SA Rare Bird News Report - 14 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, 14 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, several lingerers remained in place with the BROWN SNAKE EAGLE still present along the R315 near Darling Cellars at -33.441, 18.581 yesterday, the long-staying RED-NECKED PHALAROPE still at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif yesterday and the GREATER SAND PLOVER still at the Keurbooms River estuary in Plettenberg Bay yesterday as well, while a single WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER was seen on the farm Klipbanksfontein near the Gamka River, south-west of Beaufort West, on Tuesday.
Up in the Northern Cape, a young GREY-HEADED GULL was present at the Nossob waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park yesterday afternoon, probably the same individual that was seen at Marie se Gat waterhole recently. | |||||||||
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Brown Snake Eagle near Darling Cellars © Hernus Langeveldt | Red-necked Phalarope at Kliphoek Salt Pans © Estelle Smalberger | ||||||||
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Greater Sand Plover at the Keurbooms River estuary © Neil Ebedes | Greater Sand Plover at the Keurbooms River estuary © Mike Bridgeford | ||||||||
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White-fronted Bee-eater at Klipbanksfontein © Jaco Pienaar | Grey-headed Gull at Nossob waterhole © Ivan Pretorius | ||||||||
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Into Kwazulu Natal where it was all about RUFOUS-BELLIED HERONS with one still at Umbogavango Nature Reserve in Amanzimtoti yesterday and another still near Amazibu hide on the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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Rufous-bellied Heron at Umbogavango Nature Reserve © Barry Swaddle | Rufous-bellied Heron on the Eastern Shores © Ian Ferreira | ||||||||
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Across in Mpumalanga, the Kruger National Park remained the centre of attention with 2 GREY WAXBILLS seen along the Mativuhlungu Loop (S82) at -25.208, 31.874 on Tuesday while the AFRICAN SKIMMERS were still at the Malelane bridge yesterday also sporting a brand new chick, and another single AFRICAN SKIMMER remained on at the Olifants River bridge yesterday as well. | |||||||||
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Grey Waxbills along the Mativuhlungu Loop © Floris Lordan | African Skimmer with chick at Malelane gate © Ralf Kalwa | ||||||||
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Up in Namibia, the YELLOW-BILLED STORK and 2 juvenile LITTLE (STRIATED) HERONS were present again along the Swakop River just outside Swakopmund yesterday.
And finally, in Mozambique, a single AFRICAN OYSTERCATCHER was seen on Margaruque Island near Vilanculous yesterday. | |||||||||
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Yellow-billed Stork in Swakopmund © Anton Jooste | |||||||||
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Little (Striated) Heron in Swakopmund © Anton Jooste | African Oystercatcher on Margaruque Island © Barry Launder | ||||||||
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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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