Kalaharikind merel(y) lark(ing) about in 2021

[Kalaharikind]

 

59) Scaly-feathered finch          Baardmannetjie          Sporopipes squamifrons

 

[Kalaharikind]

We had two sightings of this beauty: the first, a pair, sat in a tree almost completely hidden by branches, and this one. He turn once or twice to face us full-on, but the wind blowing his feathers back made him look as if he had had a really bad day at the barber. He deserves better than that, so you get the over-the-shoulder look.

 

60) Bateleur          Berghaan          Teraphopius ecaudatus

 

 

 

[Galana]

You are certainly having an enjoyable time and seeing some great birds.

Let me offer some comments on your questions.

Speckled or Rock. I had never heard that bird called a Rock Pigeon until now. Then I took down my ancient Newmans' (1983) and there it was.

But both my Sinclair's for Southern Africa  and all Africa and my Fanshawe's for EA only use Speckled. I know a lot of early RSA bird guides had different names for many birds but are coming into line with up to date names so suggest you buy a new book.

Your adult Pale Chanter is fine. Your immatures puzzle me.

1 & 2 seem different birds and I think 1 is a Gabar Goshawk.

4 is the same as 1. 3 is another view I think?

and just to confuse you further 5 IS a Pale Chanter.

And now you are going to embarrass me by saying all 5 are shots of the same bird.

[Kalaharikind]

@Galana, no reason for you to be puzzled - did I not promise confusion and wrong IDs? I think of most raptors as BBJs. 

 

1, 3 and 4 were taken at the same time - there were two birds in the tree, one facing us and the other looking away - Gabars, then.

 

5 is a PCG

 

2 is a BBJ

 

(And after reading your last sentence I did think to tell you that all the birds were shot sat in one tree, but that would have beyond nasty - and I really appreciate your help!)

 

 

 

 

[Kalaharikind]

62) Secretary bird          Sekretarisvoel          Sagittarius serpentarius

 

[Kalaharikind]

63) Swallow-tailed bee-eater          Swaelstert          Merops hirundineus

 

 

He first sat in a tangle of dried branches, and then very obligingly hopped over to another perch:

 

 

 

[Galana]

No worries. Glad they are sorted.

And you were right about the rain. That is one bedraggled Secretary bird and the BeeEater is wishing he was back in his nest hole.

Good to see you r score marching on.

I should have been in Namibia this month, way to the north in Kunene, but it was not to be.

[Soukous]

11 hours ago, Galana said:

Speckled or Rock. I had never heard that bird called a Rock Pigeon until now. Then I took down my ancient Newmans' (1983) and there it was.

But both my Sinclair's for Southern Africa  and all Africa and my Fanshawe's for EA only use Speckled. I know a lot of early RSA bird guides had different names for many birds but are coming into line with up to date names so suggest you buy a new book.

 

The latest version of Newman's (2010) - which IMO is leap years ahead of previous versions - shows it as Speckled, no mention of African Rock.

Edited March 17, 2021 by Soukous

[Kalaharikind]

@SoukousSpeckled seems to be the newer name, as Johan's Sasol has Speckled. 

 

@Galana I understand your frustration - our BW/NA trips was cancelled for us last year, this year was self-cancelled as we decided to play it safe and not go. At least we could still do some travelling; there'll be a lot of catching up to do in 2022.

[Peter Connan]

Speckled indeed used to be Rock.

 

 

Beautiful photos of beautiful birds. And rain in the Kgalagadi is far better than sliced bread!

 

For future reference, welcome to PC' bird ID guide: 

There are three types of birds:

LBJ (little brown jobs)

LBJ (large brown jobs)

OJ (other jobs)

😜

[Kalaharikind]

@Peter Connansliced bread and bottled beer.

 

Apart from Struthio camelus, all the birds I've ever seen fall into your categories. 

 

Oh, and Laniarius atrococcineus, of which I have an utterly lovely shot that I'm saving for either a rainy day or a special occasion.

 

And thank you so much for the compliment: I really appreciate it. You may have spoken too soon, though...

 

 

 

[Kalaharikind]

64) Kori bustard          Gompou         Ardeotis kori

 

 

Just look at him strutting his stuff!

 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

There are three types of birds:

Not so. Several others come to mind.

A certain member in SLO @xelaswill confirm regular sightings of AFBs.

[Kalaharikind]

65) Black-shouldered kite          Blouvalkie          Elanus caeruleus

 

 

They were so common when I was a child - nearly every stretch of telephone wire had its own resident. These days, they are much harder to find.

[Kalaharikind]

14 minutes ago, Galana said:

 

How does one delete a quote?

 

But yes, AFBs abound.

 

 

66) Red-headed finch          Rooikopvink          Amadina erythrocephala

 

 

And some better-behaved ones:

 

 

 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Kalaharikind said:

How does one delete a quote?

Easy. See the 3 little dots top right? click on them. "Edit" will appear.

[michael-ibk]

Really enjoyed catching up, lots of beautiful birds and photos. I miss Africa!

[Kalaharikind]

Now why did I not think of that? Thanks @ Galana!

 

 

[Kalaharikind]

Thank you, @michael-ibk.

 

I, too,  miss the more Africa part of Africa!

[Peter Connan]

On 3/17/2021 at 7:08 PM, Kalaharikind said:

@Peter Connansliced bread and bottled beer.

 

Apart from Struthio camelus, all the birds I've ever seen fall into your categories. 

 

Oh, and Laniarius atrococcineus, of which I have an utterly lovely shot that I'm saving for either a rainy day or a special occasion.

 

And thank you so much for the compliment: I really appreciate it. You may have spoken too soon, though...

 

 

 

 

Must say I never really had a high regard for bottled beer. Or any other beer either. But I may include my mother's tipsy tart in the list of things rain in the Kgalagadi is better than, although perhaps only because the after-effects last longer.

 

Struthio camulus falls shows sexual dimorphism even to the extent that the male and female birds fall into different categories in my ID system.

 

Rooiborslaksman is almost the defenition of OJ...

[Dave Williams]

Summer in SA and Namibia is definitely so much better for birding it seems but whereas you might delight in the rain we in the UK are trying to escape it, well, especially Claire. Personally I'm happy whatever the weather if the photo opportunities are there!! You have some excellent birds in the list there which makes me want to get back there asap too. I have noticed though that since our visit to Namibia in 2017, just four years ago, prices have doubled when I check out the likes of booking.com and yet back then we were getting 16.5 Namibian dollars to the £ and now it's 20.5. Why have prices inflated so much?

[Kitsafari]

Nice additions, and yes, reminds me of how much I miss the African wildlife/birdlife too

[Kalaharikind]

67) Lappet-faced vulture          Swartaasvoel          Torgos tracheliotos

 

 

 

Either a lifer for me (but odd, they are fairly common) or never ticked off before. Either way, ticked off now.

[Kalaharikind]

68) White-backed vulture          Witrugaasvoel          Gyps africanus

 

[Kalaharikind]

69) Namaqua dove          Namakwa-duifie         

 

 

 

 

There was quite a big group at the water hole, but judging from the number of feathers, it must be a favourite haunt of raptors: they took flight every so often.