Tdgraves big year 2016

[Galana]

Ah. the archtypical LBJs. I believe there is a forum to ask for a 2nd opinion. There are not that many nondescript brown birds around.

[Tdgraves]

Ah. the archtypical LBJs. I believe there is a forum to ask for a 2nd opinion. There are not that many nondescript brown birds around.

@@Galana I have posted the lbj on said forum, but have only received one reply thus far

[Galana]

I don't see it. Link?

[Tdgraves]

https://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=13138&start=180

[Galana]

I don't see any reply but my money would be on a Karoo Chat.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @@Galana the other suggestion was mountain wheatear

 

I think it has a yellow eye ring though....

[Galana]

Well at least we know it is a Chat. (neither have yellow eye ring in my book) Could be a female Mountain Wheatear as I can see a white tail feather or two and the hint of a wing bar. On the other hand I don't like the contrast between upper and lower body which looks almost pale in the 2nd shot were as f. Mountain W is dull mono brown all over apart from under tail.

Your birdie also lacks the white under tail of the "Wheatear!"

It still says 'some sort of dry country Chat' to me. Put it up on here. Pick a name and see what the others think.

 

Now. About them larks!

[TonyQ]

@@Tdgraves

Beautiful new additions - the Rock Kestrel is stunning, and the Spotted Eagle Owl chicks are so cute....

(and almost at 200!)

[Tdgraves]

Cubitje Quap, KTP, 22/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/1600

 

 

Canon 5D mark III, 100-400 mark I, ISO 160, f7.1, 1/1000

 

 

199) Karoo chat (unless anyone else has any better offers!!)

[Tdgraves]

South of Mata Mata, KTP, 20/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/1600-2500, EV +2/3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

200) Jackal buzzard

[Tdgraves]

Now, about those larks....After looking at all of the larks which occur in the KTP, I had narrowed this one down to either an Eastern Clapper lark or Spike-heeled lark. The other one I am still not sure of at present

 

Upper dune road, KTP, 17/9/16

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 250, f7.1, 1/1000

 

 

201) Spike-heeled lark

[Galana]

Oh dear! Do we know each other well enough for suggested corrections? Brave call. Not a Spike-heeled which has a coloured belly or an Eastern clapper (ditto). That crest, white throat and white belly with dark tail all say Stark's to me.

[Peter Connan]

Well done on 200, and a great way to get there too!

[Tdgraves]

@@Peter Connan I saved up no. 200!

[Tdgraves]

@@Galana I discounted stark's from my list due to the colour "a small pallid lark" with all of the photos showing a pretty non-descript beige lark. This one is rufous with a scaled back. Clearly I am no expert, but that was my thought process....

 

P.s. No worries about corrections, especially as I was so unclear in the first place!

Edited October 23, 2016 by Tdgraves

[Galana]

I suppose it depends on which book. I was using Ian Sinclair's "South of the Sahara". Scrutinising your picture it may be that what I first saw as a crest is actually a shadow of the earth behind? Sinclair does say Stark's has streaked upperparts.

However digging out my ancient (1983) copy of Newman's I can see Spike-heeled fitting one of the colour extremes illustrated and your subject having the characteristic upright stance he describes. Your call!

Anyways, well done on the double century and those lovely photos of the Jackal Buzzard. No contest there.

[michael-ibk]

Congratulations on surpassing #200, and what an asesome post to celebrate this with. Bravo for the Buzzard shots, superb! So sympathise with your LBJ-trouble, I had exactly the same problem. Will try at home after consulting my books about your Chat and Lark.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @@michael-ibk I do have some more spectacular Jackal Buzzard shots, but I am saving them for my TR!!!

[Tdgraves]

Having looked again at the lark, I think I have now got to the end of all of the new birds of this trip (12 in KTP) and now on to the "old" ones

 

Lower Nossob valley, KTP, 11/9/16

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/500

 

 

Canon 5D mark III,100-400 mark I, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/400

 

 

202) Sociable weaver

[Tdgraves]

Lower Nossob valley, KTP, 11/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/800

Lower Auob valley, KTP, 13/9/16

Canon 5D mark III,100-400 mark I, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/1600

203) Common fiscal

[Tdgraves]

Lower Nossob valley, KTP, 11/9/16

Canon 5D mark III, 100-400 mark I, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/640

 

Female

 

 

 

Nossob in camp, KTP, 18/9/16

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/1600

 

 

204) Red-headed finch

Edited October 26, 2016 by Tdgraves

[Tdgraves]

And one of the icons of the KTP...

 

Just south of Mata Mata, KTP, 13/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/400

 

Mata Mata in Camp, 14/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 200, f7.1, 1/1000

 

KTC in Camp, 21/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/1000

 

205) Familiar chat (or the overly familiar chat as my OH calls them!)

[Tdgraves]

Twee Rivieren in Camp, 12/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 250, f7.1, 1/800

Upper Auob valley, KTP, 14/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/2000

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/1600

 

 

206) Groundscraper thrush

[Tdgraves]

Upper Auob valley, KTP, 14/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/640

 

Lower Auob valley, KTP, 12/9/16

Canon 5D mark III, 100-400 mark I, ISO 1600, f7.1, 1/1000

 

 

Lower Nossob valley, KTP, 13/9/16

Canon 5D mark III, 100-400 mark I, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/1250

 

 

207) Marico flycatcher

[Tdgraves]

Upper Auob valley, KTP, 14/9/16

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/1600

 

 

From our balcony, Urikaruus, 15/9/16

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/1600

 

 

Cubitje Quap, KTP, 19/9/16

 

Canon 5D mark III, 100-400 mark I, ISO 400, f7.1, 1/1600

 

 

Juvenile

 

South of Nossob, 16/9/16

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark II, ISO 250, f7.1, 1/1000, EV +2/3

 

 

208) Lanner falcon

Edited October 27, 2016 by Tdgraves