Southern African Rare Bird News Thursday 21 July 2022

[Garret Skead]

Dear SARBN subscribers

Well, now it has truly been a very quiet week on the rarity front, and for a while I was concerned I might only have one bird to report today. But luckily, the Eastern Cape came to rescue this afternoon. So on with the news...

Starting in the Eastern Cape, a SNOWY SHEATHBILL was seen this morning at St Croix Island off the coast of Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha (see photo attached (c) Lloyd Edwards). I haven't yet closely examined the photo of the individual, but there's certainly a chance that this is the same bird that was seen recently off the Cape Town peninsula. Let's hope the bird sticks around for local twitchers to connect with it tomorrow. I will send out any updates by email.

Secondly, the WOOD WARBLER continued to entertain visiting birders at Sefapane Lodge, in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, and was still showing well today. See photo attached (c) Anton Pearson.

And finally, in the Western Cape, two AFRICAN PALM SWIFTS were seen early yesterday morning in the vicinity of the palm trees close to Intaka Island in Cape Town, suggesting they are not the same individuals as the well-established Dolphin beach pans birds. It's interesting to note changing distribution patterns, and it may be a matter of time before this species is commonly seen throughout Cape Town. Rondevlei in Cape Town also played host to numerous FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCKS.

Kind regards

Garret