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There is currently a strange Lapwing present in and around the Skukuza area which sparked quite a bit of discussion surrounding its ID.

Can I please ask that if you are planning to go to that area soon to please keep an eye out for it. We are looking for photos of the bird especially in flight or with its wings stretched out on the ground to get a better look at the wing pattern.

It would even be first prize if you are as lucky as to get your hands on a feather of this bird. Please don't go trampling around in the bush now.

If you have any photos or sighting information to share, please do so in this topic where a group of experts will keep an eye on the information in order to assist them with identifying this bird.

Here is a photo of the most wanted lapwing:



Cheers

Hi Wildtuinman!

Thanx for this...I am off to KNP at the end of Nov and will keep an eye out...does anyone have any ideas as to what Lapwing it is?

Also is there a locality eg road number where one can focus ones search for this bird

Regards

It would indeed be handy if W tells us where around Skukuza he shot it?
We'll be in the area early januari and as you know we'll be very much birding.

The above photo was taken at Lake Panic by someone else.

It was initially reported along the river near Skukuza and spent quite a lot of time there before moving to Lake Panic.

At this stage the majority leans towards a hybrid between a Blacksmith and White-crowned Lapwing with partial leucism to add to the difficulty.

I'm not an expert but this looks like a juvenille Long-toed Lapwing to me.... I have seen them in the Okavango, strange for them to be in Kruger, but have a look at the characteristics of a juvenille in one of the bird books and you'll see quite a fitting description! Just an idea

Will be at Lake Panic, with Santie and the inlaws, so 4 sets of eyes looking out for it in the area.

Duco, could I take the liberty in asking that the word of this bird gets spread as far as possible. If possible to Skukuza reception itself. Maybe they could post a request on the notice board in order to get more people to look for it?

This could potentially be a very interesting record for the country and I am sure the birding experts would appreciate all the help they could get.

Lets see what we can manage.... No promises made though!

None of you gentlemen seem to have taken the least notice of what BushFairy wrote and apart from not being very polite of you, she might be right you know!!!

Micetta,

I am sure we all have theories as to what the bird may be. But unfortunately the intention and purpose of this topic is not to get an ID from the photo provided. This is merely a request to get more information and photos of the bird in question. I am sure the rarities committee who asked me to create this topic will take her suggestion into consideration if they haven't done so already.

Cheers.

Sorry WTM, I didn't mean to intrude. I just got really excited when I saw your pic as I have seen this bird before. But lets leave it to the experts then.

I beg your pardon wildtuinman, I was a bit to superficial in reading your post, but anyway.....

We saw it on the 29th of September also at Lake Panic and also wondered what it was.

Interresting...

Damn man I was just about to use you as an excuse to swim lake panic

I got some photo's of this guy to but non better than these. I will get them to you. Unfortunately no open wing pics..