Male Violet-backed Starling Female Violet-backed Starling Vigilant parent Spotted Eagle-Owl The two chicks are developing rapidly A Bearded Scrub-Robin lurking in the undergrowth Male Diderick Cuckoo searching for caterpillars in the Weeping Boerbean Tree Also seen was a female Diderick Cuckoo And for comparison a Red-chested Cuckoo This Brown Snake-Eagle scans the area from the top of the tree The Black Crakes are back in the reedbed A Brown-hooded Kingfisher on the look-out for a meal A female Black-bellied Bustard. Uncommon resident regarded as Near-threatened
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I was fortunate enough to see this Kingfisher dive into the water to cool off on a hot day. It then perched on a branch and preened itself before flying off again I am pleased with how this image turned out as I have been trying to freeze a shot like this for ages without acceptable results Feather preening Wing flapping to get rid of excess water Lastly some tail drying before flying off again
For the first time since I have moved here we have had a pair of these amazing storks visit us together. They spent a couple of hours feeding, preening and resting up at one of our small dams. It was great to sit and observe their behaviour. Also having both the male and the female side by side I was easily able to compare their different features. This Uncommon species is Endangered in South Africa with an estimated population of l50 - 100 pairs mainly in the KNP. There were only 20 breeding pairs in the KNP In 1993 - Benn et al 1995. The pair of Saddle-billed Storks together in one frame with the male in the foreground The female with her pale yellow eye Note the pinkish-red tibiotarsal joints and the small patch of exposed skin in the middle of the breast. These are present in both sexes The male bird with its small pendant wattles (15 - 35mm) and brown eyes These birds drink frequently, especially after feeding The male carries out some feather preening Here the male feeds by walking in the shallows jabbing its bill into the water. Most foraging is probably tactile with the bill held slightly open as is happening here as the water is often dirty and prey invisible. Also note the "Urohidrosis" on the legs. By defecating on the scaly portions of their legs it acts as an evaporative cooling mechanism. This is quite common in stork species
After two failed breeding attempts by Spotted Eagle-Owl pairs earlier in the season it has been really great to come across two other attempts that have resulted in both sets having chicks alive and well A proud parent with two fairly advanced owlets in their nest site in the wall of a riverbank. Note the amount of feather development on the chick in the foreground. This for me is one of my best images of the year A short video clip showing Gular fluttering in the parent on a humid afternoon Cryptic camouflage. A parent shields the chicks as it catches forty winks Here at the other site a parent is seen leaving the nest burrow which is a narrow hole in a riverbank The two chicks lying quietly in the burrow. Judging by the feather development these are younger than the previous pair
My first sighting of these amazing birds in a long time and I manage to pick up a ringed bird as well as a juvenile in the party. If you go to the more.... tab above and open it onto the drop down menu and go to the bird ringing tab and scroll down within these images you will see a story of a previously ringed bird I recorded The ringed bird. Unfortunately one of the rings on the left leg had been dislodged so I was unable to get the background data attached to this bird. I am told it is approximately 4 years old The juvenile bird in the party about to cross the road The other bird in the group. I think this may be a female but I am not entirely sure
A selection of recent images I have been fortunate enough to capture whilst being out and about A young female Leopard seen in the early afternoon An African Moon Moth. My first sighting of the species A female Sunni A male Sunni. A first sighting of these diminutive antelope for me. Listed as Vulnerable in the Red Data Book A herd of Elephant in soft evening light Elephant about to drink from the swimming pool An Elephant bull walking in the riverbed This must rate as the largest set of Buffalo horns I have had to pleasure to observe Rhino drinking at a small dam An impressive White Rhino Bull gives me a stare down Five Rhino leaving the dam after quenching their thirst. Note the heavily pregnant female second from the back in the line A magnificent male Lion with a full belly Close up of his impressive mane
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April 2024
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