Woodland Kingfisher. A fairly common intra-African migrant. It is a nocturnal migrant. Common breeding intra-African migrant. Most birds winter north of the equator. This bird was one of a pair busy building a nest in an Anaboom tree Yellow-billed Kite. Mostly an intra-African breeding migrant present July to March. Additional non-breeding migrants present December to April. African Cuckoo. Fairly common breeding intra-African migrant. Brood parasite of the Fork-tailed Drongo Red-chested Cuckoo. Common breeding intra-African migrant. Brood parasite primarily of the Cape Robin-Chat, and to a lesser extent on at least 15 other species Male African Paradise Flycatcher. Common breeding intra-African migrant.
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2 eggs in nest Female incubating eggs in nest Beak dripping on a hot humid day. Gular fluttering also observed Incubating with her head in the shade Eggs missing from nest. Track marks of Jackal, Genet and possibly Mongoose present in the nest scrape Broken egg-shell fragments found near the nest, pointing to a failed breeding attempt due to predation
Part 2 - The Beaches A view of Linene Lodge looking in from the Indian Ocean The view across to the peninsular from the lodge at low tide A similar view on an incoming tide A view from the lodge out towards the Indian Ocean at low tide A similar view on a rising tide The low tide exposes some rock pools in front of the lodge A local sailor navigates the channels in front of the lodge as the tide rises The Indian Ocean on a windy day The sun sets at the end of another day in paradise
Part 1 - The Birds A few of my images and bird list from a recent visit to Linene Island which is situated in the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Reserve in Mozambique Olive Bee-eater with catch Olive Bee-eater hovering above the nest site Olive Bee-eater nest in a sandy bank on Linene Island Little Egret fishing in the shallow pools created at low tide White-breasted Cormorant A small flock of Greater Flamingos A splash of colour on take-off Flamingos filter feeding on an outgoing tide A Ruddy Turnstone. They were seen in good numbers Grey-headed Gull flying past in the evening Yellow-billed Stork roosting in the mangroves Lesser Masked Weaver male The common Sombre Greenbul Male Black-throated Wattle-eye. A lifer for me. Listed as Near-threatened Mangrove Kingfisher. A lifer for me Pink-backed Pelican on take-off Pink-backed Pelican in cruise mode Pink-backed Pelican roosting in a tree in the mangroves late in the evening. Listed as Vulnerable. Great White Pelican. Listed as Near-threatened Great White Pelican on take-off A single Caspian Tern was observed My tick list is as follows: Great White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, White-breasted Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Green-backed Heron, Woolly-necked Stork, Yellow-billed Stork, African Sacred Ibis, Hadeda Ibis, Greater Flamingo, Yellow-billed Kite, Western Osprey, Common Ringed Plover, White-fronted Plover, Grey Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Whimbrel, Pied Avocet, Caspian Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Little Tern, Red-eyed Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Klaas's Cuckoo, Diederick Cuckoo, Red-faced Mousebird, Pied Kingfisher, Mangrove Kingfisher, Olive-Bee-eater, Trumpeter Hornbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Pied Crow, Dark-capped Bulbul, Sombre Bulbul, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Red-faced Crombec, Rattling Cisticola, Black-throated Wattle-eye, African Paradise Flycatcher, African Pipit, Black-backed Puffback, Black-bellied Starling, Grey Sunbird, House Sparrow, Thick-billed weaver, Spectacled Weaver, and Lesser Masked Weaver.
(55 species) I dipped on Crab Plover and Lemon-breasted Canary which I was hoping to pick up. The three male Lions have been showing well recently. They are growing up and their manes are starting to show. A very well fed "Notch" lying in the riverbed next to my vehicle The "notch" on his left ear The 3 lions resting up in the heat of the day A good yawn "Mullet" at rest Starting to stir as evening approaches Collar and Notch listen to Mullet roaring Notch in soft evening light Mullet relaxing next to our vehicles
number of Recently a dead giraffe was found at the waterhole. A decision was made to pull the carcass out of the water to prevent contamination of this important water supply for the animals. I spent a few hours observing the Vultures that arrived and began feeding. At the height of the feeding frenzy there were well over 100 vultures present. They kept on arriving for several hours, would fight their way into the carcass, feed, drink and then rest up before departing. The majority were White-backed, but I was pleasantly surprised as to the Cape Vulture, and as always there were several Hooded Vultures to be seen. I remain hopeful that I will get to see a Lapped-faced Vulture on the Reserve one day The giraffe carcass as found early in the morning. Note where the Hyenas had opened up the rear of the Giraffe and pulled out loads of entrails which are seen lining the waters edge. We pulled the carcass out of the water and dragged it a short distance away White-backed Vulture Hooded Vulture Cape Vulture Final approach One last bank left before landing Cape Vulture C167. This bird was tagged on the 27/11/2012 (six years ago) in the Blouberg Nature Reserve, the largest breeding colony of Cape Vultures in South Africa Going in!!! An entry hole was opened up at the base of the neck Jostling for position at the rear entry hole A Cape Vulture trying to defend its position on top of the carcass The other tagged vulture present was a White-backed Vulture. It manages to get on top of the carcass. Vulture 398 was tagged on the 17/04/2018 in the Olifants Private Game Reserve Another White-backed Vulture gets a turn on the top A very full crop on this Cape Vulture A Cape Vulture takes a drink
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