Nest building in the fever trees in our garden has been feverish. After what seemed like some practice runs building nests next to the palm tree used for nesting material, the Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) abandoned these first efforts. They then congregated noisily each day to build nests and engage in flamboyant displays high up in the branches of the fever trees. Continue reading “Village Weavers: Summertime when the living is busy”
A persistent and insistent tseep-tseep-tseep outside the bedroom window attracted my attention. Looking out I saw a fledgling perching on top the fence to the cat’s garden, calling repeatedly, reminding its parent to feed it. Continue reading “A hungry baby flycatcher and its hardworking mother”
Usually I keep post-processing of an image to a minimum – confining myself to a bit of cropping, a bit of lightening/darkening and sharpening, and that is pretty much it. Continue reading “Experimental colour and light”
Plucky and petite, Southern Black Flycatchers are one of the most engaging of the uniformly black birds that visit our garden. Continue reading “Favourite garden birds: Southern Black Flycatcher”
Painted by the glow of the late afternoon sun, the reflective water illuminates a Sombre Greenbul at the garden birdbath. Continue reading “Sunbrushed”
I am sure I am not the only one to wonder why these barbets have been named for the black collar and not for their distinctive and bright red head – surely a little perverse? Continue reading “Black-collared Barbets: Duets and warfare in the garden”
A layered look is definitely in for this Olive Sunbird. Although she is slightly dishevelled after preening, one stray feather randomly adds panache to a style where fluffy wins out over sleek. Continue reading “This season’s layered look”
This Brownhooded Kingfisher is patiently waiting and watching for potential prey. Continue reading “Waiting and watching”
Birds sunbathe too – not all species, but many do. Continue reading “Birds do it – sunbathe that is”
