The African Bird Blog

We just completed our two week visit to Christie's Kamp at the Makalali Game Reserve.  Our accommodations were very good but electricity was a luxury and there was no internet. So I am just now getting a chance to put out another blog. I know there are a few birders out there so this is the Bird Blog. I will post a big five blog tomorrow.There are some average pictures in this group but I wanted you to see a good sampling of the bird variety here.

A male Ostrich can have up to eight females in his harem.

Black Winged Stilt 

Dipkop

Steppe Buzzard

Helmeted Guineafowl

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Green Backed Woodhoopoe - Shot in poor light just before sunrise.

Tawny Eagle

Jackal Buzzards - One arriving as the nest as one leaves.

Hammerkop

Yellow Weaver - The male builds the next. The female has final approval. If she doesn't like the nest she tears it apart and the male builds a new one.

Giant Kingfisher

I used a flash to capture this Tawny Eagle on an overcast cloudy day. Then I used photoshop to put it into a nice blue sky with the moon. The background shot was taken earlier in the week.

Red Created Korhaan - These guys fly straight up into the air. Fold their wings against their body and plummet back to earth. Right before landed they place their legs down and open their wings.

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Woodlands Kingfisher - The one Kingfisher that doesn't eat fish.

A Yellow Billed Hornbill - Not a great picture, but this guy worked for 20 minutes trying to get this over-sized frog down his small throat.  He never suceeded but didn't want to give up his prize. 

White Backed Vulture

Lilac Breasted Roller and my favorite bird picture so far.

Little Bee Eater

Red Headed Weaver

Hooded Vulture

European Bee Eaters

European Nightjar - You usually only see these at night when it is too dark to get a good picture. This one was napping right next to the road. They use the long hairs on their chin to feel for their food.

Cape Glossy Starling. When the sun is shining these birds look amazing. Their feathers are about the equivalent of metalic paint. 

Black Bellied Korhaan. This bird is about three times as big at the othe Korhaan.

Bateluer Eagle. 

That's all for this blog.