SA Rare Bird News Report - 19 May 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, 19 May 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, the biggest local excitement came when a GREY WAGTAIL was found at Olifantsbos near Cape Point at -34.257, 18.383 late yesterday morning. It continued to show well through the rest of the day, but was missing in action this morning when many expectant twitchers arrived to look for it and has not been reported again unfortunately. Elsewhere, at least one AFRICAN CRAKE was still along Bass Road in Betty’s Bay at -34.355, 18.906 late yesterday afternoon and a GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING was reported north of Little Brak River at -33.990, 22.116 on Friday. |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Otto Schmidt |
Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Sandy Schmidt |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Michael Mason |
Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Oli Main |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © John Graham |
Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Zoe Lunau |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Robert Cooper |
Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Melanie Cornelius |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Jimmy Kirby |
Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Gaynor Donovan |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Jenny Wentzel |
Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Karin Wilson |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Renier Meyer |
Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © Mike Buckham |
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Grey Wagtail at Olifantsbos © John Harris |
African Crake in Betty’s Bay © Evan Shaw |
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Grey Wagtail twitchers at Olifantsbos © Melanie Cornelius |
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Grey Wagtail twitchers at Olifantsbos © Trevor Hardaker |
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Into Kwazulu Natal where the action was centred around the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park with a CUCKOO FINCH reported at the end of the Grassland Loop at -28.193, 32.503 yesterday and the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON still at a pan alongside the road near Amazibu Hide yesterday as well.
Across in Mpumalanga, there was big surprize when a SKUA was seen flying along the Crocodile River at Malelane yesterday. Unfortunately, the photos do not provide sufficient detail on the bird to clinch the ID with 100% confidence but, after discussions with several experienced seabirders, the current thought is that, based on the structure of the bird, apparent plumage details, timing and location, it is a probable SOUTH POLAR SKUA, rather than a BROWN (SUBANTARCTIC) SKUA. This is not a confirmed ID though and needs further investigation. Elsewhere, the SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO was still at Satara in the Kruger National Park on Saturday.
And finally, in Limpopo, the RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was still at Vogelfontein at -24.617, 28.696 until at least Friday. |
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Rufous-bellied Heron near Amazibu hide © Ian Ferreira |
Probable South Polar Skua at Malelane © 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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