Once more I have dipped into my limited bird archives to bring you, dear reader, the cream of a limited crop. I admire the patience and fortitude of bird photographers who will sit in a cramped position to get ‘that’ shot.
I am more of a shoot and move on type of photographer. It might well be my need for instant gratification…
Red-billed Hornbill with breakfast.
Fun Fact: Hornbills are named because the shape of their bill reminded early people of cattle horns. The hornbill’s first two neck vertebrae are fused to support its large bill.
The banana bird or Zazu from the Lion King. It is actually a Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill.
Did you know? They use millipedes in their nests, and it is thought that secretions from the insects might help protect the mother and young from bacteria.
This Tawny Eagle is about 2-years old. I have been informed that Raptor specialists will always refer to the age of the bird in order to make certain that their identification is accurate.
This is a Tawny Eagle…about 4-years old.
It takes 5-7 years for raptors to fully replace a complete set of plumage.
My thanks to Doug Newman (co-author, together with Gordon King, of LBJs made simple published by Struik Nature). Thanks for all your valuable assistance.
A Pearl-Spotted Owlet. And if think that small is not dangerous, look at the size of its talons.
Fun Fact: It is one of the smallest African owls.
A Woodland Kingfisher.
Although it is a “kingfisher”, it prefers drier habitats in more traditional woodland and can found be far from water. Seen as solitary it can occur in small groups.
Fun Fact: Contrary to their name, this particular species does not eat fish. Their main diet consists of insects (especially grasshoppers), lizards, small birds (bronze mannikin and chicks of several birds), snakes and frogs.
A Green-backed Heron, perfectly poised.
If I am to be honest, this is one of my favourite bird images.
A Hadeda Ibis, to give this poor creature its correct name.
Not the variety of adjectives we invariably fling in its direction when it wakes us up in the early morning. Who needs a rooster in an urban suburb when you have these in attendance?
Fun Fact: A visit from a Hadeda is a sign of a healthy garden, teeming with smaller wildlife species. Their probing search assists with the aerating of soil and the control of insect populations.
A Red Bishop amongst the reeds.
Did you know? The males perform a display flight with their feathers fluffed up. They are polygynous and will mate with several females. Their nests are most commonly built among reeds and are made of grasses and other plant materials woven together.
Bateleur, Juvenile and adult.
When I first spotted them I thought that they were separate species until a closer investigation proved that they were related.
A Swainson’s Spur Fowl…another noisy bird that tends to wander though game lodges waking guests before the field guides can.
It seems that a hippo muscled in on this post! The Egret was in the right place at the right time. No photo manipulation was used.
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