Zvezda & Alex BY attempt #8

[xelas]

ROOISAND BIRD HIDE - 23/Nov - 32 species

(it looks neglected; the wooden walkway is broken down but still passable, and the hide itself needs a lot of TLC).

 

Driving on the approach sand trail a buzzard was waiting for us, same as back in 2018. It was a sunny day but the light was very harsh, overall photos just passable. 

 

 

BY 424  /  SA 024    

Jackal Buzzard  -  Buteo rufofuscus

 

 

 

BY 425  /  SA 025    

Yellow-billed Duck  -  Anas undulata

 

 

 

BY 426  /  SA 026    

Cape Shoveler  -  Spatula smithii

 

 

 

BY 427  /  SA 027    

Blacksmith Lapwing  -  Vanellus armatus

 

 

 

[xelas]

Waders are the main species seen from the hide. Water birds in the distance. And a few smaller birds flying around. Well, not all were small.

 

 

BY 428   SA 028    

Kittlitz’s Plover  -  Anarhynchus pecuarius

 

 

 

 

BY 429  /  SA 029    

Three-banded Plover  -  Charadrius tricollaris

 

 

 

BY 430  /  SA 030    

Plain Martin  -  Riparia paludicola

 

 

 

BY 431  /  SA 031    

Sandwich Tern  -  Thalasseus sandvicensis
 

 

 

BY 432  /  SA 032    

African Marsh Harrier  -  Circus ranivorus

 

 

 

BY 433  /  SA 033    Spur-winged Goose    Plectropterus gambensis

 

[xelas]

BONTEBOK NATIONAL PARK - 23/Nov PM & 24/Nov AM - 35 species

(small park, one overnight is enough; in the afternoon 23rd we were driving and in the morning 24th we were walking)

 

 

BY 434  /  SA 034    

Namaqua Dove  -  Oena capensis

 

 

 

BY 435  /  SA 035    

Cape Grassbird    Sphenoeacus afer

 

 

 

BY 436  /  SA 036    

African Stonechat  -  Saxicola torquatus

 

 

 

 

BY 437  /  SA 037    

Red-headed Cisticola  -  Cisticola subruficapilla

(Grey-backed Cisticola)

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 438  /  SA 038    

Laughing Dove  -  Spilopelia senegalensis

 

 

 

BY 439  /  SA 039    

Sombre Greenbul  -  Andropadus importunus

 

 

 

BY 440  /  SA 040    

Common Waxbill  -  Estrilda astrild

 

 

 

BY 441  /  SA 041    

Cape White-eye  -  Zosterops virens

 

 

 

BY 442  /  SA 042    

Bar-throated Apalis  -  Apalis thoracica

 

 

 

 

BY 443  /  SA 043    Black-winged Kite  -  Elanus caeruleus
 

 

[PeterHG]

A whole bunch of excellent photos again !

[Galana]

1 hour ago, PeterHG said:

A whole bunch of excellent photos again !

Times two.

[Peter Connan]

Jip, beautiful.

[xelas]

N2 to MALAGAS - 24/Nov - 16 species

(dirt road between N2 and Malagas, birding from the car)

 

 

BY 444  /  SA 044    

Capped Wheatear  -  Oenanthe pileata

 

 

 

BY 445  /  SA 045    

African Pipit  -  Anthus cinnamomeus

 

 

 

BY 446  /  SA 046    

Red-capped Lark  -  Calandrella cinerea

 

 

 

BY 447  /  SA 047    

Orange-throated Longclaw    Macronyx capensis

(Cape Longclaw)

 

 

 

BY 448  /  SA 048    

Large-billed Lark  -  Galerida magnirostris

 

 

 

BY 449  /  SA 049    

African Pied Starling  -  Lamprotornis bicolor

 

[xelas]

And a separate post for the South Africa's National Bird! Very much at home on those vast plains, although now all cultivated for grain production.

 

 

BY 450  /  SA 050    

Blue Crane  -  Anthropoides paradiseus
 

 

 

 

 

[Soukous]

A very nice collection so far

[Zim Girl]

Lovely pictures of the Blue Crane, such an elegant bird.

[Galana]

More excellent additions and spot on IDs. Great pictures of the Blue Cranes.

[xelas]

This time around the Blue Cranes were abundant, and sometimes at very close distances.

[xelas]

MALAGAS to DEHOOP NP - 25/Nov - 25 species

(dirt road between Malagas and Ouplaas, birding from the car)

 

 

BY 451  /  SA 051    

Southern Red Bishop  -  Euplectes orix

 

 

 

BY 452  /  SA 052    

Yellow Bishop  -  Euplectes capensis

 

 

 

 

BY 453  /  SA 053    

Fork-tailed Drongo  -  Dicrurus adsimilis

 

 

 

BY 454  /  SA 054    

Cape Crow  -  Corvus capensis

 

 

 

BY 455  /  SA 055    

White-necked Raven  -  Corvus albicollis

 

[xelas]

BY 456  /  SA 056    

Levaillant's Cisticola  -  Cisticola tinniens

 

 

 

BY 457  /  SA 057    

Black-headed Heron  -  Ardea melanocephala

 

 

 

BY 458  /  SA 058    

Yellow-billed Kite  -  Milvus aegyptius (parasitus)

 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

Great pictures with your OM-1 ! I also think the result could be better with very distant birds but close by the results are always awesome !

[xelas]

DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE - 25/Nov - 44 species

(between 10 AM and 6 PM, with afternoon boat ride)

 

 

BY 459  /  SA 059    

Spotted Thick-knee  -  Burhinus capensis

 

 

 

BY 460  /  SA 060    

Red-eyed Dove  -  Streptopelia semitorquata

 

 

 

BY 461  /  SA 061    

Cape Bunting  -  Emberiza capensis

 

 

 

BY 462  /  SA 062    

Cape Clapper Lark  -  Mirafra apiata

 

 

 

 

BY 463  /  SA 063    

Rock Kestrel  -  Falco rupicolus
 

 

 

 

[xelas]

BY 464  /  SA 064    

Hadada Ibis  -  Bostrychia hagedash

 

 

 

 

BY 465  /  SA 065    

African Darter  -  Anhinga rufa

 

 

 

BY 466  /  SA 066    

Long-tailed Cormorant  -  Microcarbo africanus

 

 

 

 

BY 467  /  SA 067    

Red-knobbed Coot  -  Fulica cristata

 

 

 

BY 468  /  SA 068    

Water Thick-knee  -  Burhinus vermiculatus

 

 

 

BY 469  /  SA 069    

Pied Kingfisher  -  Ceryle rudis

 

 

 

 

BY 470  /  SA 070    

Malachite Kingfisher  -  Corythornis cristatus
 

 

[xelas]

Outside of De Hoop entry gate but still within the same habitat.

 

 

BY 471  /  SA 071    

Cape Teal  -  Anas capensis

 

 

 

BY 472  -  SA 072    

White-faced Whistling-Duck  -  Dendrocygna viduata

 

[Peter Connan]

Nice shots!

 

Is the Water Thick-knee leucistic?

[xelas]

4 minutes ago, Peter Connan said:

Is the Water Thick-knee leucistic?

 

I think no. It is a juvenile, the adult one was hidden and we have missed it.

[Soukous]

wonderful shot of the Cape Clapper Lark

[PeterHG]

More beautiful birds and truly excellent photos of your SA trip , Alex!

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Is the Water Thick-knee leucistic?

Well it's either that or he has messed up in post processing.

That bird's pigmentation is all wrong, back and head markings too.

 

Nice collection overall.

[TonyQ]

Building up a very good collection from South Africa. A mix of familiar and unfamiliar places for me.

The Crane photos are particularly good!