Faulty starter motor, but I'll get it fixed . Soukous BY 2020

[Soukous]

15 hours ago, Galana said:

Never really thought of Sani Pass as a birding destination. Eyes on the road.

 

In terms of sheer numbers probably it is not, but there are some species that are only found in the high Drakensberg. And with you in Uganda I had to find some species you wouldn't. 

[Soukous]

I usually try and post birds in the order I photographed them, but as I want to try and post species I've never posted before I'll begin with one of those.

 

#23 Gurney's Sugarbird - Promerops gurneyi (FTP#4)

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

These birds have a very limited range, but Sani Pass is almost a sure bet for seeing them. They love the flowering Proteas by the side of the road.

 

 

 

The light was a little bit better on the way down.

 

 

Edited March 4, 2020 by Soukous

[xelas]

29 minutes ago, Soukous said:

Or just persuading @Peter Connanthat his 4x4 needs another outing and that you'd be the perfect co-driver. 

That is an excellent idea!

[Soukous]

 

7 minutes ago, xelas said:

That is an excellent idea!

 

Glad you like it. Save a seat for me.

Edited March 4, 2020 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#24 - African Dusky Flycatcher - Muscicapa adusta  (FTP #5)

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

 

Edited March 4, 2020 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#25 - Cape Bunting - Emberiza capensis (FTP#6)

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

 

 

Edited March 4, 2020 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#26 - Pin-tailed Whydah - Vidua macroura

Sani Pass, South Africa, Feb 2020

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#27 - Cape White-eye - Zosterops capensis

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

[Soukous]

#28 - Cape Grassbird - Sphenoeacus afer (FTP#7)

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#29 - Barratt's Warbler - Bradypterus barratti (FTP#8)

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

[Soukous]

#30 - Buff-streaked Chat - Campicoloides bifasciata (FTP#9)

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

[Kitsafari]

Wow I can see each tiny fluffy feathers in the buff-streaked chat! great shot. 

 

 

[xelas]

High quality portraits, all of them!

[Galana]

Nice birds and great quality.

[Soukous]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

Nice birds and great quality.

 

I'm hoping that if the quality of good enough we can overlook the lack of width. 

[shazdwn]

Your lapwings are definitely better looking than ours too

[michael-ibk]

Beautiful, especially the Grassbirds. 

[Soukous]

#31 - White-necked Raven - Corvus albicollis

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#32 - Streaky-headed Seedeater - Crithagra gularis

Sane Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

outside the SA border post

 

 

Edited March 4, 2020 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#33 - Sickle-winged Chat - Cercomeal sinuata (FTP #10)

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#34 - Sentinel Rock Thrush - Monticola explorator (FTP #11)

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

female

 

 

male

 

[Soukous]

#35 - Layard's Tit Babbler - Sylvia layardi (FTP #12)

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#36 Jackal Buzzard - Buteo rufofuscus

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

We spotted this pair on the other side of the gorge as we drove up the pass.

 

Then, the next day, as we were driving into Sani Valley Lodge I saw another one, perched on a telegraph pole. As I got out of the car to try and get a photo it dropped to the ground. If i had disturbed it, it would have flown off, so it clearly had something else on its mind.

There was a bit of movement in the long grass, all I could see was its head, then it took off again with a snake in its beak.

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#37 - Familiar Chat - Cercomela familiaris

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

[Soukous]

#38 - Wailing Cisticola - Cisticola Iais

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

It always takes me a little while to get used to the way South Africans pronounce the word Cisticola.

 

In the UK, most of us pronounce it with 2 syllables "Cisti Cola"

The South Africans have 2 syllables as well, but they are different, with emphasis on the second syllable, "Sis Tikkola"