Bulletin 353 - South Africa 2020 #7 - Shorebirds, rails

I was enchanted with my first visit to Africa in November 2018 and so I scheduled another trip with the same guide Casper Badenhorst. As we had done the eastern part of the country from Durban to Kruger NP, we went to the Capetown area and the famous fynbos habitat.

The western Cape region is a semi desert. You may have read last year that Capetown was suffering from a multi-year drought and was on water rationing with the possibility of no fresh water at all. Fortunately they got some rain and refilled the reservoirs. But it is on the coast, so along with a wetland outside the city, many shorebirds can be found.

The best sandpiper was the 12" African Snipe (Gallinago nigripennis). This long billed, normally secretive bird, was in a marshy puddle beside the road. The guide said it was outstanding to see it in the open about 5 meters from the car. The guide is finally starting to believe how lucky I am when go birding.  Hahhaha. Another lifer for me. All snipes are exciting to find.

African Snipe

Several migrants from Europe were present as well. The whimbrel was finally split into 2 species. The 17"  Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) has a striped head and down curved bill. It has a white back that is not seen on this photo, I actually had photographed this bird in Galveston many years ago, before the split, when an astute birder realized this was the European species. The white back is easily seen. FYI the whimbrel in North America is now called the Hudsonian Whimbrel.

Eurasian Whimbrel

The 10"  Ruff (Calidris pugnax) is an uncommonn vagrant in the lower 48 states, although it breeds in Alaska. 

Ruff - non breeding

The 5.5" Little Stint (Calidris minuta) shown here in winter plumage is the reason I use a guide as I would never know which species this is.

Little Stint - winter

In the plover family, I finally got some close up of the African endemics. The 5" Kittlitz's Plover (Charadius pecuarius) has a black ring aroiund the head and in breeding a chestnut breast. This bird in molting into the breeding plumage and some color can be seen on his chest.

Kittlitz's Plover

The 6.5" White-fronted Plover (Charadius marginatus) is perfectly camouflaged on the beach.

White-fronted Plover

The 17" African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini) is all black with the typical long red bill of oystercatchers. This bird was a lifer for me.

African Oystercatcher

In the wetland along with the ducks we saw 2 weeks ago were members of the rail family. By driving on the dikes between ponds and taking photos out the window, I got my best photos of these species.

The 13" Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a gray and brown bodied bird with a short bicolored bill.

Common Mooorhen

The 17" Red-knobbed Coot (Fulca cristata) is a typical gray colored coot with white bill and shield. He really does have 2 small red knobs on the top of the shield. I cannot imagine the purpose of those knobs. This is an endemic bird in Africa.

Red-knobbed Coot

The last was a lifer as well. It is the 18" African Swamphen (Porphyrio madagascariensis). This is similar to our Purple Gallinule, but it is much larger and has a red bill and shield. 

African Swamphen

I put the different bird/mammal families in single folders for easy viewing

I have photos of 50 of the 93 species of sandpipers

I have photos of 29 of the 67 species of  plovers and lapwings

I have photos of 4 of the 11 species of  oystercatchers

I have photos of 18 of the 138 species of  rails, coots, gallinules

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2020 David McDonald

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