It has been a bit hectic recently so I am a little bit behind schedule with my weekly posting. Here are the highlight images from the last fortnight A Purple Roller. The least common roller of the region. Unfortunately the image was taken into the sun so does not do justice to the colouring of this bird A juvenile Bateleur soars overhead. This species is regarded as Vulnerable in South Africa A pair of African Black Ducks Bearded Scrub-Robin A Purple-crested Turaco A Three-banded Plover busy feeding at the waters edge A female Bearded Woodpecker. Note the ruffled feathers. Image taken after some rain A male Red-backed Shrike A Tawny Eagle. Note the extended crop The dark form/juvenile Tawny Eagle A Hooded Vulture captured roosting in a tree in fading evenng light A light brown form of a Wahlberg's Eagle A night time shot of this crepuscular and nocturnal species. A Water Thick-knee
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A Saddle-billed Stork has over the last few weeks been seen on several occasions at one of the pans. It however had been eluding me over this period. Finally the other evening I went to the pan and much to my surprise and pleasure it was present. It was quite relaxed and I watched it as it patrolled around in search of food Portrait of a male Saddle-billed Stork. As seen by the brown eye and yellow pendant wattles It checks out this marshy area adjacent to the reedbeds Patrolling the waters edge on the look out for frogs, crustaceans and aquatic insects
This selection must come a close second to the bonanza haul of Week 5. The Owl and the Honeyguide both rate highly on my list as well as a lovely mix of colour and variety to complete the line-up Southern White-faced Scops-Owl An uncommon and generally overlooked Scaly-throated Honeyguide Brown Snake-Eagle in soft evening light Green-winged Pytilia coming to cool off in the heat of the day Brown-hooded Kingfisher White-throated Robin-Chat with catch Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike on the look-out for a meal A female Red-billed Firefinch Yellow-fronted Canary A juvenile Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
My long time birding friend Mike Pope suggested I try taking ground level images of birds like Nightjars or Waders to create a different perspective. Here is the result of such an angle. What I was pleased about was that it much reduces the shadow caused by the spotlight when shooting down onto the subject from above. I also found out that when shooting after dark if you are able to take the image from slightly off centre it reduces the amount of red-eye experienced. European Nightjar
I went out early one morning to try and get an image of a Black Stork that I had seen at last light the day before. Unfortunately the stork had departed from the overnight roost site but as a consolation I came across this Black-chested Snake-Eagle instead. It was very obliging and allowed me to take some good shots Black-chested Snake-Eagle Black-chested Snake-Eagle I went to one of the pans where I know the Black Crakes are present to try and get some more images. Whilst I was waiting patiently for them to show themselves I passed the time by watching this Grey Heron patrolling around the waters edge The Three-banded Plovers were still in the house Finally the Black Crakes obliged and appeared from the cover of the reed beds. Here the proud parents pose for me What I was after, evidence of a successful breeding attempt. A juvenile walks out into the open This shy White-throated Robin-Chat remained in the shade dappled undergrowth so I had to be content with this partly obscured record shot Here a Red-billed Oxpecker hitches a ride down to the waterhole on the back of an Impala I have not seen this common near endemic resident the Southern White-crowned Shrike for a while so was pleased when I came across a small group of them Last but not least, my little friend the African Pygmy-Kingfisher continues to visit and pose for me whilst I sit in the hide
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April 2024
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