Ithala, Ndumo, Tembe, Bayette, Mkuze, Hluhkluwe and St lucia

[Bugs]

Oh, that's lovely to know about James... do you have a photo? Would love to see if it's same guy, probably is...

 

I dont have a photo of James, but this is his brother. I think his name was Vuzi. Great sense of humor and good knowledge of birds.

 

[Kavey]

I can't tell!

I'll see if I can find pictures, lord knows where they are, from our 2004 trip!

[Bugs]

Just adding some bird photos.

Bird1.

Bird2.

Bird3.

Bird4.

Bird5.

Bird6.

Bird7.

Bird8.

Bird9.

Bird10.

Edited November 8, 2011 by dikdik

[Bugs]

More

Bird11.

Bird12.

Bird13.

Bird14.

Bird15.

Bird16.

Bird17.

Bird18.

Bird19.

Bird20.

[Bugs]

Bird21.

Bird22.

Bird23.

Bird24.

Bird25.

Bird26.

Bird27.

Bird28.

Bird29.

Bird30.

[Bugs]

I must apologize for the slapstick approach here, and for some of the photos being sooo large and others being soooo small

[Sangeeta]

Have been swooping in and out of your report, Dikdik, but wasn't able to post before this because of work. Echoing pault that this was a hugely informative report for those of us who know little to nothing about the SA reserves. Really enjoyed reading it and getting the sense from you that all is not doom and gloom everywhere. We really need to hear that sometimes because it's so easy to feel overwhelmed by all the bad news coming our way.

 

Fantastic pictures. The ele encounter looked very exciting. All of you African/Africa-based STers are so lucky to be from a place where you can just drive around and stop where it takes your fancy! We poor sods have to plan years in advance...

 

On another note, of all the names mentioned in your header, I had heard only of Ithala, Tembe and Hluhkluwe, but I'm sure there are lots of people who know none of these names. Since there are so many private SA reserves, could everyone writing about all these places please add "SA" somewhere in the header, so that we can pull all of these reports up when researching? Thanks. And thanks also for taking the time to write this up.

[twaffle]

Dikdik, your bird photos crack me up. I'd love a bird guide written by you ... "look over there, I think it is a rare, endemic #52, quick take a photo!".

 

Really like the photos and you have given some interesting places a good bit of publicity.

[Bugs]

Dikdik, your bird photos crack me up. I'd love a bird guide written by you ... "look over there, I think it is a rare, endemic #52, quick take a photo!".

 

Really like the photos and you have given some interesting places a good bit of publicity.

 

I thought I would give you a chance to identify some first.

 

And when I get the time I will put the answers in upside down.

[Bugs]

On another note, of all the names mentioned in your header, I had heard only of Ithala, Tembe and Hluhkluwe, but I'm sure there are lots of people who know none of these names. Since there are so many private SA reserves, could everyone writing about all these places please add "SA" somewhere in the header, so that we can pull all of these reports up when researching? Thanks. And thanks also for taking the time to write this up.

 

True - there are more parks and reserves than I can shake a stick at.

 

GW! - Please change the typo in the heading to read Hluhluwe.

[Sangeeta]

Perfect example of how much I know about SA! Nothing.

[Bugs]

Sorry for the delay - I wanted to edit the bird names in later, but here are the names so long.

 

Bird1 – Yellow weaver.

Bird2 – Collared Sunbird

Bird3 – Spotted Eagle owl

Bird4 – Brown headed kingfisher

Bird5 – Narina Trogon (special bird)

Bird6 – Trumpeter Hornbill

Bird7 – African Broadbill (very special bird)

Bird8 - White browed scrub robin

Bird 9 – African (Grassland) pipit

Bird 10 – Crowned lapwing

Bird11 – Rudds Apalis (special bird)

Bird 12 – Pink throated twinspot (special)

Bird13 – Scarlet Chested sunbird

Bird14 – Jackal buzzard

Bird15 – Violet backed (Plumb coloured) starling.

Bird16 – Chinspot batis

Bird17 – Rufous-naped Lark

Bird18 – Pygmy Kingfisher

Bird19 – Blue-grey flycatcher

Bird20 – Tawny Flanked Prina

Bird21 – Steppe Buzzard (I think)

Bird22 – Red Capped (Natal) robin-chat

Bird23 – Squacco heron

Bird24 – klaas cuckoo

Bird25 – Black headed oriole

Brid26 – Burchels coucal

Bird27 – Wire tailed swallow

Bird28 – Long crested eagle

Bird 29 – Red-collared widowbird

Bird30 – Dideric Cuckoo