More pictures from my session at the Mkombe hide at Zimanga. The mousebirds were a favourite of the photo coordinator, and the bird she most hoped seeing when we started our hide session. The red faced mousebird only made brief appearance, but a good number of speckled mousebirds spent a great deal of time at the water.
Looking at the photos now, I find a resemblance between the mousebird and a cardinal (head and beak shape) though I must be honest I have not seen a cardinal other than in photos for over 30 years, so I could be completely wrong about that.
Wikipedia provides some information on the behaviour and habitat of the mousebird:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mousebird
Have a great day!
![A red faced mousebird leans in for a drink. This type of mousebird showed up before anyone even had their cameras attached to the tripods in the hide, and never came back again. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1600](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1600
![A long mousebird perched above the watering hole. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-2.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000
![Feathers ruffled.](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-3.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
![Five mousebirds around the watering hole on a sunny spring morning. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 1600](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-4.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 1600
![Wings back and claws extended as the mousebird comes into land at the watering hole. 1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 1600](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-5.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 1600
![Two drinking, one eyeing up the situation from the perch, and one on the way out (bet you didn't notice that one at first!) 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-6.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
![A mousebird lands at the water hole as an emerald spotted wood dove takes off. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-7.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
![The long tail feathers of the mousebird are well displayed during take off. 1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 2000](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-8.jpg?resize=525%2C351)
1/2500 sec, f9.0 ISO 2000
![The last of the mousebirds takes off for the trees. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000](https://jsawicky.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/20150208_mousebirds-9.jpg?resize=525%2C787)
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
You are on a blog roll!! This is so fun to see your pics! I love the feathers ruffled and amazed how much they blend in with the log and surroundings! Great work!!!
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Thanks Christy! It’s been great to dedicate a little more time to going through pictures and posting them. It really makes me smile. Fingers crossed for something today as well.