Tdgraves big year

[Tdgraves]

@@Peter Connan - sorry it is the same as the one in the first post, a song thrush (usually just known as a thrush)

[Peter Connan]

Sorry TD, I thought there were two different birds...

 

Duh.

[Tdgraves]

More from my garden....long-tailed tits

 

 

8/9/14, Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 1600 (hence grainy), f8.0 1/400-1/2500

 

 

 

 

 

 

[africapurohit]

Very nice - I only get Blue, Great and Coal Tits in my garden.

[Tdgraves]

@Aafricapurohit - I had never even heard of them until we moved here. They are very chatty and tend to hang around in groups. They also move very fast...difficult to catch in between all of the leaves!!

[africapurohit]

I've seen many at my nearest RSPB reserve (Rye Meads) but they hardly stay still and as you say, they're very fast - you've done well to get some really nice photos

[Tdgraves]

thanks @@africapurohit

[Tdgraves]

Wood pigeon, in my eucalyptus tree, 18/6/14

 

 

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 640, dial got knocked onto TV by mistake...1/250, f16

[Tdgraves]

Collared dove, from my bathroom window...23/7/14

 

 

 

Canon 7D, 100-400, ISO320, f7.1, 1/320

[Tdgraves]

Robin, not the best shot in the world, but he was singing so exuberantly, it made me smile.

 

10/6/14 in one of my holly trees

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 1600 (taken at 9.26pm!), 1/640, f8

[Tdgraves]

Before I embark on my next TR (which requires a lot of photo editing) I thought I'd add some birds from our recent trip. We are in no way "birders" but we managed to see and identify 92 different species including 19 that were new to us (I got a "proof shot" of most of these). There were several more that I didn't get enough time/a photo of to positively identify. I am not a "list ticker", but we were seeing so many and the first camp had supplied a list, that I started to tick them off....maybe I am becoming both a birder and a list ticker

 

Blue waxbill

 

From the stoop of our room, Kings Camp, Timbavati

 

9/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 400, 1/500, f 8.0

 

 

ISO 400, 1/800, f 6.3

[Tdgraves]

Magpie shrikes

 

KNP near Satara, 6/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/800, f 6.3

[Tdgraves]

Dark chanting goshawk (a new species for us)

 

Mashatu, Tuli Block, Bostwana, 1/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 160, 1/2000, f 6.3

[Tdgraves]

Bennett's Woodpecker (another new one for us) - probably in the proof shot category

 

Kings Camp, Timbavati

 

 

Canon 7D, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/640, f 6.3

[Tdgraves]

Arrow marked babbler

 

During breakfast, on the balcony, Leopard Hills, Sabi Sand, 12/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/320

[Tdgraves]

Black-backed puffback - another new one for us

 

During breakfast, on the balcony, Leopard Hills, Sabi Sand, 12/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 320, 1/320, f 7.1

[Tdgraves]

Long-billed crombec, yet another new one...

 

During breakfast, on the balcony, Leopard Hills, Sabi Sand, 12/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 320, f7.1, 1/800

 

This birding lark is easy - just sit at breakfast with your camera!!

 

PS this was our last breakfast before returning to Joburg as well

Edited October 16, 2014 by Tdgraves

[Tdgraves]

Cape glossy starling

 

You've guessed it - during breakfast, on the balcony, Leopard Hills, Sabi Sand, 12/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D 100-400, ISO 320, f 7.1, 1/800

[Soukous]

That's one hell of a balcony @@Tdgraves

nice sightings

[Tdgraves]

That's one hell of a balcony @@Tdgraves

nice sightings

 

thanks - on our last morning as well!

[Knowafrica]

Martial eagle (a very uninspiring in flight shot)

 

 

KNP, near Afsaal picnic site, 29/1/14, 13.35

 

Canon 7D 100-400

 

This is actually a Black-chested Snake Eagle (not a Martial Eagle)

[Tdgraves]

excellent - another new species for me then! Thanks @@Knowafrica

[Tdgraves]

Lark-like bunting (I hope...) a new species for us

 

Mashatu, Tuli block, 1/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D, 100-400, ISO 160, 1/2000, f 6.3

[Tdgraves]

White-browed sparrow-weaver

 

Mashatu, Tuli block, 1/9/14

 

 

Canon 7D, 100-400, ISO 160, f 6.3, 1/2500

[Tdgraves]

Black Crake - another new one on us

 

Near Satara, KNP, 6/9/14

 

 

Canon 5D, 100-400, ISO 200, f 7.1 1/200

 

 

Canon 5D, 100-400, ISO 400, f 7.1 1/125