Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
Phoebetria palpebrata

First reported on 24 June 2005 where it came ashore at Ponto Malangane in Mozambique totally exhausted. It was then transported to the "Free Me" Rehabilitation Centre in Randburg outside Johannesburg in South Africa. After some initial care there, it was then transported by air to Cape Town where it took up residence at the SANCCOB Rehabilitation Centre on the borders of Rietvlei Nature Reserve. It was eventually taken out to sea on one of the local pelagic birding trips on 4 July 2005 where it was released.

Photographed by Cliff Dorse.