The birds of Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho

A total of 117 bird species has been recorded in Sehlabathebe National Park, south-east Lesotho, consisting of 29 vagrants, 18 visitors and 70 breeding and probable breeding residents. For each species status was determined and abundance roughly estimated. Quantitative studies on breeding bird communities were carried out by means of the line transect method on four transects with the total length ca 30 km in the park and on two transects with the total length of ca 20 km outside the park. In the park, dominant species were represented by the Stonechat Saxicola torquata, Ayres’ Cisticola Cisticola ayresii, Yellow-rumped Widow Euplectes capensis and Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais. Outside the park dominants were represented by Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis, Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus, Cape Canary Serinus canicollis, Common Quail Coturnix coturnix, Stonechat, Cape Butning Emberiza capensis and Drakensberg Siskin Pseudochloroptila symonsi. Characteristic, high-altitude species in the park included Drakensberg Siskin, Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi, Orange-breasted Rockjumper Chaetops auriantius, Banded Martin Riparia cincta and Sentinel Rock Thrush Monticola explorator. Species such as the Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis, Sicklewinged Chat Cercomela sinuata, Mountain Chat Oenanthe monticola, Thick-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris, Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio, Alpine Swift Apus melba, Cape Sparrow, Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus, Red Bishop Euplectes orix and Golden Bishop Euplectes afer were absent or occurred in very low densities in the park, although they are widespread and common in the Maluti/Drakensberg grasslands (including areas neighbouring to the park). The lack of trees and shrubs for nesting, the lack of cultivated fields as feeding places and competition with related species both for food and nesting sites, may partly play a role in this regard.


Introduction
Sehlabathebe National Park (SNP) was proclaimed on 27 February 1970 and to date it is the only national park in Lesotho (Pomela et al. 2000). Plant diversity of SNP has been studied by Kopij (2001b), and animal diversity by Lynch & Watson (1990) and Kopij (2001b). The first ornithological observations in SNP were made during the years 1975-1982 by J. Belcomb, C. Brown, R. Howard, M. Howard andL. Passineau. From 1987 to 1990, a total of 16 visits to record birds of SNP were conducted. Each visit lasted 1-4 days (11 visits in summer (November-February) and five in winter (April-September)). The following persons participated in this project: L. P. Abbott, E. Bolding, J. Cambridge, K. E. Deas, S. Fairman, J. M. Gosnell, R. Guy, S. Haines, J. Jones, P. Osborne, D. P. Smits, B. Tigar, S. Van der Veur, J. P. Watson, H. Wilson, A. Wolfromm and H. Wrayner. These observers used the standard Southern African Bird Atlas Project cards for reporting their records and also provided details of unusual records. To date, results of these observations are available mainly in the form of unpublished reports (Howard 1977;Howard & Howard 1977;Belcomb 1980). Although a booklet on birds of the park was compiled by Passineau (1977), this is only a popular account of more common species, together with a simple, not annotated and not critically evaluated checklist of all species. The present study aims to determine and report on the status (based on my own and all previous records) and abundance (based on my own studies) of bird species in SNP and the surrounding area. To date, quantitative studies of bird communities in Lesotho have only been conducted in the lowlands: in urbanised areas of Maseru (Kopij 2000) and in rural areas and in farmlands in the Roma Valley (Kopij 2001a).

Study area
Located in the Qacha's Nek district of southeastern Lesotho, SNP (7239 ha) was established in 1970. Ranging in elevation from 2200 m to 2600 m, it falls entirely within the Themeda-Festuca alpine grassland. SNP comprises short grasses (69 %), escarpments and colluvial lands (13 %), wetlands (11 %), water-courses (4 %) and roads and other man-modified areas (3 %). Except for a few small isolated willow Salix subserrata clumps, no other woody vegetation occurs in the park. Water in the form of streams, rivers and pools is abundant. Mean annual rainfall is 769 mm, with most rains (75 %) in November-March. Mean annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 19.6 ºC and 2.2 ºC respectively (Kopij 2001b). A map of SNP was published by Lynch & Watson (1990).

Quantitative studies
Quantitative studies were carried out from 12 to 15 January 2001. The American version of the line transect method (Bibby et al. 1992) was employed to assess density and dominance of breeding species. The observer walked slowly, counting his paces and stopping often to observe and record birds. Only the birds in front and on either side of the observer were recorded-those behind were not. Where the transect ended, birds beyond the end point were not counted. Distant birds only detectable using binocular were not searched for. A pair, not an individual, was the censused unit. A singing or otherwise observed male, in a habitat suitable for breeding, was interpreted as one pair. If a male was not observed, a female, a group of fledglings or an occupied nest was also interpreted as one pair (Koskimies & Vaisanen 1991;Bibby et al. 1992).
Density estimates are based on morning counts only, as birds were markedly less active in the afternoon. For calculation of relative abundance (dominance), morning and afternoon counts were pooled. For comparison of the breeding bird communities in the park with that in man-modified neighbouring areas, two transects were also undertaken outside the park.
Morning counts covered four transects: -along the road from the research station to the lodge (9 km); grassland with numerous stream valleys at the foot of Thaba Ntšo; surveyed from 6:00 to 11:00 on 12 January 2001; -from the research station along the north-west border of the park through Koti-se-Seholo Tsoelikane to Tsoelikane Falls (7 km); mainly short grassland with a few stream valleys and sandstone formations; surveyed from 6:00 to 10:00 on 13 January 2001; -along the Tsoelikane River from Letamong village to the waterfall (6 km); extensive marshland with fairly tall and dense grass and sedges; surveyed from 10:00 to 12:30 on 13 January 2001; -from the research station through the north-western corner of the park, Herdboy and Central Valleys to the waterfall (9 km); grassland with sandstone formations and stream valleys; surveyed from 6:00 to 11:00on 15 January. Dominant species are those represented by more than 5.0 %, and subdominant species by 2-4.9 % of all breeding pairs recorded.

Annotated checklist
The checklist is based on results of all unpublished records by Howard (1977), Howard & Howard (1977), Passineau (1977) and Balcomb (1980) and those of G. Kopij (this study) The following criteria were used to determine the status and abundance of each species: -Status: vagrant-single records or once in a five-year period; visitor -not resident, and nonbreeding, but recorded regularly in each year, often resident in neighbouring areas; residentdirect breeding evidence (nest with eggs or chicks, egg shells); probable resident -indirect breeding evidence (occupied territory, simultaneously singing males in optimal habitats, breeding display etc.); Palearctic migrantbreeds in the Palearctic region during the northern summer, wintering in SNP during the austral summer; intra-African migrant -breeds in SNP, but winters in tropical Africa; altitudinal migrant -breeding in SNP during the austral summer, but wintering outside the park, at lower altitudes; nomad -appears erratically, at no particular season, sometimes in large numbers that may breed.

Results of quantitative studies
Among 1120 (Table 3). Also, composition of the group of subdominant species outside the park (Table 3) differed markedly from that inside the park ( Table 2).

Ardea cinerea
Grey Heron Visitor. Probably resident in neighbouring areas. On 23 December 1976, one aberrant individual with red bill and legs was observed (R. Howard).

Ardea melanocephala
Black-headed Heron Visitor. Resident in neighbouring areas.

Ciconia ciconia
White Stork Palearctic migrant (Table 4). Most birds forage in the Tsoelikane valley below the waterfall, e.g. from 12 to 15 January 2001, a flock of 35 birds were observed there, and the whole population in the park was estimated at 40-50 pairs.

Ciconia nigra
Black Stork Visitor. Resident in neighbouring areas.

Alopochen aegyptiacus
Egyptian Goose Visitor. Probably resident in neighbouring areas.

Anas undulata
Yellow-billed Duck Probable resident on the Tsoelikane River; uncommon.

Anas sparsa
African Black Duck Resident on the Tsoelikane River; uncommon.

Tringa glareola
Wood Sandpiper Vagrant. Two birds were recorded on 6 January 1977.

Apus barbatus
Black Swift Common intra-African migrant. Nesting colonies were localised mainly around Thaba Ntšo and on sandstone cliffs around the waterfall.

Ceryle rudis
Pied Kingfisher Probable resident on the Tsoelikane River below the waterfall. Not recorded since 1976 (R. Howard).

Megaceryle maxima Giant Kingfisher
Probable resident on the Tsoelikane River.

Alcedo cristata Malachite Kingfisher
Probable resident on the Tsoelikane River.

Geocolaptes olivaceus Ground Woodpecker
Common resident. Breeds in the banks of rivers and streams and in erosion gulleys.

Corvus capensis
Black Crow Resident; 2-5 pairs on larger sandstone cliffs and at Thaba Ntšo.

Corvus albicollis
White-necked Raven Probably resident. One probable breeding pair at Thaba Ntšo.

Monticola rupestris
Cape Rock Thrush Rare resident; nesting along sandstone cliffs.

Monticola explorator
Sentinel Rock Thrush Common resident in short grasses with rocky outcrops or along rocky cliffs.

Oenanthe monticola Mountain Chat
Probable rare resident.

Cercomela familiaris
Familiar Chat Probable rare resident.

Saxicola torquata
Stonechat Most birds are altitudinal migrants, some are resident. Very common in grassland, marshes and along streams and valleys during the breeding season. Breeds mainly in December/January, e.g. on 12-15 January 2001, most pairs were seen with 2-3 juveniles.

Cossypha caffra
Cape Robin Fairly common resident in willow clumps.

Cisticola ayresii
Ayres' Cisticola Very common altitudinal migrant; breeding mainly in short grass.

Cisticola lais
Wailing Cisticola Very common resident, mainly in shorter grasses on sloping hillsides.

Cisticola tinniens
Levaillant's Cisticola Very common resident in marshes and longer grasses, especially along water courses.

Prinia hypoxantha
Spotted Prinia Rare resident on lower slopes of Thaba Ntšo.

Motacilla capensis
Cape Wagtail Common resident along water courses, at rock pools and dams.

Anthus hoeschi
Mountain Pipit Very common intra-African migrant, nesting mainly in short grass.

Anthus crenatus
Rock Pipit Probable resident on lower rocky slopes of Thaba Ntšo.

Macronyx capensis
Orange-throated Longclaw Common resident in marshes and in grass, especially along streams and river valleys.

Lanius collaris
Fiscal Shrike Visitor. Resident in neighbouring areas.

Spreo bicolor
Pied Starling Uncommon resident on lower slopes of Thaba Ntšo.

Nectarinia famosa Malachite Sunbird
Fairly common altitudinal migrant (Table 4), usually close to sandstone formations and Kniphofia and Aloe communities.

Passer domesticus
House Sparrow Visitor, Resident at Sehlabathebe village.

Passer melanurus
Cape Sparrow Uncommon resident. Nesting recorded in old Cape Weaver nests in willows.

Passer diffusus Grey-headed Sparrow
Rare resident recorded in willow clumps.

Ploceus capensis
Cape Weaver Common altitudinal migrant (Table 4). Nests were located exclusively in willows, both in SNP and in the neighbouring area. Outside the park, on the banks of the Tsoelikane River, most nests were located 1-2 m above the water level. The number of nests per group ranged from 3 to 20.

Euplectes orix
Red Bishop Probable altitudinal migrant (Table 4); rare. Breeding was recorded in old Cape Weaver nests in willows on banks of the Tsoelikane River outside SNP. This nest site is unusual for this species.
Very common resident in marshes and in grass along water-courses and at dams.

Estrilda astrild
Common Waxbill Fairly common resident, mainly along the Tsoelikane River.

Ortygospiza atricollis
Quail Finch Fairly common altitudinal migrant (Table 4); breeding in grass, usually in close proximity of pools and dams.

Pseudochloroptila symonsi
Drakensberg Siskin Very common resident; breeding in grassy areas and marshes. Feeds mainly on seeds of Helichrysum spp. and Polygonum spp. A nest with one egg (20.5 x 16.5 mm) was found on 13 January 2001, located in short grass mixed with numerous Helichrysum flowers.

Emberiza capensis
Cape Bunting Very common resident, usually along sandstone formations.

Emberiza tahapisi
Rock Bunting Vagrant. Recorded on 1 September 1985 (H. Wilson), 13 March 1987 (C. Brown). The following species need confirmation before their inclusion into the list: Little Swift Apus affinis, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra White-winged Widow Euplectes albonotatus and Bully Canary Serinus sulphuratus. All these species were listed by Passineau (1977), but without corroborating evidence. They are regarded as very rare in Lesotho highlands (Osborne & Tigar 1990, Bonde 1993 and can be confused with congeneric species. The records may be considered, therefore, to derive from misidentification.

Conclusions
To date 117 bird species have been recorded in the SNP, 29 of them are vagrants, 18 are visitors, and 70 are breeding or probable breeding residents. It is important to note the absence or very low densities of the following species in SNP, which are widespread and common in the Maloti/Drakensberg grasslands (including areas neighbouring to SNP): Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis, Sicklewinged Chat, Mountain Chat, Thick-billed Lark, Red-winged Starling, Alpine Swift, Cape Sparrow, Grey-headed Sparrow, Red Bishop and Golden Bishop (cf. Osborne & Tigar 1990, Little & Bainbridge 1992, Bonde 1993. The lack of trees and shrubs for nesting, the lack of cultivated fields as feeding places and competition with related species both for food and nesting sites, may partly play a role in this regard.