tdgraves big year 2022 - here's hoping it's (all) better!

[TonyQ]

A lovely Kite to finish your first section

[Dave Williams]

I'm soooooo envious of the Kite. Super captures.

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @TonyQand @Dave Williams I have quite a lot of shots from further away too, but we were lucky that it’s prey was so big, we could creep closer without risking it flying off, which did less than a minute after the last bite!

[xelas]

Excellent results, Marievale obviously produce plenty of birds even when conditions are not that good.

[Kitsafari]

agree on the stunning kite. 

A nice haul, given the challenging conditions from Marieville. 

[Tdgraves]

Thanks @Kitsafari and @xelas it’s a good place to visit 

[xelas]

7 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

Thanks @Kitsafari and @xelas it’s a good place to visit 

I know, even better if accompanied by @Peter Connan! I hope this will happen in near future.

[Galana]

The Black Heron (Egret) was my favourite. Excellent ID.

[PeterHG]

Some good species, in spite of the conditions and superb photos of the Kite!

[Tdgraves]

2 hours ago, Galana said:

The Black Heron (Egret) was my favourite. Excellent ID.

Thanks @Galana I assume you mean your favourite ebc? I didn’t I’d it until I looked at the photos as every bid looked black due to the conditions!

[Peter Connan]

Wonderful shots of the Kite. Can see now why you weren't terribly excited by the one we saw ar Rietvlei.

[Tdgraves]

Now I am going to switch to our last day, so that I don't have to trawl all of the Kruger folders just yet! @Peter Connanwas free to join us and had not visited recently. The forecast was awful and so we were not expecting much. As luck would have it on the way there it was glorious sunshine, but that didn't last. However, we didn't get the rain that was forecast, but the light was changeable and often overcast during the time we were there. As it had rained a lot over the past two weeks and our rear wheel drive rental was not great in the mud, Peter guided us. I wasn't really expecting much, given the conditions, but for the first time in a while, Rietvlei offered up a couple of new ticks. The first was literally one of the first birds we spotted. I cannot count the number of times we have been to RSA (must be approaching 20) and we have never seen one. I did feel better about this fact when Peter admitted that this was only his fourth sighting and he lives here!

 

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/1000, EV + 1 

 

7T4A8129a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

27) Bokmakierie 

[Tdgraves]

And the other new one....

 

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 7D mark II, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 800, f5.6, 1/640

 

J19A6279 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

28) Red-throated wryneck (courtesy of the OH)

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 500, f5.6, 1/1000

 

7T4A8216a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

29) Pied starling

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/1000, EV +2/3

 

7T4A8214a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

30) Cape glossy starling

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 800, f5.6, 1/1600

 

7T4A8244a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

31) Common waxbill

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/2500, EV +1

 

7T4A8461a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

32) Rufous-naped lark

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/3200

 

7T4A8305a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

33) White-breasted cormorant

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 640, f7.1, 1/2000

 

7T4A8311a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

34) African darter

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 500, f5.6, 1/1000

 

7T4A8381a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 400, f5.6, 1/1000

 

7T4A8231a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

35) African wattled lapwing

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/250

 

7T4A8257a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

36) Southern masked weaver

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/800

 

7T4A8290a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

37) Cape longclaw

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/1600

 

7T4A8219a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

38) Pied crow

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/2000

 

7T4A8380a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

39) Cape sparrow

[Tdgraves]

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, South Africa, 29/1/22 

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark ii, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/4000

 

7T4A8223a by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

40) Grey heron