Greater Kruger part 3, ZA (1 Viewer)

njlarsen · Sep 8, 2011

Next thread with some more South African birds:

1 + 2 are the same bird I believe; another Cape Weaver? Inside Kruger NP
3 is this Red-headed Weaver? also inside Kruger
4 was small with a dark blaze so I initially thought Duiker - but now think young Bushbuck? Just outside the fence of Letaba camp, Kruger.
5 This distant raptor was in the eastern end of Drakensberg and seen on a single day trip from Phalaborwa. I doubt there is enough for a certain id, but still want to try ...

Finally, the image I uploaded today, can I get a confirmation of female Bb Puffback: http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=385144

thanks
Niels

tconzemi · Sep 8, 2011

Hi
4 is a young Bushbock indeed, no suborbital gland as in Duikers
5 is an Augur Buzzard with nice orange tail

Tom

Tib78 · Sep 8, 2011

Hi Niels,

1/2-Southern Masked Weaver, note the red eye.
3-Red-headed weaver indeed, and a nice picture.
4-Bushbuck yes, but why a young individual?
5-Jackal Buzzard, split from Augur for a while now

Edit: and your right with the Puffback!

njlarsen · Sep 8, 2011

Thank you both :t:
I don't have the book in front of me, so I will look more at the answers when I come home. For now just two comments:

The Bushbuck was really small, between 1/2 and 2/3 of the shoulder-height of the other Bushbucks I saw. It was really close to the fence that I had just walked along, so judging the size was fairly easy. That is why I am thinking younger individual (and why my initial impression had been Duiker). It coming so close right after I had walked there also indicates a more trusting behavior than usual, so another point to a young individual.

I overlooked the tail color of the raptor, thanks for putting me straight on that!

Niels

Tib78 · Sep 8, 2011

njlarsen said:
The Bushbuck was really small, between 1/2 and 2/3 of the shoulder-height of the other Bushbucks I saw. It was really close to the fence that I had just walked along, so judging the size was fairly easy.

Okay, young bushbuck it is then! Presumably a female (no horns coming through seemingly).

tconzemi · Sep 8, 2011

Tib78 said:
Hi
5-Jackal Buzzard, split from Augur for a while now!

Ooooops, well I have never been birding down there, only in Eastern Africa, I'm learnig thanks tib

njlarsen · Sep 9, 2011

OK, time for a few more comments when comparing with Sinclair etc Southern Africa:

The Buzzard is shown as black in the drawings, where my impression of it in the field was a color more like an accipiter, harrier-hawk, or similar. Is this just poor info in the book or poor weather teasing me?

pics 1 and 2: the photos are much yellower than the female Southern Masked Weaver in the book, especially in the head. Is this poor images or is this some type of intermediate plumage? Given the deviation, what is the distinction from Village Weaver?

Thanks for the nice comment about the image of the red-headed weaver. It probably spent more time with the head down than up ...

And by the way, what is the tree? Is it mopani?

thanks
Niels

Tib78 · Sep 9, 2011

njlarsen said:
The Buzzard is shown as black in the drawings, where my impression of it in the field was a color more like an accipiter, harrier-hawk, or similar. Is this just poor info in the book or poor weather teasing me?

There seems to be a slight brown tinge to the plumage. Probably due to some worn, sun bleached feathers.
Compare with this one: http://www.birdsisaw.com/Photo.aspx?q=1870

njlarsen said:
pics 1 and 2: the photos are much yellower than the female Southern Masked Weaver in the book, especially in the head. Is this poor images or is this some type of intermediate plumage? Given the deviation, what is the distinction from Village Weaver??

Weavers are very variable in non-breeding plumage according to sex, age and date/season. Non-breeding male tend to be brighter than females.
Some Southern masked for comparison: http://www.warwicktarboton.co.za/birdpgs/814SMWea.html
Village weaver can be safely ruled out on bill size alone (way too small):
http://www.warwicktarboton.co.za/birdpgs/811ViWea.html

njlarsen said:
And by the way, what is the tree? Is it mopani?

Yes it is.

Greater Kruger part 3, ZA (1 Viewer)

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