Giga Alert

18 July 2022 - Sefapane Lodge, Phalaborwa

We exited the Phalaborwa Gate around 8:15 and it was a short detour to Sefapane Lodge. Why this Lodge, well about 3-4 weeks ago we received a Giga Alert from the SA Rare Bird Group of a vagrant Wood Warbler that was found by a visiting British Birder. Clearly a case of reverse migration, but one that certainly caused a stir as it was also a 1st for South Africa.

Fortunately, it had remained in the same group of Fever Trees at the Lodge which was suddenly put firmly on the map by the hoards of birders who came to see the bird. My fingers were firmly crossed that it had remained.

We were the 2nd car to arrive at the Lodge to see the bird, however the first arrivals only had 10-minutes to spare and left before finding it. The staff of the lodge were very helpful in pointing out where it had been seen, so it was a waiting game with continual searching in the canopy to try and find this small and active bird. While patiently and nervously waiting I was distracted by a Fish Eagle that passed by overhead

African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

Then suddenly it was there almost midway in the Fever Tree in front of me - what a stunning little Warbler! After that I didnt lose sight of it for the duration I enjoyed watching it as it actively fed starting midway and working up to the canopy before moving to the next tree and doing the same. 

Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus  sibilatrix), a 1st for South Africa

After enjoying saturated views for around 40-minutes, it was time to join my wife for a quick breakfast at the Lodge, finding Southern Veined Arab on the way to the restaurant

Southern Veined Arab (Colotis v. argillaceus)

It was then back into the car for the long drive back to Jozi where we arrived in the late afternoon after a really enjoyable few days in the central Kruger and a new tick for my SA list.