PeterHG's seventh Big Year

[PeterHG]

273 /SA 52. Yellow-billed Kite. Skukuza, October. Rather common, but I never got any decent photo opportunity.

 

 

 

274 /SA 53. Water Thick-knee. Skukuza, October. We saw its spotted cousin only once and I did not get a photo. The Water thick-knee was much more common.

 

275 /SA 54. Wahlberg's Eagle. Skukuza, October. Also quite common. In this picture you can see both a dark and a light form of the eagle.

 

And here is the characteristic flight view, with the narrow tail

 

 

276 /SA 55. Bennet's Woodpecker. Skukuza, October. Bothe the male and the female.

 

 

 

277 /SA 56. Blue Waxbill. Skukuza, October. 

 

 

278 /SA 57. Pearl-spotted Owlet. Skukuza, October. Only seen once, but on that occasion it showed well.

[Galana]

Nice bunch. Coming up on the rails with a final burst?

[Soukous]

A real treat to see so many beautiful African birds and mammals. I must get back there next year.

[Zim Girl]

Beautiful set of birds, love the bateleur shots.

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful!

[PeterHG]

Thank you @Soukous @Zim Girl @Peter Connan.

22 hours ago, Galana said:

Coming up on the rails with a final burst?

I am trying to....

 

279 /SA 58. Red-billed Buffalo Weaver. Skukuza, October

 

280 /SA 59. African Green Pigeon. Skukuza, October. A beautiful pigeon, I think. There were about ten of them feeding in the trees at the edge of the camp.

 

 

281 /SA 60. Pied Crow. Skukuza, October.

 

 

We spent a pleasant hour in the Lake Panic hide close to the Skukiuza restcamp. It was quite busy, but we could all find a spot to view the weavers, kingfishers, herons and whatever else presented itself. The weavers were working on their nests and often flew towarsd the hide to tear of strips of reed. I decided it would be a nice challenge to try and catch one in flight.

 

282 /SA 61. Village Weaver. Lake Panic, October.

 

 

 

283 /SA 62. Lesser Masked Weaver. Lake Panic, October

 

 

284 /SA 63. Pied Kingfisher. Lake Panic, October.

 

[Peter Connan]

Incredible! Wow.

[Galana]

1 hour ago, PeterHG said:

I decided it would be a nice challenge to try and catch one in flight.

Indeed it was.

[pedro maia]

Great pictures Peter.

[xelas]

Great BIF shots, Peter!

[PeterHG]

Thank you @Peter Connan @Galana @pedro maia

 

285 /SA 64. African Goshawk. Skukuza, October. I spotted it sitting in a tree at the edge of the restcamp. Unfortunately the light was bad and the branches were in the way, but it was the only sighting of the trip, so I was quite pleased to have found it.

 

 

286 /SA 65. Bearded Scrub-robin. Seen on seceral occasions, mostly in the restcamps.

 

 

287 /SA 66. Ashy Flycatcher. Skukuza, October. I'd seen it before, but not often.. This was inside the restcamp as well.

 

 

288 /SA 67. Hadada Ibis. Skukuza, October.  A skulking and silent bird, which is only rarely seen, let alone photographed. I was very lucky to find it........;)

 

 

289 /SA 68. Golden-breasted Bunting. Skukuza, October. 

 

 

290 /SA 69. African Wattled Lapwing. Skukuza, October. 

 

 

291 /SA 70 Red-billed Firefinch. Skukuza, October

 

 

292 /SA 71. African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene). Skukuza, October

 

[Kitsafari]

Wow shots @PeterHG

 

the batelur shots are spectacular. 

Edited December 21, 2022 by Kitsafari

[michael-ibk]

Congrats on finding a Hadada Ibis, quite a feat!

 

Beautiful, beautiful photos Peter - excellent!

[Galana]

7 hours ago, PeterHG said:

 A skulking and silent bird, which is only rarely seen, let alone photographed. I was very lucky to find it........;)

Indeed. It is not often one can get within earshot let alone camera range of such a glamorous species. A lucky glimpse is all us mortals can get.

[Peter Connan]

[TonyQ]

Excellent flight shots @PeterHG

[PeterHG]

Thank you @Kitsafari @michael-ibk @Galana @Peter Connan @TonyQ!

 

293 /SA 72. White-backed Vulture. Skukuza, October. Seen almost daily.

 

294 /SA 73. Wattled Starling. Skukuza, October. We saw it several times, but never with a good photo opportunity.

 

 

295 /SA 74. Violet-backed Starling. Skukuza, October. I would have liked some better lighting; it's such a spectacular-looking bird

 

 

296 /SA 75. Ostrich. Skukuza, October

 

 

297 /SA 76. African Mourning Dove. Satara, October. 

 

 

298 /SA 77. Rufous-naped Lark. Satara, October. Only seen once, but perhaps I wasn't paying attention enough to the family...;)

 

299 /SA 78. African Jacana. Satara (Sweni hide), October.

 

 

300 /SA 79. White-faced Whistling Duck. Satara (Sweni hide). I was happy to get some flight shots when a few of them circled round the hide a few times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

Beautiful flight shots to reach you 300. Congratulations!

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on the third century!

[Galana]

Great BIF for your wonderful and well earned  3rd Century.

[Tdgraves]

Congrats on the triple century 

[xelas]

#00 birds and all excellent photos! Congratulations, Peter.

[Kitsafari]

COngrats on the 300th and a deserving bird for that honour. i've always thought the white-faced whistling ducks are one of the prettiest of the waterfowls!

[Peter Connan]

Lovely shot and congratulations!

[Dave Williams]

Excellent stuff Peter, interesting to compare your sightings with mine earlier in the year.