TonyQ: Big Year 2023

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful!

[pedro maia]

Very cool falcon pictures!

[Zim Girl]

Lovely pictures of the Peregrines!

[xelas]

Fabulous Falcons!

[Kitsafari]

the peregrine shots are super cool, esp of the juveniles.  

[Dave Williams]

All good stuff Tony, I really missed seeing and photographing the Tern on the Isle of May this year but they decided not to breed on the island this year for reasons known only to themselves.

[TonyQ]

Thank you for the kind comments on the Peregrines etc.

Finally some new additions.

We went to South Africa - KwaZulu Natal recently. Self driving.

Thanks to @xelas@Dave Williamsand @Soukousfor very useful information in their excellent trip reports.

I will write a short trip report myself, but briefly our itinerary was

Fly London-Johannesberg-Durban

Howick 2 nights

Sani Valley Lodge 3 nights (and a day trip to Sani Pass into Lesotho)

St Lucia 4 nights

Mkhuze 4 nights (Ghost Mountain Inn)

Mtunzini 2 nights

Travel home

I will post the birds roughly in the order we saw them - but sometimes I will be flexible!

 

140.SA1. Red-winged Starling  Onychognathus morio  

Taken from our lunchtime restaurant balcony, (F) Bel Punto, Umdloti Beach      04.07.23

         

(M) Sani Pass 07.07.23

[TonyQ]

141.SA2. Cape Wagtail  Motacilla capensis 

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

Karkloof is near Howick. A number of landowners work together to protect local wildlife. There are a couple of good hides and other areas to wander about.

[TonyQ]

142.SA3. Blacksmith Lapwing  Vanellus armatus           

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

[TonyQ]

143.SA4. Red-billed Teal  Anas erythrorhyncha           

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

[TonyQ]

SA5.Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis       

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

Already seen in UK. Very common on this trip

[TonyQ]

144.SA6. Wattled Crane  Bugeranus carunculatus           

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

Karkloof is particularly focussed on protecting Cranes so it was good to see these here - even if it was only a fly-past. This is the first time we have seen this species of Crane.

[TonyQ]

145.SA7. South African Shelduck  Tadorna cana           

(F) Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

(M) Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

[TonyQ]

SA8. Egyptian Goose  Alopochen aegyptiaca  

Already seen in UK, but really common on this trip        

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

Juveniles (I think) Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

[TonyQ]

146.SA9. Reed/Long-tailed Cormorant  Microcarbo africanus 

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

[TonyQ]

147.SA10. Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea    

 Karkloof Conservation Centre           05.07.23

 Karkloof Conservation Centre           05.07.23

[TonyQ]

148.SA11. African Sacred Ibis  Threskiornis aethiopicus     

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

[TonyQ]

149.SA12. Pied Kingfisher  Ceryle rudis       

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23  

         

Taken from our balcony, Sani Valley Lodge       08.07.23

[TonyQ]

150.SA13. Malachite Kingfisher  Corythornis cristatus         

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

           

Mkhuze           13.07.23

Probably the Kingfisher we saw most often. But it is a beautiful bird

[Tdgraves]

We stayed at the Sani Valley lodge years ago! 

Edited August 18, 2023 by Tdgraves

[offshorebirder]

8 hours ago, TonyQ said:

South African Shelduck

 

I am jealous!   Looking forward to the trip report.

[Peter Connan]

Some really great shots! Those Shelduck were pretty accomodating.

[TonyQ]

@Tdgraves we liked it there!

@offshorebirder@Peter Connan  thank you. The Shelduck were quite distant but good light allowed the cropping

 

151.SA14 African Wattled Lapwing    Vanellus senegallus      

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

A rapid flypast with time for one shot at all the wrong settings! Luckily quite a distinctive bird

[TonyQ]

152.SA15 African Spoonbill    Platalea alba  

One was very unhappy at the new arrival, Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23

[TonyQ]

153.SA16 Cape Shoveler       Spatula smithii

Karkloof Conservation Centre            05.07.23