A pair of Cape Glossy Starlings have a nest in the area so whenever the Roller arrives they are harassing it. They also go and investigate this nest site to keep an eye on the situation An African Hoopoe has made two brief visits but seems to have moved on The Broad-billed Roller makes regular visits to the site accompanied by lots of calling, I presume to advertise its presence, in the hope a mate arrives. No sign of the Woodland Kingfisher yet Night or day, this diligent parent sits on this nest This is a new nest site I located and all is well, nudge nudge wink wink. The long standing Sandy Bend site, which has been in use every year is also occupied
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My first Willow Warbler of the season This Sombre Greenbul has been calling from thick cover for ages. (Willie come out and fight......coward) Finally it popped out into the open Golden-breasted Bunting taking a bath Southern Masked-Weaver female Southern Masked-Weaver male Red-headed Weaver female Cape White-eye
Bearded Scrub-Robin scratching in the leaf litter as they do Wood sandpiper Mugshot of a Red-crested Korhaan male Red-crested Korhaan male In full cry at his call site Southern Grey-headed Sparrow juvenile Black-backed Puffback male performing a display Portrait of a Black-backed Puffback Black-headed Oriole
Nest is a simple scrape on the ground, usually close to water. Peak laying dates August - November. Usually two eggs. Incubation 26 - 28 days. Three-banded Plover on nest
Last year I recorded a pair of Broad-billed Rollers inspecting a possible nest hole in the trunk of a dead Knobthorn Tree. Over the following days a pair of Woodland Kingfishers challenged them and won the rights to use this nest site. A single Broad-billed Roller has arrived today 11102022 to inspect the same nest site. It is almost 6 weeks earlier than last year. It will be interesting to see what unfolds next. The Woodland Kingfisher have yet to arrive back.
It is that time of the year and the Spotted Eagle-Owls are starting to think of nesting again. Over the years I have found/learnt of several nest sites on the Reserve. On a recent reconnaissance trip to these I found that two of the nests that had been situated on ledges in river banks were no more as last Summers rain had washed those ledges away. Another site has not yet been occupied yet, and I have now also located a new site in another riverbank area. The original and most well known nest site on the Reserve is also once again occupied. At ground level under a roof of dry grass In a rocky river bank about six feet off the ground, This is a new site. Excuse the grainy image taken with my mobile phone
I had spent a couple of hours driving around trying to pick up tracks of the male lions as I had not seen them for several days. I eventually threw in the towel and was heading home when I came across this group of four Southern Ground-Hornbills on a feeding foray. Well at least I wouldn't go home empty-handed. As I slowly followed them I realised that two of them had been leg-ringed which added another layer of excitement to what I was watching. I was busy capturing images when all of a sudden something caught my attention in the background of my viewfinder......... Jackpot Time! Southern Ground-Hornbills. Uncommon resident, status Endangered Ringed and in sync One has found something interesting in the long grass Photo-bomb of note. The Hornbills took this situation in their stride and casually turned left and made off into the long grass A bemused looking male curiously tracks their movement. (Mullet)
Crested Francolin male Saddle-billed Stork female Saddle-billed Stork male Saddle-billed Stork male and female Purple-crested Turaco Yellow-breasted Apalis male Chinspot Batis female
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April 2024
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