Zvezda & Alex 4th time: Just birdin'

[xelas]

BY 094 / SA 046

Amur Falcon - Falco amurensis

 

female

 

male

 

Royal Natal NP, 13-Feb-2019

[xelas]

To conclude the Birds Of Prey section, one that is known as Steppe Buzzard in Africa ... but only a common bird in Europe.

 

BY 002 duplicate / SA 047

Common Buzzard / Buteo buteo

 

 

iMfolozi Park, 9-Feb-2019

 

 

[mvecht]

beautiful Amur Falcon!

[xelas]

40 minutes ago, mvecht said:

beautiful Amur Falcon!

 

And they were presented in huge numbers! All electrical lines were dotted with falcons, almost like they were swallows. It was something spectacular to watch.

[Tdgraves]

No martials @xelas ?

[Dave Williams]

Fabulous shots, very envious when I see shots of Black-winged Kites, cracking capture to boot. Glad to see you are not going down the sub species route in an attempt to thwart me!!!

[Galana]

You are making it hard for yourself.

Steppe Buzzard, Buteo vulpinus is regarded as a good species in my book. Separate from Buteo buteo with some authorities..

I wonder what @Peter Connan has to say?

Great photos of the Amur Falcon.

 

Edit. I had not seen @Dave Williams's comment when I wrote that but........

Edited April 2, 2019 by Galana
Editing text

[Dave Williams]

12 hours ago, Galana said:

You are making it hard for yourself.

Steppe Buzzard, Buteo vulpinus is regarded as a good species in my book. Separate from Buteo buteo with some authorities..

I wonder what @Peter Connan has to say?

Great photos of the Amur Falcon.

 

Edit. I had not seen @Dave Williams's comment when I wrote that but........

 

@Galana Shhhhh , he doesn't need any help!!!!

 

Collins 2nd edition shows  it as a separate species. Good enough for me!

 

The problem is that there is a movement with the avian world to create more species, why I don't know. Typical is the Purple Gallinule/Swampen that is now 5 separate ones. 

[PeterHG]

Many great raptor shots, @xelas! I do remember the huge number of Amur Falcons that could be seen, an amazing sight.

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Collins 2nd edition shows  it as a separate species. Good enough for me!

My SASOL book does not even list Common Buzzard so let's go with the locals!

[Dave Williams]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

My SASOL book does not even list Common Buzzard so let's go with the locals!

 

Neither does mine but if you look at the latest Roberts guide which I have recently downloaded, it doesn't even mention Steppe Buzzard, only Common !! 

[Peter Connan]

Great collection.

 

What you were seeing with the Amurs was the collection before the start of the migration back north. Very time dependent, so you were lucky with them. Normally they are much scarcer.

[pedro maia]

Great batch of raptors, difficult to pick up a favourite but maybe the Long-crested Eagle, looks like a real badass.

[TonyQ]

Excellent additions from South Africa. Lots of great photos, but I particularly like the Amur Falcon and the Pygmy Goose.

 

I posted Steppe Buzzard  Buteo vulpinus last year from South Africa

[xelas]

22 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

No martials @xelas ?

 

Only one candidate, very much EBC so I will not count it, and will be posted at the end of SA selection.

[xelas]

22 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Glad to see you are not going down the sub species route in an attempt to thwart me!!!

 

Subspecies of Buteo buteo?? Who cares, it is only birdin', Dave .

[xelas]

7 hours ago, Galana said:

My SASOL book does not even list Common Buzzard so let's go with the locals!

 

This bird was Steppe Buzzard until I have opened Roberts ... which does not have any Steppe Buzzard in it. Similarly, the Birds of East Africa also only report Common Buzzard.  So be it.

[xelas]

3 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Great collection.

 

What you were seeing with the Amurs was the collection before the start of the migration back north. Very time dependent, so you were lucky with them. Normally they are much scarcer.

 

Wow, if knowing this earlier we would dedicate more time to those beauties.

[xelas]

3 hours ago, pedro maia said:

Great batch of raptors, difficult to pick up a favourite but maybe the Long-crested Eagle, looks like a real badass.

 

Must say it is also my favourite!

[xelas]

2 hours ago, TonyQ said:

I posted Steppe Buzzard  Buteo vulpinus last year from South Africa

 

With Sasol it was a Steppe Buzzard / Buteo vulpinus for us in 2016, 2017 and 2018!! However, as I have moved to Roberts ....

[xelas]

I am happy to attract such a distinguished league of gentlemen, and to spark some interesting debate. I am sure there will be more IDs to debate about, in future posts. Not this one, though.

 

BY 034 duplicate / SA 048

Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus

 

 

Royal Natal NP, 13-Feb-2019

 

 

[xelas]

BY 095 / SA 049

Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata

 

 

Zibulo, 17-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 096 / SA 050

Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus

 

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 7-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 097 / SA 051

Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta

 

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 7-Feb-2019

[xelas]

BY 098 / SA 052

Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus

 

 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 7-Feb-2019