Reach for the skies!!! My tern to fly high!

[Dave Williams]

237)African Open-billed Stork

Only seen twice, this one was taken at Ndumo ,KZN

African Open-billed Stork.  BY237 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited October 5, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

239)African Palm Swift

Standards sometimes drop in the search for numbers when going for a target for my Big Year! I couldn't be bothered trying for a better shot of the commonly seen Palm Swift. Very vast moving they are usually low down only when the light is poor.

African Palm Swift. BY 238 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

240) African Paradise Flycatcher

If the Palm Swift was poor, this one is a shocker! The Canon R5 can struggle to pinpoint focus on a small bird in a cluttered background. This was no exception, The rules of the Big Year are as long as it's recognisable, it counts. Strangely this is undeniably what it says it is despite it being a blur!

African Paradise Flycatcher BY239 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

241)African Pied Wagtail

Commonly seen, this was in UMkuze reserve KZN, SA..

African Pied Wagtail.   BY2240 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

242)African Pipit

Another common bird, this one taken at Buffalo Hills Safari lodge, Manyoni Private Reserve ,KZN

African Pipit.  BY241 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

243)African Stops Owl

This was taken at Muzandzeni picnic site in Kruger NP. I haven't cropped the shot so you can see how well camouflaged the Owl is. I would never have spotted it had it not been that others had their optics pointed at it!

African Scops Owl    BY242 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

244)African Spoonbill

Just a few seen, this one at Ndumo reserve KZN. I think the late summer rains dispersed the wading birds which might otherwise have been easier to see.

African Spoonbill. BY244 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

245)African Stonechat

A common bird throughout South Africa, this one was seen in Imfloozi NP, KZN

African Stonechat. BY 245 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

245) African Yellow White-eye

Seen at Ndumo this is the southern extreme in range for this bird.

African Yellow White-eye. BY246 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

246)Antarctic Prion

I took two whale watching trips, the first produced no birds but brilliant whale sightings. The second was really rough, the birds were about but it's very difficult in rough seas trying to get a shot as one second you are pointing the lens at the sea , the next the sky.

Antarctic Prion.   BY 246 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited October 5, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Tdgraves]

Well done with your first admirable entry into EBC territory!

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Strangely this is undeniably what it says it is despite it being a blur!

Because of location so don't try and suggest Rwenzori Hill Babbler.

 

As EBCs go that is not a bad shot.

Envious of the Prion.

[PeterHG]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

This one is for @PeterHG

 That’s what I call fast food…..!

[Dave Williams]

247)Arrow-marked Babbler

Biyamiti Camp, KNP.

Arrow-marked Babbler.  BY247 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

248)Bar-tailed Godwit

The estuary mouth St Lucia,KZN.

Bar-tailed Godwit.   BY 248 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

249)Bataleur

One of the most commonly seen raptors in KNP.

Bataleur   BY 249 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

250) Bearded Scrub Robin

Tamboti Camp, KNP

Bearded Scrub Robin.  BY250 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

251)Black Crake

A favourite of mine which disappointingly remained distant each time I saw one. This was at Biyamiti Weir in Kruger NP.

Black Crake.   BY 251 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

252) Black Cuckooshrike

A lifer seen at Ndumo Camp in KZN, and one it took a while to ID as I assumed a Blackbird of some description.

Black Cuckooshrike.  BY252 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

A few weeks later when in St Lucia another bird which stumped me. It looked like a Cuckoo but wasn't in the book as such. Turned out its a juvenile. Don't they look different!

Black Cuckooshrike.   BY252 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

253)Black Scimitarbill

I was delighted to get some reasonable shots of this, a bogey bird for me. UMukze NP.KZN.

Black Scimitarbill.  BY253 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

254)Black-backed Puffback

Tamboti Camp ,Kruger NP. I was hoping to see one display their puffback but sadly it was not to be.

Black-backed Puffback.  BY254 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

255)Black-bellied Bustard

A lifer for me and one I was delighted to see just walking along the tar road to Open. For me,Bustards have been hard to come by!

Black-bellied Bustard.  BY255 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Peter Connan]

Sorry about the break-in.

 

Some really wonderful birds you managed to see here, and some really wonderful photos already!

[Tdgraves]

Ha! I also saw my first black cuckooshrike in Kenya last month - only the juvenile though...

[Dave Williams]

256)Black-collared Barbet

Sitting on the braii, Mlondozi picnic site,Kruger NP.

Black-collared Barbet.   BY 256 by Dave Williams, on Flickr