Jump to content

Kalaharikind: the quest continues


Recommended Posts

Posted

A host of very good birds! Enjoy the weekend!

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Thanks to all who've popped in! My BY postings keep on moving at the same glacial pace....

 

Still in Vermont/Fisherhaven, still 29 Jan this year. 

 

Not too sure about this one: NBr?

45) Common Ringed Plover         Ringnekstrandkiewiet         Charadrius hiaticula

 

 

1096918119_45RingnekstrandkiewietQNbrQFisherhaven29Jan22(97).JPG.00692987767a0308e0e96babfa2115e0.JPG
 

46Kittlitz’s Plover          Geelborsstrandkiewiet          Charadrius pecuarius

 

1798604169_46GeelborsstrandkiewietBrFisherhaven29Jan22(34).JPG.6be5da4659843fe36e06dc05a49f4d1c.JPG

 

438744636_46GeelborsstrandkiewietFisherhaven29Jan22(38).JPG.2b1dead11c9658b07ad73d27cd303af1.JPG

 

47Little Egret          Kleinwitreier          Egretta garzetta
 

1432396374_47KleinwitreierFisherhaven29Jan22(3).JPG.8dd7df092b8b2ede90abc305eadae0e1.JPG

 

It was scorching hot at midday, the birds were all wilting somewhere else, and I decided to return home, again on the Swartrivier road. Thanks goodness for aircon...

 

The return trip was quiet: 

 

48Speckled Pigeon          Kransduif          Columba guinea
 

1464301958_48KransduifSwartrivierpad29Jan99(149).JPG.a36fb9461d137442c67f61b4e68af996.JPG

 

49) Zitting Cisticola          Landeryklopkloppie          Cisticola juncidis
 

 

953254733_49LanderyklopkloppieSwartrivierpad29Jan22.JPG.aba27f282f2fe6c8d85ff5c9eafa8976.JPG

 

Half-ton coming up, with a huge question mark: is this a 

 

50Large-billed Lark          Dikbeklewerik          Galerida magnirostris
 

or is it something completely different? Please help!

 

1108638997_50DikbeklewerikQSwartrivierpad29Jan22(118).JPG.cc43c60d50c5a2f757dfaf3798c9318a.JPG

 

And has anybody, in the history of BY, posted number L in November? Of a bird photographed in January? Eish, is all I can say.

 

51Capped Wheatear          Hoëveldskaapwagter          Oenanthe pileata
 

1722078867_51HoeveldskaapwagterSwartrivierpad29Jan99(33).JPG.a1edc8e811fa3fe689ded0b7fec266a4.JPG

 

And so the Swartrivier trip comes to an end. 

Posted (edited)

Birds in the garden, Feb 22

 

52African Goshawk          Afrikaanse Sperwer          Accipiter tachiro
 

1749571098_52AfrikaanseSperwerJUpingtonstr(2).JPG.9993388dd7bbd7aa647886a5b6b30394.JPG

 

Junior had a look-around from the neighbour's car port, and a week or two later an adult called from a few houses away.

 

1605602410_52AfrikaanseSperwerUpingtonstr24Feb22(2).JPG.367436a10ef29affe3e32faaeaed6347.JPG  

53Cape White-eye          Kaapse Glasogie          Zosterops virens
 

531828509_53KaapseGlasogieUstr6Feb22.JPG.8b1771ab6ac8cae02fabb5f8bc87e547.JPG

 

I've a funny feeling that this looks pretty much like the CGE I posted last year: the love the neighbour's fig tree. They take a bite or two, then move on to the next fig.

 

54) Klaas's Cuckoo          Meitjie          Chrysococcyx klaas

 

479878322_54MeitjieaUpingtonstr8Feb22(11).JPG.3f829766074beb78ff5a70a37c6ed8b5.JPG

 

This Klaas's Cuckoo kept on preening and preening and preening and preening - I actually thought to give up and post a headless ECB - but eventually managed to get a decent shot:

 

1459134148_54MeitjieUpingtonstr8Feb22(4).JPG.6cea617de21465a00428f45583d1855a.JPG

 

55Amethyst Sunbird          Swartsuikerbekkie          Chalcomitra amethystina
 

608036003_55SwartSB14Feb22.JPG.85c3193aeac89c9542bb8566c61e0237.JPG

 

56Booted Eagle          Dwergarend          Hieraaetus pennatus
Another one with a big question mark about the ID.

 

122848_56DwergarendUpingtonstr19Feb22(19).JPG.3b7adf34ba14da6bfce5b8f9dfea9b60.JPG

 

And another question mark:

Pearl-breasted Swallow          Pêrelborsswael          Hirundo dimidiata

57) Lesser Striped Swallow          Kleinstreepswael          Cecropis abyssinica
(Thanks, Galana!)
 

1115543356_57PerelborsswaelQ19Feb22.JPG.a01e70e354d635062605219d7e71e677.JPG

 

58Streaky-headed Seedeater          Streepkopkanarie          Crithagra gularis
 

1537114212_58StreepkopkanarieUstrFeb22(2).JPG.0c84cc2cdc4fd85a61d9bc5da9cbf6a3.JPG

 

And now for something completely different: a water colour in an impressionist style. A photograph so bad it actually should be printed, framed and hung. Anybody wants to play Guess the Bird?

 

290340885_6Feb22(5).JPG.e92242293e8496055a3ad7926ca4e22b.JPG

 

Edited by Kalaharikind
Posted
1 hour ago, Kalaharikind said:

Anybody wants to play Guess the Bird?

White-throated Robin Chat?

 

57. I think this is Lesser Striped Swallow.

 

Congratulations on your firtst Century.

Posted

@Galanathanks for elevating my count! Still stuck in double figures, unfortunately.

 

You're way off course with the mystery bird, unfortunately: it was shot in the garden, here in the WC. Anybody else who would like to try?

 

How sure are you about the Lesser Striped? I think we might be out of it's range, but then, birds don't always pay attention to distribution maps, do they? I'm more than happy to make the change - it gives me another chance at the Pearl-breasted:) And my numbers being what they are, an extra tick is an extra tick...

 

Posted

Garden birds, from March

 

59Cape Robin-chat          Gewone Janfrederik          Cossypha caffra 
(You should, by now, recognise that fugly pipe! The birds don't seem to mind, but dammit, it's an ugly thing.)

963948010_59JanfrederikUS1Mrt22.JPG.17f2b75ac6c237c7caf97c2597b0fc65.JPG

 

60Red-faced Mousebird          Rooiwangmuisvoël          Urocolius indicus
 

1645316457_61Rooiwangmuisvoel3Mrt22(1).JPG.54c0550031004e2037e21a4f8350faab.JPG

Posted
On 11/1/2022 at 8:59 PM, Kalaharikind said:

Anybody wants to play Guess the Bird?

Superb Starling ??

Posted

@xelasNo cigar for you, Xelas, unfortunately. I have to admit, I thought you were playing the fool with a made-up name, until Mr Google put me right. A bird worthy of the name.

 

Has nobody wondered why I did not post it as the ECB of the decade? 

Posted

This is what a trip to the Bossiveld on 26 March brough:

 

61Little Grebe        Kleindobbertjie          Tachybaptus ruficollis

 

367397003_61KleindobbertjieBossieveld26Mrt22(297).JPG.f056003401d301eaf4aa8523ab2e6bd6.JPG

 

and with a chick:

 

677388011_61KleindobbertjieBossieveld26Mrt22.JPG.e4444436cee9930069bd208beca4d71a.JPG

Posted

62Black-winged Kite          Blouvalk            Elanus caeruleus
 

Incoming....

819468834_62BlouvalkaBossieveld26Mrt22(197).JPG.3ce86fac96e9727862b597b3ee248e65.JPG

 

Quick look-see...
 

1525043968_62BlouvalkaBossieveld26Mrt22(198).JPG.17632079c57f52c7f2a1563054f62075.JPG

 

And take-off!

 

556908222_62BlouvalkaBossieveld26Mrt22(199).JPG.e6e8c1782929e73a6a980f4bf9f88804.JPG

 

One of the birds on my life list that I don't have a first-sighting date for. They were part of every trip, so it feels, out of town, watching and waiting on telephone wires. 

Posted

The Bossieveld trip didn't add much to my BY count, but here are a few Slightly Better Birds:

 

Last seen sat on a bale of hay, this time it's on a wire, with a snack:

  979317477_FiskaallaksmanBossieveld26Mrt22(324).JPG.c11792cb1d278447a9024dd122ab40a5.JPG

 

Juvenile Jackal Buzzard playing on it's own:

 

482934936_RBJVBossieveld26Mrt22(220).JPG.96c8854c0c81d57b4c22fbbcfc7000f4.JPG

 

331270533_RBJVBossieveld26Mrt22(222).JPG.99180e2d9d18b0ceb4bec89c011ab9d3.JPG

 

And an image that makes me want to cry every time I look at it: a Blue Crane with one leg withered and practically amputated. It looks as if a length of fishing line (or perhaps baling twine) wound itself around the leg,restricting blood flow. He/she was quite close to the road, not moving, with the mating keeping watch deeper in.    

 

1781108188_BKVBossieveld26Mrt22(136).JPG.df8c8ff694a4987352ade9e270b9c5bb.JPG

Posted (edited)

Bossieveld, early April:

 

63Yellow Canary          Geelkanarie          Crithagra flaviventris
J

704579847_63KaapseFlapFNBrBossieveld11Apr22(6).JPG.da1949bc4348fffda5cb2db81cd5e9db.JPG

Edited by Kalaharikind
Posted (edited)

We live practically next door to the Theewaterskloof Dam, which supplies Cape Town and the downstream farms with water. (We have to make do with a smaller dam:wacko:) Sadly, birding at TWK is pretty much a waste of time. These were taken next to the dam, on the road to Franschhoek, in April.

 

64Cape Bunting          Rooivlerkstreepkoppie          Emberiza capensis
Feeding practically on the tarred road...

322211342_64RooivlerkstreepkoppieTWKdam17Apr22.JPG.c394cc873c146c5cfff13ca27c6b1287.JPG

 

65Orange-breasted Sunbird          Oranjeborssuikerbekkie          Anthobaphes violacea
I've never seen one in the garden, so this will have to do for now.

 

1258046491_65OranjeborsSBTWK17Apr22.JPG.41e0abf1705678462adc78af66e002e1.JPG

Edited by Kalaharikind
Posted

2nd Go. Southern Boubou.?

I am uncomfortable with your Yellow Bishop. 63. Head markings are not quite right and I suspect it is a juv male Yellow Canary.

Posted

@Galana Absolutely right! Southern Boubou

 

Had a look at the YC - you're dead right, as usual. (This also means that I might have a beaut of a EBC coming up, if I haven't deleted it. Haven't seen many YBs around this year, not with a camera near.)

Posted

Bravo @Galana! How many cigars for him, @Kalaharikind?

Posted

@xelasWhat about a bottle of red from the vineyards of the Cape of Storms, to be collected when  @Galanavisits Mzanzi again?

 

Two for you, for sportmanship, on your next visit?

Posted

Life here changes in April: it's the start of the rainy season. No more braais outside, the wind is worse than usual, the weather is as unpredictable as ever and we start thinking about that white stuff that (most of) you guys on the other side of the equator love so much:P

 

Rooisand NR, where the Bot River runs into the ocean. I stupidly did not think that the lagoon might be dry at the end of summer...

 

By keeping my eyes on the fences and not the road, I spotted this:

 

66Pied Starling          Witgatspreeu          Lamprotornis bicolor
 

1639541334_66WitgatspreeuR4330Apr22(4).JPG.c8d2b7c4e49a1d7717a68b217ef612ba.JPG

 

and at Dassiesfontein, a megafarmstall on the N2, a European import:

 

67Common Starling          Europese Spreeu          Sturnus vulgaris
 

239276922_67EuropeseSpreeuBrDassiesfontein30Apr22(9).JPG.00997e9c51123ddded13bd659a2fc747.JPG

 

 

 

 

Posted

Rooisand delivered a Cape Spurfowl family, but they were camea shy:

68Cape Spurfowl          Kaapse Fisant          Pternistis capensis
 

1508665566_68KaapseFisantRooisandNR30Apr22(116).JPG.5875f7ab47b3e6e9565f35aeb0558755.JPG

 

69Karoo Prinia          Karoolangstertjie          Prinia maculosa
Highlight of the day:

26664361_69KaroolangstertjieRooisandNR30Apr22(99).JPG.751306186e399315c5c96ad09e7565aa.JPG

 

70Cape Shoveler          Kaapse Slopeend          Spatula smithii
A spectacular improvement on what was available last year...

1141686142_70KaapseSlopeendRooisandNR30Apr22(48).JPG.948bae4ffcb840ee6c148b9ddc94c8c4.JPG

 

Posted

The wind was pumping on the way home, so this was the only bird I stopped for, and it gave me only one chance before it flew off:

 

71Hamerkop          Hamerkop          Scopus umbretta
 

2031894919_71HamerkopSwartrivierpad30Apr22(20).JPG.7edd626d2a3d011db1a5257b039a8978.JPG

 

In the next chapter, a change from the Overberg birds. Get your passports ready!

Posted
18 hours ago, Kalaharikind said:

Two for you, for sportmanship, on your next visit?

Agreed :)!

Posted
20 hours ago, Kalaharikind said:

a bottle of red from the vineyards of the Cape of Storms, to be collected when  @Galanavisits Mzanzi again?

You do know how to get a chap's attention. Have (perpetual) thirst, will travel.:P

 

Love the Cape Shoveller. So sorry about the Bishop.

Dave Williams
Posted
On 11/3/2022 at 7:52 PM, Kalaharikind said:

The wind was pumping on the way home, so this was the only bird I stopped for, and it gave me only one chance before it flew off:

 

71Hamerkop          Hamerkop          Scopus umbretta
 

2031894919_71HamerkopSwartrivierpad30Apr22(20).JPG.7edd626d2a3d011db1a5257b039a8978.JPG

 

In the next chapter, a change from the Overberg birds. Get your passports ready!

 

mm, are you sure that's a Hamerkop?!!

 

Some excellent birds, must get to visit the Cape one day.

 

Posted
19 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

 

mm, are you sure that's a Hamerkop?!!

 

Some excellent birds, must get to visit the Cape one day.

 

I am.

Posted

@Dave Williams Absolutely sure about the Hamerkop - one of those birds that can't be anything else. Also one of two (Bokmakierie being the other) that I can think of now where the English and Afrikaans names are the same. @Peter Connancan you think of any others?

 

 

 

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Safaritalk uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By using Safaritalk you agree to our use of cookies. If you wish to refuse the setting of cookies you can change settings on your browser to clear and block cookies. However, by doing so, Safaritalk may not work properly and you may not be able to access all areas. If you are happy to accept cookies and haven't adjusted browser settings to refuse cookies, Safaritalk will issue cookies when you log on to our site. Please also take a moment to read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy: Terms of Use l Privacy Policy