Sharon's 4th Year

[shazdwn]

My Big Year 2022 kind of crashed and burned towards the end, but instead of spending time finishing it off I thought I would focus on starting fresh for 2023.  And what a great start I had - for me 2023 started by waking up at Victoria Falls early into my first trip to Africa in over 20 years.  We did do three days on the Chobe River in Botswana first, but luckily most (or at least many) of the birds seen there made another appearance later on.  

 

I will post these in date order, and will be including a few EBC's along the way not to worry .

 

However this first one which could be mistaken as an EBS is actually a deliberate scenic shot including birds as a tiny feature to add interest.  

 

1 - Little Swift - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 1/1/23

 

[Peter Connan]

Welcome back with a stunning start!

[Kitsafari]

I look forward to more of your stunning ambient shots of birds!

[Galana]

A stunning start, both for the year, the scenery and the bird.

[PeterHG]

Now that is a promising photo to start with! Looking forward to more.

[TonyQ]

What a brilliant way to start the new year!

[shazdwn]

Editing is going slowly but I'll try and get a few more up

 

2 - Laughing Dove - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 1/1/23

 

[shazdwn]

Oh I forgot to mention feel free to correct any ID's I get wrong - there are bound to be some 

 

3 - Pin-tailed Whydah - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 1/1/23

[shazdwn]

While at Victoria Falls we did a half day birdwatching tour which, although the weather was drizzly, was a great morning with lots of birds seen - and some of them even photographed!

 

4 - Hooded Vulture - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

5 - Common Dark-capped Bulbul - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

Edited thanks to @Dave Williams

 

Edited February 18, 2023 by shazdwn

[shazdwn]

I did mention there would be some EBC's right?  The light was totally crap at this point of the morning and photography was extremely challenging

 

6 - Natal Spurfowl - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

7 - Southern Black-tit - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

This is one of the Victoria Falls "specials" so our guide was pretty keen to find it - success

 

8 - Collared Palm-thrush - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

9 - Red-backed Scrub-Robin - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

10 - Black-Collared Barbet - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

11 - Brown-hooded Kingfisher - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

12 - Southern Black-Flycatcher - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

13 - Holub's Golden-Weaver - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

14 - Striated Heron - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

15 - Southern Red Bishop - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23 (yes I'm afraid that's the best I could do )

[shazdwn]

16 - Cardinal Woodpecker - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

17 - Jameson's Firefinch - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

18 - Wattled Lapwing - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23

[shazdwn]

19 - Southern Cordonbleu or Blue Waxbill - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23  (too pretty for just one shot)

Edited February 5, 2023 by shazdwn

[shazdwn]

20 - Senegal Coucal - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2/1/23