PC's Better year

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @Dave Williams. Unfortunately here in SA we get only the plain-Jane phase, but I was worried it could be a juvenile Wood Sandpiper.

 

Here's the other one I'm not altogether sure of.

 

220) Common Ringed Plover

 

Ringnekstrandkiewiet

Charadrius hiaticula

 

 

Marievale, 17 December.

[PeterHG]

And again, I think you're quite right about the plover.

 

[Galana]

My vote for both the Ruff and the Ringed Plover too.

It took me until this year to see male Ruffs in their nuptial plumage. Time yet @Dave Williams and Peter.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Dave Williamsand @Galana.

[Peter Connan]

221) Southern Pochard

 

Bruineend

Netta erythrophthalma

 

Female:

 

Male:

 

17 December, Marievale

[Dave Williams]

Lovely capture !

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Dave Williams

[Peter Connan]

For Christmass, I found an unexpected surprise...

 

222) African Palm Swift

 

Palmwindswael

Cypsiurus parvus

 

 

 

 

16 December, my garden

[PeterHG]

Great shots from your garden! Happy Christmas to you and yours!

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @PeterHG, the same to you and yours.

[Peter Connan]

223) Greater Crested Grebe

 

Kuifkopdobbertjie

Podiceps cristatus

 

 

Marievale, 17 December

[Peter Connan]

224) Levaillant's Cisticola

 

Vleitinktinkie

Cisticola tinniens

 

 

 

17 December, Marievale

[PeterHG]

A Cisticola in flight? You’re raising the bar here, Peter, well done!

[xelas]

Indeed so, Peter! I am sure next year we will see plenty of BIF from South Africa .

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @PeterHG and @xelas. Fluke shot though. 

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Peter Connan said:

Fluke shot though.

 

@Peter Connan, now you can blame it on D500 !

[Peter Connan]

@xelas, for sure the D500 makes it easier, but in this case I just saw a bird flying and went for it, with no idea of what it was. So I did not specifically try for a Cisticola in flight. And it probably flew higher and further than they normally do.

 

225) African Reed Warbler

 

Kleinrietsanger

Acrocephalus baeticatus

 

 

 

 

17 December, Marievale

Edited December 28, 2017 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

226) Black-crowned Night-Heron

 

Gewone Nagreier

Nycticorax nycticorax

 

 

 

17 December, Marievale

[Dave Williams]

You are promoting Nikon as well as getting some great flight shots!

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Dave Williams

 

227) Burchell's Coucal

 

Gewone Vleiloerie

Centropus burchellii

 

 

And with that, I match last year's total. 

 

On the spur of the moment, we have decided to go camping at Pilanesberg game reserve for new year's weekend. Leaving in a couple of hours. So just maybe, I can actually improve on last year...

[Tdgraves]

Enjoy pilanesburg @Peter Connan

[Galana]

Same here! Have a good one.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Tdgraves and @Galana.

 

Back home, now down-loading.

Let's see what happens!

[Peter Connan]

Back in post no. 350, I posted what I think is a Lesser Masked weaver (bird no. 193). However, the ID was questioned, although nobody was quite sure and I did not revise the ID.

 

Here's is, I believe, a more conclusive one:

 

 

31 December, Pilanesberg

Edited January 4, 2018 by Peter Connan

[Peter Connan]

Right, time to finish off 2017...

 

228) Natal Francolin

 

Natalse Fisant

Pternistes natalensis

 

 

30 December, Pilanesberg