2012-12-15
some more from Frank -
Categories: A few more images from the camera of Frank Gardner who visited Kenya staying at Simba Lodge and visiting Lakes Naivasha, Olidiene and Hell's Gate Nat'l Park, What a weekend that was I find it tempting me to follow but would have to go for a week there just to beat his total 113
Great White Pelican
Baglafecht Weaver
Fischers Lovebird hybrid
Hadada Ibis
Northern Anteater Chat
Scarlet chested Sunbird
2012-12-01
A few images from an old Bahrain resident Frank Gardner who visited Kenya staying at Simba Lodge and visited Lakes Naivasha, Olidiene and Hell's Gate Natl Park, all in a weekend!
Redchested Cuckoo
Superb Starling
Speke's Weaver
Schalow's Wheatear
Purple Grenadier
Malachite Kingfisher
Amethyst Sunbird
Giant Kingfisher
Rattling Cisticola
BIRDS SEEN IN KENYA – Nov 2012
Species
1. Common Ostrich Struthio camelus Nairobi NP
2. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Lake Naivasha
3. Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufiscens Lake Naivasha
4. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Lake Olidiene
5. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo L Naivasha
6. Long-tailed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus LNaivasha
7. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax L Naivasha
8. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Lake Naivasha
9. Common Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides L Naivasha
10. Little Egret Egretta garzetta L Naivasha
11. Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia L Naivasha
12. Great Egret Casmerodius albus Lake Naivasha
13. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Lake Naivasha
14. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Lake Naivasha
15. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala L Naivasha
16. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta Nairobi Ole Sereni
17. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Nairobi NP
18. Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis Lake Naivasha
19. Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus Nairobi, L.Naivasha
20. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Nairobi, L.Naivasha
21. Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash L Naivasha Simba Lodge
22. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Lake Naivasha
23. African Spoonbill Platalea alba Lake Naivasha
24. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Lake Olidiene
25. Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor Lake Olidiene
26. Egyptian Goose Alapochen aegyptiacus Lake Naivasha
27. Red-billed Teal Anas erythroryncha Lake Naivasha
28. Hottetot Teal Anas hottentota Lake Olidiene
29. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata Lake Naivasha
30. Black Kite Milvus migrans Nairobi
31. African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer Lake Naivasha
32. Augur Buzzard Buteo augur Rift Valley lookout
33. Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Hells Gate NP
34. Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris Lake Naivasha
35. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata Lake Olidiene
36. Common Moorhen Lake Naivasha Lake Naivasha
37. African Jacana Actophilornis africanus Lake Naivasha
38. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus L. Olidiene
39. Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus Lake Naivasha
40. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Lake Olidiene
41. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Lake Naivasha
42. Common Redshank Tringa tetanus Lake Olidiene
43. Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus Lake Naivasha
44. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus Lake Naivasha
45. African Green Pigeon Treron calva L. Naivasha Country Club
46. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea L. Naivasha Country Club
47. Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola L. Naivasha Country Club
48. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata L. Naivasha Country Club
49. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Lake Naivasha Country Club
50. Fischer’s Lovebird Agapornis fischeri Lake Naivasha Country Club
51. Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitaries Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
52. Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge
53. White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus L. Naivasha Simba Lodge Nairobi NP
54. Nyanza Swift Apus niansae Hells Gate NP
55. African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus Nairobi
56. Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
57. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Lake Naivasha
58. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima Lake Naivasha
59. Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata Lake Naivasha
60. Green Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
61. African Hoopoe Upupa Africana Hells Gate NP
62. African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus L Naivasha Country Club
63. Grey Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae L Naivasha Country Club
64. Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula Hells Gate NP
65. Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica L Naivasha Simba Lodge
66. Mosque Swallow Hirundo senegalensis Rift Valley lookout
67. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Hells Gate NP
68. African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp Lake Olidiene Nairobi Ole Sereni
69. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava Lake Naivasha
70. Grassland Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus Hells Gate NP
71. Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
72. Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra L Naivasha Country Club
73. White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini L Naivasha Simba Lodge
74. Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
75. Northern Anteater Chat Myrmecocichla aethiops Hells Gate NP
76. Cliff Chat Myrmecochla nigra L Naivasha field
77. Schalow’s Wheatear Oenanthe schalowi Hells Gate NP
78. Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida L Naivasha Country Club
79. Brown Parisoma Parisoma lugens L Naivasha Simba Lodge
80. Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana Hells Gate NP
81. Winding Cisticola Cisticola galactotes L Naivasha Country Club
82. White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri L Naivasha Simba Lodge
83. African Grey Flycatcher Bradornis microrhynchus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
84. Chin-spot Batis Batis molitor L Naivasha Simba Lodge
85. African Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis L Naivasha Simba Lodge
86. Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii L Naivasha Simba Lodge
87. Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpie L Naivasha Country Club
88. White-bellied Tit Parus albiventris L Naivasha Simba Lodge
89. Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis L Naivasha Simba Lodge
90. Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis L Naivasha Simba Lodge
91. Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystine L Naivasha Simba Lodge
92. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis L Naivasha Simba Lodge
93. Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venusta L Naivasha Simba Lodge
94. Common Fiscal Lanius collaris Hells Gate NP
95. Long-tailed Fiscal Lanius cabanisi Nairobi Ole Sereni
96. Grey-backed Fiscal Lanius excuitoroides L Naivasha Simba Lodge
97. Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
98. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis L Naivasha Simba Lodge
99. Pied Crow Corvus albus Nairobi
100. African Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
101. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio L Naivasha Country Club
102. Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus Nairobi Ole Sereni
103. Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling Lamprotornis purpuropterus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
104. Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
105. Rufous Sparrow Passer rufocinctus Hells Gate NP, Nairobi
106. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Nairobi Ole Sereni
107. Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis L Naivasha Simba Lodge
108. Speke’s Weaver Ploceus spekei Nairobi Ole Sereni
109. Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht L Naivasha Simba Lodge
110. Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps L Naivasha Simba Lodge
111. Purple Grenadier Uraeginthus ianthinogaster L Naivasha Simba Lodge
112. Brimstone Canary Serinus sulphuratus Hells Gate NP
113. Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus L Naivasha Simba Lodge
2012-11-22
John made contact a few weeks back and has managed a few field trips with me over the last few weeks - many of the photos he took I was also taking taking simulaneously
Here in no particular order
Back Winged Stilt
Caspian Tern
.
Cattle Egret
Crested Lark
Desert Warbler
.
Hypocolius
Isabelline Wheatear
.
Kentish Plover
Kestrel
Little Stint
.
Skylark
Spotted Eagle
.
.
Stonechat
Water Pipit
.
White-cheeked Bulbul
Yellow Wagtail
2011-10-10
A week at Ngwenya Lodge, Southern Kruger National Park -
Categories: South Africa -
mike pope
@ 04:48:12 pm
Winter Birding - Ngwenya Lodge, Mpumalanga - 13 to 19 August 2011
After a hectic first half of the year, nothing like a break in the African bush to re-charge your soul. This year, we spent a week at our timeshare in Ngwenya Lodge (http://www.ngwenya.co.za/NGW/ngw.htm), situated on the southern boundary of the Kruger National Park, with our Unit overlooking the Crocodile River - bliss! Images by Mike Pope
13 AUG 2011
We had a comfortable drive from Johannesburg to Ngwenya dropping down from the chilly highveld into the more temperate loweveld in and around Komatiepoort. During the check-in formalities, I found a Spotted Flycatcher which appears to have over-wintered as these species are only now migrating through Kuwait.
Foraging around the bottom of a shrub, was the normally shy Green-backed Camaroptera.
After unpacking the car and getting sorted in our Unit we relaxed over lunch and later in the afternoon had a stroll around the Lodge gardens finding a few old 'friends' like Dark-capped Bulbul
Lesser Masked Weaver, still in winter or non-breeding plumage - although I did observe some nest building action
Although I was rusty on some calls, that of the African Green Pigeon was instantly recognisable
At the small lake near the restaurant, a White-breasted Cormorant was seen
Looking out over the Crocodile River at the restaurant, a Nile Crocodile was catching the last rays of the day
As we got to our Unit, a small flock of Red Helmet Shrikes made a brief appearance
14 AUG 2011
As the weather was great, we decided to spend the first day enjoying the Lodge and relaxing on our balconey overlooking the Crocodile River and we were rewarded with a great Lion sighting soon after waking up as a small pride wandered aloing the river bank
Birds that were flying up and down the river included; White-breasted Cormorant
The smaller Reed Cormorant
and many Egyptian Geese
in the thermals above the river, we had juvenile African Fish Eagle calling
in the scrub in and around our unit, I found a foraging Speckled Mousebird
the smart looking Spectacled Weaver
and a tatty looking Cape Weaver in transition plumage
and an African Mourning Dove which is not normally found this far south in the Kruger Park
after a lazy breakfast my son Jaden and I went for a walk around the grounds, finding a secretive Tambourine Dove
and an Ashy Flycatcher
a stunning male Collared Sunbird was quite obliging in the coolness of the morning, not quite as much when the temperatures pick up later in the day
at this time of year, many of the Aloe's are in flower and many species of birds were seen feeding on the flowering blooms. The yellow of the flowers rubbing off on the feathers of their heads - here a Dark-capped Bulbul enjoying the nectar from the Aloe
at the small dam near the restaurant, an African Darter was sunning itself on the dead tree
I had found a Water Monitor late yesterday that Jaden really wanted to see. At this time of the morning it was still sunning itself on the bank of the small dam and Jaden got up close and personal
on the way back to our Unit, Jaden spotted a Kurrichane Thrush at the base of an acacia tree
2011-09-20
Winter Birding - Zaagkuidrift and Seringveld, Gauteng - August 2011
Whilst on our break in South Africa, I had arranged to meet up with my good friend Simon Price who I had met in Kuwait, but had since re-located back to South Africa. We spent a productive and enjoyable morning together and chose the Zaagkuildrfit to Kgomo-Kgomo route north of Pretoria - in my opinion, one of the best birding roads in Gauteng. Images by Mike Pope
We were at the start of the route, not too long after sun-up and spent some quality time at one of the small pans. There was definitely a feeling of Spring in the air, with early buds showing on trees and birds actively starting to show breeding behaviour. Walking slowly through the bush, we came across a rather obliging Southern Boubou
With a Rattling Cisticola calling nearby
moving slowly toward the edge of the pan, we observed African Jacana's as they foraged on the floating vegetation - easily done with those extremely long toes
A few duck species were seen on the dam, but only this flock of Red-billed Teals came close enough for a photograph
A single White-winged Tern was also observed hawking over the water
Walking back to the car, we flushed a Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler
Driving westward along the dirt road with frequent stops also produced Crimson Boubou; a really striking bird in the drab winter bush with a call to match it's appearance
a couple of Kalahari Scrub Robins
and a pair of Marsh Owls flying back to find a roost for the day
Some Waxbills were seen foraging on the edge of the road, one of them this female Violet-eared Waxbill. Unfortunately the spectacular male didnt stay long enough for his picture
Just before the Kgomo-Kgomo floodplain (still dry at this time of year), we finally managed to get onto a Magpie Shrike that didnt fly off when we stopped
On and around the floodplain we ticked, African Pipit
a striking Capped Wheatear, which normally disappear after winter
Kitlitz Plover
Lilac-breasted Roller, probably one of the most photographed birds in the Kruger National Park
and an Ovambo Sparrowhawk that had stopped for a drink
Viewing the floodplain from the bridge produced White-throated Swallow
As it happens in birding, time does get away from you so we drove slowly eastward back to the main road, finding a wing-tagged Cape Vulture that was being harrassed by a flock of Pied Crows
On the way back to Midrand, we decided to stop at the Seringveld, a unique broad-leave woodland habitat on the outskirts of Pretoria that holds some key species. Unfortunately, we were only able to find one of them (perhaps a little too early in the season for the others) - but Green-capped Eremomela is still a good bird, albeit a very busy bird gleening quickly through the foliage. After exhausting this patch, we reluctantly headed back and I truly appreciated the variety, calls and numbers seen this morning, in comparison to the barreness of Kuwait
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