Southern African Forum (2 Viewers)

[Sal]

Love this set. Birds don't really have much of an expression but this one's eyes are almost bulging with the effort and in the third pic it looks almost aghast at the lump it now has inside it. Great pics - and action shots are always the best because they are unique don't you think? BTW - novice? Hello? With those pics?

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Hi, birders!

I caught this bateleur at Phinda Game Reserve in KZN last December.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sred...9409&authkey=Gv1sRgCKqSscKOw_TA0AE&feat=email

It just stood around on the tree branch for about 15 minutes. I was thrilled.

Best,
Candace

Hi, Candace,
Well done with your Bateleur and Black-headed Oriole. Absolutely stunning shots.

When you were at Phinda, did you manage to find a Neergaard's Sunbird? They hang out in the Sand Forest, and Phinda is one of the few places where there is a good chance of finding one. I have also asked the Phinda guides to keep a lookout for the Plain-backed (formerly Blue-throated) Sunbird, another Sand Forest dweller which has been reported from Sand Forest in Tembe Elephant Reserve, some way to the north of Phinda. Did you hear anything about this bird while you were there?

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[kevinexzim]

bateleur

How fortunate Candice to have that bateleur pose for you like that! One of my raptor favourites - such character.

 

[clarkcan]

Phinda & sunbirds

Hi, Candace,
Well done with your Bateleur and Black-headed Oriole. Absolutely stunning shots.

When you were at Phinda, did you manage to find a Neergaard's Sunbird? They hang out in the Sand Forest, and Phinda is one of the few places where there is a good chance of finding one. I have also asked the Phinda guides to keep a lookout for the Plain-backed (formerly Blue-throated) Sunbird, another Sand Forest dweller which has been reported from Sand Forest in Tembe Elephant Reserve, some way to the north of Phinda. Did you hear anything about this bird while you were there?

Best wishes,
Dave

Thanks, Dave! Unfortunately I did not see either of these sunbirds at Phinda, despite the best efforts of ranger Benson and tracker Bernard to find birds for me. Those two are the best!

This July, I tried to get to Tembe, but the brakes on the car seized up because of the 20 km of potholes, and we had to content ourselves with a bunch of black and pied crows and an olive sunbird (all firsts for me) at the lodge while the car was being checked out. I really would not recommend going to Maputaland without a 4x4 vehicle. However, we saw a lot of stunning lilac breasted rollers flying around on the roadsides!

Best,
Candace

 

[clarkcan]

Bateleurs

How fortunate Candice to have that bateleur pose for you like that! One of my raptor favourites - such character.

Hi, Kevin,

Fortunate indeed. She was really beautiful. If only all the other birds were as obliging!

Candace

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Welcome back Martin! Hope you had a wonderful time and that we shall hear about it when you are ready.

Sal,
Thanks

Kruger (Letaba & Olifants)
We spent a long day travelling from Crocodile Bridge to Letaba, and so not much time to stop for many birds. We did see a Lappet-faced Vulture sitting in a dead tree just contemplating the world just south of Lower Sabie, and at Lower Sabie we returned to our cars in the car park to see a Collared Sunbird beating its bill against my windscreen. It then moved on to beat the driver’s window of Allan’s car before finally moving on to beat the wing mirror of a bakkie parked close to our cars. We stopped at Satara for lunch and I went for a walk around to see what I could find. In the Fever trees near the fence near the restaurant I found Orange-breasted Bush Shrike, the unmistakable gurgling of a pair of Red-eyed Doves, a pair of Red-billed Buffalo-Weavers came down to the lawn area in front of the restaurant, and in a Fever tree a Common Scimitarbill checked each of the holes in the branches. A Chinspot Batis was rustling around in the undergrowth, and many Bulbuls, Black-headed Orioles, Cape Glossy Starlings and Masked Weavers were feeding on the many Aloes in the camp. Walking to a quieter area I found many Blue Waxbill, Red-billed Firefinches, Southern Grey-headed Sparrows, Rock and Golden-breasted Buntings and White-browed Scrub Robins.
Just as we were about to leave we heard the sound of Scops Owl, and this was lunch time! We moved towards where the calls were coming from, but as per usual they stopped. We were sure they came from the one tree and after a while a pair of them was spotted.
We got to Letaba late afternoon and after booking in I walked from my bungalow to Allan’s and on the way came across Helmeted Guineafowl, African Green Pigeon, Bennett’s Woodpecker, Kurrichane Thrush, Yellow-breasted Apalis, oh and two female Bushbuck which roam the camp!
Whilst driving around Letaba area and down to Olifants on Wednesday notable spots Hooded Vulture, Three-banded Plover, Malachite Kingfisher, Green-backed Heron, Brown-throated Martins, Ground Hornbill (one with an adolescent), Black-bellied Korhaan, Kori Bustard, Yellow-spotted Nicator,
On the way out down the S28, we spotted a Secretary Bird. I use to see them in Pilanesburg on a regular basis, but over the past few years I haven’t seen one in Pilanesburg or Kruger. I am not sure if I have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or there are generally fewer sightings of this bird? Anyway, this sighting made my trip.
The one picture below is of the head of a Helmeted Guineafowl. I have looked at the size of this head and I am now not surprised they behave in such an erratic almost suicidal manner….. there is no room for any brain!
Kevin,
The Collared Sunbird attacking the wing mirror is as close as I got to taking a picture of a bird in flight!

 

[cossypha]

Hello again -

Candace that is an awesome Bateleur photo - I've only ever seen one flying over in Botswana. How cool that it was so close!
Welcome back Martin. It sounds like you saw some nice birds, and got some great photos. I particularly like the Lappet-faced vulture.

On Thursday last week I went to the Mukuvisi for a walking safari. We saw most of the game, but not very many birds, probably because it was at lunch time... The guide told me they do birdwatching walks on some mornings.
Anyway the best sighting was a Lizard Buzzard, perched upon a branch about 2 meters away. I was walking innocently along and happened to look to the left, and there was a Buzzard, staring at me! It even let me take a few photos before flying off.

That evening a friend of my gran's (he is a birder) took me to a small dam, called Greengrove Nature reserve. There's a man-made island in the middle, upon which hundreds of cattle egret and Sacred Ibis come to roost each night. Other birds that were present were Eastern Saw-wing, about 20 flying around, White-Faced duck, a flock of 60 flwe in as we were leaving, and a three-banded plover, among many more. It was a very nice evening out.

The attatched photos are:
African Sacred Ibis - there were groups continually flying in to land on the island.
Lizard Buzzard -
and a Scarlet-chested sunbird which gave me a surprise visit at my grandparent's garden. The only one I've seen so far.

 

[clarkcan]

Kevin,

I really love the Orange Breasted Bush Shrike pic! Great photo and a cheerful splash of color.

Candace

 

[clarkcan]

Hello again -

Candace that is an awesome Bateleur photo - I've only ever seen one flying over in Botswana. How cool that it was so close!
Welcome back Martin. It sounds like you saw some nice birds, and got some great photos. I particularly like the Lappet-faced vulture.

On Thursday last week I went to the Mukuvisi for a walking safari. We saw most of the game, but not very many birds, probably because it was at lunch time... The guide told me they do birdwatching walks on some mornings.
Anyway the best sighting was a Lizard Buzzard, perched upon a branch about 2 meters away. I was walking innocently along and happened to look to the left, and there was a Buzzard, staring at me! It even let me take a few photos before flying off.

That evening a friend of my gran's (he is a birder) took me to a small dam, called Greengrove Nature reserve. There's a man-made island in the middle, upon which hundreds of cattle egret and Sacred Ibis come to roost each night. Other birds that were present were Eastern Saw-wing, about 20 flying around, White-Faced duck, a flock of 60 flwe in as we were leaving, and a three-banded plover, among many more. It was a very nice evening out.

The attatched photos are:
African Sacred Ibis - there were groups continually flying in to land on the island.
Lizard Buzzard -
and a Scarlet-chested sunbird which gave me a surprise visit at my grandparent's garden. The only one I've seen so far.

Nick,

The Sacred Ibis shot is wonderful! And the Lizard Buzzard photo too -- it confirms the id of one I saw in Maputaland. Thanks.

BTW, did you check out the other bateleur pix in the link I posted? You might like them too.

Best wishes,
Candace

 

[cossypha]

Nick,

The Sacred Ibis shot is wonderful! And the Lizard Buzzard photo too -- it confirms the id of one I saw in Maputaland. Thanks.

BTW, did you check out the other bateleur pix in the link I posted? You might like them too.

Best wishes,
Candace

Thanks Candace, I did look at the others, the preening ones are good but for me the best one is the second.

My dad and I are spending 2 nights in Zambia, hopefully 1 in Lochinvar. We're looking for accomodation - Have a look at this thread: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1543989#post1543989

Thanks

 

[Sal]

Nick - really great photos, love the Lizard Buzzard! You certainly seem to be getting out and about - how many birds have you added to your life list already??

 

[Sal]

Martin, thanks for the post - the first I hope! Very interesting and a nice bird list so far. Loved the story and the pic of the collared sunbird - great shot. Lovely shot of the bush shrike too. I've tried very hard to make one of these pics into the head of a Guineafowl, but I just can't . . . .

Am just about to leave for Hluhluwe/Imfolozi for four nights, will post when I get back.

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Martin, thanks for the post - the first I hope! Very interesting and a nice bird list so far. Loved the story and the pic of the collared sunbird - great shot. Lovely shot of the bush shrike too. I've tried very hard to make one of these pics into the head of a Guineafowl, but I just can't . . . .

Am just about to leave for Hluhluwe/Imfolozi for four nights, will post when I get back.

Funny.........I couldn't find the Guineafowl either..... but the Orange-breasted Bush shrike was brilliant. Well done, Martin.

Have a great time at Hluhluwe/Imfolozi, Sal. I'm off for three nights to Pilanesberg on Monday, so we can compare notes.

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Martin, thanks for the post - the first I hope! Very interesting and a nice bird list so far. Loved the story and the pic of the collared sunbird - great shot. Lovely shot of the bush shrike too. I've tried very hard to make one of these pics into the head of a Guineafowl, but I just can't . . . .

Am just about to leave for Hluhluwe/Imfolozi for four nights, will post when I get back.

Thansk Sal,
Sorry, here is the Guineafowl....and more pics.

Kruger - Letaba & Olifants

Martin

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Funny.........I couldn't find the Guineafowl either..... but the Orange-breasted Bush shrike was brilliant. Well done, Martin.

Have a great time at Hluhluwe/Imfolozi, Sal. I'm off for three nights to Pilanesberg on Monday, so we can compare notes.

Best wishes,
Dave

Dave,
Thanks. It took me a long time chasing this Shrike around the trees and shrubs, but it is so rare that you get the opportunity to see, let alone photograph the Orange-breasted, so I was determined not to give up.

Martin

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Hello again -

Welcome back Martin. It sounds like you saw some nice birds, and got some great photos. I particularly like the Lappet-faced vulture.

Nick,
Thanks.
The Lappet-faced Vulture has a face only a mother could love...

Martin

 

[kevinexzim]

Greengrove dam

Hi Nick. Greengrove dam was also one of my childhood playgrounds - it was on the shortcut though the bush to school (Greengrove primary). Nice to know it's still there.
Kevin.

Hello again -
...That evening a friend of my gran's (he is a birder) took me to a small dam, called Greengrove Nature reserve. There's a man-made island in the middle, upon which hundreds of cattle egret and Sacred Ibis come to roost each night. Other birds that were present were Eastern Saw-wing, about 20 flying around, White-Faced duck, a flock of 60 flwe in as we were leaving, and a three-banded plover, among many more. It was a very nice evening out...

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Martin, thanks for the post - the first I hope! Very interesting and a nice bird list so far. Loved the story and the pic of the collared sunbird - great shot. Lovely shot of the bush shrike too. I've tried very hard to make one of these pics into the head of a Guineafowl, but I just can't . . . .

Am just about to leave for Hluhluwe/Imfolozi for four nights, will post when I get back.

Sal,
Have a great time in Hluhluwe and bring back lots of stories and pics..

Martin

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Funny.........I couldn't find the Guineafowl either..... but the Orange-breasted Bush shrike was brilliant. Well done, Martin.

Have a great time at Hluhluwe/Imfolozi, Sal. I'm off for three nights to Pilanesberg on Monday, so we can compare notes.

Best wishes,
Dave

Dave,
Have a great time in Pilanesburg. Please let me know if it has changed as we haven't been there for the past couple of years.


More pics
Kruger - Letaba & Olifants

Martin

 

[kevinexzim]

Specific thread on Crowned Eagle

Hi Sal / Dave / anyone other forum experts.

Since I have a pair of Crowned Eagles nested nearby and I watch their activities every day, I thought I might start a thread on them exclusively, so that posts can easily be contributed and followed by anyone particularly interested. Though I'm no bird expert I'm keen to learn from others and I'd be willing to post regular reports and contribute to the body of knowledge on these birds.

How should I start and maintain that thread?

Thanks,

Kevin.