Zvezda & Alex 4th time: Just birdin'

[xelas]

BY 211 / SA 166

Ashy Flycatcher - Muscicapa caerulescens

 

 

Hluhluwe Park, 11-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 212 / SA 167

Southern Black Flycatcher - Melaenornis pammelaina

 

immature

 

iMfolozi Park, 9-Feb-2019

[xelas]

This one I ID it as Southern Black Flycatcher. What bothers me is its brownish primaries. @Galana, so far you have pushed me down. Maybe here you could pushed me one notch up?!

 

Edited April 12, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

9 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

I can smell wet fur!!!

 

Dave, not only you can smell some wet fur, now you can watch it also ! From Royal Natal Park, the Wet Hare himself!!

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Well done but I have to add that's one nervous looking Hare!

[PeterHG]

3 hours ago, xelas said:

This one I ID it as Southern Black Flycatcher

And I think it is. The female can have a brownish tinge to the feathers. Sorry about that.....;)

[Galana]

4 hours ago, xelas said:

Maybe here you could pushed me one notch up?!

Sorry my friend. As @PeterHG says, females can be slightly brown but my hunch is that this is an Immature just in course of moulting to adult plumage. They are quite brown and it would be natural during a moult to lose the primaries gradually.

 

Well at least you did not lose a point this time!!

Edited April 12, 2019 by Galana
Text amendments.

[xelas]

9 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Well done but I have to add that's one nervous looking Hare!

 

The hare did not hear this is the Easy Birdin' Year !

[xelas]

Sad for not having one point more but happy to nail the ID! Thanks, @PeterHGand @Galana.

[xelas]

Moving on, to relieve some stress from the hare.

 

 

BY 213 / SA 168

Amethyst Sunbird - Chalcomitra amethystina

 

male

 

female

 

Royal Natal NP, 14-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 214 / SA 169

Greater Double-collared Sunbird - Cinnyris afer

 

male

 

female

 

Royal Natal NP, 13-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 215 / SA 170

Marico Sunbird - Cinnyris mariquensis

 

female

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 9-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 216 / SA 171

Purple-banded Sunbird - Cinnyris bifasciatus

 

 

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 7-Feb-2019

[Galana]

Nice uncontroversial photos.

The tortoise will be pleased.

[xelas]

Good news, allowing me to post this short interlude.

 

 

BY 217 / SA 172

Cape Sparrow - Passer melanurus

 

male

 

female

 

Zibulo, 17-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 218 / SA 173

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow - Passer diffusus

 

 

Royal Natal NP, 14-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 219 / SA 174

Yellow-throated Petronia - Gymnoris superciliaris

 

 

iMfolozi Park, 9-Feb-2019

[Soukous]

On 4/12/2019 at 11:52 AM, xelas said:

 

Thanks for encoraging words, Martin! Just trying to keep up with the best on Big Year! With quality and quantity. Both are very demanding tasks. BTW how is birding in your place, end of the year?

 

Hi Alex ( @xelas ) not sure if I understood your question correctly.

Are you asking what the birding is like at our place in South Africa at the end of the year? 

If that is the question then the answer is "pretty good". I was just there and the birding in November is much better than in March. Not as good as a 'real' birding destination but certainly OK for keeping your hand in.

[xelas]

Thanks @Soukous, that is the info I was asking for. By comparing our bird list from last year (Western Cape) and this year (KwaZulu Natal) same month, there is quite a difference between the two. 

Edited April 13, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

Male weavers are easy enough to ID. It gets more complicated with females and juveniles. Comments are welcomed!

 

 

BY 220 / SA 175

Thick-billed Weaver - Amblyospiza albifrons

 

male

 

female

 

Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, 16-Feb-2019

[xelas]

This is the only Weaver that we have from Zibulo. 

 

BY 221 / SA 176

Cape Weaver - Ploceus capensis

 

 

Kempton Park, 15-Feb-2019

 

 

Edited April 14, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 222 / SA 177

Eastern Golden Weaver - Ploceus subaureus

 

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 7-Feb-2019

[xelas]

This one is the most dubious, it could also be a juvenile Village Weaver.

 

BY 223 / SA 178

Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus

 

females

 

Hluhluwe Park, 12-Feb-2019

Edited April 14, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 224 / SA 179

Lesser Masked Weaver - Ploceus intermedius

 

 

Mkhuze Game Reserve, 2-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 225 / SA 180

Southern Masked Weaver - Ploceus velatus

 

 

 

Royal Natal NP, 12-Feb-2019

 

 

Kempton Park, 16-Feb-2019

Edited April 14, 2019 by xelas