Alex & Zvezdana Big Year 2017

[Galana]

Slow down your undergarments are getting in a twist.

< Don't worry it's not on twice, 116 is the Double-banded Courser. >

BOTH 115 & 116 are DBCs in my opinion.  Your reasons for Burchells and/or Temmincks are?

 

Back to the Wahlberg. Peter has one in KTFP so they are seeming to be coming south from their noted range.

I like the lighter head and shoulders of the pale morph. Not many Fish Eagles around Sesreim!

 

Some great Plover photos there my friend.

[xelas]

3 hours ago, Galana said:

Your reasons for Burchells and/or Temmincks are?

 

Hua, that is tough now. I have discarded DBC because my bird does not have double bands! Plus it has more curved bill and slightly slender also. But then, this time around I could not find any BC or TC to look like my bird; they all have either very distinctive heads, of have plain backs. Now, could it be a double.banded without double bands?! Even chicks shows them!

[Galana]

I like your arguments and agree it is most likely not a DBC so now it is between BC & TC.

On balance it should be TC as the most common of the two but the absence of the dark stripe behind the eye is of concern. Conversely the crown and nape are of one colour whereas BC adult has the grey nape. Is the back colour mottled or scalloped?

Do you have any more photos showing other parts? I am coming to think our call is correct. It is certainly well reasoned.

[xelas]

9 hours ago, Galana said:

Do you have any more photos showing other parts?

 

Probably yes. I will looked at them in the afternoon. I will post them here if any will be found.

[xelas]

BY 130 / NAM 054

Burchell's Sandgrouse - Pterocles burchelli

 

Etosha, 5 May

female

 

male

 

 

BY 131 / NAM 055

African Cuckoo - Cuculus gularis

 

Ameib ranch, 30 April

 

 

 

BY 132 / NAM 056

Grey Go-away-bird - Corythaixoides concolor

 

Hoba, 13 May

 

 

BY 133 / NAM 057

Speckled Pigeon - Columba guinea

 

Ameib ranch, 28 April

[lmSA84]

@xelas beautiful photos as always! 

[xelas]

BY 134 / NAM 058

Cape Turtle Dove - Streptopelia capicola aka Ringed-necked Dove aka Half-collared Dove

 

Madisa camp, 02 May

 

 

BY 135 / NAM 059

Namaqua Dove - Oena capensis

 

Madisa camp, 02 May

female

 

male

 

 

BY 136 / NAM 060

Laughing Dove - Spilopelia senegalensis

 

Hoada camp, 04 May

 

 

[xelas]

BY 137 / NAM 061

Rüppell's Parrot - Poicephalus rueppellii

 

Ameib ranch, 28 April

 

 

BY 138 / NAM 062

Rosy-faced Lovebird - Agapornis roseicollis

 

Ameib ranch, 29 April

 

 

BY 139 / NAM 063

Alpine Swift - Tachymarptis melba

 

Ameib ranch, 29 April

[Dave Williams]

10 hours ago, Galana said:

I like your arguments and agree it is most likely not a DBC so now it is between BC & TC.

On balance it should be TC as the most common of the two but the absence of the dark stripe behind the eye is of concern. Conversely the crown and nape are of one colour whereas BC adult has the grey nape. Is the back colour mottled or scalloped?

Do you have any more photos showing other parts? I am coming to think our call is correct. It is certainly well reasoned.

Got me looking now too...and rechecking my own Big year entry too!

[xelas]

BY 140 / NAM 064

White-backed Mousebird - Colius colius

 

Sesriem, 23 April

 

 

BY 141 / NAM 065

Red-faced Mousebird - Urocolius indicus

 

Spitzkoope, 28 April

 

 

BY 142 / NAM 066

Cardinal Woodpecker - Dendropicos fuscescens

Ameib ranch, 28 April

 

BY 143 / NAM 067

African Hoopoe - Upupa africana

 

Ameib ranch, 30 April

 

 

BY 144 / NAM 068
Common Scimitarbill - Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
 

Ameib ranch, 30 April

[xelas]

BY 145 / NAM 069

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater - Merops hirundineus

 

Ameib ranch, 30 April

 

 

 

BY 146 / NAM 070

Purple Roller - Coracias naevius

 

Etosha, 10 May

 

 

BY 147 / NAM 071

Lilac-breasted Roller - Coracias caudatus

 

Etosha, 12 May

Edited August 4, 2017 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 148 / NAM 072

Monteiro's Hornbill - Tockus monteiri

 

Etosha, 04 May

 

 

BY 149 / NAM 073

African grey Hornbill - Tockus nasutus

 

Etosha, 08 May

 

 

BY 150 / NAM 074

Southern yellow-billed Hornbill - Tockus leucomelas

 

Etosha, 09 May

 

 

BY 151 / NAM 075

Damara Hornbill - Tockus damarensis

 

Hoba, 13 May

 

 

Edited August 4, 2017 by xelas

[Dave Williams]

@xelasSome cracking images on this thread and I'm envious that I didn't see half of them it seems. Mine is a Burchell's Courser for sure though

[Peter Connan]

Some great hornbills and others here. The roller family could also qualify for the"Supermodel thread" I think?

 

 

[xelas]

16 hours ago, Galana said:

Do you have any more photos showing other parts? I am coming to think our call is correct. It is certainly well reasoned.

 

As asked by @Galana here is another image of the Burchell's courser (yes, I am now confident this is the right ID):

 

- the shape of the head and the bill fits more to Burchell's then to Temminck's as TC has thicker bill and wider dark stripe behind the eye

- the back feathers pattern is more "accented", and the belly has more "faded" brown colour; there is no black stripe but that is probably because the bird is a juvenile one (??).

 

So what is the final verdict?

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

@xelasSome cracking images on this thread and I'm envious that I didn't see half of them it seems. Mine is a Burchell's Courser for sure though

 

As shown above, mine also ! As for the number of sightings, you should come more often to Namibia, @Dave Williams .

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Peter Connan said:

Some great hornbills and others here. The roller family could also qualify for the"Supermodel thread" I think?

 

 

 

Thanks, @Peter Connan ! Is there a "Supermodel" thread around? With Victoria's Secrets supermodels photos   ?? 

[Dave Williams]

You know how to pick them Alex. I'm not convinced either way. Where exactly was it out of interest?

[xelas]

45 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

You know how to pick them Alex. I'm not convinced either way. Where exactly was it out of interest?

 

You mean, where Zvezda took that photo? About a few kilometres outside of Madisa Camp, along the D2612 road.

[Peter Connan]

2 hours ago, xelas said:

 

Thanks, @Peter Connan ! Is there a "Supermodel" thread around? With Victoria's Secrets supermodels photos   ?? 

 

No. Just an idea that @Galana came up with after my comment on the Malachites in my Big Year thread, but underwear is not expected to feature. Ladies in that thread will all have to be completely un-clothed...

[xelas]

Even better!! Do send me an alarm when the thread will start, @Peter Connan!

[xelas]

Now, lady and gentlemen, the "beautiful" world of LBJ's , starting with Larks. I will post them separately, so it will be easier for me to either correct the ID or cancel the bird altogether.

 

[xelas]

BY 152 / NAM 076

Gray's Lark - Ammomanes grayi

 

Swakopmund, 25 April

 

 

Edited August 5, 2017 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 153 / NAM 077

Karoo Long-billed Lark - Certhilauda subcoronata

 

Erongo, 01 May

 

Etosha, 05 May

 

 

[xelas]

BY 154 / NAM 078

Large-billed Lark - Galerida magnirostris

 

Spitzkoope, 27 April