Third time lucky? Peter Connan's year.

[Peter Connan]

67) African Darter:

 

 

SlanghalsvoelAnhinga rufa

 

This example is very light in colour, as it is still a juvenile.

 

Some interesting behaviour: see how it sticks it's hole head down the parent's throat to get at the fish:

 

 

Same same.

[Peter Connan]

68) White-breasted Cormorant:

 

Witborsduiker Phalacrocorax lucidus

 

Same same.

[Peter Connan]

69) Fork-tailed Drongo:

 

Mikstertbyevanger Dicrurus adsimilis

 

Same same.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

70) White-fronted Bee-eater:

 

Gooikeelbyvreter Merops bullockoides

 

Same same.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

71) Cape White-eye:

 

Kaapse Glasogie Zosterops pallidus

 

Same same.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

72) Helmeted Guineafowl:

 

Gewone TarentaalNumida meleagris

 

Same same.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

73) Speckled Mousebird (here in company with a Black-shouldered Kite):

 

Gevlekte Muisvoel Colius striatus

 

Same same.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

74) Red-faced Mousebird:

 

RooiwangmuisvoelUrocolius indicus

 

Same same.

Edited March 28, 2016 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

75) Burcell's Coucal:

 

 

 

Gewone Vleiloerie Centropus burchellii

 

Same same.

[Peter Connan]

76) Common Ostrich:

 

Gewone Volstruis Struthio camelus

 

Same same.

[Peter Connan]

77) Amathyst Sunbird:

 

 

Swartsuikerbekkie Chalcomitra amethystine

 

Same same

[Peter Connan]

78) Swainson's Spurfowl:

 

Bosveldfisant Pternistes swainsonii

 

Same same.

[Peter Connan]

79) Common Swift:

 

 

Europese Windswael Apus apus

 

Same same.

[Peter Connan]

80) Common Whitethroat (I hope):

 

Witkeelsanger Sylvia communis

 

Same same.

[Peter Connan]

Some trivia and doubles.

 

Firstly, fall is definitely here. See how quickly they become drab!

 

Southern Red Bishop:

 

 

 

Long-tailed Widowbird:

 

 

And just some European Bee-eater action:

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

@@Peter Connan

Your wonderful photos continue - some great ones in your doubles and trivia.

It is fascinating to see the Widowbird losing its breeding plumage. The bee-eater action is excellent.

I see you are past No.80 already - I better get started

[Peter Connan]

@@TonyQ,thank you very much.

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@Peter Connan

 

I'm with @@wilddog on the go-away-bird eye close-up.

That's a remarkable image.

Likewise the Olive Thrush portrait which surely must be the definitive portrait of that species.

The spur-winged goose images introduced a species about which I'd never read.

You've stormed into ‘Big Year 2016’ camera shutter clicking — I hugely admire that!

As @@Game Warden noted, a bird shooting session with you is the ultimate pleasure for the discerning South Africa wildlife safari visitor.

Both @@xelas and I have been honored with your genial friendship and your seasoned approach to avian photography.

As I commented before, I especially appreciate that these images are labeled with binomial nomenclature, Afrikaans and English.

Your creative work in preparing these, uploading them and doing so with dispatch exemplifies the very sort of can-do creativity which yours truly hopes to nurture in his graduate students.

My hat's off to you, my respected friend, for the quality of your images and the thrilling variety.

The South African Tourist Board owes you a free weekend in a lodge of your choice!

With Admiration,

Tom K.

[xelas]

@@Peter Connan

 

Same same as per @@Tom Kellie ! From now on it will be much easier to ID those birds photos. I will appreciate very much if you would post a list of all the birds names at the end of your Big Year post.

[Peter Connan]

@@Tom Kellie and @@xelas, thank you for the kind words.

 

Alex, i have been recording everything on a spredsheet which i will try to attach at the end. Hopefully, it has fewer spelling mistakes than i have made in the actual postings which were obviously done before i actually awoke this morning...

[dlo]

I'm with @@Tom Kellie on the tourist board comment and while I'm not sure how discerning I am I'm sure I would enjoy a birding day with you and I can't give a higher compliment than that.

[Alexander33]

I don't think you're going to need any luck this year, @@Peter Connan. This is obviously a labor of love, and we are all the more rich for it. Seeing the "before and after" shots of the bishops was so interesting, as well. This is turning out to be much more than just a list with documentary photographs. At this rate, by year's end we will have a definitive seasonal guide to birding in South Africa. We need to find you a publisher. (Not that I'm trying to put any pressure on you!.....)

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @@dlo and @@Alexander33

[Soukous]

great start @@Peter Connan

i can see I have a LOT of ground to make up

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @@Soukous.

 

My momentum will unfortunately probably slow down now.

Today is my last day in my current job. I have been with the same company since doing my experiential training in '97, but tomorrow I will be somewhere else.

 

From a photography point of view, this means I have to start from scratch with PP hardware and software, and probably will have less time to spend outdoors. Furthermore we are heading into winter, so all the interesting feathered guests are departing our shores.

 

So you have some time in which to catch up.

Edited March 31, 2016 by Peter Connan