comparatively high observer frequency. There is no substitute for careful observation eliminating similar species, but equally, once observations have been made, this list again indicates the benefit of progressive sharing of such information, and increased awareness generally. One of the major sources of observer error in the Lowveld is the hurried observations and consequent possible misidentification of species X in favour of possibly species Y known to the observer from elsewhere. Dead or injured bird specimens are an invaluable and verifiable source of information, provided that the locality and date are always recorded. One well-known Lowveld birder is still kicking himself for, before the penny dropped, having disposed of the road-casualty of a Mottled Swift brought to him by a passer-by. This would otherwise have been the first South African record of this species.
Some isolated surprises become routine, like the unexpected but long-established White-browed Sparrow-weaver colony on Umhlametsi and a group of Red-headed Finches sharing Red-billed Buffalo-weaver nests out-of-season with the expected Cut-throat Finches on Vienna. Similarly, some birders knowing it as a coastal species may doubt a Vienna record of Yellow Weaver by two competent birders, until they remember the large numbers of Yellow Weavers nesting sporadically in the Crocodile River near Skukuza. Surprises will undoubtedly continue, but it is important to document them carefully. For example, the forest-dwelling Square-tailed Drongo has been recorded on their farm in the Klaserie by the experienced bird-ringers Drs Herman and Zephne Bernitz: captured, measured, ringed and photographed.
Highlights of last year?s observations include a new species for the Lowveld: the Buff-breasted Sandpiper from America (also seen last year at Marievale on the Highveld) twice from the Kruger Park, and the Tropical Boubou Shrike (regrettably omitted). In particular, various waterbirds unusual in the Lowveld like Green Sandpiper (Ngala: Chris Roche, 2 Feb.) were recorded. The migratory Golden Pipit, first recorded in the Lowveld by well-known ranger Errol Pietersen at Kingfisher Spruit, was recorded last year in the Timbavati by Happy Hapelt (26 Feb.). Two separate birder groups recorded the Golden-backed Pytilia at Trackers (Nov. 2000), a new range extension. On Mariepskop Chris Steyn recorded Delegorgue?s Pigeon and the much-overlooked Thrush Nightingale (1 Feb.). The second Lowveld record of Palmnut Vulture, an adult, was observed last June at the mouth of the Blyde Canyon by Belgian raptor expert Paul van den Buche, who is setting up a base there, and has been leading raptor expeditions to the Middle East for 30 years. The second Egyptian Vulture record for Vienna was observed flying low by Mike Potts and family (14 Jul.). Finally, the Yellow-billed Oxpecker was observed by Chris Roche (7 Feb.) to commence nesting last year in the Timbavati.
It is intended to produce regular updates of this list, at cost, from time to time, regrettably not every time more information comes to hand, and such lists will be dated and marked to indicate progress. Relevant data for inclusion and improvement will be most welcome and gratefully received by the Hoedspruit Birder Group, a non-profit loose association of local birders. Such records can be submitted to the Hoedspruit Birder Group at:
Gwalagwala , P O Box 1499 , HOEDSPRUIT , 1380 Telephone / fax: (015) 793 3491. Cell: 083 701 2490. e-mail: gwala@netactive.co.za
LOWVELD AND ADJACENT