Photography – Page 87 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

April 21, 2015

Damaraland Highlights

Here is a glimpse of some of the beautiful scenery of Damaraland, and my transfer between Sossusvlei and Damaraland.

One of Damaraland's rocky hills. Taken early in the day when the winds are low and the sky is free from dust. — One of Damaraland’s rocky hills. Taken early in the day when the winds are low and the sky is free from dust.

An oryx runs through the desert at sunset. Such pretty light.

A huge group of ostriches were spooked by our approaching vehicle, and ran as fast as they could to the top of the rise.

One of the more recent shipwrecks along the Namibian coast. This one ran aground in the mid 2000's. — One of the more recent shipwrecks along the Namibian coast. This one ran aground in the mid 2000’s.

Some of the amazing rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. They estimate that the San bushman carved these images between 2000-6000 years ago. The sandstone has broken up, and the panels are no longer in the original positions.

One of the desert adapted elephants of Damaraland. I was surprised how high they climbed in the mountains.

April 20, 2015

Sossusvlei Highlights

I know once I am home I will be able to fill several posts with photos from my time at Sossusvlei, but for now, here are a few highlights from my brief stay.

I landed in Namibia hoping I would see Oryx, and within a few minutes, I did :) The lodge had a small watering hole, and I frequent sightings. — I landed in Namibia hoping I would see Oryx, and within a few minutes, I did 🙂 The lodge had a small watering hole, and I frequent sightings.

Some young zebra playing in the desert. These little guys were whipping around, without a care in the world.

An oryx tests the water of the lodge pool.

April 19, 2015

Birds at breakfast

These birds seemed to think that breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, but an easy breakfast is!

Too many carbs??? A sociable weaver looks sleepy atop a bowl of museli. — Too many carbs???
A sociable weaver looks sleepy atop a bowl of museli.

A pair of mountain wheatears and a sociable weaver look for crumbs.

A group of sociable weavers line up on the patio steps, waiting for me to leave the table so they could help themselves to leftovers.

April 9, 2015

Seeing about 6 or 7 of our beautiful great blue herons on Tuesday reminded me that I still had a few photos of grey herons to edit. These are the last of the photos I had flagged off from my stay at Zimanga for editing.

Enjoy 🙂

A grey heron, an egret and a pair of died kingfishers. Those were some busy rocks! — A grey heron, an egret and a pair of pied kingfishers. Those were some busy rocks!

A grey heron with an antelope skull and various bones littering the background.

A grey heron in flight above Jozini Dam.

A grey heron nicely poses in the grasses next to the dam.

April 9, 2015

African Hoopoe

I may have posted a version of this photo before, but I somehow lost the PSD file when transferring things from one computer to another, and I liked it enough to edit it again 🙂

http://jennifersawicky.smugmug.com/buy/46618501_HZ72M2/3981061978_qfRpqHR/

April 8, 2015

Goliath Heron

I was so excited when I had the chance to watch a goliath heron two evenings in a row; I wasn’t so impressed with the light and weather conditions I had to photograph them. Hopefully one day I will see one of them again in more favourable conditions; until then, here are a few of the photos I captured 🙂

Have a great evening!

A goliath heron in the tall grasses along Lake Sibaya.

April 1, 2015

Fish Eagles

On my first trip to South Africa, I completely blanked on the name of this bird while watching a pair perched in a tree along the river, and asked my guide the brilliant question “What is their primary prey?” Fish. Oh dear… I felt quite silly. I learned a bit more about the fish eagles this past trip (thank you to Graeme, Rebecca and Vincent for all the valuable information throughout my stay!) You can tell the difference between the males and females by the white front feathers. The males have a shirt, and the girls have a skirt. I had serious trouble distinguishing between the two at times though – those fish eagle girls sometimes have VERY short skirts! I’ll give my best guess as to the sexes in the pictures below. I’ve got a 50/50 shot of being right. Have a great evening!

A male fish eagle gave us a fly by while we were out doing our monitoring activities. The more I look at this picture, the more it looks like I (badly) photoshopped the bird into the background. I can assure you I didn't! 1/800 sec, f5.6 ISO 800 — A male fish eagle gave us a fly by while we were out doing our monitoring activities. The more I look at this picture, the more it looks like I (badly) photoshopped the bird into the background. I can assure you I didn’t!
1/800 sec, f5.6 ISO 800

A female fish eagle along the shores of Jozini Dam. I saw several fish eagles during my morning boat trip, but unfortunately for my photography, most were too far away to get a reasonable picture on a somewhat bumpy boat ride. 1/1250 sec, f5.6, ISO 320 — A female fish eagle along the shores of Jozini Dam. I saw several fish eagles during my morning boat trip, but unfortunately for my photography, most were too far away to get a reasonable picture on a somewhat bumpy boat ride.
1/1250 sec, f5.6, ISO 320

I'm not even going to hazard a guess on the shirt vs skirt for this photo! 1/1600 sec, f6.3, ISO 400 — I’m not even going to hazard a guess on the shirt vs skirt for this photo!
1/1600 sec, f6.3, ISO 400

March 26, 2015

Jameson’s Firefinch

I saw this beautiful firefinch couple at the Zimanga bird hide during our morning session. They are similar in size to the blue waxbills, and like them have such soft, gentle looking faces. As with (almost) all birds, the male has much more vibrant colouring than the female. And check out the tiny white dots running along the sides of their chests; such a delicate detail.

Time for drink. 1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1250 — Time for drink.
1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1250

A stern look from the male firefinch. 1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1250 — A stern look from the male firefinch.
1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1250

The look on their faces! "OMG he's huge!" 1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1250 — The look on their faces! “OMG he’s huge!”
1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1250

March 25, 2015

Blue Waxbill

I spent a lot of time watching these little birds on my last trip to South Africa, both around the yard at the volunteer house, and while at the bird hides. There was something about the way they gathered in small groups, their flight style and their happy looking faces that reminded me of the oregon dark eyed juncos we have here at home; it certainly wasn’t based on appearance, as other than size and beak shape, they physically have nothing in common.