SA Rare Bird News Report - 03 April 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, 03 April 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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PLEASE CONSIDER FOLLOWING ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY CLICKING ON THE LINKED ICONS BELOW: |
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Starting in the Western Cape, the WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL was still at Macassar Sewage Works earlier today, the LESSER YELLOWLEGS was still at Geelbek in the West Coast National Park this morning, and the BLACK TERN was also still at the Bot River Lagoon on Tuesday. Over on the Garden Route, 5 BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATERS were seen just west of Gouritz at -34.364, 21.853 yesterday and a BROWN SNAKE EAGLE was seen at the Gwaing River estuary, south of George, on Tuesday. |
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Western Yellow Wagtail at Macassar Sewage Works © Fran Delany |
Western Yellow Wagtail at Macassar Sewage Works © Margaret Maciver |
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Western Yellow Wagtail at Macassar Sewage Works © Oli Main |
Western Yellow Wagtail at Macassar Sewage Works © Renier Meyer |
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Western Yellow Wagtail at Macassar Sewage Works © Riel Tredoux |
Lesser Yellowlegs at Geelbek © Michael Mason |
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Black Tern at the Bot River Lagoon © Tinus le Roux |
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Brown Snake Eagle at the Gwaing River estuary © Stander van Jaarsveld |
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater near Gouritz © Willem Kruger |
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Up in the Northern Cape, the DWARF BITTERN was still at Surprize Pan in Tswalu Kalahari Reserve on Monday evening.
In the Eastern Cape, the mega WHITE-THROATED BEE-EATER was still around at Tankatara on Tuesday afternoon moving around in a mixed flock with other Bee-eaters. |
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Dwarf Bittern at Surprize Pan © Jo Balmer |
White-throated Bee-eater at Tankatara © Jo Balmer |
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Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, there were as many as 8 different AFRICAN CRAKES seen across the Sungulwane property at Zuka Private Game Reserve this morning (and also yesterday afternoon) along with a single CORN CRAKE as well.
Mpumalanga had 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS at Sunset Dam near Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park yesterday.
Over in the North-west Province, 2 AFRICAN PYGMY GEESE were found at the Kgomo Kgomo bridge at -25.165, 28.083 on Tuesday morning.
Up in Limpopo, 4 AFRICAN SKIMMERS (including 2 juveniles) were reported at Nhlanganini Viewpoint near Letaba in the Kruger National Park at -23.933, 31.492 yesterday. |
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African Crake at Sungulwane © Keenan Houareau |
African Pygmy Goose at Kgomo Kgomo © Jandre Verster |
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Into Namibia where a slightly delayed record has come through from last Wednesday of a young BLACK HARRIER seen between Okaukuejo and Halali in Etosha National Park, somewhat out of range for this species.
And finally, in Mozambique, 2 MASCARENE MARTINS were found at Muco Pan at The Sanctuary on the San Sebastian Peninsula at -22.134, 35.457 on Tuesday. |
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Mascarene Martin at Muco Pan © Etienne Marais |
Mascarene Martin at Muco Pan © Ritz de la Bat |
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Black Harrier in Etosha National Park © Mike Spies |
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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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