SA Rare Bird News Report - 28 July 2025

[Trevor Hardaker]

 

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
This is the Southern African Rare Bird News Report issued at 18h00 on Monday, 28 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									SARBN is proud to be associated with the following brands:
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Before I get started with the actual report, just a quick note to say a very big thank you to Garret Skead for running SARBN while I was away. I’m sure everyone was very happy to have the news continuing to come through in my absence, so thanks again Garret, your willingness to assist is always appreciated!   Alright, on to the news and, starting in the Western Cape, a BROWN SNAKE EAGLE was found west of Malmesbury near Darling Cellars on Friday and was still in the same general area earlier today at -33.439, 18.541 while the long-staying RED-NECKED PHALAROPE continued to entertain birders at Kliphoek Salt Pans in Velddrif yesterday as well. Over on the Garden Route, no fewer than 3 SQUACCO HERONS were reported at the linking channel between Rondevlei and Langvlei, near Sedgefield, on Friday while, further east, a GREATER SAND PLOVER was found at the Keurbooms River estuary in Plettenberg Bay on Thursday while a TIBETAN (LESSER) SAND PLOVER still showing some signs of breeding plumage was found there late yesterday too. Both birds were still in place there earlier today as well.
Brown Snake Eagle near Darling Cellars © Gerald Wingate					Brown Snake Eagle near Darling Cellars © Dana Goldberg
Greater Sand Plover at Keurbooms River estuary © Mike Bridgeford					Greater Sand Plover at Keurbooms River estuary © Mark Malan
Greater Sand Plover at Keurbooms River estuary © Rupert Horley					Greater Sand Plover at Keurbooms River estuary © Steven King
Tibetan (Lesser) Sand Plover at Keurbooms River estuary © Rupert Horley					Tibetan (Lesser) Sand Plover at Keurbooms River estuary © Steven King
In the Eastern Cape, the PALM-NUT VULTURE was still present along the Kariega River in Kariega Game Reserve until at least Friday.   Moving up the coast into Kwazulu Natal, a PALE CHANTING GOSHAWK was reported from a private farm near Kamberg Nature Reserve at -29.385, 29.758 on Saturday afternoon, almost certainly the same individual that had been reported close by along the Mpofana Road in recent weeks while a single RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON was still present near Amazibu hide on the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park until at least Friday and an AFRICAN CRAKE was reported this morning near Umhlali Primary at -29.474, 31.213.   Across in the Free State, the locally mega WATTLED CRANE was still present around Neethlingshalte at -28.882, 25.648 yesterday.
Rufous-bellied Heron on the Eastern Shores © Hennie Bestbier					Wattled Crane in the Neethlingshalte area © Johan van Niekerk
Mpumalanga’s offerings all came from the Kruger National Park with the SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO still in the south-western corner of Satara camp on Friday and the 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS still at Malelane gate on Saturday while another 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS were reported at the low level bridge at Lower Sabie on Friday and another 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS were seen at the Olifants River bridge this morning as well.   Over in the North-west Province, a LONG-CRESTED EAGLE was seen along the R502 between Orkney and Leeudoringstad yesterday afternoon.   Up in Limpopo, a SOUTHERN FISCAL was reported on the Limpopo floodplain in the Makuleke concession near Pafuri in the Kruger National Park yesterday.
African Skimmers at Malelane © Michelle Mandy					Long-crested Eagle between Orkney and Leeudoringstad © Albert du Preez
In Namibia, a male CUT-THROAT FINCH was seen earlier today at Onkolo hide on Onguma Private Game Reserve at -18.741, 17.071 while several PALE-THROATED GREENBULS (aka YELLOW-THROATED LEAFLOVES) were still present around Caprivi River Lodge in Katima Mulilo on Friday.   And finally, in Mozambique, a young AYRES’S HAWK EAGLE was seen earlier today at Lake None at The Sanctuary on the San Sebastian Peninsula, apparently only the second ever record for this area.
Cut-throat Finch at Onkolo hide © Timothy Smith					Ayres’s Hawk Eagle at Lake None © Albert McLean
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
TREVOR HARDAKER Cape Town, South Africa