SA Rare Bird News Report - 07 July 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 Monday, 07 July 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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Once again, from next week, I will be away for a short while and, during this period, Garret Skead has kindly agreed to run SARBN in my absence. I will share his contact details later this week again for everyone, so that you have those on record.
On to the news, and starting in the Western Cape, a NORTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS was seen on a fishing trip out of Hout Bay earlier today while a SQUACCO HERON was reported around the Piesang River estuary in Plettenberg Bay on Saturday.
In the Eastern Cape, the long-staying GROUNDSCRAPER THRUSH was seen again on the verge in front of Kenton Primary School yesterday afternoon and was still in the same area earlier today.
Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was seen again at Umbongavongo Nature Reserve in Amazimtoti yesterday and this morning, and a PALE CHANTING GOSHAWK was found along Mpofana Road near Kamberg Nature Reserve at -29.385, 29.72 on Saturday.
Across in Mpumalanga, 4 AFRICAN SKIMMERS were seen at Malelane gate in the Kruger National Park on Friday with at least 2 individuals still present there on Saturday while the park also held on to the SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO which was still present in the thicket in the south-western corner of Satara camp this afternoon. | |||||||||
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Groundscraper Thrush at Kenton Primary School © Rob Boyd | African Skimmers at Malelane gate © PG Oosthuizen | ||||||||
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Rufous-bellied Heron at Umbongavongo Nature Reserve © Gavin Walter | Pale Chanting Goshawk along Mpofana Road © Eckart Buchmann | ||||||||
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Up in Namibia, the long-staying ROSS’S TURACO was still at Taranga Safari Lodge, west of Rundu, yesterday while a young LITTLE (STRIATED) HERON was seen again at Swakop River Plots outside Swakopmund on Saturday.
And finally, in Botswana, a BLACK-TAILED GODWIT was found yesterday along the Chobe River near Kasane at -17.825, 25.115. | |||||||||
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Little (Striated) Heron at Swakop River Plots © Willie Venter | Black-tailed Godwit along the Chobe River © Charl Stols | ||||||||
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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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