Archives

WorldTwitch 1 - 1992

Morocco: Only two Slender-billed Curlews, Numenius tenuistrosis, were found at their last-known wintering site. As recently as the 1960's, Slender-billed Curlews migrated in great flocks between Siberia and southern Europe and north Africa, but the birds' migration route crossed many of Europe's most active hunting zones. The Slender-billed will be the first European bird to become extinct since the Great Auk in 1844. BBC Wildlife 10(3):61 (1992).

São Tomé, West Africa: In August, 1991, a trip into the wildest part of the island relocated São Tomé Canary (Grosbeak), Neospiza concolor, which had not been observed for more than 100 years, and all the other endemics, including Newton's Fiscal, Lanius newtoni, and São Tomé (Dwarf) Ibis, Bostrychia olivacea bocagei, were seen. The same observers recorded all five endemics on the adjacent island of Príncipe within a period of two hours. (D. Sargeant, et al., Malimbus, in press.)

Madagascar: A trip in September-October, 1991, recorded Verreaux's Coua, Coua verreauxi, near the road to St. Augustin (A. Greensmith tape), and Madagascar Long-eared Owl, Asio madagascariensis, at Perinet. (N. Gardner, et al.)

South Africa: Taita Falcon, Falco fasciinucha, never previously recorded from South Africa, bred successfully at a site formerly occupied by Peregrines in the eastern escarpment region of Transvaal in October, 1990. (Jenkins et al., Ostrich 62:78).

Thailand: The presence of breeding Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Temnurus temnurus, at Phanoen Thung, Kaeng Krachan NP has been confirmed, and at least six Yellow-vented Pigeons, Treron seimundi, were observed at the same locale in April, 1991. (Bulletin of the Oriental Bird Club (B.O.B.C.), 14:50.

Sabah: Bulwer's Pheasant, Lophura bulweri, was observed at the Danum Valley reserve in July, 1991. (D. Yong)

Malaya: Pin-tailed Parrotfinch, Erythrura prasina, and Yellow-vented Pigeon, Treron seimundi, were seen at Fraser's Hill in July, 1991. (D. Yong).

Vietnam: An apparent new species of Alcippe fulvetta was discovered in May, 1991, on previously unexplored Mt. Bi Doup on the Da Lat Plateau, Lam Dong Province. Further southwest, in Nam Bai Cat Tien NP, Dong Nai Province, three White-shouldered Ibis, Pseudibis davisoni, were observed displaying near Dac Lua in June, 1991, the first observation in continental South-east Asia for many years, and partridges believed to be Orange-necked, Arborophila davidi, were observed in the same area. C. Robson, et al, B.O.B.C. 14:50-52, Garrulax, 8:4-9.

Vanuatu: The Santo Starling, Aplonis santovestris, was rediscovered on Peak Santo in forest over 1,000 m in August, 1991. J. Reside, et al., Wingspan, December 1991 at 10-11.

Guatemala: Horned Guan, Oreophasis derbianus, still occurs at easily accessible Fuentes Georginas, where five were observed in July, 1990. (J. Stratford).

Colombia: Ecuadorian Hillstar, Oreotrochilus chimbaorazo, was found at La Plañada in Southwestern Colombia in the summer of 1991. P. Salaman, et al. British Birds, 85:50 (1992); 84:293 (1991).

Paraguay: A Helmeted Woodpecker, Dryocopus galeatus, was observed in June, 1991 near Estancia La Fortuna. (R. Ridgely et al.) The same trip added Least Pygmy-Owl, Glaucidium minutissium, to the Paraguay list at Itabo.

Brazil: Kaempfer's Tody-Tyrant, Idioptilon kaempferi, has been rediscovered in Santa Catarina less than 1 km from the site where the type specimen was taken in 1929. (M. Pearman, World Birdwatch, Dec. 1991). A report emanating from the U.K. last summer that the last surviving Spix's Macaw, Cyanopsitta spixii, in the wild had been taken by armed bird trappers was incorrect; the bird remains in the wild in northern Bahia.