Little-ringed Plover, third record for southern Africa, first record for South Africa.

 Seen October 2017 Vermont Salt Pans near Hermanus, southern Cape.

Photo Bryn de Kocks www.bryndekocks.com

If you have seen a rare bird in the Cape Town or Western Cape – Atlas Region, or anywhere in the Western Cape contact Trevor Hardaker who runs the Southern Africa Rare Birds News Alerts.        To join, contact Trevor on hardaker@mweb.co.za or 082 780 0376

Area south of Vanrhynsdorp and west of Nature’s Valley, bounded by the Cederberg and the Little Karoo.
The list reflects species that have been recorded in the region at least once and therefore considered rare or uncommon, but excludes National Rarities that have occurred in the Western Cape.
Any local rare bird sightings can be sent to the compiler for inclusion in the Promerops ‘Sightings’ column, email Simon Fogarty

NB. As of April 2022  – it has been decided with wide consultation, that Trevor Hardaker’s Rare Bird News (see the link above) is currently the most comprehensive available. Therefore Simon will no longer compile the monthly lists as it was duplicating what is available already.

The SWC Atlas area refers to the area south of the Olifants River, west of the Breede River and inland to the Koue Bokkeveld. This was the area covered by the Club’s own five year atlas project, started 1985 and published 1989.

From May 2021 the full lists will be published here on a monthly basis. They have become too large for all the inclusions in the Promerops space requirement.

The BirdLife South Africa National Rarities Committee is tasked with the evaluation of records of birds which would constitute national rarities anywhere in South Africa. The Committee, which is administered by BirdLife South Africa, currently has the following members: Trevor Hardaker (Chairman), Adam Riley, David Hoddinott, Faansie Peacock, Etienne Marais, Phil Whittington, John Graham, Athol Marchant, David Allan If you wish to have a record declared a national South African rarity, in your private capacity or through SABAP2, a formal submission must be made to the Committee by following the procedure set out on the BirdLife South Africa website www.birdlife.org.za/conservation/national-rarities

Trevor Hardaker runs the Southern Africa Rare Birds News Alerts. To join, contact Trevor on hardaker@mweb.co.za or 082 780 0376

NOTE: The latest official Full South African checklist of birds can be downloaded from the Birdlife South Africa website  www.birdlife.org.za/media-and-resources/bird-checklists/    This list is available in English and Afrikaans.