Raptors in South Africa in 2007: 8-13 November
|
Species |
Safari |
Coast |
Johannesburg |
Total |
|
|
Ulusaba 8/11-10/11 |
Cape Town area 11/11-13/11 |
Airport area 8/11 |
|
|
Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi |
15 |
|
|
15 |
|
African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus |
12 |
|
|
12 |
|
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus |
11 |
|
|
11 |
|
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus |
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus |
5 |
|
|
5 |
|
Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus |
3 |
2 |
|
5 |
|
Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolis |
|
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus |
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina |
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
Black Eagle Aquila verreauxii |
3 |
1 |
|
4 |
|
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus |
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus |
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer |
1 |
1 |
|
2 |
|
Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius |
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur |
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax |
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
African Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus |
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Black Kite Milvus migrans |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis |
1 |
|
|
1 |
Total 22 species of diurnal raptors seen: 3 vultures, 10 eagles, 3 kite, 1 falcon, 1 sparrowhawk, 3 buzzard, 1 buzzard-hawk.
Total 92 individuals seen of the above species with by far the highest density on safari at Ulusaba.
A number of the above are Eurasian breeders, which over-winter in Africa: Steppe Buzzard, Honey Buzzard, Black Kite, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Steppe Eagle. Wahlberg's Eagle is an intra-Africa migrant with those breeding in South Africa spending the rest of the year in equatorial Africa.
What was very noticeable was the activity of the raptors. Particularly in mid to late morning many birds were up in the air either in display or in territorial patrols. Display by pairs was very evident for Wahlberg's Eagle and territorial patrolling for Martial Eagle, Black Eagle, African Crowned Eagle and Yellow-billed Kite.
Nick Rossiter
