A Rare Avian Visitor Turns Resident- A Chorister Robin Chat At Londolozi – Londolozi Blog

Birding isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. To some, it may seem like an obscure hobby—spending hours peering through binoculars, chasing after fleeting glimpses of feathers in the wild. But for those of us who’ve been bitten by the birding bug, it’s a passion that never wanes. And sometimes, it pays off in ways that leave even seasoned rangers a little giddy.

At Londolozi, we’re privileged to witness the extraordinary beauty of the African wilderness daily. The Big Five may steal the spotlight, but it’s the little surprises that often bring the biggest smiles. One such surprise fluttered into our lives recently, in the form of a Chorister Robin Chat—a bird traditionally found in the cool, dense forests along the Blyde River Canyon and the Drakensberg mountains not so far away. To say that spotting one here, in the heart of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve or Kruger National Park, was unexpected would be an understatement, in fact if we refer to the distribution maps in many bird books or on any birding apps, the Chorister Robin Chat doesn’t occur here.

The Chorister Robin Chat is a secretive, forest-dwelling bird. Its melodious song echoes through the shaded understory of Afromontane evergreen forests. Rarely venturing far from an area with a closed canopy. In their typical habitats, these birds are masters of their domain, slipping through the foliage with ease. Londolozi, on the other hand, is known more for its sprawling savannahs and bushveld than for its forested retreats. So, when we first caught sight of this elusive bird flitting through the trees in camp, it was almost too good to be true.

For many of us, birding is more than a pastime—it’s a way of life. Even while guiding guests through lion sightings or elephant encounters, our ears are always attuned to the chirps, tweets, and calls of the avian world around us. The thrill of ticking off another new species during our Birding Big Year or noting a rare sighting is a joy that never fades. And when a bird as uncommon as the Chorister Robin Chat makes an appearance, that thrill is magnified tenfold.

We were elated to get such a good view of this bird.

We initially assumed that this bird was simply passing through, a fleeting visitor that would soon continue its journey. After all, Londolozi’s environment is quite different from the Chorister’s typical forest haunts. But the bird had other plans. To our delight, it wasn’t long before we noticed it again—and again. Weeks passed, and what began as a brief encounter evolved into regular sightings. The Chorister Robin Chat has made itself at home.

Perhaps it’s the lush, forest-like environment we’ve cultivated within the camp that drew it in. Our gardens are meticulously maintained, with verdant foliage and a constant supply of water creating a small oasis amidst the surrounding bush. In this little pocket of greenery, the Chorister Robin Chat seems to have found a slice of home—a place that mimics the cool, shaded forests it’s accustomed to.

The fact that it stuck around allowing us to video it for so long probably means it has been around humans for longer than we thought and is not terrified of our presence.

As the days go by, our excitement hasn’t waned. Every sighting feels like a small miracle, a reminder of the wonders that can unfold when you least expect them. Birding, as we’ve come to learn, can happen anywhere—even in places where you’d never think to look. The unexpected arrival of the Chorister Robin Chat at Londolozi highlights the unpredictability and sheer joy of this hobby.

Along with this new Londolozi resident, we have recently had another unique visitor, a Narina Trogon, a bird supremely uncommon in this area but at least one that has been recorded a handful of times before. Long may these sightings last, a reminder that nature is full of surprises, waiting to be discovered by those with eyes to see and ears to listen.