SARBN rare bird news Monday 20 October 2025

[Garret Skead]

Dear SARBN subscribers

This will be my last report for now, and from tomorrow please start sending your updates to Trevor again.

Herewith a quick round-up of the recent rarities.

In the Western Cape, the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER was still present at Seeberg Hide, West Coast National Park on Saturday, and there was also a report of a TIBETAN SAND PLOVER seen from the hide the previous morning (Thursday). There was also a BLACK HERON reported from Velddrif on the Berg River on Sunday morning at 10am, seen at -32.800, 18.200, and at nearby Kliphoek salt pans, two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES remained on view, with one bird showing breeding plumage. The LESSER STRIPED SWALLOWS were still at the Darling Hills Rd on Saturday. At Rietvlei Wetland Reserve, the SQUACCO HERON was present until at least on Saturday, and the AFRICAN JACANA was still at the same area near the Sunset hide this afternon. Finally, a slightly concerning report came through of three COMMON MYNAS seen near Blouberg last Monday, near Doodles Restaurant.

In the Eastern Cape, the WHITE-BACKED VULTURE remained in the Gqeberha area today, reported at midday in the general area of the indoor sports centre and Cape Recife. There was also a report of an AFRICAN HAWK EAGLE seen near Grahamstown today, at midday, but I don't have any specific details pertaining to location or access to the site.

In Kwazulu-Natal, the GREATER SAND PLOVER was still present at the St Lucia estuary yesterday morning, and the GREEN SANDPIPER was still hanging out at Manyoni PGR on Saturday. Further south at Umbogavango near Amanzimtoti, the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was still present on Saturday, reported at the North Pond. An ARCTIC TERN was seen at La Mercy Beach on Sunday afternoon.

Heading inland to the Free State, a COLLARED PRATINCOLE was seen on a private reserved near Benfontein on Saturday at 16:25, at -28.825, 24.822. This is a restricted access site but the observer has offered to arrange access for anyone who would like to visit (please contact me directly for further details).

In Mpumalanga, there was an interesting record of BLUE SWALLOWS seen near God's Window on Friday, at -24.856, 30.884. I don't know how many birds were present. They were reported with a request to remain on the main road rather than walking through the adjacent grassland. Two SANDERLINGS were seen at Grootdraaidam near Standerton on Friday. A COMMON RINGED PLOVER remained at Shitlave Dam today.

In the Zimbabwe region, a GULL-BILLED TERN was reported from the Zambezi River, west of Livingstone Falls Hotel, at -17.883, 25.828. I notice that these coordinates are actually on the Zambian side of the river, but presumably the bird might be visible or twitchable from the Zimbabwe side too so I thought it was worthy of a mention here too.

And finally, in Namibia, the NORTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER remained at the same area as previously reported yesterday at 16:44 (coordinates: -17.536, 24.542). The observers mentioned that they hired the local lodge guide who assisted them in finding the bird. The popular ROSS'S TURACO was also still present at Taranga Lodge on Sunday afternoon. Onesi Dam delivered a number of good birds this afternoon, including a CASPIAN PLOVER.

Kind regards

Garret