Soukous birds in 2016

[Tom Kellie]

@@Tom Kellie - it was photographed in Golden Gate NP, very close to Lesotho.

 

~ @@Soukous

 

Thank you!

If that's the same as Golden Gate Highlands National Park, I've been interested in it because of the fossils there.

I never realized that it might be a productive birding spot.

Very nice to know this.

Tom K.

[PeterHG]

Looking forward to more of those wonderful birds you've presented so far (and lots of good weather for you, of course)!

[Soukous]

Some UK birds for a change..

 

Red Grouse

 

and something rarer, a Black Pheasant

 

these were taken with a borrowed Lumix bridge camera zoomed out to 1200mm.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Soukous

[Soukous]

and a Lapwing

we just call in a Lapwing but I believe that in other countries it is called a Northern Lapwing

 

[Soukous]

Black Headed Gull.

 

I know it hasn't got a black head but in winter the black disappears leaving just a small black spot behind the eye

[xelas]

Black pheasant ... that is indeed a rare find!

[Atravelynn]

I hope the borrowed camera did not mean yours had a problem. Whatever camera, whatever the amount of sun, you got some great birds!

[Soukous]

No problems with my camera @@Atravelynn I just didn't have a long enough lens and the bridge camera I bought for my better half earlier in the year has an incredible zoom range from 20-1200mm - and it only weighs about a pound.

Every once in a while I just have to grab it.

[Soukous]

and here's our more frequently seen 'common' Pheasant

 

 

and Murphy's Law being all encompassing, on this occasion the bird was too close for my 300mm lens and I couldn't move further back.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Soukous

[Atravelynn]

You ended up with a fine shot of the pheasant despite Murphy.

[Soukous]

Back home at last after an entertaining safari that took in the Battlefields, St Lucia, Timbavati, Tuli Block and Gonarezhou.

Some of it didn't live up to expectation and some exceeded.

 

It did throw up some great birding and lots of new species for me.

 

The rooftop of our accommodation at Dundee (9 & 10 May) was a popular spot with several species

 

Common Myna

 

Olive Thrush

 

Speckled Pigeon

 

other species preferred the ground

 

Helmeted Guinea Fowl with chicks

 

And a rather odd looking albino Helmeted Guinea Fowl

 

[Kitsafari]

what a curious looking guineafowl! love the chicks.

[Soukous]

St Lucia (KZN) is a place where I have enjoyed some great birding and so I encouraged everyone in the group to come for a cruise.

Unfortunately on that particular day the wind was pretty strong and sightings were very disappointing. Many of them were quite distant and have been cropped significantly.

 

All shots taken on 12 May 2016

 

Reed Cormorants

 

African Darter

 

African Fish Eagle

 

Grey Heron ( I know I have posted one of these already but it was a pretty poor shot. I like these better)

 

 

Hadeda Ibis

 

Little Egret (Big crop)

 

White Backed Pelicans

 

Yellow Billed Stork

 

Purple Swamp Hen

 

 

 

[Soukous]

Yellow billed Oxpecker - Timbavati 14-17 May

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2016 by Soukous

[Soukous]

Dark Chanting Goshawk - Timbavati - 14-17 May

 

[Soukous]

Southern Yellow Billed Hornbill - Timbavati 14-17 May

 

[Soukous]

Cape Glossy Starling - Timbabavti 14-17 May

 

[Soukous]

Dusky Lark - Timbavati 14-17 May

 

[Soukous]

Grey Go Away bird - Timbavati 14-17 May

 

[Soukous]

White Backed Vulture - Timbavati 14-17 May

 

[Soukous]

Fork Tailed Drongo - Timbavati 14-17 May

 

[Soukous]

Bataleur (Male) - Timbavati 14-17 May

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2016 by Soukous

[Soukous]

Meve's Starling - Tuli Block, 18-21 May

 

Edited June 1, 2016 by Soukous

[Soukous]

Saddle Billed Storks - Tuli Block, 18-21 May

 

female on the left with yellow eye

Edited June 1, 2016 by Soukous

[Soukous]

Wattled Starlings (non breeding plumage) - Tuli Block, 18-21 May