In this second post on terrestrial birds in southern Africa, I share my photos of the tall and stately kori bustards (Ardeotis kori) that inhabit some of our drier regions, where they can be seen walking majestically through open savanna and arid grasslands.
Continue reading “Terrestrial birds in southern Africa: The stately kori bustard”
Here is the first in a series of posts on terrestrial birds, defined rather loosely as those species that spend most of their time foraging on the ground, rather than in trees or hunting on the wing. First up is the southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri).
Continue reading “Terrestrial Birds in Southern Africa: Southern Ground Hornbill”
The blue crane is South Africa’s national bird. It is a strikingly beautiful and statuesque bird, standing at up to 1.2 m (4 ft) in height. We are lucky enough to see them flying over our house from time to time, their distinctive calls drawing our attention. But it was only when driving through freshly harvested wheat fields that I had an opportunity to photograph blue cranes as they congregated in large groups.
Continue reading “South Africa’s blue cranes in the croplands of the Overberg”
Visiting birds such as malachite sunbirds bring their own festive features to the garden in the year-end summer holidays. There will be no snow lying round about, no blazing Yule before us, or halls decked with boughs of holly. But oblivious of all that, the birds are donned in gay apparel. Fa la la la la and all that 🎶
Continue reading “Fine feathers for the festive season in an Overberg garden”
A September outing took us up a farm road, offering a spot of birdwatching, and then past the Sugarbird Nature Reserve that was rich with flowers as the vegetation regenerated after a previous fire.
Continue reading “Springtime in the Overberg, Part 2: Feathers, farmlands and flowers”
Although the males are unmistakable and conspicuous in the breeding season, initially I didn’t recognize the first non-breeding pin-tailed whydahs I saw in our Western Cape garden.
Continue reading “The pretty and pugnacious pin-tailed whydah”
This summer, charismatic Cape sugarbirds (Promerops cafer) have been regular visitors to our garden. Named sugarbirds as they are largely nectar feeders, they are closely associated with proteas for food and shelter. Cape sugarbirds occur only in the fynbos regions of the Western Cape and into parts of the Eastern Cape.
Continue reading “Cape sugarbird: Summer visitors to our garden”
In the nick of time before 2024 draws to a close, lets celebrate BirdLife South Africa’s Bird of the Year, the gorgeous eagle known as the bateleur. By championing an individual species each year, BirdLife South Africa hopes that the year-long information campaigns highlight the conservation importance of each named species and of South Africa’s amazing birdlife more generally. The bateleur is listed as an endangered species and so it needs all the help it can get.
Continue reading “The Bateleur Eagle – South African Bird of the Year 2024”
Arid it is in the Tankwa Karoo, but there is life to be found on the stony ground if one slows down and refocuses – generally a satisfying thing to do, and especially so when travelling to new places. And the rocks and stones are interesting not only to geologists and archaeologists. Their variety in colour, form and density are interesting to anyone – though the stones do have their drawbacks for those travelling by road!
Continue reading “Tankwa Karoo Part 2: Plants and birds and rocks and things”