SA Rare Bird News Report - 20 March 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, 20 March 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, at least one RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was still at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif today, the EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR was showing again in Helderberg Nature Reserve earlier today, a single RED-BILLED QUELEA was reported amongst House Sparrows in Satyrium Road in Betty’s Bay this morning and the BLACK TERN was still also at the Bot River Lagoon today. |
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European Nightjar at Helderberg Nature Reserve © Alice Moller |
European Nightjar at Helderberg Nature Reserve © Mariana Steyn |
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European Nightjar at Helderberg Nature Reserve © Zunaid Barday |
Red-necked Phalarope at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Johann Coetzee |
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Up in the Northern Cape, a DWARF BITTERN was present at Surprize Pan at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve yesterday.
In Kwazulu Natal, the LESSER JACANA was still present at the Wattled Crane hide in the Karkloof Conservancy this morning while a YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER was reported again this afternoon on the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park at -28.163, 32.540.
Mpumalanga held on to the 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS which were still around the low level bridge at Lower Sabie in the Kruger National Park today.
Into Gauteng where there was some local surprize when a GREY CROWNED CRANE was seen from Duiker Hide at Marievale Bird Sanctuary on Saturday.
Over in the North-west Province, a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was seen in the southern section of Madikwe Game Reserve on Saturday. |
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Dwarf Bittern at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve © Jo Balmer |
Long-crested Eagle in Madikwe Game Reserve © Ulf Sefastsson |
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Grey Crowned Crane at Marievale Bird Sanctuary © Martie Krog |
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Up in Namibia, the long-staying ROSS’S TURACO was still at Taranga Safari Lodge, west of Rundu, on Tuesda while the THRUSH NIGHTINGALE was also still at Monteiro Camp, 10km south of Windhoek, earlier today. But the biggest news came from between Divundu and Mahango earlier today when Southern Africa’s 3rd ever EUROPEAN PIED FLYCATCHER was reported at -18.137, 21.649. The first record for Southern Africa was in December 2016 at Bushmanskloof Reserve in the Western Cape and the only other record we’ve had subsequent to that was in June 2024 at Marondera in Zimbabwe.
And finally, in Botswana, a RED PHALAROPE was found at the vlei on Mashatu Game Reserve at -22.182, 29.164 this morning. |
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Ross’s Turaco at Taranga Safari Lodge © Dayne Braine |
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Red Phalarope at Mashatu Game Reserve © Yvonne Pennington |
Thrush Nightingale at Monteiro Camp © Wessel Swanepoel |
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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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