Collar. Still the main man by all accounts despite some challenges for dominance from his brothers recently Notch. Mostly recovered from his facial wounds since a recent fight among the brothers. A close up view of the wound near the tip of Notch's tail. There is divided opinion as to whether or not this will heal Notch about to set off hunting in the evening. Note the kink at the tip of his tail Mullet. This image was taken a day or two before the latest scrap between the brothers where I hear he has a wounded hind leg.
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This season I have come across three nest sites so far.The latest nest is in a steep river bank as are the other two. This one is low to the ground though and quite exposed and she vacates the nest as I approach. At the other two sites the adults remain on the nest even when I stop opposite them to observe and capture images Nest site number 3 with parent occupying the nest As I approach it departs The single chick Lying doggo
At the recent gathering of vultures near the Giraffe kill there were a couple of tagged vultures were present. As usual I sent off the numbers to Andre Botha the Programme Manager, Vultures for Africa, Endangered WildlifeTrust for the background on these birds A 275 Yellow Tag. African White-backed Vulture Pullus. Tagged on the 28092017 at the Hoedspruit Airforce Base. A 259 Yellow Tag. African White-backed Vulture Adult. Tagged on the 12042017 at the Lornay Airstrip in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve.
I have discovered a new Spotted Eagle-Owl nest site. I will monitor the progress of this one with interest to see how many eggs have been laid and watch as they hatch and the chicks develop Here is one of a breeding pair of these Wahlberg's Eagles that have a nest near one of our dams. Note that this is a dark brown adult, one of the several colour forms that occur (dark brown, brown, pale brown and pale) Dark Brown Wahlberg's Eagle By way of comparison here is a brown Wahlberg's Eagle Our female lions took down a giraffe this week and had a good feed. The male lions then came and finished it off. Whilst they were feeding the Vultures started to gather to wait to clean up the kill site. This allowed me to get several images as the birds waited patiently for access to the carcass A few Cape Vultures were on site There were also several Hooded Vulture present. This is a juvenile bird with dark brown down on the back of its neck and head Here is an adult Hooded Vulture with white down by way of comparison A White-backed Vulture showing off its white back A juvenile White-backed Vulture with a full crop Here is my second only record of a Lilac-breasted Roller on the Reserve. Note that this individual has an intact beak unlike the other bird I photographed earlier
An early morning view of our mountain as the sunlight begins to light up the rock face An obliging Wahlberg's Eagle A Spotted Eagle-Owl incubating a pair of eggs. This site was used successfully last season with two chicks having been raised Whilst checking out another potential nest site I found this bird perched in a nearby tree. I will continue to monitor this site to see if it is used again An obliging Speckled Mousebird poses for the camera This Brown-hooded Kingfisher was cooling off in a water trough during the heat of the day A Sombre Greenbul checks out the water trough from this perch My first image of a Lilac-breasted Roller on the Reserve. A pity about the damaged beak. Note the fresh early season colouring I sat patiently at a waterhole after sunset waiting to see if the Sandgrouse would fly in to drink. Thanks to Simon Buys who was operating the spotlight . The male bird is on the left facing the camera The male Double-banded Sandgrouse at the waters edge
We have had a couple of days of nice warm weather which resulted in some good birding. Unfortunately the wind blew a gale last night and today is overcast, cold and miserable. At least it has given me a chance to process some images A Green-winged Pytilia The bee and the Bunting. A Golden-breasted Bunting came down to drink and had to negotiate the bees that were also frequenting the water The Hamerkop continues to haul in the frogs at the Dam A trio of Black-collared Barbets caught in the frame. I was silently wishing for the Starlings to exit the scene which would have made it a spectacular image. Alas the telepathy did not work on this occasion A Collared Barbet by way of comparison One of the Cape Glossy Starlings in question earlier An ID image of my first record of a Common Sandpiper on the Reserve. Helmeted Guineafowl. No I did not pump up the colour, this is the most vivid blue skin I have seen in these birds that I can recall An Acacia Pied Barbet The comical looking White-crested Helmet-Shrike A fiery-necked Nightjar obliges me on the way home after an evening drive
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April 2024
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