A friend of mine recently showed me some lovely photos she took of a Baltimore oriole, which inspired me to get to work on the photos I have of beautiful yellow birds – the southern masked weaver and spectacled weaver.
I was lucky enough to be able to watch the southern masked weavers crafting their nests in a tree in the back garden of the Wildlife ACT volunteer house at Zimanga, plus have them visit the water hole while we had time at the hides.
Enjoy!
![A female southern masked weaver perched high in the branches in the back garden. Not a great shot; I included it to show the difference between the male and female. 1/320 sec, f5.6, ISO 450](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_southern-masked-weaver-7.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/320 sec, f5.6, ISO 450
![A southern masked weaver works on his nest upside down. 1/320 sec, f5.6, ISO 280](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_southern-masked-weaver-6.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/320 sec, f5.6, ISO 280
![The weaver makes a retreat after having a quick splash in the water. 1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_southern-masked-weaver-5.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250
![A southern masked weaver flanked by a pair of cape glossy starlings. I love the contrast between the colouring of the weaver and the starlings. 1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_southern-masked-weaver-4.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250
![The early stages of the nest process. The grasses are woven together with a great deal of intricacy. 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 100](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_southern-masked-weaver-2.jpg?resize=525%2C350)
1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 100
![Several southern masked weavers work on building the perfect nest. 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 140](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_southern-masked-weaver.jpg?resize=525%2C350)
1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 140
![A spectacled weaver eyes up the water hole before heading down for a drink. 1/2500 sec, f7.1, ISO 5000](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_spectacled-weaver.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/2500 sec, f7.1, ISO 5000
![A southern masked weaver perched above the watering hole. 1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150207_southern-masked-weaver-3.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250
http://jennifersawicky.smugmug.com/buy/46618501_HZ72M2/3865148179_647zLgQ/
Great captures! Love the one of the yellow bird flying…cool in air suspension !!;)
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Thanks!!! 🙂