European (Common) Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna

First reported on 8 February 2005 from Paarl Bird Sanctuary. It was photographed there on 2 April 2005.

Although this bird is presumed to be an escapee, it is interesting to note that another individual was present at the Strandfontein Waste Water Treatment works at the same time. Ordinarily, these birds only migrate as far south as North Africa and don't come into sub-saharan Africa. Also of interest is that an individual was recorded on the Densu Delta near Accra in Ghana on 20 February 2005, with available literature suggesting that this would be the 3rd or 4th record of this species for Ghana. So, perhaps they do cross the Sahara occasionally...

Photographed by Francois Dreyer.