TonyQ: Big Year 2023

[TonyQ]

328.SA194 Green-winged Pytilia  Pytilia melba           

(F) Ghost Mountain Inn    15.07.23

(M) Ghost Mountain Inn    15.07.23

[TonyQ]

329.SA195 African Goshawk  Accipiter tachiro           

Ghost Mountain Inn    15.07.23

[TonyQ]

330.SA196 African Palm Swift  Cypsiurus parvus           

Ghost Mountain Inn    15.07.23

Ghost Mountain Inn    16.07.23

[TonyQ]

331.SA197 African Jacana  Actophilornis africanus        

A youngster, Saint Lucia: iSimangaliso East           12.07.23

Ghost Mountain Inn    15.07.23

We saw Jacana in a number of places. We enjoyed watching them walk across the water lilies, hunting for food

Edited September 24, 2023 by TonyQ

[Galana]

3 hours ago, TonyQ said:

325.SA191 Grey-headed Bushshrike  Malaconotus blanchoti          

Hmmmm?

A good collection all round but I have my doubts about this one.

My first reaction was/is Orange/sulphur-breasted but where is the black bandit eye stripe? Unless a juv.

But still not a Grey-headed which is a massive unmistakable bird with a yellow eye. One of those that 'if you see it you will know it' sort of bird.

[TonyQ]

@Galanathank you

I see what you mean and agree with you

I will change the numbering on the next post

[TonyQ]

As promised, a replacement for 325

 

325.SA191 Fan-tailed Widowbird   Euplectes axillaris           

Hluhluwe         17.07.23

[TonyQ]

332.SA198 Martial Eagle  Polemaetus bellicosus           

Very high, Hluhluwe         17.07.23

[TonyQ]

333.SA199 White-browed/Red-backed Scrub-Robin  Cercotrichas leucophrys        

Hluhluwe         17.07.23

Half a bird is better than none

[TonyQ]

And then number 200 for this South Africa trip

 

334.SA200 African Black-headed Oriole  Oriolus larvatus          

Hluhluwe         17.07.23

With kill, Hluhluwe         17.07.23

[Tdgraves]

A lovely photo for the SA 200 @TonyQ

[Galana]

38 minutes ago, Tdgraves said:

A lovely photo for the SA 200 @TonyQ

Seconded.

#199 has a certain Je ne sais quoi  style to it also.

[michael-ibk]

A very worthy SA 200 indeed - beautiful. Great Swifts and Wallows too, and love the bathing Waxbills. 

[BRACQUENE]

Congratulations with your SA 200 Tony and as you know I love Orioles be it Eurasian or African 

[TonyQ]

thank you @BRACQUENE@michael-ibk@Tdgraves

and thank you @GalanaI thought you would appreciate that one!

 

And now the final batch from South Africa

Firstly a probable (very likely duplicate). Female Sunbirds are tricky but I think this is a Greater Double-collared Sunbird

 

[TonyQ]

335.SA201 Grey Crowned-Crane  Balearica regulorum       

Mtunzini           18.07.23

The third crane species of the trip

[TonyQ]

336.SA202 Grey Cuckooshrike  Coracina caesia           

Mtunzini           18.07.23

[TonyQ]

337.SA203 Little Sparrowhawk  Accipiter minullus           

Mtunzini           18.07.23

[TonyQ]

338.SA204 Palm-nut Vulture  Gypohierax angolensis      

Distant with tricky light, Mtunzini           18.07.23

[TonyQ]

339.SA205 Sharp-billed/Wahlberg's Honeyguide  Prodotiscus regulus   

Mtunzini           18.07.23

[TonyQ]

340.SA206 Striated Heron   Butorides striata           

Mtunzini           18.07.23

[TonyQ]

341.SA207 Mangrove Kingfisher   Halcyon senegaloides  

Mtunzini           18.07.23

So that is the last of the SA birds.

207 species seen ( though MrsQ saw 3 or 4 that I didn't and vice-versa). Of the 207, 5 we had already seen in the UK so the BIg Year List moved on by 202. This was a lot more than we expected as we were visiting in Winter - we were very pleased with the number and the variety. It is a really good place to go birding.

[michael-ibk]

It certainly seems to be - really enjoyed the sightings and photos. Was Mangrove new to you? O remember I was chuffed when I finally saw one on Mafia Island. Are you doing a trip report, Tony? I´m sure we all would really appreciate it.

[Tdgraves]

4 hours ago, TonyQ said:

       

207 species seen ( though MrsQ saw 3 or 4 that I didn't and vice-versa). Of the 207, 5 we had already seen in the UK so the BIg Year List moved on by 202. This was a lot more than we expected as we were visiting in Winter - we were very pleased with the number and the variety. It is a really good place to go birding.

so NONE seen and not photographed  I usually have at least 10 in that category…..207 would have been a lifer for me. When we last went to KZN birds (or animals) hadn’t really made it to our radar.

[pedro maia]

It was a pleasure to see your SA species, it was a very healthy count for one trip.