Southern African Rare Bird News Monday 5 January 2026

[Garret Skead]

Dear SARBN subscribers

Please note: from tomorrow, you can send your updates to Trevor Hardaker, who is back from his adventures. You can also send him your photographs too because his reports can incorporate photos.

Thank you to everyone who sent me updates (and ID challenges!) during this busy and rarity-filled holiday season.

And onwards to the rarity news.

Western Cape:

Probable SWINHOE’S STORM PETREL: this bird was seen off Stilbaai on Saturday afternoon, and unfortunately subsequently died. The bird has been collected for possible further genetic testing, and we are still waiting for final opinions from experts with knowledge of these all dark Stormies, but it seems likely that it is a Swinhoe’s Storm Petrel which is a mega rare bird for the country and subregion. We will hopefully give feedback with a final answer at a later stage.

GREY WAGTAIL: still present at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens this afternoon.

WILSON’S PHALAROPE: last reported at Geelbek on Friday, but note that since then there have been issues with access to the hide and walkway due to the clearance of bees by the park officials. As of today, the walkway and hide are closed, so until that changes there is no way to access the site where the bird has been seen. Hopefully the hide will be opened up soon.

GULL-BILLED TERN: still present at Bot River Lagoon on Friday.

BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: still present at Macassar on Sunday.

EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER: still present at Seeberg hide, West Coast NP today.

SOUTHERN ROYAL ALBATROSS: seen and photographed from a fishing boat last Wednesday.

BLUE-CHEEKED BEE-EATER: a number of birds seen at Gouritsmond on Thursday.

AMUR FALCON: one out-of-range bird seen Riebeek Valley on Thursday.

LESSER STRIPED SWALLOW: at least a few birds still on the Darling Hills Rd on Thursday.

BAILLON’S CRAKE: the bird was still showing well at Rondevlei, Cape Town, seen from Broekhuyse and Middlemis hide (but last reported on Sunday).

SQUACCO HERON: two birds seen at Rondevlei, Cape Town on Friday, and one today.

WESTERN YELLOW WAGTAIL: reported at Bitou, Plett, on Friday afternoon, at -34.005, 23.370. 

CASPIAN PLOVER and two RED-NECKED PHALAROPES: still present at Kliphoek salt pans, Velddrif, today, along with a GOLIATH HERON on Saturday.

LONG-CRESTED EAGLE: seen yesterday morning in the Kommetjie area of the Cape Town peninsula.

Eurasian Golden Oriole and European Roller: please refer to local group for details.

Eastern Cape:

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER: still present at St Francis Bay sewage works on Saturday.

TAWNY EAGLE: seen at Schotia Safaris near Addo Elephant NP yesterday afternoon.

DUSKY LARK: seen at Shamwari Private GR on Saturday.

Kwazulu-Natal:

LESSER JACANA: seen at a private dam off the N2 near Umhlali.

EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER: still present at Umdloti river mouth today.

LESSER MOORHEN: seen at a wetland at -29.446, 31.241 this morning, but not seen this afternoon despite some twitchers looking for it.

SOOTY TERN: seen at St Lucia Estuary mouth on Saturday.

AYRE’S HAWK EAGLE: one bird seen soaring near Felixton village on Thursday.

Mpumalanga:

WHINCHAT: this exciting mega found yesterday close to Wakkerstroom; a male bird, and still showing well today (most recent pin: -27.320, 30.136).

BLUE SWALLOWS: still present near God’s window yesterday.

GREEN SANDPIPER: seen at -24.480, 31.769, Kruger NP, on Sunday.

SOOTY FALCON: still present near Malelane gate yesterday, at -25.463, 31.53.

AFRICAN SKIMMER: reported from Sunset dam on Friday (I presume one bird), and still present yesterday.

Limpopo:

Possible LESSER CUCKOO: reported today from Mabalingwe NR near Bela-Bela (note: restricted access). This bird was not vocalising, and therefore presents a significant challenge in separating it from Madagascar Cuckoo. We will evaluate the photographs and see if a definitive answer can be reached. Please note that at this stage there is no general access for birders to visit the site. Regarding the ID of this bird, it is either a Madagascar or Lesser Cuckoo, so a mega rare bird either way.

AYRE’S HAWK EAGLE: reported on Saturday from a site near Punda Maria Gate, at -22.702, 30.967.

SOUTHERN HYLIOTA: reported from Gundani on Saturday.

Northern Cape:

GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER: seen on Friday at a guest farm called Osfontein between Loxton and Carnarvon at -31.237, 22.336.

Gauteng:

BRONZE-WINGED COURSER: seen on a private farm in Cradle of Humankind on Thursday, and two others reported from Rietvlei NR and Dinokeng on Saturday.

Free State:

AFRICAN CRAKE: heard calling on Saturday in Sydenham Vlei outside Bloemfontein, at -29.206, 26.205.

Namibia:

CHESTNUT-BANDED PLOVER: seen on the Zambezi river at -17.528, 24.545 on Wednesday.

RED-HEADED QUELEA: one male bird seen on the Kwando River south of Mukolo camp on Friday, at -17.888, 23.329.

Kind regards

Garret