Part of the reason that I chose bird photography this month was to get out and enjoy the nice weather, as well as get familiar with a new lens I have purchased. So at first glance it may not make any sense that today I’m posting images from my last trip. I have gotten out a bit over the past couple of days and taken some bird images, and I have been really impressed with the lens so far. But I’m already half way through Sunday and I haven’t had a chance to start editing, so rather than miss posting altogether or rushing my editing process, I decided to go for some bird images from my catalogue that I haven’t posted before.
I hope you enjoy my selections for this week, and next week I will be sharing some of our local birds.
Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.
We came across a very large sociable weavers nest while on a game drive through Etosha National Park. There was a lot of activity in and out of the large communal nest, here one of the birds pauses in a more open spot where it is easier to see them.Up against the nest, the weaver is very camouflaged.The nest itself was so large it brought down one of the large branches of the acacia tree.This crimson breasted shrike played hard to get for a photo; this was the best that I could do while driving through the Makgadikgadi Pans.A beautiful glossy starling in early morning light.My personal favourite, the lilac breasted roller.
The WordPress photo challenge topic for the week are things that are distracting, and I need look no further than birds. Just yesterday, while taking my dog for an afternoon walk, a flash of yellow caught my eye in the bush, and I ended up rather mesmerized at the side of the road trying to photograph the birds flitting passed, mostly so I could try and identify them later. Those photos aren’t worth sharing, but I’m no different whilst on holiday either. Birds are definitely one of the things that stop me in my tracks so I can gaze at them in wonder.
I hope you enjoy my selection of photos.
A black korhaan, also known as the helicopter bird, spotted while out on a game drive in Etosha National Park. Namibia, April 2017.A flock of red billed quilea taking to the air. Okavango Delta, Botswana. May 2017.A southern ground hornbill spotted on an afternoon game drive in the Okavango Delta. We were very fortunate to see these endangered birds on several game drives in the delta. Botswana, May 2017.A grey go-away bird running along the edge of the Boteti River in Botswana. Granted it isn’t the best bird shot, but I loved the gesture of it too much not to include it. He looks like he’s doing a jig! Botswana, May 2017.A pale chanting goshawk perched next to the Boteti Rover in the early morning, likely looking for some breakfast amongst the frogs and other small creatures at the waters edge.I think I need to bring a magnetic bumper sticker the next time I go on safari that says “We brake for rollers”. I’ve never seen a lilac-breasted roller I didn’t want to snap a photo of. They are such beautiful birds, with such a gorgeous array of colours. Botswana, May 2017.
For stop #3 on my recent trip to Africa, we left Namibia behind and moved on to Botswana, where we stayed at the beautiful Leroo La Tau camp, which is situated on the Boteti River. Based on our particular travel dates, getting there was a little bit of a to-do. We flew from Little Ongava to Windhoek, overnighted in Windhoek with a 4AM wake up call for a transfer back to the airport, then onto a flight to Johannesburg, a connecting flight into Maun and finally our small plane transfer to the camp. We arrived at camp at around 3pm, and had a relaxing drink and snack on the deck and then a sundowner boat trip.
Each game drive started and ended with a boat trip, as the camp was located on the opposite bank of the river to the conservancy where we took our game drives. It was great to have the differing perspectives of game and bird viewing from land and from the water.
A group of bull elephants, arriving in from the Nxai Pan area, enjoying a refreshing play in the river.A group of wattled cranes strutting along, looking for breakfast.A watchful jackal spotted on one of our game drives.A pair of marabou storks roosting in the treetops at sunset.
As we spent 3 days at the camp, we had the opportunity to take a day trip to Nxai Pans. It was a long day (with a 6:30am departure arriving back around 7pm), but definitely worthwhile and very enjoyable. We had a picnic lunch in the Nxai Pans park, saw the amazing Baines Baobab trees and a few giant elephants along with loads of other game and interesting birds.
A pair of old bulls enjoying a mud bath. Many groups of elephants were making the trek from Nxai Pans down to the Boteti River by the camp. They arrived appearing white from the salts in the mud in the Nxai region.Admittedly not the best photograph, as I shot it straight ahead while the vehicle was moving, but it gives a bit of perspective on the size of the Baines baobabs. The trunks of each of the trees directly in front of the roadway were wider than the length of the land cruiser we were in. They actually make the trunks of the California redwoods seem kind of small!One of the pans with a baobab in the distance. The pans were rapidly drying out, and the animals were beginning to move towards the river.A group of little bee-eaters seen during our afternoon boat trip along the Boteti River. There were about 6-8 of these birds all clustered in one area.An African Jacana Dad with his chick. They often call these “Jesus Birds” because from a distance, they appear to walk on water.I spotted this Crimson-Breasted Shrike in some bushes during our drive around the Nxai Pans Park. Try as he might, Calvin could not convince the bird to come out of his hiding spot, so this was the best I could do for an image.
Our guide Calvin, camp managers Nelson and Umani, and all the staff at Leroo La Tau went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and enjoying our stay. We were even treated to two performances by the Leroo La Tau choir, including a special song for my parents, who celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary during the stay. It was truly a special place in a very beautiful area.
This past weekend, my Mom and I were discussing one of her friends that is terrified of birds. So in honour of the topic of Danger, here is a post that is only spells danger for Norma Jean, and anyone else with ornithophobia.
Caution, beaks and feathers ahead!
A golden weaver on thistles in Amboseli.A flock of gulls take to the skies above the Kazinga Channel, Uganda.My personal favourite, the lilac breasted roller.A little bee-eater seen in the Mara.Flamingos take to the air over the Amboseli swamp.A kori bustard struts his stuff.A yellow-billed stork searches for dinner in the shallows along the Kazinga Channel.
One of the things that surprised me most about Amboseli was spending time watching the birds in the marsh. I had gone there expecting flat plains, lots of dust and lots of elephants, and I definitely got that, but the birds were an unexpected surprise. I guess you could say I didn’t do a ton of research on the area before going there, and perhaps that is a good thing, as then surprises await at every turn on the road.
Today I have a rather large selection of bird images, I hope you enjoy seeing some of the feathered beauties of Amboseli.
Purple HeronJuvenile Marshall EagleFisher’s Sparrow-larkSuperb StarlingGolden weaver.Grey Crowned CranesCollared PratincoleA flock of flamingos in the distance.HamerkopGrey HeronSaddle-billed stork, mama with 3 chicks.Flamingos – I wish I would have had the chance to see them up close!Juvenile Saddle-billed StorkBlack-winged Stilt
Again this week I am replacing my “What I’ve seen this week” post with some photos from my time in Uganda. Basically, because all I have seen recently is snow… and not the nice to photograph, snow glistening from sunlit trees… the regular, driveway and road clogging, get out the snow blower and get on with the day kind of snow. Perhaps my desire for winter to end is a bit apparent!!! But anyways, on with today’s post.
During my time in Uganda, I took an afternoon boat trip along the Kazinga channel, where I saw more kingfishers in under 3 hours than I had seen in all my life before, combined. I’m not exaggerating to say there were hundreds of individuals there. There are nesting colonies along the river banks with dozens of birds at each site, and it just kept going and going.
Note, I meant to post this much earlier in the day, but I have been having nothing but issues with the WordPress “http error” when trying to upload images. My workaround was loading them to Google Drive, downloading to my mobile phone and uploading to media that way, but it certainly isn’t an efficient work around. Hopefully the “Happiness Engineers” will have some info as to how to resolve this issue.
Now, onto the pictures.
It was easy enough to get a photo of a pair of kingfishers as we cruised along, but the tree had probably 20+ birds in it.
Get off my branch!A malachite kingfisher spotted in the reed beds.A happy couple perched on an acacia tree.My first sighting of a woodland kingfisher – what a beauty!Another view of the malachite in the reeds. I spotted two of these while on the cruise, but only managed decent-ish photos of one.It was very loud from all the calling and chattering by the pied kingfishers.The pied kingfishers nest in the steep banks of the channel.Soaked after a dip.On the lookout.
As promised on Sunday, another selection of birds of Southern Africa.
Enjoy, and have a wonderful day!
The beautiful lilac breasted roller.A yellow-throated long claw seen at Phinda.A pied kingfisher in the reeds of the Okavango Delta.A lilac breasted roller… even the guide couldn’t figure out exactly what it was doing.A lappet-faced vulture seen in the Kalahari Desert.Guinea fowl roosting in the treetops.A glossy starling.A common fiscal.
I was going through my folder of edited photos and realized I have a large number of random bird photos ready to go. Which is good, because I’ve not managed to get out and capture any of the local wildlife lately!
Even splitting the group of photos I found into two, I’ve still got a fair number of bird photos to post in the future!
I hope you enjoy, and have a great day!
A magpie shrike perched in an acacia tree.A lilac breasted roller perching beautifully for a photo.A pair of kori bustards in the Kalahari Desert.A green backed heron hunting along the edge of a dam.A brown hooded kingfisher.A sacred ibis flies over on of the swamps of the Okavango Delta.An African wood hoopoe.
I’ve seen secretary birds on my past trips to Southern Africa, but it seemed that I always encountered them either in terrible light, or at such a far distance they were little more than specks (or both!). This past trip I was spoiled for choice, and saw them several times in Uganda, and every day while in Kenya. It was very interesting to watch them high-stepping through the grass, looking for prey.
The difference good light makes is amazing. The same camera and lens combo was used for both photos.
This photo was from my trip last year to South Africa, and basically the best I could capture of a secretary bird.A secretary bird strutting past our vehicle in Masai Mara National Park.
A new visitor stopped by the yard this morning! I fired off quite a few shots from the porch, mostly so I could ID the bird, and then wandered closer. He or she didn’t mind my presence, and continued working up and down a couple of birch trees, picking off tiny insects. The red-breasted sapsuckers are a summertime visitor to my area, according to my bird app, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to view and photograph today.
I was glad I was able to move around the get the light in the right direction, and work towards an uncluttered background.I love the out of focus soft green background, it really shows off the red feathers,A chance to see the wings spread out, and the hint of yellow tones on the belly. 1/1000sec, f6.3, ISO 640Captured mid-blink.Looking skywards. I love the detail that I was able to capture.Reaching to grab at a tiny insect.
