I had a productive morning quietly observing the action at our birdbath. The temperatures over the last few days have been considerably warmer than of late so it was very pleasant to sit out in the sunshine and record the action Green-winged Pytilia juvenile Green-winged Pytilia female Green-winged Pytilia male Kurrichane Thrush, a new visitor Kurrichane Thrush Marabou Stork. Several of these giant birds were riding a thermal and happened to pass overhead Streaky-headed Seedeater, only my second sighting of this species coming to drink White-bellied Sunbird enjoying some nectar from the Mistletoe plant that is attached to the Knobthorn tree nearby Yellow-fronted Canary Jamesons Firefinch male Jamesons Firefinch female Village Weaver Ashy Flycatcher Golden-breasted Bunting Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
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Martial Eagle juvenile Cape Vulture A pair of adult Red-billed Oxpeckers introduce the kids to a bushveld Uber ride Spotted Thick-knee. Not a common sighting and unless they move are difficult to notice given how cryptic they are By way of comparison a Water Thick-knee. These are relatively common and breed at our larger dams on the Reserve Hamerkop The Pied Kingfisher female continues to show Yellow-breasted Apalis Yellow-fronted Canary Birds-eye view of 5-star Junction (taken from a low flying helicopter)
A pair of Violet-eared Waxbills, my first sighting of this species on the Reserve White-crested Helmet-Shrike Hooded Vultures. Uncommon residents regarded as Vulnerable in South Africa Village Weaver female Golden-breasted Bunting Red-faced Mousebird having fluffed up its feathers warms up in the early morning sunshine Red-faced Mousebird Red-billed Firefinch male Red-billed Firefinch female African Harrier-Hawk in transitional plumage African Harrier-Hawk adult African Hoopoe Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
I sat and observed this regular visitor busy patrolling the edges and the shallows of one of our dams. It had a successful morning and bagged several fingerlings, one larger fish as well as a frog
The other day I observed the male Pied Kingfisher which was feeding at the dam and after a few attempts managed to catch a fingerling (see post dated 06062021) Today I connected with the very obliging female of the pair Female Pied Kingfisher showing the diagnostic breast band, the male has a double band single wing stretch double wing stretch airborne
The Cheeky Lioness resting up one evening Bucket, the oldest cub resting up after a hunt. Note the ear notches she received when she was darted to enable her to be treated with a contraception drug Bucket stalking some Impala - unsuccessfully as it turned out My last images of one of the female Cheetah before they were translocated off the Reserve Nice full belly after an Impala feed Sunbathing Croc One of recently introduced Elephants On the move late one afternoon Investigating my Landy
We are experiencing a mid Winter cold snap at the moment but there, as always, is some birding action to be had Common Ostrich giving me the eye Tawny Eagle, listed as Vulnerable Purple-crested Turaco Fiery-necked Nightjar Pied Crow Red-billed Firefinch A double Three-banded Plover Female Namaqua Dove
This Yellow-breasted Apalis got itself entangled in part of a Spider's web whilst leaf gleaning in the tree canopy. I watched over several minutes as it went about successfully extricating itself out of its predicament
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