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Rare bird species sighting in Namibia attracts birdwatchers

Xinhua, January 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

A rare bird was sighted in Windhoek, Namibia has drawn the attention of birdwatchers who have been driving or flying from as far as South Africa in the past two weeks.

The bird, the red-throated pipit, whose species name is Anthus cervinus, was first seen by an Irish birdwatcher who is now based in the United Arab Emirates at Avis Dam on the outskirts of Windhoek on January 7 this year.

The pipit breeds in northern Europe and northern Asia, but migrates to some parts of northern-central, western and eastern Africa during winter.

After the news of the rare species was broken, birdwatchers from Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town flocked to Windhoek to take a glance at the bird.

Namibia Bird Club chairperson Gudrun Middendorff said it was rare for the bird to be found anywhere in Namibia.

Middendorff also said the rare bird species has never been photographed in the region.

According to Middendorff, the only other time the bird was sighted in southern Africa was a few years ago in Zimbabwe, Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa and at Swakopmund, Namibia's coastal area. Endi