Galana's sixth. Building on what was started.

[Galana]

8 hours ago, xelas said:

Nice! 3-banded Plover is a stunner!

Thanks. An aberration.

 

Today's edition.

 

126. Mountain Wheatear. Purros.

 

127. Ostrich. Okarahingo Lodge. Purros. The flock used to parade daily as I sat on the balcony.

("Birding from my Balcony" is a good hobby.)

 

128. Lesser Grey Shrike. Location varies. They were quite visible most places.

 

129. Grey-backed Sparrow Lark. Purros I think.

 

130. Red-billed Buffalo Weaver. Khowarib Lodge swimming pool. Although they were regularly seen elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

More excellent additions. This really was a productive trip

[Galana]

6 hours ago, TonyQ said:

This really was a productive trip

Thanks. It was not really geared to max on birds but did prove productive. I am posting in chronological order of first decent shot so time wise I am really only just starting the second week and arriving at Khowarib Lodge.

 

Hereunder are today's five. I am not sure if I should add more to each batch or if that would prove too many to view in one go.

 

131. Northern (Black-backed in RSA) Puffback. My Balcony. Room 14. Khowarib Lodge.

 

132. Common Scimitarbill. Khowarib Lodge. My Balcony. Room 14.

 

I had this down as Cape Penduline Tit but with getting home I feel it is Grey-backed Cameroptera. Either way

it is still 133. And from my Balcony 14 at Khowarib.

 

Needing a close up here to get the field marks..

134. African Mourning Dove. Another 'Balcony bird'. Khowarib.

 

135. Chestnut Weaver. Khowarib Lodge. Not from my balcony but from the swimming pool garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

10 hours ago, Galana said:

I am not sure if I should add more to each batch or if that would prove too many to view in one go.

 

you set the pace sir, I'm happy to enjoy the views

[TonyQ]

I agree, post at a rate that suits you @Galana

[Galana]

Today's batch which includes one of which I m really proud.

 

136. Chinspot Batis. Khowarib Lodge, in the pool garden. I have gone for Chinspot  as we are well north where there is overlap, no speckles on flanks and an obviously broad chest band.

 

That thorn tree was extremely productive, compare with the Chestnut Weaver at 135. Productive, as it was bare of leaves whereas the other trees could hide an elephant if it kept still.

 

137. Black, Verreaux's, Eagle. Sitting by the pool a pair were seen hunting the adjacent mountain about a km away, for Hyrax so I gave it a go. Got the yellow feet, white wings and even the yellow bill.

 

in that thorn tree again but I improved on it in Etosha when I had a different chair on a different balcony.

 

138. Red-eyed Bulbul. Khowarib Lodge tree and later my chair on tent 15 in Dolomite Camp, Etosha. that second chair also came into active use later as you will see if you keep awake.

 

That tree at Khowarib again. but followed up later by

a brazen couple of real Lovebirds. No balcony. I was on foot for exercise on a trail at Frans Indongo Lodge and intruded on their nuptuals.

139. Rosy (peach)- faced Lovebirds. Khowarib and Frans Indongo Lodge.

 

 

Immature can be tricky.

No mistaking the adults. So here is a family group.

 

The first at Hobatere, the adult and family group in Etosha after the rain soaked morning.

140. Pale Chanting Goshawk. Hobatere Concession and Central Etosha around Charitsaub.

 

I think we have left Khowarib behind now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

Excellent Batis and very cute Lovebirds 

[PeterHG]

You keep posting not only very good species, but photos to match! 

[Galana]

4 hours ago, PeterHG said:

You keep posting not only very good species, but photos to match! 

Thank you @TonyQand Peter.

I just get what I can and post 'em.

 

Here are another five which include EBC's to keep those skills honed whilst at Hobatere.

 

141. (Southern) Ant-eating Chat. Hobatere track.

 

142. African Grey Hornbill. Hobatere.

 

143. African Scops Owl. Grey Morph, Hobatere Lodge.

 

Brace yourselves.....

 

On a night drive at Hobatere we were looking at two Jackal pups when that bird on the left photobombed us. So.....

144. Spotted Dikkop went into the bag.

and still night driving I finally got my driver to go slower and not flush birds resting on the warm sand so I got to see at least one Nightjar.

 

145. Rufous-cheeked Nightjar. Hobatere. A bit washed out as, having got him to stop, they promptly burned him in the spotlight.

More to come.

 

[Soukous]

13 hours ago, Galana said:

Spotted Dikkop

 

using the old field guide again? or just contrary? 

Edited April 6, 2022 by Soukous

[Galana]

In these days of woke speak I avoid any description that may be derogatory of someone's appearance.

[Soukous]

12 minutes ago, Galana said:

In these days of woke speak I avoid any description that may be derogatory of someone's appearance.

 

and Dikkop isn't?

[Galana]

6 hours ago, Soukous said:

and Dikkop isn't?

Not if you divvn't spake forrin langwiches.

 

Any hoo to brighter things.

I paid my first visit to my  wandering couple this pm and at first could not see her. The camouflage is fantastic and only her eye gave her away at first.

You have to stare hard to see her clearly. Sitting tight in more or less the same place as last year.

[PeterHG]

Wonderful to see her back in the same spot!

[Galana]

1 hour ago, PeterHG said:

Wonderful to see her back in the same spot!

Yes you cannot fault her GPS for accuracy.

This was last year. Less than a body length out.

[Galana]

Time for another daily Five.

 

146. Bare-cheeked Babbler. Hobatere and Goas, Etosha.

147. Cape Turtle Dove.

 

148. African Hoopoe. Hobatere.

 

149. Brown Snake-Eagle.  Hobatere.

 

150. Red-crested Bustard (Koorhan) Nr. Galton Gate, Etosha.

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

Today's presentation..

 

151. Common Fiscal. (ssp. Coronatus). Dolomite sector, Etosha.

 

152.Wattled Starling. Klippan track. Etosha. There were literally murmurations of these birds migrating.

 

153, Starting with an EBC from Klip Pan in case this was the only one we saw.

But happily it was not and we found more deeper into Etosha. Sueda pan.

 

154. Egyptian Goose.  Nearly missed this ubiquitous fowl but remembered just in time.

 

155. Red-knobbed Coot. KlipPan. Etosha NP.

 

And finally for today I paid a brief excursion to the Point of Ayre (I do like to get out now and again) and found our semi resident Golden Plovers still at home but now starting to show their spring plumage. A touch of sunshine would have really enhanced the simmering gold but it was not to be.

But for @michael-ibkif nobody else, I cannot resist.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

Appreciate it. 

[pedro maia]

I’m very envious of all those nice species, so great pictures as well.

[Kitsafari]

great to see the falcon returned to her favourite spot. and lovely shots of the golden plovers. Ours didn't return to the canal this season,, we wondered where they went. 

 

Your fivers are pushing you well ahead of us in the count!

[Zim Girl]

Always amazed at how close your Golden Plovers get - lovely birds!

[Dave Williams]

The Etosha birds are bringing back happy memories. A great birding location and you saw some enviable species. My wish list from there would be the Lovebirds and the Black Oystercatcher.

[Galana]

10 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

Your fivers are pushing you well ahead of us in the count!

Well whilst I do have  a few more to come I know I will have to yield pole to @michael-ibk's collection from Uganda which is yet to come. If he has less than 300 he was not really trying.

 

@Dave WilliamsMore to come. There is no doubt you and Clare need a return trip. I have carefully mentioned lodges with pools just for her. What you need now is a spotter.

 

Today's five below.

 

[Galana]

Today's Five.

We are still in Etosha.

 

156. African (Grassveldt) Pipit. Klip Pan. Etosha.

 

157. Lappet-faced Vulture. Dolomite Camp. Well I was in the camp, they were down on the plain about half a mile away. But they were the only ones I saw so I have to live with it.

 

158. Red-billed Teal. Klip Pan. Etosha.

 

159. Greater (White-eyed) Kestrel. Dolomite Camp, Etosha. A reliable bird for this park.

 

160. Woolly-necked Stork.  The new floodwater where the Abdim's were on the Klip Pan track. Uncommon find in Etosha as it is a true wetland bird. The only two that we saw this trip.

 

Oh. Should I mention Abdim's? That's for tomorrow..

[TonyQ]

Racing ahead with some great shots.

The kestrel in particular is lovely