PC's 2019: a lazy year

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @PeterHG and @michael-ibk.

[xelas]

Kempton Park ... so basically those are birds from your home turf. Lovely selection, Peter.

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @xelas. Not quite balcony birding, mostof these were taken at a little pond on my way to work.

 

Only works for a couple of months in summer, for most of the year I start work before sunrise...

[Dave Williams]

Palm Swift is harder than our Common Swift to photograph, nice one indeed! Love the Turtle Dove ( I would wouldn't I!) in flight shot too.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Dave Williams

[Peter Connan]

55) Common Sandpiper

 

Gewone Ruiter

Actitis hypoleucos

 

17 February, Zibulo

[Peter Connan]

56) Yellow-billed Stork

 

Nimmersat

Mycteria ibis

 

Sorry, kinda tricky to pick one...

 

 

17 February, Zibulo

[Peter Connan]

57) Little Egret

 

Kleinwitreier

Egretta garzetta

 

17 February, Zibulo

[Peter Connan]

58) African Spoonbill

 

Lepelaar

Platalea alba

 

17 February, Zibulo

[Peter Connan]

59) Greater Striped Swallow

 

Grootstreepswael

Hirundo cucullata

 

 

17 February, Zibulo

[Peter Connan]

60) Diederick's Cuckoo

 

Diederikkie

Chrysococcyx caprius

 

17 February, Zibulo

[Tdgraves]

Excellent additions from Zibulo @Peter Connan

More reason to try and tempt the OH en route to KNP in September 

That cuckoo is your nemesis no more!

[Galana]

Good to see you got your nemesis at last. Great shot too.

What next on your list?

[TonyQ]

Diedericks Cuckoo- wow. Superb 

[michael-ibk]

That is really a sensational photo Peter! From a hide, or how did you accomplish that? 

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Tdgraves, @Galana, @TonyQ and @michael-ibk

Michael, this was perched in the grass behind the hide. I followed the passage that leads to the hide in the hope of getting closer, and then got lucky: a Weaver came and chased it past me. This is still quite a serious crop though.

 

Fred, I am not sure what my next (or is that current) nemesis is. Pe4haps the Scops owl (so often heard but never seen), or the Skimmer (gone searching a couple of times, but never seen)?

 

But it's going to be fun finding out!

[Soukous]

lovely Diederick's Peter. So hard to find them out of cover. 

[xelas]

Lovely photos, Peter, and the Cuckoo is just an amazing catch. Your birds looked familiar to me ... then I saw the date stamp . Have you gone to Zibulo after that visit?

[Galana]

@Peter Connan

Hmmm Skimmers I cannot really help you with as they are a bit ephemeral and so far don't figure in any of my Big Years.

Scops, either variety, are best found at known locations some of which are quite surprising. It depends on your travel plans. Good luck.

[Soukous]

Skimmers ... I've seen them on the Chobe river in September, when the water is low. They like to lay their eggs on sandy beaches and river shores.

I've also seen them in India, but I guess that's too far to drive. 

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Soukous, @xelas and @Galana.

 

Thanks for the laugh Martin. India is a bit far, I doubt I have enough leave saved up.

 

Alex, despite my best intentions, I haven't. But looks like I might be going birding with @BobsCreek on Saturday, and we haven't decided on a destination yet...

[PeterHG]

Another set of really high quality additions, @Peter Connan ! All great shots, but that Cuckoo is just stunning !!

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @PeterHG

[Peter Connan]

61) Southern Masked Weaver

 

Swartkeelgeelvink

Ploceus velatus

 

Alex asked disgustedly "why do you want to go to a place that specializes in eye-level hides if you're just going to shoot them in flight?". Well, here is the answer: you get much nicer backgrounds... 

17 February, Zibulo

 

Edited May 19, 2019 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

62) African Darter

 

Slanghalsvoel

Anhinga rufa

 

17 February, Zibulo