Notable updates on the status of selected waders and African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris in Mozambique

• Published in: Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club Vol. 144; no. 4; pp. 338 - 366
• Main Authors: Allport, Gary, Hogg, James W. T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: British Ornithologists’ Club 04.12.2024
• Subjects: RESEARCH-ARTICLE
• ISSN: 0007-1595
• DOI: 10.25226/bboc.v144i4.2024.a2

The status in Mozambique of all waders (Charadriidae, Dromadidae, Glareolidae, Haematopodidae, Scolopacidae, Turnicidae) is reviewed covering records up to June 2024. Significant updates are presented for 18 rare or vagrant species, four additional species of IUCN Near Threatened status and eight others of interest. The first documented national records of African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini, Madagascar Pratincole Glareola ocularis, Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva, Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus, Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Broad-billed Sandpiper C. falcinellus and Common Redshank Tringa totanus are reported. No documented records of Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta or Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus were found. Among Near Threatened species, numbers of Red Knot Calidris canutus and Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata have declined recently in Mozambique, those of Great Snipe Gallinago media may be stable but warrant further survey, whilst numbers of Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica and Curlew Sandpiper C. ferruginea (the latter globally Vulnerable) are probably stable. A record of a possible Steppe Curlew N. a. suschkini is reported from Maputo province. Internationally important counts are reported at seven sites for Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus, Bar-tailed Godwit, Tibetan Sandplover C. atrifrons, Crab Plover Dromas ardeola and Curlew Sandpiper, as well as for African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris whose status we also reviewed. Further surveys of wetlands are a high priority, particularly on the coasts of central and northern Mozambique, and of major freshwater wetlands throughout the country.