Zvezda & Alex Big Year 2016 - first attempt

[xelas]

SHIMUWINI / 30. 10. - 01. 11. 2016 (continued)

 

 

391. Burnt-necked Eremomela - Eremomela usticollis

 

 

 

392. African Pied Wagtail - Motacilla aguimp

 

 

 

393. Arrow-marked Babler - Turdoides jardineii

 

 

 

394. Black-backed Puffback - Dryoscopus cubla

 

 

 

395. Cardinal Woodpecker - Dendropicos fuscescens

 

 

 

396. Grey-headed Bush-Shrike - Malaconotus blanchoti

 

 

 

397. Southern White-crowned Shrike - Eurocephalus anguitimens

 

 

[PeterHG]

That Greater Painted Snipe is both a beauty and an excellent picture, @@xelas ( and Zvezda)! Those bushveld camps are great places, especially with such a productive hide. Only three to go........!

[xelas]

SHIMUWINI / 30. 10. - 01. 11. 2016 (continued)

 

 

And here there is! #400. If anyone would predict us reaching #300 ... I would reply to him that I have seen that movie ... and it is just too fictional for my taste !

And yet, we did collected 400 different birds photos in one year. Just amazing! Maybe it is time to look around for a well priced second-hand Swarowski ?!

 

 

398. Giant Kingfisher - Megaceryle maxima

 

 

 

399. Brown-hooded Kingfisher - Halycon albivetris

 

 

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400. African Pygmy-Kingfisher - Ispidina picta

 

 

 

 

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401. Saddle-billed Stork - Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

 

[Tdgraves]

Well done on reaching 400 @@xelas. You make us seasoned big year participants look like amateurs!! Must try harder....

[Galana]

So you got to the 400 already and what a cracking little beauty to do it with.

But surely you have ticked Hammerkop earlier? Just asking but it seems strange to get to 400 without it.

396. Not Grey-headed Bush-shrike. Orange or Sulphur-breasted Telephorus sulfureoperctus It still counts though and another beauty.

[PeterHG]

That's a worthy #400, @@xelas and beautifully caught by Zvezda! It looks like you've had a very rewarding year and I'm pretty sure you've got a few more to show us.

[xelas]

@@Galana

 

My bad. Of course #396 is an Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike - Telophorus sulfureopectus; the eye and the black patch around it ... at least the count don't change.

[Peter Connan]

Wow, a pygmy! And sitting still enough for a photo! And broad-billed roller, black-headed Oriole and Orange-breasted bush-shrike! The god of birding is smiling on you for sure!

 

By the way, did you hear the call of the Emerald-spotted Dove? This must be one of the most beautiful bird calls in Africa. Your little owl is another.

[xelas]

Not that I remember, @@Peter Connan . As being only a humble novice birders ourselves, someone has to smile on us !

[xelas]

Nope, @@Galana ! Went through all photos posted and counted again, no Hammerkop photo found.

Edited November 30, 2016 by xelas

[TonyQ]

@@xelas

Congratulations on reaching 400 - and with a real gem!

A real achievement, and with high quality photos and lots of enthusiasm throughout.

Do you think you count as a birder now?

[xelas]

Thanks for kind words, and for support, @@TonyQ ! A birder?! Maybe a clicker but surely not a ticker .

[xyz99]

That African Pygmy-Kingfisher surely deserves his spot. Well done

[lmSA84]

@@xelas - congratulations! An inspiring feat, so many beautiful birds and so much hard work. Here's hoping that Kruger continues to deliver

[xelas]

Celebration is over, let get back to work, birds are waiting to be seen !

 

 

Olifants / 01.11. - 04.11. 2016

 

 

Olifants was fourth camp, and the most fascinating of them all. The cabin we have had here was the one with the best view high above the river, and @@Galana would surely enjoy the balcony birding there !

 

402. Golden-breasted Bunting - Emberiza flaviventris

 

 

 

403. Tawny-flanked Prinia - Prinia subflava

 

 

 

404. Bronze-winged Courser - Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

 

 

 

405. Violet-backed Starling - Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

 

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2016 by xelas

[xelas]

Olifants / 01.11. - 04.11. 2016 (continued)

 

 

We did ventured also outside the camp, for game drives, and we did get some new birds also there.

 

 

406. Yellow-bellied Greenbul - Chlorocichla flaviventris

 

 

 

407. Chinspot Batis - Batis molitor

 

 

 

408. Yellow-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus africanus

 

 

 

409. African Hawk-Eagle - Aquila spilogaster (juv.)

 

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2016 by xelas

[xelas]

Olifants / 01.11. - 04.11. 2016 (continued)

 

 

However best birding was from the balcony, where a glas of red wine or a bottle of cold beer was never far from reach .

 

 

410. Klaas's Cuckoo - Chrysococcyx klaas

 

 

 

411. Red-winged Starling - Onychognathus morio

 

male

 

female

 

 

412. Levaillant's Cuckoo - Clamator levaillantii

 

 

 

 

413. White-bellied Sunbird - Cinnyris talatala

 

male

 

female

 

 

414. Common Scimitarbill - Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

 

 

 

415. Brown-crowned Tchagra - Tchagra australis

 

 

 

416. Marico Sunbird - Cinnyris mariquensis

 

Edited December 1, 2016 by xelas

[PeterHG]

That is balcony birding at the highest level! I take it you took care of the wine and beer, while Zvezda did the shooting? Great set of pictures!

[xelas]

How did you know, Peter ?! This balcony beats even the one at my house ... the choice of wine was just superb !

[Tdgraves]

@@xelas it looks like you had a great trip and have seen many birds that we have not seen in 3 trips to KNP

[xelas]

GRASKOP / 4. - 5. 11. 2016

 

 

We did finished birding in Kruger, but not finished birding in South Africa on this trip. On our way to Jo'burg we have stopped for one night near Graskop. Although our main interest was to visit some well-known tourist attractions like God's Window and Blyde's canyon, new birds were found and photographed also here.

 

417. Dusky Sunbird - Cinnyris fuscus

 

 

 

418. Cape Rock-Trush - Monticola rupestris

 

 

 

419. Familiar Chat - Cercomela familiaris

 

 

 

420. Mocking Cliff Chat - Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

 

 

 

and on the very scenic road close to Long Tom the best of them and my personal favourite of the trip:

 

421. Long-crested Eagle - Lophaetus occipitalis

 

[Treepol]

@@xelas what a fabulous gallery of South African birds.

 

Especially great photos of the pygmy kingfisher and the violet backed starling.

[Peter Connan]

I think the yellow-billed Oxpecker is locally endangered and i have only seen them in Chobe, so well done on that!

 

But the two cuckoos out in the open, and especially Klaas's! Beautiful!

[xelas]

Thanks, @@Treepol ! And there is still one more instalment to come, with more stunning SA birds.

[xelas]

Didn't know, @@Peter Connan . I will go through all the photos again (for trip report) and will make notes where Yellow-billed Oxpecker was photographed. To my quick recollection, it was more numerous then the Red-billed.

 

The Klaas's was a bit of a surprise, tree was far away and I saw only something green flying in. Sometimes both the bird and the light cooperates, and even heavy crop does not destroy the overall quality of the photos . Not always, unfortunately .

Edited December 2, 2016 by xelas