PC's fifth attempt

[Peter Connan]

150) Grey-headed Kingfisher

 

Gryskopvisvanger

Halcyon leucocephala

 

 

Khwai river, 3 April

[Tdgraves]

Well done on 150

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Tdgraves

[TonyQ]

A lovely photo to reach your 150 - well done!

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @TonyQ

 

151) Green-backed Heron

 

Groenrugreier

Butorides striatus

 

We saw several of them, but usually already departing.

 

This one was hiding along the Tanalekane River in Maun

 

This one on the Khwai:

 

And this one in Seronga:

[Peter Connan]

152) Hamerkop

 

Hamerkop

Scopus umbretta

 

This is the bird in Africa that makes the largest nest built by a single bird or pair of birds. The nest can weight as much as a ton, and looks a little bit like a rubbish dump, is it often contains all sorts of foreign material. Nobody is quite sure why they build these massive structures.

 

 

2 April, Tamalekan river, Maun

[Peter Connan]

153) Hooded Vulture

 

Monnikaasvoel

Necrosyrtes monachus

 

 

 

3 April, Khwai River

[Peter Connan]

154) Lesser Grey Shrike

 

Gryslaksman

Lanius minor

 

 

1 April, Southern Botswana

[Dave Williams]

An impressive single country count. 200 next!

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @Dave Williams

 

155) African Openbill

 

Oopbekooievaar

Anastomus lamelligerus

 

 

 

 

This bird has a bill specially adapted for grasping snails and extracting them from their shells. The lower bill is inserted into the shell and cuts the snail from it's shell.

 

 

 

2 April, Tamalekane River, Maun

[Peter Connan]

Really terrible photo, but a bird I had never seen before and am unlikely to see again any tim soon.

 

156) Mayer's Parrot

 

Bosveldpapegaai

Poicephalus meyeri

 

 

5 April, Selinda Spillway

[Peter Connan]

157) Black-winged Pratincole

 

Swartvlekspringkaanvoel

Glareola nordmanni

 

 

 

1 April, Ntsokotso Pan

[Peter Connan]

There were three birds I really wanted to see during our Botswana trip. The Skimmer we never did find. We saw Lesser Jacana, but did not manage a photo. This is the third.

 

158) Pygmy goose

 

Dwerggans

Nettapus auritus

 

 

 

 

Of course, they are actually ducks, but their bill shape is reminiscent of a goose's, so it became a goose. They eat the flowers of the water lily.

Northern Botswana, April

[Peter Connan]

159) Red-billed Spurfowl

 

Rooibekfisant

Pternistes adspersus

 

 

 

Northern Botswana, April

[Peter Connan]

160) Red-billed Oxpecker

 

Rooibekrenostervoel

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

 

 

3 April, Khwai River

[Galana]

On 6/19/2018 at 4:31 AM, Peter Connan said:

Really terrible photo,

There is no such thing in my book. Just some better than others! You have a long way to go before hitting real EBC country.

Keep em coming.

[Soukous]

On 6/19/2018 at 4:31 AM, Peter Connan said:

Really terrible photo, but a bird I had never seen before and am unlikely to see again any tim soon.

 

156) Mayer's Parrot

 

 

Not terrible at all Peter. You just set high standards.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you @Galana and @Soukous.

[Peter Connan]

161) Crimson-breasted Shrike

 

Rooiborslaksman

Laniarius atrococcineus

 

29 March, Southern Botswana

 

 

 

9 June, Siyaya bush lodge, Dinokeng

[Peter Connan]

162) Shaft-tailed Whydah

 

Pylstertrooibekkie

Vidua regia

 

 

 

We saw a lot of these guys throughout Botswana, but primarily in the southern and central regions. I never really managed any good photos. They were always just too far away, and usually against the sun...

[Peter Connan]

163) Tawny Eagle (hopefully, this time)

 

Roofarend

Aquila rapax

 

 

 

These were two seperate sightings, one next to the Central Kalahari, the other on the Khwai river.

[PeterHG]

Some great flight shots among these, @Peter Connan and I love the colours of the Pymy Goose.

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @PeterHG

[Galana]

17 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

163) Tawny Eagle (hopefully, this time)

It would be wrong to deny you this one after all the efforts you have put in.

Nice photo.

[Peter Connan]

?? Thank you @Galana