Opportunistic avian nectarivory on flowering Aloe maculata with a review of visiting bird species

Eight bird species were recorded feeding on Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe) nectar at Biddulphsberg, Senekal, Free State, from 23–26 August 2021. Birds were mist-netted as part of a bird ringing study and aloe pollen was noticed on some birds. The flowering aloes attract mainly Malachite Nectarinia famosa and White-bellied Sunbirds Cinnyris talatala as well as Cape Zosterops virens and Orange River White-eyes Z. pallidus. Of the 108 birds ringed or collected, 34 birds (eight species) had aloe pollen on them. These species, including a first record of Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans, and a confirmed record of Streaky-headed Seedeaters Crithagra gularis, represent the first observations of birds probing A. maculata flowers.

Breeding biology of two sympatric Nesospiza finches at Nightingale Island, Tristan da Cunha

Nesospiza finches are a classic example of a simple adaptive radiation, with two ecologically distinct forms confined to the Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, South Atlantic Ocean: an abundant, small-billed dietary generalist, and a scarce, large-billed specialist. These have segregated into two species at Nightingale Island, but there is still local introgression between the two forms at Inaccessible Island. We describe the phenology and breeding behaviour of the two sympatric species at Nightingale Island (2.6 km2): Wilkins’s Finch Nesospiza wilkinsi (Endangered) and Nightingale Island Finch N. questi (Vulnerable). The finch breeding season starts in late October-November but the onset of breeding varies by 4–5 weeks among years. The small-billed Nightingale Island Finch typically (two of three study seasons) starts breeding 1–3 weeks earlier than the large-billed Wilkins’s Finch, unlike at Inaccessible Island where the Wilkins’s Finches start breeding first. Laying of initial clutches was quite well synchronised, peaking 1–2 weeks after the first nests were found. Females constructed the nests, which were mostly (>90%) in dense Spartina arundinacea tussock grass stands and occasionally in ferns or sedge grasses. Clutches comprised one or two eggs, with no difference between Wilkins’s (1.66 ± 0.48) or Nightingale Island finch clutches (1.71 ± 0.46). Incubation periods averaged longer for Wilkins’s Finch (18.3 ± 0.5 d) than Nightingale Island Finch (17.7 ± 0.5 d), but this difference was not statistically significant. Females incubated the eggs, and were fed by the males. The difference in egg volume within two-egg clutches was 2–13% for Wilkins’s Finches (mean 5.9 ± 3.3%) and 1–19% for Nightingale Island Finches (mean 8.4 ± 5.3%). At least 31% of pairs re -laid after their first breeding attempt failed but there was no evidence of double brooding. Repeat nests were 0–20 m (mean 5.6 ± 4.9 m) from the initial nest site and inter-seasonal nest sites for 38 known pairs were 0–33 m apart (mean 12 ± 9 m). No inter-species pairs or hybrid birds were seen, but two instances of inter-species fledgling provisioning were observed.

Who stole my nest? Weaver nests used as nest lining

Birds stealing nest material from a neighbour’s nest is well known, but stealing entire nests is less well known. This has been reported nine times for raptors and waterbirds taking the domed nests of weaverbirds. Three waterbird species and five raptor species are involved. Nests of four weaver species were identified. Three records were from Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa, and the rest from elsewhere in Africa. Weaver nests included green nests, but most were old nests, and at least one occupied nest (with eggs). Since green nests were not the norm, the weaver nests were probably taken as a source of plant material, rather than for any specific benefit relating to weaver nests.

Birds and birding 2013-2020 at Macaneta, Southern Mozambique

The Macaneta area lies in the Incomati River estuary in northern Maputo Bay, Maputo Province, southern Mozambique. The 56 km2 area of study was selected based on access from tracks and follows no formal boundaries. The site comprises a 10 km stretch of ocean beach, coastal dunes with patchy thicket forest, and low lying wet grasslands inland to the Incomati River. The wetlands have complex hydrology offering diverse salinity and temporal conditions. The peninsula of Praia de Macaneta is also included in the study site but with few data. Improved access to the site in Oct 2016 enabled over 200 field ornithological visits Oct 2016-Oct 2020 and the sightings are analysed and reported herein. A total of 295 species was recorded including eight Globally Threatened birds (three Endangered, five Near-threatened) and Internationally Important numbers of White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and Whiskered Terns Chlidonias hybrida were found. Three new birds for Mozambique were discovered; Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata (first for Africa), White-rumped Sandpiper C. fuscicollis and Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiate. An annotated checklist of selected species is presented. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in particular drew much birder interest with 254 international visitor days over the 12 weeks of its first visit Feb-Apr 2018, contributing over US$12,000 into the local economy. The bird returned for two further seasons but it was not possible to gather further data.

Vocalizations of European Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus) in Southern Africa

Contrary to some sources, the European Honey Buzzard is not silent in Africa. This study documents 51 records of the species vocalizing on the continent. Vocalizations were given by birds apparently encountered alone (n=30) and when accompanied by another European Honey Buzzard (n=22). Where age was known, 11 calling birds were adults and ten were juveniles. Where details were available, most calls were given by birds in flight (n=30), with 11 from perched birds and two from birds heard calling while both in flight and perched. In most cases the sex of the bird was not recorded (n=42) and young birds (first- and second-years) are difficult to sex with certainty; of the remainder, two were males and nine were females. Most calls were the typical flight call of the species (n=43), with apparent alarm calls (n=7) the next most frequent call type. Most calls were delivered in flight (n=31), 19 by single birds and 12 by two birds together in flight. The calling by two birds was associated with flight displays similar to those described on the breeding grounds and occurred especially in late summer (December onwards; 25/40 records). A relatively high proportion of calls occurred during interactions between two European Honey Buzzards (n=18). Calling associated with two birds together and accompanied by aerial displays has not been described in Africa before, and is suggestive of either early pairing of the adult birds prior to migration or breeding activity locally in Africa. Vocalizations between young birds though may be more social as opposed to sexual in nature. The large (5X) increase in records of European Honey Buzzards in South Africa in recent years likely increases the chances of conspecific interaction. It also raises the possibility of breeding, especially in more-temperate South Africa.

Vocalizations and song flight of Pink-billed Lark Spizocorys conirostris

Pink-billed Lark Spizocorys conirostris is an unobtrusive bird with a relatively low reporting rate of ~10% in the second South African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2). Little is known about the species’ vocalizations and song flight, and published descriptions are vague or confus-ing. Here I provide a detailed description of vocalizations and song flights as recorded between 2012 and 2019 in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Vocalizations were recorded using a digital recorder for calls in flight and occasionally on the ground, or were obtained from a video camera placed near the nest to record vocalizations that would be impossible to record from a distance. Twelve categories of vocalizations were identified, eight of them described here for the first time. The majority of the eight newly described vocalizations were obtained from video footage. A more detailed description of the song flight is also provided and should clarify some of the confusing descriptions provided in the literature. Knowledge of the flight song of Pink-billed Lark is valuable to locate and identify the species and will be an asset for moni-toring programmes and SABAP2.