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

[Soukous]

#56 - Mountain Pipit - Anthus hoeschi (FTP #22)

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#57 - Swee Waxbill - Estrilda melanotis

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#58 - Olive Thrush - Turdus olivaceus (FTP # 23) 

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

[Soukous]

#59 - Cape Rock Thrush - Monticola rupestris (FTP #24)

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

[Soukous]

#60 - Drakensberg Siskin - Crithagra symonsi (FTP # 25)

Sani Pass, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

Although they are quite easy to spot along the pass, these birds are only found in a very small area which is limited to the Lesotho Highlands and the Drakensberg.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

Some really interesting species, and great photos throughout! The Bokmakierie and the Malachite deserve special mention. And hats off to getting a photo of the Red-Chested Cuckoo. I hate that bird, heard all the time but almost never visible.

[Galana]

56 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

heard all the time but almost never visible.

Join the queque!

[Kitsafari]

Beautiful photos, and the swee waxbill is delightful. I've never seen it before. 

[TonyQ]

I am really enjoying your South Africa additions 

[elefromoz]

@Soukous, beautiful birds amongst some beautiful vegetation,  really lovely photos from this trip

[Peter Connan]

On 3/6/2020 at 1:50 PM, Soukous said:

 

Heavy rain can also make a mess of the track. We certainly benefited from 4wd as we ploughed uphill though mud.

Even with 2wd, you'd need great ground clearance than most sedans offer.

 

I apologize, I did not mean to suggest that that a normal sedan can do it, or that it should be attempted in one. I think low range (or at least a "donkey" first gear is probably almost critical except in a turbo-charged car or a very powerful one. I might try it in a Subaru though, and I once read an article of somebody doing it with a 2 wheel drive Porsche 911. This was done with legal permission and LOTS of preparation though.

 

The last section is very steep, and anything degrading traction in that area can make it very scary.

 

Anyway, enough of Sani Pass.

Really love those Swee Waxbills!

Edited March 7, 2020 by Peter Connan

[Soukous]

23 hours ago, TonyQ said:

I am really enjoying your South Africa additions 

 

Thank you Tony. I enjoyed taking them. 

[Soukous]

#61 Cape Weaver - Ploceus capensis

Sani Pass, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

 

non-breeding plumage

 

Edited March 8, 2020 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#62 - Common Fiscal - Lanius collaris

Sani Valley, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

 

and a juvenile, it could have been a decent photo but I couldn't find an angle where I could get rid of that damned wire.

 

Edited March 10, 2020 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#63 - Long-tailed Widowbird - Euplectes progne

Sani Valley, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

[Soukous]

#64 - Malachite Kingfisher - Alcedo cristata

Sani Valley, South Africa. feb 2020

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#65 - Purple Heron - Ardea pupurea

Sani Valley, South Africa. Feb 2020

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#66 - Ground Woodpecker - Geocolaptes olivaceus (FTP #26)

Sani Pass, Lesotho. Feb 2020

 

There is a stretch alongside the road (LH side) as you drive down from the border post where the rocks and earth backs are riddled with Ground Woodpecker holes.

We saw a lot of them but they were pretty shy.

 

 

 

 

[shazdwn]

Such beautiful birds and images

[Soukous]

#67 - Southern Red Bishop - Euplectes orix

Sani Valley, SA. Feb 2020

 

 

and another one, this time in De Rust, Western Cape

 

[Soukous]

#68 - Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis

Sani Valley, SA. Feb 2020

 

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#69 - Pied Starling - Lamprotornis bicolor

Sani Valley. SA. Feb 2020

 

they always look so angry

 

[Soukous]

#70 - Blacksmith Lapwing - Vanellus armatus

Sani Valley, SA. Feb 2020

 

 

[Galana]

A growing collection that does you credit. Keep them coming.

[Peter Connan]

More lovely shots, and well done on the Ground Woodpecker. Never knowingly seen one!

 

However, but do you not think #62 is a juvenile Common Fiscal?

Edited March 8, 2020 by Peter Connan