wildlife – Page 52 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

February 13, 2015

Warthogs

Given the sheer quantity of warthogs I saw while at Zimanga Game Reserve, I’m surprised it has taken me this long to post any photos of them. They were everywhere I looked, from dawn till dusk. In our yard, wandering down the road (and seeming to take great joy in holding up the vehicle progress) and I am pretty certain there was at least one (probably more) hanging around every time we stopped the vehicle to do our tracking.

They could be described as having a face only a mother could love, but honestly I found something kind of endearing about them. And if nothing else, I really, really needed to work on a blog post of a land dweller, or I’d have to change the tagline of my site to “Images of birds and more birds”.

Have a great evening!

A young warthog I caught snooping around the garden while I was outside photographing the birds. 1/500 sec, f7.1, ISO 100 — A young warthog I caught snooping around the garden while I was outside photographing the birds.
1/500 sec, f7.1, ISO 100

The second before "Oh no, they see me!" 1/640 sec, f9.0, ISO 400 — The second before “Oh no, they see me!”
1/640 sec, f9.0, ISO 400

Catching a nap in the mid afternoon heat, in the garden of the Wildlife ACT volunteer house. 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 250 — Catching a nap in the mid afternoon heat, in the garden of the Wildlife ACT volunteer house.
1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 250

Big tusks on this one! 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 1100 — Big tusks on this one!
1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

A large female warthog popped by the Mkombe bird hide for a drink. 1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1600 — A large female warthog popped by the Mkombe bird hide for a drink.
1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1600

February 12, 2015

Sunbirds

I’m both happy and irritated with myself at the moment. Happy that I discovered a few additional sunbird photos that had not been properly tagged, and annoyed with myself for not going through the proper workflow to begin with.

That off my chest, here are a few additional sunbirds I saw during my last trip to South Africa. Enjoy!

My best attempt at an identification - I believe this is a female amethyst sunbird. 1/800 Sec, f5.6, ISO 800 — My best attempt at an identification – I believe this is a female amethyst sunbird.
1/800 Sec, f5.6, ISO 800

A male purple-banded sunbird perched in a distance tree. 1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400 — A male purple-banded sunbird perched in a distance tree.
1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400

A female scarlet-chested sunbird feeding on aloe. 1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400 — A female scarlet-chested sunbird feeding on aloe.
1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400

A huge stretch to reach the perfect aloe blossom. 1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400 — A huge stretch to reach the perfect aloe blossom.
1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400

A female scarlet-chested sunbird in flight. 1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400 — A female scarlet-chested sunbird in flight.
1/640 sec, f5.6, ISO 400

February 11, 2015

Lilac-breasted roller

While organizing photos, I came across a few lilac-breasted roller shots that frankly, I forgot I had. They are from my trip this past October / November to Zimanga. While there, I didn’t have a lot of success capturing the roller, as most of the time we were driving when I noticed it, and it was gone by the time we stopped, if we were able to stop at all. If there is a more beautiful bird though, I’ve not seen it yet. When the sunlight strikes its feather, the colours are just amazing.

Enjoy the photos and have a lovely day.

A cheeky glance over the shoulder. 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 100 — A cheeky glance over the shoulder.
1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 100

If the light would have been on my side, this obviously would have been much better. I included it as I really like the composition. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 100 — If the light would have been on my side, this obviously would have been much better. I included it as I really like the composition.
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 100

Perched in the thorn tree, I snapped this just moments before the roller took off. 1/1000 sec, f5.6, ISO 400 — Perched in the thorn tree, I snapped this just moments before the roller took off.
1/1000 sec, f5.6, ISO 400

Up and away. Not the sharpest in flight shot, but a lovely display of the colourful feathers nonetheless. 1/1250 sec, f5.6, ISO 400 — Up and away. Not the sharpest in flight shot, but a lovely display of the colourful feathers nonetheless.
1/1250 sec, f5.6, ISO 400

You can see some of my roller shots from my first trip to South Africa here: Lilac Breasted Roller, The lilac breasted roller.

February 10, 2015

Bee-eaters

I saw several bee-eater species on my first trip to Africa, which have been featured on several previous blog posts: Carmine bee-eaters, Bee-eaters, Birds in flight

This past trip, I added the little bee-eater to my list of birds, and saw the white fronted and european bee-eater again. I’ve only ever seen the european bee-eater from far distances, so I am hoping some day I will have some nice close up shots to work with.

A pair of white fronted bee-eaters perched on a thorn tree branch. 1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000 — A pair of white fronted bee-eaters perched on a thorn tree branch.
1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000

While the female look away, the male sneaks off. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000 — While the female look away, the male sneaks off.
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000

Contemplating following her partner... this female white fronted bee-eater stuck around for another minute before heading off after her mate. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000 — Contemplating following her partner… this female white fronted bee-eater stuck around for another minute before heading off after her mate.
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000

A lone little bee-eater perched on a low branch. It's mate was just out of the shot, about a meter away. 1/1000 sec, f5.6, ISO 720 — A lone little bee-eater perched on a low branch. It’s mate was just out of the shot, about a meter away.
1/1000 sec, f5.6, ISO 720

A pair of little bee-eaters perched on a broken branch. 1/320 sec, f7.1, ISO 400 — A pair of little bee-eaters perched on a broken branch.
1/320 sec, f7.1, ISO 400

A pair of little bee-eaters pose for some photos. 1/320 sec, f8.0, ISO 400 — A pair of little bee-eaters pose for some photos.
1/320 sec, f8.0, ISO 400

A European bee-eater perched in a far off tree. 1/250 sec, f5.6 ISO 800 — A European bee-eater perched in a far off tree.
1/250 sec, f5.6 ISO 800

February 9, 2015

Pin-tailed Whydah

February 8, 2015

Mousebirds

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 — A red faced mousebird leans in for a drink. This mousebird showed up to our afternoon session at the Bhejane hide, before anyone even had their camera attached to a tripod, and never came back again.
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1600

A long mousebird perched above the watering hole. 1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000 — A long mousebird perched above the watering hole.
1/400 sec, f5.6, ISO 1000

Five mousebirds around the watering hole on a sunny spring morning. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 1600 — Five mousebirds around the watering hole on a sunny spring morning.
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 — Wings back and claws extended as the mousebird comes into land at the watering hole.
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 — 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

A mousebird lands at the water hole as an emerald spotted wood dove takes off. 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

The long tail feathers of the mousebird are well displayed during take off. 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

The last of the mousebirds takes off for the trees. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000 — The last of the mousebirds takes off for the trees.
1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000

February 8, 2015

Bald Eagle and an Osprey

Here in southern BC, we have spent the last few days with lovely warm weather for February, but have been absolutely hammered with rain as well. This morning, I woke up to a reprieve from the rain and even a few hints of blue sky. As such, I finally got out on a morning walk with my camera. I can’t believe it is February and these are the first 2015 photos I am able to post. They aren’t the best eagle or osprey photos I have taken and the birds weren’t doing anything weird or wonderful. I am just so thrilled that I was able to have a dry walk and see some birds that I decided to share.

Based on the quality and direction of the light, and how desaturated the photos were, I decided to convert everything to black and white.

Happy Sunday everyone!

20150208_Osprey-2 — An osprey peers down at me from a tree along the banks of the Pitt River.

20150208_Osprey — Tired of being photographed, the osprey flees the paparazzi.

This osprey didn't seem to appreciate the camera being pointed at it, and flew away to a new perch after only a couple photos. We played this game a few times before it headed off out of reach of my camera. — This osprey didn’t seem to appreciate the camera being pointed at it, and flew away to a new perch after only a couple photos. We played this game a few times before it headed off out of reach of my camera.

20150208_Bald Eagle — The trunks of two trees nicely frame a beautiful bald eagle. It kept a very watchful eye on Spencer and I.

20150208_Bald Eagle-2 — The eagle’s penetrating gaze trained in the direction of the osprey. Even though it was a fair distance away, I have no doubt they were aware of each other.

February 7, 2015

Weavers

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 — 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

A southern masked weaver works on his nest upside down. 1/320 sec, f5.6, ISO 280 — A southern masked weaver works on his nest upside down.
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 — The weaver makes a retreat after having a quick splash in the water.
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 — 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

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 — 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

Several southern masked weavers work on building the perfect nest. 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 140 — Several southern masked weavers work on building the perfect nest.
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 — A spectacled weaver eyes up the water hole before heading down for a drink.
1/2500 sec, f7.1, ISO 5000

A southern masked weaver perched above the watering hole. 1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250 — A southern masked weaver perched above the watering hole.
1/1600 sec, f9.0, ISO 1250

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February 7, 2015

Giraffes Necking

We came across a journey of giraffe during a mid-afternoon photo drive on Zimanga Game Reserve. Several of the males had gathered together away from the rest and were busily beating on each other using head, neck and horns. It only seemed to be play fighting, rather than any real push to establish dominance as they seemed to far too young for that.

From Wikipedia:

“Adult giraffes do not have strong social bonds, though they do gather in loose aggregations if they happen to be moving in the same general direction. Males establish social hierarchies through “necking”, which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon. Dominant males gain mating access to females, which bear the sole responsibility for raising the young.”

February 5, 2015

Giraffe Crossing

Why did the giraffe cross the road??? 1/500 sec, f9.0, ISO 250 — Why did the giraffe cross the road???
1/500 sec, f9.0, ISO 250