Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus, a brand new visitor to South Africa

Abstract

On the morning of 9 January 2011, my husband and I started a SABAP2 atlas survey. We were very surprised by the number of birds recorded, especially after recording the first sighting of a Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash at Nossob. Abdim Storks Ciconia abdimii were everywhere and the numbers of species recorded increased rapidly if you compare with what we usually encounter. Later in the morning we were editing photos, but at the same time listening and observing our birdbath in the garden. A Brubru Nilaus afer called and both of us went around to look at the bird. To our surprise we saw a very different bird in the Acacia next to our bedroom window - a Chestnut Weaver Ploceus rubiginosus male, in full breeding plumage.