Birding on 3 continents

[xelas]

BY123 / SA123

Pied Starling - Lamprotornis bicolor

 

 

De Hoop / 03.01.2018

Edited February 7, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

BY124 / SA124

Pin-tailed Whydah - Vidua macroura

 

Babylonstoren Garden / 09.01.2018

[xelas]

BY125 / SA125

Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea

 

 

Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary / 11.01.2018

[TonyQ]

Lovely additions- the Wydah is stunning

[Treepol]

@xelas what a cracking collection of birds you have in your Big Year so far, and amazing photos of course. I have been paying attention to the locations where the photos were taken and hope I am as lucky in Kirstenbosch, Karoo and Harold Porter this coming August. I have some serious regrets about not including Strandfontein, De Hoop and Wilderness in this year's itinerary based on your sightings, however I can partially console myself by noting that I am visiting in winter and some of these beauties may not be present and others won't be in breeding plumage!

[xelas]

@Treepol not only both botanical gardens will have plenty of birds, there will also be full of colourful flowers which we have missed (and will come back for eventually). Strandfontein and Rondevlei are close to Cape Town, both can be done in a morning drive yet do go to Strandfontein in a company of a local birder. Safer that way. I wish you and others that will come to this part of South Africa in 2018 great birding. It will be interesting to compare both the numbers and how the birds are changing their outfit over the year.

[TonyQ]

We are taking notes also

[Treepol]

@xelas I have a guide who is taking me for a day's birding to Kirstenbosch, Harold Porter and maybe Intaka. She is then taking 3 of us to West Coast NP with an overnight in Langebaan and then to Franschoek - I am sorry I didn't add an extra night so we could go to Strandfontein, however my other 2 friends aren't as ''birdy'' as me so the current itinerary is probably a fair split of activities/interests.

 

I am still waiting to hear if Lawson's will be running their  2018 Birds and Wildflowers trip as I am now even more enthusiastic after seeing your photos - still no Wilderness, De Hoop or Strandfontein though.

[xelas]

@Treepol (and others that might go that way) while at Franschhoek do go visit the Babylonstoren Garden. In August it should be full of flowers, and also full of birds! Much better then visiting wine cellars ... at least for me .

[xelas]

Letter "R" means we are now entering into last quarter.

 

 

BY126 / SA126

Red-billed Teal - Anas erythrorhyncha

 

Strandfontein / 11.01.2018

Edited February 8, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

This one is another "ebc" photo, mainly due to the heat/haze effect. It is a common bird so I hope a better photo will be posted later on. But just in case  ...

 

BY127 / SA127

Red-capped Lark - Calandrella cinerea

 

Strandfontein / 11.01.2018

 

[xelas]

BY128 / SA128

Red-faced Mousebird - Urocolius indicus

 

Babylonstoren Garden / 09.01.2018

[xelas]

For this one I have been doing my best scout practice from many years ago 

 

BY129 - SA129

Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata

 

Montagu / 08.01.2018

[xelas]

BY130 / SA130

Red-winged Starling - Onychognathus morio

 

male

Karoo NP / 05.01.2018

 

female

De Hoop / 02.01.2018

[xelas]

BY131 / SA131

Reed Cormorant - Microcarbo africanus

 

 

De Hoop / 02.01.2018

 

[xelas]

BY132 / SA132

Rock Dove - Columba livia

 

Babylonstoren Garden / 09.01.2018

[xelas]

BY133 / SA133

Rock Kestrel - Falco rupicolus

 

Karoo NP / 06.01.2018

 

Theewaterskloof Dam / 08.01.2018

[xelas]

BY134 / SA134

Ruff - Philomachus pugnax

 

De Hoop / 03.01.2018

[Dave Williams]

Great collection! You will have almost reached the 200 mark by the time you have finished this trip. Nice going.

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

You will have almost reached the 200 mark by the time you have finished this trip.

 

I wish ... but I will need another trip to southern Africa to reach (and surpass) the #200! But maybe with some co-operation of local birds here in and around Slovenia ... I still have almost 2 month of local birding ahead .

Edited February 8, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

BY135 / SA135

Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus 

 

 

 

De Hoop / 02.01.2018

 

De Hoop / 03.01.2018

[xelas]

BY136 / SA136

Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis

 

a whole lot of them

 

approaching the deck

Rooisand / 10.01.2018

[xelas]

BY137 / SA137

Short-toed Rock-Thrush - Monticola brevipes

 

Karoo NP / 07.01.2018

[xelas]

BY138 / SA138

Sombre Greenbul - Andropadus importunus

 

juvenile

 

adult

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden / 13.01.2018

[xelas]

Birding in the southern hemisphere one must encounter "southern" birds. These are what we have met.

 

 

BY139 / SA139

Southern Boubou - Laniarius ferrugineus

 

De Hoop / 02.01.2018