Terathopius ecaudatus Bateleur Berghaan
Mabula Game Reserve, Dec 2025
A vagrant today, but probably a breeding resident long ago, before the widespread use of poison baits in jackal control. There are no records of its occurrence in the Waterberg in the bird atlas data-set that goes back 30 years, so it was a great surprise when Hamish Rodgers spotted and photographed an adult female in Welgevonden in July, 2020 (see below). There was a second record a week later, presumably the same female (image below).
A third record in Jul 2024 seen by Roelof van der Breggen east of Alma (not photographed).
And now this fourth record (alongside), seen and photographed by Lance Robinson in Mabula Game Reserve in December 2025.
A vagrant today, but probably a breeding resident long ago, before the widespread use of poison baits in jackal control. There are no records of its occurrence in the Waterberg in the bird atlas data-set that goes back 30 years, so it was a great surprise when Hamish Rodgers spotted and photographed an adult female in Welgevonden in July, 2020 (see below). There was a second record a week later, presumably the same female (image below).
A third record in Jul 2024 seen by Roelof van der Breggen east of Alma (not photographed).
And now this fourth record (alongside), seen and photographed by Lance Robinson in Mabula Game Reserve in December 2025.
Welgevonden Game Reserve, Jul 2020
Welgevonden Game Reserve, Jul 2020
Presumably the same female seen again a week later in the same area.
Presumably the same female seen again a week later in the same area.