Migrant activity is still not in overdrive. When I look at my records from this time last year migration was well underway. I will just keep watching and waiting till the action begins. In the meantime there is still plenty to observe. The Grey Francolin seem to be less prominent. I am presuming they are keeping a low profile as they busy themselves with their breeding activities. The first of the Eurasian Curlew's is present and the crossbred Honey Buzzard continues to show, long may it last. There were several Masked Shrikes to be seen this week, one of which I managed to capture an image of. So still not a bad outing Cross-bred Honey Buzzard circles overhead An Indian Silverbill stripping seed heads off the grass A Masked Shrike hawking insects from this handy post The Common Black-headed Gulls numbers have dropped but there are still many of these of these Slender-billed Gulls present Eurasian Curlew Eurasian Curlew
0 Comments
I last posted early in February on what was happening in Qatar on the birding front. Now that I am back in circulation and have visited my favourite spots here is an update on what is currently out there. The Greater White-fronted Geese have departed. Both sets of Lilith Owls are still happily ensconced in their burrows out on the farm. The cross-bred Honey Buzzard ( subject of much I.D. speculation) continues to be seen at the local patch.The Common Black-headed Gulls are developing their masks. The resident crossbred Geese at the local patch have successfully bred and have two goslings to show for their efforts. Migrants are starting to be seen as they make their way north again. Some notable sightings this week have been various Wheatears, Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush, Shrikes,Yellow Wagtails. Eurasian Hoopoes, and Collared Pratincoles. Cross-bred Honey Buzzard (A cross between a European Honey Buzzard and a Crested Honey Buzzard) Yellow Wagtail. Possible superciliaris race Collared Pratincole Turkestan Shrike Goose with goslings at the local patch Common Black-headed Gull showing chocolate mask A Lilith Owl on look out at one of the burrows
There are a surprisingly wide range of predators that one can encounter in the reserve including Aardwolf, Black-backed Jackal, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Honey Badger, Caracal, African Wild Cat, Cape Fox, Bat eared-Fox, Leopard, Cheetah and the Black-maned Lions. Here are some shots of the ones we came across Black-backed Jackal Spotted Hyena Honey Badger Cheetah adult with three almost fully grown cubs Adult Cheetah A Black-maned Lion on patrol at sunset A male Lion busy devouring a Gemsbok A male Lion resting up during the heat of the day Lion cubs bonding with the adult male The lioness pride decide the side of the road is a great place for a siesta
We came across these two magnificent Gemsbok bulls having a go at each other. The images tell the story
Of the antelope on offer, and I include Giraffe in this category, the only species we did not see were the Eland. I am told that at this time of the year they forage further afield into the Botswana part of the reserve and return later when they are more dependant on the borehole water A pair of Red Hartebeest blending perfectly into the backdrop of the red sand dunes A Steenbok rests up in the deep shade during the heat of the day Giraffe in the riverbed. Eight giraffe were first introduced from Etosha into the reserve in 1990.Their numbers have increased to up over 40 . A two further bulls were introduced in 2003 to supplement the gene pool A lone male Wildebeest seen heading towards a water point A solitary territorial male Springbok rests up in his domain A Kudu bull checking the coast is clear before he moves forward to drink A Gemsbok with a fine set of horns
It wasn't only about the birds. There was a wide range of other interesting inhabitants quietly getting on with their day to day routines Here a Ground Squirrel ventures out into the open.They were quite confiding and were seen in all the camp sites A Cape Hare.The only one we came across on the trip A Striped Mouse. Easy to identify with the longitudinal stripes on its back. A favoured prey item for the Goshawks We came across this beautiful Cape Cobra searching for a meal in the tree above where we parked in one of the camp sites. It was one of four of these snakes we encountered on the trip Cape Cobra A Leopard Tortoise on a slow journey somewhere An Adult Suricate on look out duty near the burrow A pair of Yellow Mongoose rest up in the shade during the heat of the day
Here are my birding numbers for the trip. Trip list = 177 species. South African Lifers = 19. Which now brings my S.A. life list to 532 species. Still a fair way to go to reach the 600 mark. I need to do some Western Cape birding including some Pelagic outings to push my numbers up towards this total. Perhaps that will be my next trip A secretary bird circles overhead One of the Martial Eagles on guard near their nest The ever present Pale Chanting Goshawk A juvenile Pale Chanting Goshawk
After having spent two days in the Nossob area it was time for us to retrace our way back towards the South of the reserve again. The birding continued to be excellent and our count was rising steadily A female Ostrich A male Ostrich Steppe Buzzard A Cape Weaver seen in one of the picnic spots where we stopped for a bite of breakfast A male Rock Kestrel flies overhead A Lappet-faced Vulture during lifting off. The largest of the vulture species A Barn Owl. We noticed that it would move from side to side whilst perched on the branch. It looked like it was using this as a camouflage tactic to simulate moving foliage when the breeze was blowing Spotted Eagle-Owl resting up in the thick cover of the acacia branches A female Northern Black Korhaan. The only female bird of this species we came across on our trip. Note the barring on the back rather than chevrons which tells it apart from the female Red-crested Korhaan Male Northern Black Korhaan Pygmy Falcon. They live in close association with Sociable Weavers, occupying a nest within the huge weaver colony. In return they offer some protection against predators A Pale Chanting Goshawk seen here using the top of a Sociable Weaver nest as a table when we came across it devouring a striped mouse
We were very fortunate to observe this Kori Bustard despatching and ingesting a Cape Cobra Here it has the snake firmly in its beak and is busy despatching it by crushing its head It drops the snake and checks to see it moves no more Satisfied, it picks it up head first again and proceeds to swallow it in a couple of rapid gulps Here just the last portion of the snake's tail remains visible outside the bird's beak It lifts its head upright, this I presume to aid in ingestion. Note the distended throat Here it casually walks off whilst giving us a farewell once over
|
Archives
April 2024
|