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Southern African Forum (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dave Kennedy
- Start date
Thanks for all the pics
Hi, Martin,
Glad you posted that phenomenal guineafowl shot. How did you get it to hold still?
Regarding Secretary Birds, I have only seen one and that was at Phinda. Nothing in the Kruger area in the last couple of years.
Hope you have even more pics to post!
Best wishes,
Candace
Hi, Martin,
Glad you posted that phenomenal guineafowl shot. How did you get it to hold still?
Regarding Secretary Birds, I have only seen one and that was at Phinda. Nothing in the Kruger area in the last couple of years.
Hope you have even more pics to post!
Best wishes,
Candace
cossypha
Well-known member
Candace it's nice to know someone on this forum used to live in Zim. It's a great place, and it's starting to come back from the really bad days.
Martin you've posted more great photos - my favourites are the Scops owl, the guineafowl and the White-Bellied Sunbird. I really must visit Kruger sometime!
cossypha
Well-known member
1 in Jo'burg, and 21 here in Zim.
Looking forward to Kariba and Zambia this long weekend. Does anyone know if Ross's Turaco occurs around Lusaka, or is it more north? I left my Africa field guide in Jo'burg, so I've only got my Southern African one, which dosent help much. Also Chaplin's Barbet - anywhere to see them around Lusaka or Blue Lagoon? Thanks-
Martin Hobbs
Well-known member
Candace,
Thanks.
The Guineafowl shot took a while as he kept moving all the time I was walking around with him. He was also in and out of the shadow of trees and so I had to wait until he was in the sunlight and fortunately as soon as he walked into the sunlight he stopped for a while (maybe enjoying the warmth), and that was my opportunity.
I was also reading about your adventures with the pot holes in the Tembe area.
My wife and I were in Kosi Bay in April and came across the same stretch of road. An absolute nightmare stretch caused by increased heavy truck traffic carrying goods into Mozambique. Fortunately we have a 4x4 and so we were able to get to Ndumu and Tembe (but didn't see the Sunbirds though!).
It is a shame you didn't see Tembe, it is a lovely park (but you would still have needed a 4x4 to go around Tembe as well).
I hope next time we go there the road has been repaired (but I wouldn't count on it!).
Martin
Martin Hobbs
Well-known member
Nick,
Thanks. The Scops owl is now a favourite of mine as well. We were very lucky with this opportunity.
Whereabouts in Zim do you live, as I used to visit Zim a lot in the 90's. The Lowveld in Zim is as equally lovely as the Lowveld in SA.
I am sure that you will see as many birds in Zim as we have here in SA, and with the gates upon to Kruger/Zim/Mozambique it should be easier for us now to move between countries and parks.
I am very glad to hear that Zim is coming write again, it is too beautiful a country to have it ruined.
I love your Lizzard Buzzard.
Martin
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Hi, Nick,
I think it's Kevin who used to live in Zim. I live most of the time in the US. But I've been following the Zim nightmare to some degree and am very glad to hear it is turning around.
Candace
cossypha
Well-known member
Oops! You're right, sorry. I meant to say that to Kevin:-O
Martin - I live in Harare, I don't know where the highveld and lowveld are here in Zim. I've met a few birders here - one is an ornithologist and does monthly walks around his area of Harare, and another person I met today is the president of Birds Zimbabwe. They do 5 outings each month, and a few into places like Mozambique, Mana Pools etc. I joined the club so will be going with to those soon.
kevinexzim
Active member
Zim
Hi Nick. You might want to look up Peter Ginn (if you haven't already). He was one of Zim's top birders - was based in Marondera at Peterhouse school - went on to George in SA - but from his web page looks like he is back in Zim. Cheers.
Hi Nick. You might want to look up Peter Ginn (if you haven't already). He was one of Zim's top birders - was based in Marondera at Peterhouse school - went on to George in SA - but from his web page looks like he is back in Zim. Cheers.
Martin Hobbs
Well-known member
Nick,
From what I remember of Harare it has (had) some lovely suburban areas where trees dominated over houses, and gardens were large and full of flora (similar to many suburbs in JHB) and so you must have similar birding opportunities to us here in SA.
As for the club, that sounds great, and the trips sound exciting too, and there is nothing better than to enjoy talking to similarly like minded people to inspire and encourage.
I am pleased to hear that Zim still has these types of clubs and the people are still enjoying and meeting to discuss and talk about things that are not all bad and depressing.
You must let us know of birds that you have in Zim that we don’t get down here in the south. I am not sure how many there are, however looking to identify some birds that I think looks like the one I am trying to identify only to find that it only exists in Zim (or Botswana, Namibia and northern Mozambique).
Even our Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, you have the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, a common bird to all, but you have a different species up there.
I look forward to feedback from your club trips.
Martin
kevinexzim
Active member
Sunbird
Hi all. While sitting patiently to catch our crowned eagles in flight, I've been watching a pair of Greater Double-Collared Sunbirds flitting about nearby. Then I noticed their nest. Both male (spectacular colours) and female (drab) [Why is it opposite for humans?] feed the young. The nest is a messy weave of grass and spider web. Fun to watch their to-and-fro between the nest and a nearby flowery shrub where they feed. My next challenge is to get a decent in-flight shot! Cheers. Kevin.
Hi all. While sitting patiently to catch our crowned eagles in flight, I've been watching a pair of Greater Double-Collared Sunbirds flitting about nearby. Then I noticed their nest. Both male (spectacular colours) and female (drab) [Why is it opposite for humans?] feed the young. The nest is a messy weave of grass and spider web. Fun to watch their to-and-fro between the nest and a nearby flowery shrub where they feed. My next challenge is to get a decent in-flight shot! Cheers. Kevin.
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cossypha
Well-known member
Yes, there are some beautiful gardens and suburbs. Near my dad's office (which happens to be 'round the corner from Mugabe's house), the trees form a complete arch over whole streets. It really is lovely.
As far as Grey-Headed Sparrows go, we have Southerns here too; Northern is a vagrant.
Kevin I haven't looked up Peter Ginn, so I will do that! The last of those sunbird photos of yours is great - the little chick poking its head out for some food. Well done.
Here's a few of my photos - birds that don't occur (as far as I know) in the south-
First an African Yellow White-Eye.
Next, an Eastern Saw-Wing. As colours go it's pretty poor - It actually did have white on the underwings.
On the subject of double-Collared Sunbirds; Here's a Miombo, a fairly common visitor to my grandparents' garden.
Lastly, a bird that is found down south, the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow.
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Hi Nick
Some great pics, you are certainly doing plenty birding in Zim! I need to get there one day, especially the eastern parts, have only been to Vic Falls.
Yellow White-eye ocurrs in Northern Kruger, and Northern KZN, Eastern Saw-wing is a vagrant to SA (some Ndumo records that I know of, may be others), and we definately don't get Miombo double-collared, a bird I would love to get on my list!
Keep the news and pics coming, am enjoying the updates!
Andrew
Martin Hobbs
Well-known member
Kevin,
Great pics, as for the "why is the female drab" I would rather not comment in case my wife reads this!, still, you have stated that it is the opposite in humans....good save!!
Martin
Martin Hobbs
Well-known member
On the subject of double-Collared Sunbirds; Here's a Miombo, a fairly common visitor to my grandparents' garden.
Nick,
The picture of the Double-collared Sunbird on the Strelitzia is a great example of the beauty of Southern African flora and fauna.
Everybody looking at this picture from overseas will see a lovely example of why we love birding in such a stunningly beautiful part of the world.
keep up with the great pics
Martin
Nick,
The picture of the Double-collared Sunbird on the Strelitzia is a great example of the beauty of Southern African flora and fauna.
Everybody looking at this picture from overseas will see a lovely example of why we love birding in such a stunningly beautiful part of the world.
keep up with the great pics
Martin
Sal
Well-known member
Hi Kevin; I have been away and only saw your message when I came back today. There is absolutely nothing to stop you starting a Crowned Eagle Thread In the South African section of the Forum. I'm sure we would find it very interesting and that people would contribute if they could. Also pics could be posted which would be great.
To start, click onto Africa in the 'Your Local Patches - Rest of the World' sub-forum then click on 'South Africa', then 'New Thread'. You can then make your first post, giving the thread a title such as 'Crowned Eagles' and anyone who wishes to can then add to this. I love these birds and it would be great to read more about them and see more of those lovely pics.
Martin Hobbs
Well-known member
Sal
Well-known member
Hluhluwe/Imfolozi
We set off on Friday thinking that we have left ourselves plenty of time, but just getting out of Durban onto the N2 takes over an hour so by the time we get to the Nongoma road, we are running very late. We decide to go in via the Nyalazi Gate, not really sure whether it is faster, but thinking it might be a more pleasant drive. Of course we have no time to stop so we see very little other than Giraffe and White Rhino and we only manage to pick up two birds as we travel: Dark-capped Bulbul and Fork-tailed Drongo. Yes, I know. Oh, but on the way up, I nearly forgot, we see the first Yellow-billed Kite of the season (for me anyway!). Once at Hilltops, scraping in at six on the dot, we unpack quickly and sit down with drinks and olives to plan the next three days.
On Saturday we drive to Thiyeni Hide. On the way, not far from camp, we come across a Schotia brachypetala (please correct me if I'm mistaken) in full flower and absolutely zinging with birds. There are Cape White-eyes, Amethyst Sunbirds, White-bellied Sunbirds, Yellow-throated Petronias, Black-crowned Tchagras, Black-headed Orioles, Purple-banded Sunbirds and Black-collared Barbets. it is the most amazing sight and we sit here for ages just watching everyone enjoying their own particular brand of breakfast, or just using the tree to perch in the sun. Further down the road there are Red-eyed Doves and Emerald-spotted Wood-Doves in profusion. In fact virtually every fresh or near-fresh elephant plop has its own Emerald-spotted feeder grubbing around in it! Once on the Thiyeni road we see Bearded Woodpecker, Puffback Shrike and Brown-hooded Kingfishers, but at the hide itself, there is no water, and although we sit there for an hour we don't see so much as a beetle. So we make for Seme lookout and then loop round back to Siwa-Samikhosikazi picnic spot and pick up Burchell's Coucal, Whitebacked vulture (in a nest with young), Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, White-crested Helmet-Shrike,Yellow-eyed Canary, Red-billed Quelea and White-browed Scrub-Robin. I am a bit puzzled by the Burchell's Coucal because I wonder if it might be a Coppery-tailed Coucal, except of course that they aren't found here. It's tail is exceptionally long with a greenish tinge. Maybe they all have this tinge but its the first time I've noticed it.(see pic) Strangely it is not in the least shy and displays its tail and scuttles around in the grass for ages whilst we admire it.
At the picnic spot we fire up the skottle. We, or rather I, have forgotten the mushrooms, so its bacon and tomato and toast and marmalade for breakfast, whilst Scarlet-chested Sunbirds and Amethyst Sunbirds flash from tree to tree, Cape and Chinspot Batis call across the clearing and Trumpeter Hornbills cry like babies in a tree across the river, so that their calls bounce back at us from the cliff with eerie resonance. We also see Speckled Mousebirds here, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Pied Crow, Golden -breasted Bunting and Fiscal Shrike.. After a great breakfast, sitting at the furthest table beside the notice that warns you of the dangers of elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion, we slowly make our way back to camp. There are some Crested Guineafowl at the entrance to the picnic spot as we leave, and we see Sabota Larks and Tawny-flanked Prinias in the grassy areas on the way back.
The camp itself yields Crowned Hornbills which we see from the terrace of the reception area whilst we are sitting having a drink. Later there areCollared Sunbirds and a new tick for me - Grey Sunbirds, disporting themselves together with Amethyst and Purple-banded Sunbirds in an Erythrina which is in full flower on the lawn close to our hut.
In the afternoon we drive down the Isivivaneni road where we add African Hoopoe, Great Egret, Black Flycatcher, Hadeda Ibis, Egyptian Geese, Grey Heron and Kurrichane Thrush to the list.
We also add Buffalo, Impala, Kudu, Elephant,Zebra, Rhino and Nyala to our list of animals today. We have not seen many of anything so we think they must be elsewhere in the park. The waterholes are all dry and the rivers only have a few scummy pools in them, but there does seem to be a reasonable amount of edible vegetation around.
Back in camp we change our plans about having a braai, because it is now freezing cold and very windy, so we cook our braai meat on the stove.
Sunday morning is not inviting. it is cold and damp and there is a thick mist, so we don't go out quite so early, but by seven we are on the road towards the Memorial Gate and the dirt road loops to the North of the gate. The first bird we find is a Yellow-throated Longclaw, then White-throated Robin-chat, Blue Waxbill, Common Waxbill, Neddicky, Pied Wagtail, Spectacled Weaver and Southern Boubou are found in the scrubby bush that we drive through to get to the high grassland areas. From the view-site we see a large herd of elephant - fifty or sixty, with lots of babies and further along we become enmeshed in about seventy buffalo that decide to cross the road around our vehicle. So this is where all the animals are. There must surely be lion around with all these buffalo - an indeed we discover later that we missed them by taking the high road instead of the low! Rufous-naped Lark,Green-backed Camaroptera, Croaking Cisticola, Yellow-billed Kite, Crested Francolin, Long-crested Eagle are added to the list and when we get to the picnic site we pick up Lesser Striped Swallow, Natal Francolin, Woolly-necked Stork and Gorgeous Bush-Shrike. It is really cold and windy and wet now, so we make our way back to Hilltops and spend the afternoon reading instead of going out.
Monday is the day we visit the other end of the park - Imfolozi. It is still very cold, grey and with short sharp showers of rain. I forget to wrap my camera in its beanie so when we suddenly hear lion extremely close by and they walk out into the road right in front of us, the camera refuses to work properly and does slow,sludgy exposures that give really weird pictures. ( I have attached one of the lioness staring through the windscreen!)The three lion - one male and two females - surround the car, and the larger female stands right up against the front bumper and stares unnervingly at us through the windscreen. She looks as though she is about to jump up onto the bonnet and I find myself wondering if shatter-proof glass can withstand the weight of a fully grown and well-fed lioness . . . . Once they have abandoned us as possible prey and tried and failed to dig something out of the culvert going under the road, they move into the bush and we move on, only to come across three large hyaena about two km further on!
Birdwise, there is an good start when we find an African Finfoot in the Hluhluwe river near the picnic site and also a Malachite Kingfisher. Cape Turtle Dove, Long-billed Crombec, Black-bellied Starling and Helmeted Guineafowl soon get added to the list, and at the Black Umfolozi we add Pied Kingfisher, Water Thick-knees and Yellow-billed Stork. By now the weather has improved and the sun peers out now and then. In the bush on the Sontuli loop we find Brown-crowned Tchagra, and near the river Wattled Plover, White-fronted Bee-eater, Fiscal Flycatcher, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Crowned Plover and Bateleur Eagle. On the way back to Hilltops we see Southern Black Tit and a Tawny Eagle and when we stop at the Siwasamikhozikazi picnic site again, it is full of woodpeckers - Golden-tailed, Bearded and Cardinal Woodpeckers - great chance to listen to the different taps that they make - and we also find a Yellow-breasted Apalis. Back in camp we pack up so that we can leave by six the next morning.
The final journey down to the Memorial gate has, of necessity, to be undistracted, but in fact we are seduced by the mist and the sunrise and spend half an hour taking arty pics from a viewsite before finally making for the gate, which enables me to see a Spoonbill in a waterhole.
I think the total bird count is about 88 birds, but I know I have forgotten one or two , so if they come to mind I'll add them in.
The pics below show the Schotia brachypetala, the Coucal with the greenish tail, the weird lioness pic, a Bearded Scrub-robin and a Black-crowned Tchagra.
We set off on Friday thinking that we have left ourselves plenty of time, but just getting out of Durban onto the N2 takes over an hour so by the time we get to the Nongoma road, we are running very late. We decide to go in via the Nyalazi Gate, not really sure whether it is faster, but thinking it might be a more pleasant drive. Of course we have no time to stop so we see very little other than Giraffe and White Rhino and we only manage to pick up two birds as we travel: Dark-capped Bulbul and Fork-tailed Drongo. Yes, I know. Oh, but on the way up, I nearly forgot, we see the first Yellow-billed Kite of the season (for me anyway!). Once at Hilltops, scraping in at six on the dot, we unpack quickly and sit down with drinks and olives to plan the next three days.
On Saturday we drive to Thiyeni Hide. On the way, not far from camp, we come across a Schotia brachypetala (please correct me if I'm mistaken) in full flower and absolutely zinging with birds. There are Cape White-eyes, Amethyst Sunbirds, White-bellied Sunbirds, Yellow-throated Petronias, Black-crowned Tchagras, Black-headed Orioles, Purple-banded Sunbirds and Black-collared Barbets. it is the most amazing sight and we sit here for ages just watching everyone enjoying their own particular brand of breakfast, or just using the tree to perch in the sun. Further down the road there are Red-eyed Doves and Emerald-spotted Wood-Doves in profusion. In fact virtually every fresh or near-fresh elephant plop has its own Emerald-spotted feeder grubbing around in it! Once on the Thiyeni road we see Bearded Woodpecker, Puffback Shrike and Brown-hooded Kingfishers, but at the hide itself, there is no water, and although we sit there for an hour we don't see so much as a beetle. So we make for Seme lookout and then loop round back to Siwa-Samikhosikazi picnic spot and pick up Burchell's Coucal, Whitebacked vulture (in a nest with young), Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, White-crested Helmet-Shrike,Yellow-eyed Canary, Red-billed Quelea and White-browed Scrub-Robin. I am a bit puzzled by the Burchell's Coucal because I wonder if it might be a Coppery-tailed Coucal, except of course that they aren't found here. It's tail is exceptionally long with a greenish tinge. Maybe they all have this tinge but its the first time I've noticed it.(see pic) Strangely it is not in the least shy and displays its tail and scuttles around in the grass for ages whilst we admire it.
At the picnic spot we fire up the skottle. We, or rather I, have forgotten the mushrooms, so its bacon and tomato and toast and marmalade for breakfast, whilst Scarlet-chested Sunbirds and Amethyst Sunbirds flash from tree to tree, Cape and Chinspot Batis call across the clearing and Trumpeter Hornbills cry like babies in a tree across the river, so that their calls bounce back at us from the cliff with eerie resonance. We also see Speckled Mousebirds here, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Pied Crow, Golden -breasted Bunting and Fiscal Shrike.. After a great breakfast, sitting at the furthest table beside the notice that warns you of the dangers of elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion, we slowly make our way back to camp. There are some Crested Guineafowl at the entrance to the picnic spot as we leave, and we see Sabota Larks and Tawny-flanked Prinias in the grassy areas on the way back.
The camp itself yields Crowned Hornbills which we see from the terrace of the reception area whilst we are sitting having a drink. Later there areCollared Sunbirds and a new tick for me - Grey Sunbirds, disporting themselves together with Amethyst and Purple-banded Sunbirds in an Erythrina which is in full flower on the lawn close to our hut.
In the afternoon we drive down the Isivivaneni road where we add African Hoopoe, Great Egret, Black Flycatcher, Hadeda Ibis, Egyptian Geese, Grey Heron and Kurrichane Thrush to the list.
We also add Buffalo, Impala, Kudu, Elephant,Zebra, Rhino and Nyala to our list of animals today. We have not seen many of anything so we think they must be elsewhere in the park. The waterholes are all dry and the rivers only have a few scummy pools in them, but there does seem to be a reasonable amount of edible vegetation around.
Back in camp we change our plans about having a braai, because it is now freezing cold and very windy, so we cook our braai meat on the stove.
Sunday morning is not inviting. it is cold and damp and there is a thick mist, so we don't go out quite so early, but by seven we are on the road towards the Memorial Gate and the dirt road loops to the North of the gate. The first bird we find is a Yellow-throated Longclaw, then White-throated Robin-chat, Blue Waxbill, Common Waxbill, Neddicky, Pied Wagtail, Spectacled Weaver and Southern Boubou are found in the scrubby bush that we drive through to get to the high grassland areas. From the view-site we see a large herd of elephant - fifty or sixty, with lots of babies and further along we become enmeshed in about seventy buffalo that decide to cross the road around our vehicle. So this is where all the animals are. There must surely be lion around with all these buffalo - an indeed we discover later that we missed them by taking the high road instead of the low! Rufous-naped Lark,Green-backed Camaroptera, Croaking Cisticola, Yellow-billed Kite, Crested Francolin, Long-crested Eagle are added to the list and when we get to the picnic site we pick up Lesser Striped Swallow, Natal Francolin, Woolly-necked Stork and Gorgeous Bush-Shrike. It is really cold and windy and wet now, so we make our way back to Hilltops and spend the afternoon reading instead of going out.
Monday is the day we visit the other end of the park - Imfolozi. It is still very cold, grey and with short sharp showers of rain. I forget to wrap my camera in its beanie so when we suddenly hear lion extremely close by and they walk out into the road right in front of us, the camera refuses to work properly and does slow,sludgy exposures that give really weird pictures. ( I have attached one of the lioness staring through the windscreen!)The three lion - one male and two females - surround the car, and the larger female stands right up against the front bumper and stares unnervingly at us through the windscreen. She looks as though she is about to jump up onto the bonnet and I find myself wondering if shatter-proof glass can withstand the weight of a fully grown and well-fed lioness . . . . Once they have abandoned us as possible prey and tried and failed to dig something out of the culvert going under the road, they move into the bush and we move on, only to come across three large hyaena about two km further on!
Birdwise, there is an good start when we find an African Finfoot in the Hluhluwe river near the picnic site and also a Malachite Kingfisher. Cape Turtle Dove, Long-billed Crombec, Black-bellied Starling and Helmeted Guineafowl soon get added to the list, and at the Black Umfolozi we add Pied Kingfisher, Water Thick-knees and Yellow-billed Stork. By now the weather has improved and the sun peers out now and then. In the bush on the Sontuli loop we find Brown-crowned Tchagra, and near the river Wattled Plover, White-fronted Bee-eater, Fiscal Flycatcher, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Crowned Plover and Bateleur Eagle. On the way back to Hilltops we see Southern Black Tit and a Tawny Eagle and when we stop at the Siwasamikhozikazi picnic site again, it is full of woodpeckers - Golden-tailed, Bearded and Cardinal Woodpeckers - great chance to listen to the different taps that they make - and we also find a Yellow-breasted Apalis. Back in camp we pack up so that we can leave by six the next morning.
The final journey down to the Memorial gate has, of necessity, to be undistracted, but in fact we are seduced by the mist and the sunrise and spend half an hour taking arty pics from a viewsite before finally making for the gate, which enables me to see a Spoonbill in a waterhole.
I think the total bird count is about 88 birds, but I know I have forgotten one or two , so if they come to mind I'll add them in.
The pics below show the Schotia brachypetala, the Coucal with the greenish tail, the weird lioness pic, a Bearded Scrub-robin and a Black-crowned Tchagra.
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