Rare bird spotted in Bay
BIRDWATCHERS from across the country have flocked to Nelson Mandela Bay for a chance to catch a glimpse and snap a picture of a very rare sighting – the little ring plover.
Spotted for the first time ever in South Africa, the lone little ring plover has made a temporary home of the Cerebos salt pans at the Tankatara farm near Coega, where dozens of birders have been gathered in the hopes of seeing the little bird.
The find was made by Grahamstown birdwatcher Jonathan Balmer at the weekend before Port Elizabeth’s Jorrie Jordaan was able to take a picture.
“I am still on a high. I still can’t believe what we found and the picture I took,” Jordaan said.
Jordaan, a member of Birdlife SA, said the discovery came by accident while he and Balmer were looking for another bird, the little stint.
“We spent the whole of Saturday checking out different spots for stints. Jonathan was on his way home when he decided to stop over at Tankatara for one last effort when he made this amazing discovery.”
Word travelled fast and, on visiting Tankatara on Sunday, Jordaan found more than 100 birdwatchers, with car registration numbers ranging from Cape Town to KwaZulu-Natal, hoping to spot the plover.
“We decided to go back later. When there were only five or six of us left, the bird made another appearance and I was lucky to snap a picture,” he said.
Birdlife SA member and Mount Croix Animal Clinic veterinarian Dr Matthijs Ravensberg called the sighting a mega rarity as these birds are native to Europe and Siberia, and seldom travel south.
“The only explanation is that this one got confused during migration and ended up flying in the wrong direction,” Ravensberg said.
The little ring plover grows to about 18cm in length and weighs little more than 35g.
What sets it apart from the common plover is the distinct yellow ring around its eye.