Birding community abuzz over rare sighting in Amanzimtoti
The Elegant Tern, which was recently spotted on the shoreline in Amanzimtoti, is the province's second confirmed sighting.
THE second confirmed sighting of an Elegant Tern in the province sparked excitement among birders, drawing enthusiasts to the Amanzimtoti shoreline on February 11.
Tyron Dall, an enthusiastic birder and a member of The Birding Life, ventured to Illovo Beach for some birdwatching. He was taken aback by the abundance of Lesser Crested Terns dotting the shoreline – a stark contrast to the usual sporadic sightings in the area.
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Upon reviewing his photos at home, he noticed a special bird among those he had photographed: an Elegant Tern, confirmed by Trevor Hardaker, chairperson of the South African Rarities Committee.
Founder of The Birding Life, Adam Cruickshank, who is also an avid birder and photographer, said Trevor’s response sparked excitement among KwaZulu-Natal birders, drawing them to Illovo Beach in pursuit of a potential avian rarity.
“A flurry of coordination ensued as birders congregated on the beach, hopeful to catch a glimpse of the elusive visitor. Despite scanning the tern roost diligently, only Lesser Crested Terns were among the large flock of terns. After a while on the beach, a dog ran up the beach and chased the flock away,” he said.
Barry Swaddle, an Amanzimtoti birder, sent a message through a WhatsApp birding group saying that he had potentially seen the bird at the Amanzimtoti Lagoon. “So the chase was on. As quickly as we could, we made our way there. As luck would have it, when we arrived, Barry said that the bird had flown away,” said Cruickshank.
Just as hope seemed to fade, the anxious wait paid off. Cruickshank said the Elegant Tern, the province’s second confirmed sighting, made a dramatic appearance, making their hearts skip a beat.
“Cameras, binoculars and scopes [were] trained on the bird to confirm its identity. What makes this bird so special is that it is listed as a very rare vagrant, with records mostly in the Western Cape. As the evening progressed, more birders arrived, eager for a glimpse of the elusive visitor,” he said.
The first sighting of the bird was made by young birder Keelai Fraser. Cruickshank said what broke their hearts, after the bird was identified in 2023, was that the photo was actually taken in 2022.
“This same birder had previously spotted a Christmas Island Frigatebird in Amanzimtoti, marking the first-ever sighting for the African continent. These sightings occurred in the very areas we frequent every week, prompting feelings of both envy and wonder, and life’s fairness suddenly called into question. Nevertheless, this opened our eyes to the possibility of new sightings within our area,” he said.
Cruickshank added that once again, the Sapphire Coast lived up to its reputation, treating birders to extraordinary sightings, including the Eurasian Oystercatcher and KwaZulu-Natal’s first-recorded Thrush Nightingale in recent months.
“Sapphire Coast is undoubtedly one of the finest birding spots in Durban,” he said.
For more information on birding on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, email info@thebirdinglife.com.
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