lmSA84 - Big Year 2017

[xelas]

What to say, @ImSA84 ?! Before the rest of us have even filled our batteries, you have already passed by 200! Congratulations!

[TonyQ]

@@lmSA84

Wow - 200 already! Well done. Very enjoyable.

[Peter Connan]

Only march and you have virtually exceeded my total for last year! Excellent, and some very rare birds too! Brilliant effort.

[lmSA84]

@@Peter Connan, @@PeterHG, @@TonyQ, @@xelas - thank you.

 

I had the good fortune to spend the first two months of this year on parental leave. I travelled all over SA with my wife and 6 month old daughter so hence all the birds. I'm back now so I'll slowly start slipping back to the pack.

[lmSA84]

These next set of birds are my remaining photos from Mtunzini and Rocktail / Lake Sibhayi.

 

212. African Pied Wagtail, Mtunzini, 19/2

 

[lmSA84]

213. Hamerkop, Lake Sibhayi, 22/2

 

[lmSA84]

214. Burchell's Coucal, Rocktail Bay, 25/2

 

Classic EBC

 

[lmSA84]

215. European Roller, Rocktail Bay, 26/2

 

The sun spider in it's beak has to be the largest I've seen. Lord only knows how it swallowed it.

 

[lmSA84]

216. Black-headed Puffback, Rocktail Bay, 21/2

 

 

[lmSA84]

217. African Wattled Lapwing, Lake Sibhayi, 22/2

 

[lmSA84]

218. Willow Warbler, Rocktail Bay, 25/2

 

I could hear these birds calling everywhere in the thick bush but I only ever got one chance to grab a shot. Very frustrating.

 

[lmSA84]

219. African Fish Eagle, Lake Sibhayi, 22/2

 

Shameful abuse of the EBC rules

 

[lmSA84]

220. Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Rocktail Bay, 25/2

 

I had much better photos of this bird but I managed to delete them so I'm only left with these obscured ones

 

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

221. African Jacana, Eshowe Forest Area, 18/2

 

[lmSA84]

222. Kittlitz's Plover, Lake Sibhayi, 22/2

 

[lmSA84]

223. Pale Flycatcher, Rocktail Bay, 25/2

 

[lmSA84]

224. White-backed Duck, Eshowe Forest Area, 18/2

 

[lmSA84]

225. European Bee-eater, Rocktail Bay, 25/2

 

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

226. Violet-backed Starling, Mtunzini, 19/2

 

Female - I unfortunately did not see the male

 

[Tdgraves]

@@lmSA84 225 typo - bee-eater, I imagine due to baby-induced sleepless nights....

[lmSA84]

@@lmSA84 225 typo - bee-eater, I imagine due to baby-induced sleepless nights....

 

Good spot

[lmSA84]

Before I post again I wanted to share a few better photos of prior birds

 

Fiscal Flycatcher, Thendele

 

 

Southern Boubou, Thendele

 

 

Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Thendele

 

 

White-breasted Cormorant, Thendele

 

 

Cape Turtle Dove, Thendele

 

 

Familiar Chat, Thendele

 

 

Speckled Mousebird, Thendele

 

 

Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Rocktail Bay

 

Edited March 21, 2017 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

The next set of photos will predominately from Thendele (Drakensberg) and a few from Dundee (KZN).

 

227. Cape Rock Thrush, Thendele, 27/2

 

[lmSA84]

228. Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Thendele, 1/3

 

I'm not a 100% certain on this one but based on the Robert's app and online pictures I think this is right. It's the female.

 

[lmSA84]

229. Red-collared Widowbird, Thendele, 28/2