sighting
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsaɪtɪŋ// UK //sˈaɪtɪŋ// sight·ing
n. an occasion when you see something that is rare, unusual, or hard to find. It is often used when talking about wild animals or famous people.
n. an instance of seeing or observing someone or something, especially something rare, elusive, or of particular interest. Often used in the context of wildlife monitoring or unidentified phenomena.
There was a rare sighting of a whale in the bay today.
Local residents reported a sighting of the escaped tiger near the edge of the forest early this morning.
While the initial sighting was dismissed as a trick of the light, subsequent photographic evidence confirmed the presence of the endangered bird species in the valley.
Usage
Frequently paired with adjectives like 'rare', 'brief', or 'confirmed'.