African birds...It's summer..47 species in 3 hours...

We took a walk at the " Kruger's drift dam" again yesterday. Last time I took pic's there the dam and area was dry (about 25% full), we had some rain and now its 70% full and green...

Nice shot from a little hilltop...river area...

#1 Ant-eating Chat

#2 Redknobbed Coot, #3 Yellowbilled duck and #4 African Shellduck

#5 Goliath Heron...a first...unfortunately right into the sun....

#6 Northern Black Korhaan...we got lucky they duck in the grass and when you get within 50-100m they fly off...we first saw a female (first) because they are less obvious you rarely spot them and then we saw the male....

We got very lucky...he showed himself properly for once...

And then he was gone again...see the black spot in the grass...that is hiding...LOL

Oh, we also got the feeling of being watched ourselves...blue monkey!

While on the wire we saw another first #7 Layard's tit-babler

#8 Cape Teal duck...you can just about make out the red bill or beak

#9 Southern red Bishop....frustrating to "snap", they are so beautifull now, but I just cannot get a great pic...

#10 Red-capped Lark ... another great find and I think first...still pretty happy...

#11 Kittlitz Plover........a whole bunch, about 10...together.

#12 Common Scimitarbill...why common, I do not know, only my second time...very glossy black...

#13 Lanner Falcon...a parting GIFT..it happened so fast..the pic is not great as is many of the others, I am pushing my camera all the time, but a Lanner...rated as vulnerable and yeah a FIRST...

A note: According to my notes this is a young bird...which again is great...Grow up to make lots of little Lanners you beauti!

This message was edited Dec 17, 2008 7:34 AM

What a wonderful day out Little_things. What unique birds. The Scimitar bill is well named. Thanks for sharing.

Great job Little!

Love the Goliath Heron,Korhaan, tit babler and falcon.

Congrats on the Lifers!

Thanks guys...my pics just pale's by comparison to yours...only the "close" ones is really worth while, I always seem to be on the "focal" edge, having to use optical and digital to get anywhere near, and doing it on the go...anyway, it serves as some kind of ref. to show you at least...

What a fascinating variety!!

Nanny, yes, this time of the year we have great variety around...I am hoping to take a few pics of the Bee-eaters when I go for another bird morning...

I love the Bee-eaters!!

Little_things, I'd be really keen to see the Bee Eaters you get. I think their colouring is quite different to the ones we get here. Am I right in thinking yours are primarily red?

We have the European and White-fronted Bee-eaters (pic) here. This is the only pic I have taken with a camcorder. We also have a brown-headed Kingfisher (another nice family) to pic.

Another favourate, Cape Longclaw (Macronyx capensis). I so hope to see them this year in colour again, this pic taken with the camcorder in 2006 (Feb). Another great bird to get a good pic from if I can find it again.

Stunning colours, Little_things. Look forward to more and the Brown Headed Kingfisher.

Sorry, Little, cross posted. The Longclaw looks a stunner. Is that the long claw at the back?

This message was edited Dec 20, 2008 8:48 AM

Margaret, I do not understand the question? Is that the long claw at the back?

Sorry Little. At the rear of the foot - the backward facing claw. By the way have you been following the cricket?

Margaret, yes, long claw at back toe....and yes, I watched the cricket...it was great, more because we struggle to beat your guys over many years, and for once we did. It could have gone to any team, such was the match, and this is as it should be between no1 & 2 test teams.

Thanks, Little. It was held at the WACA (West Australian Cricket Association) ground here in Perth. I was up at the Ospreys nest watching and my compatriot was listening on his ipod and gave me the sad new that Australia had lost by six wickets (oh the shame).

Good luck getting photos of the Bee Eaters.

Beautiful birds little. What amazing and colorful birds you all have in the Southern Hemisphere.

Thanks OP, the great thing about this forum is it creates an awareness of the birdlife on various continents, which I will not be able to see otherwise. We live only once and seeing all the things wonderful around the world also enlarges your own sense that there is more than just that around you.

Margaret, It seems that Perth is fairly windy or gusty, similar to Cape Town, where we have the "Cape Doctor", strong South Easterly winds that can blow for weeks. Coming from the Cape, the one thing that was amazing to me in Bloemfontein is that we hardly have any wind 80% of the time. We have strong gusts just before thunderstorms, but once the thunderstorm hits, the wind drops to nothing again.

Little_things, Perth is reported to be the third windiest capital city in the world, with Chicago and Wellington in New Zealand being windier. We have howling south westerly "breezes" in late spring and summer. Visitors and television commentators love to call it the 'Fremantle Doctor". Locals apparently used to call it this, but haven't done so for about sixty years.

I agree with you about the bird watching forum creating an awareness of birds in various countries and continents. I've learned so much about birds in North America in particular. I just wish more internationals would post. it's fascinating.

Love the Bee-eater Little!

Margaret, yes, also in terms of international migration, bird we see in our environments and where they go and the environments...again it can put more perspective on the bird when you see it and you understand more about its life.