SA Rare Bird News Report - 25 September 2025
Trevor Hardaker
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S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N R A R E B I R D N E W S R E P O R T | |||||||||
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This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 18h00 on Thursday, 25 September 2025.
Information has been gleaned from various websites, email groups as well as from individual observers who have passed on their sightings. This report cannot be taken as being totally comprehensive as it is based only on information made available at the time of writing. All bird sightings reported here are reported in good faith based on information as provided by the observers. Any inaccuracies are totally unintentional and the writer cannot be held liable for these.
None of the records included in this report have undergone any adjudication process with any of the subregion’s Rarities Committees, so inclusion in this report does not constitute any official confirmation of the particular record. Observers are still encouraged to make the necessary submissions accordingly.
For those who may have only joined the group recently and are interested in finding out what has been seen in the past, previous reports can be viewed at https://groups.google.com/g/sa-rarebirdnews |
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Starting in the Western Cape, there were a couple of interesting Hirundine records yesterday from the Darling Hills Road with a single SOUTH AFRICAN CLIFF SWALLOW seen at -33.455, 18.427 yesterday morning and 2 LESSER STRIPED SWALLOWS reported at -33.479, 18.361 a little later in the day while the LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was still lingering along the R60 between Ashton and Swellendam at Greenland farm at -33.911, 20.185 yesterday as well.
In the Eastern Cape, the EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER was still at the Kromme River estuary in St Francis Bay yesterday.
Kwazulu Natal also held on to a few lingerers with the GREATER SAND PLOVER still at the St Lucia estuary yesterday and the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON still at North Dam at Umbogavango Nature Reserve in Amanzimtoti yesterday as well.
Into the Free State where there was some local excitement when a SANDERLING was found at South Bay on the Vaal Dam yesterday, still a pretty rare bird in the province. | |||||||||
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Eurasian Oystercatcher at the Kromme River estuary © Ewan Cornelius | Sanderling at South Bay © Sandy Neveling | ||||||||
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Across in Gauteng, the SLATY EGRET was still present at Gnu Valley farm on Tuesday.
In Mpumalanga, the action remained in the Kruger National Park with a single EURASIAN WHIMBREL, and possibly a second bird as well, seen at Lower Sabie on Tuesday while the AFRICAN SKIMMERS were still at Malelane bridge yesterday. A big surprize came when a group of 3 OLIVE BEE-EATERS were found at Leadwood Camp in the Timbavati at -24.198, 31.362 earlier today, still a pretty rare bird anywhere in South Africa.
Up in Namibia, the TIBETAN (LESSER) SAND PLOVER was still at Lovers Hill in Walvis Bay yesterday while at least 3 PALE-THROATED GREENBULS (aka YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES) were still around the gardens of Caprivi River Lodge in Katima Mulilo earlier today.
And finally, in Botswana, a BAR-TAILED GODWIT was reported at Second Bridge in Moremi Game Reserve on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Olive Bee-eater in the Timbavati © Grant Hazell | Eurasian Whimbrel at Lower Sabie © Leon Marais | ||||||||
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Thank you to all observers who have contributed their records. Please continue to send through any reports of odd birds as well as continued updates on the presence of rarities already previously reported, no matter how mundane you think they may be. Even if you think someone else has probably sent in a report, rather send the report yourself as well. The only way to improve this service and to make it as useful as possible to everyone is if it can be as comprehensive as possible.
Kind regards Trevor | |||||||||
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TREVOR HARDAKER Cape Town, South Africa |
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