SA Rare Bird News Report - 21 August 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, 21 August 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, up to 4 KNOB-BILLED DUCKS were present at the Philippi wetlands at -34.021, 18.538 on Tuesday while the WHITE-HEADED VULTURE was reported again along the R27 between Yzerfontein and Langebaan yesterday and at least one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was still at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif this afternoon. Elsewhere, a GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING was seen at Eight Bells Mountain Inn in Ruiterbos on Tuesday.
Up in the Northern Cape, a very delayed report, although still very interesting and worthy of being shared, has been received of a EURASIAN CURLEW seen at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on 22 July 2025.
In the Eastern Cape, a WHITE-BACKED VULTURE was seen at Sibuya Game Reserve on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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White-backed Vulture at Sibuya Game Reserve © JP de Bruyn | Eurasian Curlew at Twee Rivieren © Luke van den Heever | ||||||||
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Into Kwazulu Natal where another delayed report was received, this time of a male COLLARED FLYCATCHER seen at Bushmans Nek at -29.844, 29.211 on 15 and 16 August 2025. Fortunately, birders were not put off and headed out there this morning and then major excitement ensued when it was confirmed that the bird was still present there. Elsewhere, the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was still at Umbogavango Nature Reserve in Amanzimtoti this morning as well.
Over in Mpumalanga, the 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS were still at Malelane bridge in the Kruger National Park yesterday, although there have been no recent reports of the chick.
In Limpopo, after a long period of no reports, the COLLARED PALM THRUSH was seen again at Crooks Corner near Pafuri in the Kruger National Park on Tuesday.
And finally, in Namibia, a BAT HAWK was reported at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Collared Flycatcher at Bushmans Nek © Shayna Leigh Wilson | Collared Flycatcher at Bushmans Nek © Hugo Voigts | ||||||||
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Collared Flycatcher at Bushmans Nek © Bart Fokkens | |||||||||
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Collared Flycatcher at Bushmans Nek © Gavin Walter | Collared Palm Thrush at Crooks Corner © Wean Strydom | ||||||||
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Collared Flycatcher twitchers at Bushmans Nek © Paul Jossop | |||||||||
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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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