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Tdgraves smaller big year 2023

Tdgraves

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Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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Just back from South Africa. Unfortunately our planned trip to Marievale on day one with @Peter Connansuccumbed to our first ever airline disruption (I know, we have been really lucky). We were just having lunch at home and thinking about what time to leave to avoid the worst of the rush hour traffic, when I received a text from British Airways. Our 21.20 flight had been delayed until 10.00 the following day (better than cancellations on other days, which were more like 24 hours). This put our plans into disarray and meant a long daytime flight, only landing at 22.30 and so precluding driving anywhere on landing. We therefore got to experience the Sofitel in Heathrow (Very good) and the Southern Sun in OR Tambo (good) which was a novel experience. As was driving directly to the park from the airport - very smooth. We did not feel that 4 hours sleep and then wanting to leave Marievale early to get shopping en route to the Kruger would be conducive to good birding or a good start to the trip, so we had to cancel so that we could have more sleep and then get supplies in Nelspruit (now Mbombela). We therefore agreed to meet Peter in Rietvlei on our last day instead. Staying nearby has become our habit since our friends moved to the Cape. It is also very convenient for the airport, avoiding any city traffic. I am starting here as it is quicker to process one game drive rather than two weeks' worth! It was a bit of a shock when we met at 6.00 - there was a hard frost and it was only 5 degrees - woolly hat time! As always, Peter did an excellent job of driving and we parted before brunch, as he had a prior engagement. It is very different in early spring compared to the lush mid-summer that we are used to, but we managed a good haul - 49 definite IDs with some LBJs still requiring work!!

 

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4, ISO 2000, f4, 1/1600

 

53199046526_331d42f247_k.jpgD14I7344 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/800

 

53199050831_b60fd100ec_k.jpgD14I7428 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

240 again) African wattled lapwing

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Tdgraves
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This year is definitely going to be smaller. Our two Africa trips are both to South Africa, reducing the possible pool and we are going to the Kruger at the "wrong" time for summer migrants, so the to

Tdgraves
Tdgraves

Kanoneiland, South Africa, 25/1/23    Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f7.1, 1/2000, EV +1 1/3   7T4A6546 by tdgraves, on Flickr   40) Red-faced mousebird

Tdgraves
Tdgraves

Kanoneiland, South Africa, 25/1/23    Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 800, f7.1, 1/2500   7T4A6515 by tdgraves, on Flickr   Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO

Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 2500, f5.6, 1/2500

 

53198853814_d860a0f049_k.jpgD14I7360 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/1250

 

53199048051_e72065bdc0_k.jpgD14I7377 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

241) Long-tailed widowbird (non-breeding plumage is another reason why a summer visit is preferable....)

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Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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On our last visit to Rietvlei with @Peter Connan we managed two new birds and we saw them both again this time....

 

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 2000, f5.6, 1/8000

 

53198585917_3ca3e7450c_k.jpgD14I7393 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

242) Bokmakierie

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Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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and this one...

 

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 400, f5.6, 1/2500

 

53198902364_1ecfbccc03_k.jpgD14I7472 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199433475_752800284e_k.jpgD14I7475 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

243) Red-throated wryneck

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/4000

 

53198855999_602033ee0f_k.jpgD14I7409 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

244) Black-headed heron

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/2000

 

53199275488_3dfed4fe25_k.jpgD14I7421 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

245) Speckled mousebird

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/2000

 

53199050216_f7a5d3cbb3_k.jpgD14I7422 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

246) White-winged widowbird

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 1250, f5.6, 1/1250

 

53199388950_e66f624827_k.jpgD14I7436 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

247) Pied starling

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4, ISO 320, f4, 1/4000

 

53198904764_b5d5c1d948_k.jpgD14I7539 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

248) Ostrich (amazed that I had not already posted from KTP)

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 5D mark IV, 100-400 mark II, ISO 1250, f5.6, 1/8000 (courtesy of the OH)

 

53199277418_4b9c66ffea_k.jpg7T4A9057 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

249) White-breasted cormorant

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4, ISO 2000, f4, 1/2000

 

53199272083_b1cb87f608_k.jpgD14I7349 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 2500, f5.6, 1/1250

 

53198584397_50b57e99ab_k.jpgD14I7359 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

250) White-throated swallow

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TonyQ

TonyQ

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Excellent start @Tdgraves

BA flight to Joburg seems to have problems quite often. One was cancelled a few days before we flew, and they are often late on that route. I think the plane comes from USA before it gets to London.

We watched nervously but our flight was actually on time (and was very good)

 

I look forward to more of your SA birds

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Tdgraves

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1 hour ago, TonyQ said:

Excellent start @Tdgraves

BA flight to Joburg seems to have problems quite often. One was cancelled a few days before we flew, and they are often late on that route. I think the plane comes from USA before it gets to London.

We watched nervously but our flight was actually on time (and was very good)

 

I look forward to more of your SA birds

Looks like about twice a week at present. I don't think the A380s liked being mothballed during COVID. on the upside though, compensation already received and recycled into next years' flights!!

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Tdgraves

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender , ISO 640, f5.6, 1/1600

 

53198904014_9654ff45a5_k.jpgD14I7514 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

251) Common myna

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 800, f5.6, 1/2500

 

53199324558_9e161b675f_k.jpgD14I7595 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

252) Levaillant's cisticola

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Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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And now unfortunately, some EBCs - this was our only sighting and the camera would not focus in time

 

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

53198632397_5b7f162dcd_k.jpgD14I7592 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

252) African darter

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Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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Again the camera would not focus in time, but I was reassured by the fact that we had a close sighting earlier and had assumed that the OH had some shots (it was the wrong side of the vehicle for me) but I forgot that there was a window malfunction, so he was not able to.

 

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

53198586827_f23bcc21d0_k.jpgD14I7582 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

253) Yellow-billed duck (with in focus waterbuck at the far side of the dam!!)

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Tdgraves

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 800, f5.6, 1/4000

 

53198906199_9624369859_k.jpgD14I7591 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

254) African black duck

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Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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And the real stars of the show - definitely the place to go to see these

 

Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/800

 

53198854774_7fb3fd2ecc_k.jpgD14I7380 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 2000, f5.6, 1/2000

 

53198585752_954b1a7e75_k.jpgD14I7388 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/3200

 

53198860204_925628b8f6_k.jpgD14I7460 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 1000, f5.6, 1/3200

 

53199099721_f20dd68447_k.jpgD14I7620 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

255) African stonechat

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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa, 16/9/23

 

Canon 1DX mark III, EF 200-400 f/4 with 1.4x extender, ISO 640, f5.6, 1/1250

 

53198634797_06139bd8ab_k.jpgD14I7525 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

256) Cape longclaw

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Tdgraves

Tdgraves

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Having been to the KTP this year, the rest are duplicates

 

53199386800_ddad68e58a_k.jpgD14I7398 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53198855889_50897fb716_k.jpgD14I7404 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199275278_f470623135_k.jpgD14I7415 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199046836_cb5820f6a6_k.jpgD14I7418 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199051401_03d43abc36_k.jpgD14I7447 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199321628_0ae0d815db_k.jpgD14I7500 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53198905249_1027efc84c_k.jpgD14I7553 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199436570_20dd6b9a1c_k.jpgD14I7563 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199323953_1a5909df9e_k.jpgD14I7574 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53198906079_ec18aa850f_k.jpgD14I7586 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199325063_7ea643a7dd_k.jpgD14I7614 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53198638127_b61402ecc0_k.jpgD14I7637 by tdgraves, on Flickr

 

53199438560_78edb3582f_k.jpgD14I7641 by tdgraves, on Flickr

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Galana

Galana

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We believe you. There are actually two Waterbuck in the YB duck shot and the bills do stand out so a good EBC.

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