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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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    Standardizing 'English' names vs. 'Scientific' names

    As you are referring to the SA birdlist, which has name changes I positively hate, I feel the need to comment. I have gotten to the stage where I don't care what someone in Tring (or wherever) has decided what bird Z should be called. The field guide I use calls it a Heuglin's Robin, why must I...
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    Electronic bird list

    For anyone interested in using mobile technology for ticking birds, have a look at Duncan Watson's SA Birding Checklist. Unfortunately, it's only available on Android. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.SABirdingChecklist I have set it up to use the 1984 SA Bird list, so I don't...
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    Southern African Forum

    Spring is here! My Olive Thrushes started singing this morning!
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    Southern African Forum

    Just for interest, where in Africa is Singita?
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    Southern African Forum

    FWIW, New Agatha is a forest station in the Wolkberg (plenty of search terms there). Excellent place for birds of the Transvaal Drakensberg if you're willing to hike.
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    Southern African Forum

    @Dave: got a new bird on Saturday while playing bowls - a white cockatoo :D
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    Southern African Forum

    My sister-in-law has it in her garden on a daily basis. I haven't actually gone to have a look as the time that it pitches is random. Her description fits that of Ross's Loerie, but as has been mentioned there are other loeries that it can be confused with. However, there are none that I know of...
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    Southern African Forum

    For anyone interested, there's a Ross's Loerie which seems to be resident in Faerie Glen, Pretoria.
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    Malawi on a budget.

    Having been there several times, you won't be able to get to places like Liwonde and Nyika without transport. Wilderness Safaris used to run tours from their base in Liwonde. Ideally I'd recommend going in your own vehicle (4x4 necessary) buy otherwise Wilderness Safaris as they used to be...
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    Levaillant's or Wailing Cisticola?

    In my experience, LeVaillant's is usually close to water but the plumage can be very variable. Here variations on Levaillant's taken pretty much in the same location: http://bigal-sa.smugmug.com/Birds/Birds-at-Rietvlei-Dam-Nature/LevaillantsCisticola4030/447741752_QvKau-O.jpg...
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    Southern African Forum

    Hadedas? Thanks for the Malarone tip Dave. I'm allergic to Larium (severe depression) and have recently been taking nothing on trips to malaria areas, but will look into this one for my ETvl trip next month.
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    Southern African Forum

    Dave, we often get Spotted Eagle Owls at night, but have only had one around once in the day. It was chased off very rapidly by a whole host of "little ones". However, a friend of mine who stayed in Benoni, had one around for the better part of a week...
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    Southern African Forum

    Dave did you find this to be the case while you were in Kruger? I certainly didn't. Scops Owl at Satara's day visitor area Goliath Heron and Greenbacked Heron at Lake Panic Hide. Martin: is Crocodile Bridge gate open? When I was there in Nov, it was still closed. Don't forget to look out for...
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    New Bean Bag Design, suitable for super-tele's

    The adding a little height is more than useful when using the Bigma - you can zoom without having to lift the lens off the bean bag (ie, you keep your subject in the frame) You're welcome - here is the link to the gallery it's in if you want a larger image...
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    New Bean Bag Design, suitable for super-tele's

    Fred, here is my version: This sequence was taken from a hide (US: blind), using the ballhead. Almost all the pics in that gallery were taken using the ballhead (those that weren't were handheld). I have tried it with a large Canon lens as well, but the centre of gravity is way off, so it...
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    Southern African Forum

    Thanks Sal. Do keep up with your report. I spent one day in the KNP, but the weather was positively foul, so need to know what I missed. Did see a Scops Owl in Satara from less than a metre away and a Martial Eagle ripping a francolin, or something along those lines, to shreds.
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    Southern African Forum

    Just a quick note: spent some time at a timeshare place on the Olifants River near Hoedspruit called Ekuthuleni Safari Lodge and picked up a couple of nice ones: Bluegrey Flycatcher Bearded Robin (could never get them close enough or in bright enough light) Whitecrowned Plover (of course...
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    ID Help Please

    Remember to include the link. On a highly active sub-forum like ID, the thread disappears very quickly, and folks on the Web tend not to look too far. Link: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=140476
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    Southern African Forum

    Allan, my first thought when I saw the first pic was juv Blackbreasted Snake Eagle (or whatever its new name is).
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    Southern African Forum

    Must be quite honest and say I don't think too much of your instructor then. She should be forcing you to use RAW from the outset, not JPEG. ;)
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    Southern African Forum

    Sal, you have far more control if you convert to bw using an image editor than if you allow the camera to do it. (Have a go at converting those 'duffed' colour pics :))
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    New Bean Bag Design, suitable for super-tele's

    Hello Fred, just got back from a week in the bush using your "ball" head on my bean bag (it's not leather by the way, but rather a very heavy nylon fabric). The head worked superbly well, especially with the weight of the Bigma and the Canon 40d. I imagine it would slip with a lighter...
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    What to expect in SA

    If you go to Swaziland, you must go to Malolotja Nature Reserve on the western border. Plenty of specials there, including 4 breeding pairs of Blue Swallow. Unfortunately, the Blue Swallows won't be back yet in August, but you should find Stanley's Bustard and Bald Ibis without too much effort...
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    Southern African Forum

    Buffaloes aren't fun if you're on foot. I got chased by two old bulls at Mana Pools on the Zambezi. They were not keen on letting me get to the river, and fortunately for me, they were not too serious about chasing me either. On that same trip, we had an elephant walk through the camp. He...
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    Southern African Forum

    Pic is not too hot, but it does look like Blackbellied. The eye pattern and the black markings on the back sway it in favour of Blackbellied for me.
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