Soukous, trying to do better in 2018

[Soukous]

#36 Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

There were so many of these around this year, and so many juveniles too. It took me a while before I realised that the juveniles were in fact the same species. I was hunting through all my guides to identify them as a different species.

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#37 Familiar Chat (Emarginata familiaris)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#38 Oops, missed one from Dubai

House Crow (Corvus splendens)

Dubai, feb 2018.

 

[Soukous]

#39 Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. feb 2018 - In the grounds of a game lodge

 

[Soukous]

#40 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

[Soukous]

I just noticed that I have 2 number elevens. 

Post #2 showed a Blue Tit and a Great Tit. 

The Great Tit was therefore counted as #11 but when I resumed posting yesterday I overlooked that and listed the Purple Sunbird as #11, when it should have been #12.

 

Not great at maths.

 

[Peter Connan]

That Swee Waxbill in-flight shot is a fantastic pose @Soukous

 

May I ask roughly whereabouts in the Klein Karoo?

[Dave Williams]

Nice collection building here!

 

[Soukous]

16 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

That Swee Waxbill in-flight shot is a fantastic pose @Soukous

 

May I ask roughly whereabouts in the Klein Karoo?

 

Of course @Peter Connan

The area where we have our house is Matjiesrivier, very close to the base of the Swartberg Pass.

It is a private game reserve of 2000 hectares with a few houses on it. Click here to take a look

Basically it is recovered farm land that is now used for wild animals, antelopes, zebra & giraffe. The number of bird species has been growing steadily and we now have quite a nice collection of resident species, including quite a few raptors: Martial Eagle, Verraux's Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Forest Buzzard, Secretary Bird, Snake Eagle, Rock Kestrel. 

[Soukous]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

Nice collection building here!

 

 

Thanks @Dave Williams building slowly. Definitely a tortoise compared to a few others.

For me the recurring problem is that I am shooting the same birds every year - because i always go to the same places. This year I am hoping to break out and include some new species. 

[Soukous]

#42  African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

[Soukous]

#43 Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#44 Blue Crane (Grus paradisea)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

This was a particularly happy sighting as the cranes have managed to raise 2 chicks this year.

 

[Soukous]

#45 Cape Rock Thursh - I think - (Monticola rupestris)

Meiringspoort, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

[Soukous]

#46 Greater Striped Swallow (Cecropis cucullata)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

We have 2 pairs of these swallows nesting in our house every year and they put on some terrific aerial displays. Catching them in flight is always a challenge and there is room for improvement.

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#47 Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

 

 

They grey background on the second shot is all rain clouds. Unlike Cape Town, we had plenty of rain.

Edited March 7, 2018 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#48 Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#49 Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficolis)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

Every time i tried to photograph this wee chap he either dived underwater or made a bee line for the far side of the dam.

 

[Soukous]

#50 Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

It is a 45 minute drive to the nearest town (Oudtshoorn) and on the way I saw three of these Goshawks perched on telegraph poles in the space of 2km.

 

[Galana]

Your collection is building nicely and that was good news on the Blue Cranes and their chicks.

[PeterHG]

Beautiful additions and lovely images!

[Soukous]

#51 Pied Starling (Lamprotornis bicolor)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

 

[Soukous]

#52 Red Knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. feb 2018

 

 

Edited March 7, 2018 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#53 Red Winged Starling (Onychognathus morio)

Prince Albert, South Africa. Feb 2018

 

[Soukous]

#54 Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolus)

Klein Karoo, South Africa. Feb 2018