Zvezda & Alex 4th time: Just birdin'

[xelas]

BY 226 / SA 181

Spectacled Weaver - Ploceus ocularis

 

juvenile

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 6-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 227 / SA 182

Dark-backed Weaver - Ploceus bicolor

 

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 5-Feb-2019

[Tdgraves]

@xelas I have never seen a brown-throated, but the photos look more like village to me....

[michael-ibk]

Weavers are a tricky bunch indeed. Not sure about most of them () but to me also your Cape Weaver looks more like a village one. (Too much contrast on back and wings).

[Galana]

So many I have had to make notes!!

221& 222.  I would not argue with.

223. I would play safe and go for Village.

224. I don't think so. the eye should be much lighter. This COULD be your Southern Brown-throated. NB are dull with horn coloured bills. Or it could be your Cape.

226. The eyes have it again. I think this is another Cape.

45 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

Weavers are a tricky bunch indeed. Not sure about most of them

A very wise comment.

[Peter Connan]

I'm afraid the weavers nest in my garden are Southern Masked @xelas.

 

But you should have a Cape from your day trip to Walter Sisulu?

[xelas]

221 corrected to Cape Weaver (I have also other candidates )

223 played safe to be Village Weavers

224 the eye should be lighter; but what to do with the colour of the legs?!

226 the eyes might have it again, but not the colour of the bill and of the legs!

Edited April 14, 2019 by xelas

[Galana]

6 hours ago, xelas said:

224 the eye should be lighter; but what to do with the colour of the legs?!

226 the eyes might have it again, but not the colour of the bill and of the legs

Well you could try Photoshop!

Otherwise they are both juv. Spectacled .

[xelas]

8 hours ago, Galana said:

Well you could try Photoshop!

Out of my knowledge league .

 

 

[xelas]

8 hours ago, Galana said:

Otherwise they are both juv. Spectacled .

 

You surely do not share the love for Lesser Masked with me ; but this time I will stay with my ID .

[xelas]

Sorting out the Weavers (kind of), moving forward to some seriously fascinating birds. Males are all easy to ID, but to make my (and yours) birding life a bit tougher, I have also added females. So please continue to comment on those also ... we are all here to learn .

 

 

BY 228 / SA 183
Red-billed Quelea - Quelea quelea
 

male

 

female

 

Zibulo, 17-Feb-2019
 

Edited April 15, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 229 / SA 184
Southern Red Bishop - Euplectes orix
 

male

 

 

female

 

Mkhuze Game Reserve, 3-Feb-2019
 

[xelas]

BY 230 / SA 185
Yellow-crowned Bishop - Euplectes afer
 

male

 

female

 

Royal Natal NP, 15-Feb-2019
 

[xelas]

BY 231 / SA 186
Yellow Bishop - Euplectes capensis
 

 

Royal Natal NP, 13-Feb-2019
 

[PeterHG]

I wouldn't dare raise my voice against a bishop. Great shots!

[Galana]

2 hours ago, xelas said:

You surely do not share the love for Lesser Masked with me

Sadly no. The eye should be light.  Also remember that Weavers are happy to hybridise which does produce some oddities. (I will show you some next year!)

 

Nice Bench of Bishops.

[xelas]

Afternoon session is dedicated to equally stunning bird, specialy when in the air.

 

 

BY 232 / SA 187
Fan-tailed Widowbird - Euplectes axillaris
 

 

 

Royal Natal NP, 14-Feb-2019
 

[xelas]

BY 233 / SA 188
Long-tailed Widowbird - Euplectes progne
 

female

 

male

 

in flight

 

Royal Natal NP, 13-Feb-2019
 

[xelas]

BY 234 / SA 189
Red-collared Widowbird -  Euplectes ardens

 

 

 

Royal Natal NP, 13-Feb-2019
 

[xelas]

BY 235 / SA 190
White-winged Widowbird - Euplectes albonotatus
 

female

 

male

 

Royal Natal NP, 12-Feb-2019
 

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on reaching 200 @xelas

The weavers were a beautiful set of pictures whatever they were called!!

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching (and racing past) 200. Very enjoyable

I love the Widowbirds!

[xelas]

Thanks for taking your valuablke time, and looking through our photos, @Zim Girl and @TonyQ. 

 

[Galana]

Fairly racing along now.

[xelas]

24 minutes ago, Galana said:

Fairly racing along now.

 

In yellow jersey !