SA Rare Bird News Report - 04 September 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, 04 September 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, a GOLIATH HERON was seen flying over Pan S3 at Strandfontein Sewage Works yesterday, probably the same individual that was present at Rondevlei Nature Reserve on the weekend as these two sites are adjacent to one another. Elsewhere, a distant VULTURE, thought to possibly be the wayward WHITE-HEADED VULTURE, was reported along the R307 between Mamre and Darling, close to Contreberg farm, yesterday, and a TAWNY EAGLE was seen flying over the N1, close to Jaolani Guest Farm, on Tuesday, probably one of the known pair which nest not too far away from there.
In the Eastern Cape, both the WHITE-BACKED VULTURE and the PALM-NUT VULTURE were seen again at Sibuya Game Reserve on Tuesday.
Into Kwazulu Natal where an AYRES’S HAWK EAGLE was reported soaring over the filling station in Kwambonambi on Tuesday.
Mpumalanga held on to the 2 AFRICAN SKIMMERS and their chick which were still at Malelane bridge in the Kruger National Park yesterday.
Over in Gauteng, the SLATY EGRET was reported again at Gnu Valley farm on Tuesday. | |||||||||
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White-backed Vulture at Sibuya Game Reserve © Chris Ovens | African Skimmers at Malelane bridge © Wian van Biljon | ||||||||
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Up in Namibia, a BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE was seen in a garden in Meersig in Walvis Bay on Tuesday.
And finally, in Zimbabwe, an adult PALM-NUT VULTURE was reported over Ngweshla in Hwange National Park on Sunday while a probable MALAGASY POND HERON was seen at Gorwa Pan in Gonarezhou National Park on 25 August, likely only the 7th ever record for Zimbabwe if confirmed. | |||||||||
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Black-headed Oriole in Walvis Bay © Kirsten | Probable Malagasy Pond Heron at Gorwa Pan © Walter Scharlach | ||||||||
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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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