PC's Better year

[Tdgraves]

It might be the angle @Peter Connan but 193 looks as if it has a red not pale eye....

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

but 193 looks as if it has a red not pale eye.

Good point. How far east is Siyaya? f. Cape or f Southern Brown-throated may fit better.

Or so my brand new copy of SASOL's "Larger illustrated guide to Birds of Southern Africa" suggests.

[Tdgraves]

Is that just larger pictures or a larger book @Galana ??

[Galana]

4 minutes ago, Tdgraves said:

Is that just larger pictures or a larger book @Galana

 

It is a larger book. Just under 10" x 7" or for those who do...245mm x 175mm. I think the pictures are the same plates but with the larger book size they look better. I like the book despite the weight. Now for somewhere to test drive it.

[Peter Connan]

On 11/24/2017 at 1:31 PM, Galana said:

Good point. How far east is Siyaya? f. Cape or f Southern Brown-throated may fit better.

Or so my brand new copy of SASOL's "Larger illustrated guide to Birds of Southern Africa" suggests.

 

Definately not Cape, I know them, and very far out of range for Brown-throated. Siyaya is in Dinokeng, pretty much 50km directly north of Pretoria.

 

Now I obviously don't have the quality of books that you have, and my books pretty much only show the males, but the Lesser Masked is the only one I have been able to find pictures of that is withing range where non-adult-males are this yellow?

[Peter Connan]

194) Double-Banded Plover

 

Driebandstrandkiewiet

Charadrius tricollaris

 

 

 

12 November, Siyaya.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2017 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

195) European Bee-eater

 

Europese Byevreter

Merops apiaster

 

I apologise, they were mostly a little bit too far away, but I have never seen behaviour like this. A whole flock came over and started diving in, carrying on for about 5 minutes...

 

 

 

 

 

12 Nov, Siyaya

[michael-ibk]

Excuse me Peter, but it seems you forgot one band with your plover. 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

Excuse me Peter, but it seems you forgot one band with your plover. 

True. The clue is in the latin name.

 

Interesting behaviour with the BeeEaters. Perhaps us Europeans need to cool off more in Africa? I know I do.

 

@Peter Connan

 

Posts 352 & 354 above newly acquired is published in RSA. It's good.

[PeterHG]

Great shots of the Bee-eater dives, @Peter Connan Unusual sight.

[Peter Connan]

9 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Excuse me Peter, but it seems you forgot one band with your plover. 

Indeed. And I got the files named correctly, and still managed to bugger it up...

 

Thanks @Galana. I will look into it. Here's hoping i get a book store gift voucher for Christmass...

 

Thank you @PeterHG

Edited November 26, 2017 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

196) Wood's Sandpiper

 

Bosruiter

Tringa glareola

 

 

 

12 November, Siyaya

[Galana]

7 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Wood's Sandpiper

Just "Wood" will suffice.

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @Galana

[Peter Connan]

197) Steppe Buzzard

 

Bruinjakkalsvoel

Buteo vulpinus

 

 

 

11 November, Dinokeng

[Peter Connan]

198) Diederick's Cuckoo

 

Diederikkie

Chrysococcyx caprius

 

A personal favourite which, just for once, posed at eye level and in half-decent light, so apologies for the overload...

 

 

 

 

Now just for one with a clean background...

 

11 November, Siyaya Lodge, Dinokeng

Edited November 29, 2017 by Peter Connan

[Tdgraves]

Your nemesis bird! Congratulations @Peter Connan

[Galana]

Beautiful Deiderick shots. You have got rid of the jinx. The first ones are always the toughest so a clear background won't be far away. No apologies needed.

Are you saving something good for the double century?

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Tdgraves and @Galana.

 

Not as good as this, but still a favourite. However, this was the last one from this location...

[Elsa Hoffmann]

Peter the Diederikie is gorgeous. I wish I could see it myself. 

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Elsa Hoffmann. Next time you come visit up here in summer, you need to arrange a day's escape. You will see them at Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.

 

On the weekend of the 18th and 19th, we went on a 4x4 trail known as the Rust de Winter Bundu trail. Hosted by the 4x4 ATV Club, it is effectively a day and a half's meandering drive on some very tough roads near the town of Rust de Winter.

 

The first night is spent at the club's main campsite. Situated on the banks of a river, this is perhaps the most beautiful campsite it has ever been my privilege to visit. Lush green lawns and massive old trees (mostly Apiesdoring), it is a wonderland for birds, and a declared bird sanctuary. Here's the bag:

 

199) Burchell's Starling

 

Grootglansspreeu

Lamprotornis australis

 

 

 

17 November, Rust de Winter

[Elsa Hoffmann]

@Peter Connan I would need more than a day - as I also want to go to Rietvlei and this place and that place and you know how difficult my situation is when I visit up country. But that doesnt mean i wont try next time... I would love to get that Cuckoo. You have so many opportunities. So different from us. 

[Peter Connan]

Says the lady who photographed a Klaas's Cuckoo chick being fed by it's much smaller host RIGHT IN HER GARDEN yesterday, and is less than ten minutes drive from both Rondevlei and Strandfontein!

 

We may have different opportunities, but I really doubt that I have many more opportunities...

 

Anyway, don't set your sights too high. Just a morning on each visit can already do wonders @Elsa Hoffmann

[Elsa Hoffmann]

@Peter Connan No doubt we might even have more opportunities than you do - but they are very different. And thats probably why traveling is so very important. For me anyway. 

[xelas]

9 hours ago, Elsa Hoffmann said:

And thats probably why traveling is so very important.

 

Count me in on same reason ! As for going birding with @Peter Connan, do NOT miss that opportunity!! You will have a lovely day out, with or without a Deidrick's Cuckoo (and I can vouch that Peter will do his best for you to get a photo of one ... or two). Speaking of cuckoos, will that Klaas chick still be around in mid January?