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Peter Connan's small-to-medium year 2015


Peter Connan

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Peter Connan

Continued...

 

Cape Weaver:

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Cape Robin:

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Wattled Plover:

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Blacksmith Plover:

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Peregrine Falcon:

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Hadeda Ibis:

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And here joined by a Gymnogene (Harrier-kawk):

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But the star of the show:

The family of Verraux Eagles:

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KaingU Lodge

Great stuff indeed Peter. I must keep an eye out for that film as I had no idea.

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~ @@Peter Connan

 

Your recently uploaded images from Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens in Roordepoort are TERRIFIC!

Is that where gifted young South African photographer Ernest Porter makes most of his images?

The White-breasted Sunbird knocks me over — I'm attracted to vibrant blue plumage.

The Peregrine Falcon about to land is a very special moment captured — like it!

The Cape Robin with prey — nice!

How was that Wattled Plover shot possible? It gives the impression of being down and dirty on the ground at eye level with the bird.

The Verreaux's Eagle family group series tells a story.

I so appreciate your ‘Big Year’ images as it's providing a most welcome introduction to the avian life in South Africa.

Many, many thanks for these updates, which require time and care.

Tom K.

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Peter Connan

Thanks @@Tom Kellie for your kind comments.

 

Yes, this is indeed Ernest Porter's favourite haunt. I understand he is actually busy with a book project about birding here.

 

For the wattled plover, I was indeed down on the grasss, leopard crawling slowly toward them as the hunted for prey.

 

As you have yourself discovered and mentioned, bird photography is often best in public gardens where the birds are well habituated to people and their funny ways.

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Thanks @@Tom Kellie for your kind comments.

 

Yes, this is indeed Ernest Porter's favourite haunt. I understand he is actually busy with a book project about birding here.

 

For the wattled plover, I was indeed down on the grasss, leopard crawling slowly toward them as the hunted for prey.

 

As you have yourself discovered and mentioned, bird photography is often best in public gardens where the birds are well habituated to people and their funny ways.

 

~ @@Peter Connan

 

What a CRAZY yet effective approach — literally — to plover portraiture !!!!!!!!!

I love it!

Oh, to have been a strategically perched kingfisher watching the photographer in action.

You and Mr. Porter do such fine work in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.

The birds in the National Museum of Kenya gardens in Nairobi are especially amenable to fairly close photography.

Your ‘Big Year’ continues to hold my interest.

Tom K.

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  • 1 month later...

Feral Pigeon (now Rock Pigeon?)

Bloemhof Dam, Karoo

 

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Red-eyed Bulbul:

Boegoeberg Dam, Southern Kalahari.

 

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Edited by Peter Connan
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Thank you @@marg

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Feral Pigeon (now Rock Pigeon?)

Bloemhof Dam, Karoo

 

~ @@Peter Connan

 

A couple of years back, a graduate student here asked me who ‘Farrell’ was, wondering how he happened to discover so many common species.

Puzzled, I asked what he meant.

He gave ‘Farrell's Pigeon’ as an example.

The problems of pronunciation and spelling...

Very nice photos. The Red-eyed Bulbul is terrific!

Tom K.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Little swift, Bloemhof dam:

 

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Pale Chanting Goshawk with snake (possibly Skaapsteker):

 

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~ @@Peter Connan

 

Where is Bloemhof Dam?

Terrific images with such sharp focus and luminous colors!

That poor snake. What a grim first and final flight.

Your ongoing photography of South African birds is inspiring.

Tom K.

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Thanks @@Tom Kellie

 

Bloemhof is on the banks of the Vaal river (the provincial boundary of the Free State and North West provinces), somewhere between Kimberley and Potchefstroom, and roughly150km north of Bloemfontein.

Edited by Peter Connan
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  • 2 weeks later...

Went to Rietvlei this weekend.

 

Southern Black Korhaan:

 

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Indian Ringneck (another Farrel @@Tom Kellie):

 

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Spotted Thick-knee (chicks):

 

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Violet-backed Starling:

 

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Edited by Peter Connan
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The Thicknee chicks are too cute. Nice job revealing the violet coloring in the Violet-backed Starling. Your Hadada Ibis shot is a most interesting perspective.

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Greenshank:

 

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Rufous-naped Lark:

 

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Little Bittern:

 

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Southern Red Bishop:

 

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Long-tailed Widowbird:

 

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Now here you need some imagination, but I am told this is a Greater-spotted Cuckoo:

 

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Unfortunately it was very far away and I failed to get any closer.

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~ @@Peter Connan

 

How about those Red Bishops bathing? Great image!

Like the Violet-backed Starling, too. Never saw such a vibrant hue on a starling.

Tom K.

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Thanks @@Tom Kellie

 

Interesting bird, the violet-backed Starling. All the other Starlings I know have little sexual dimorphism (IE the female look similar to the males), but in this species there is a remarkable difference. This is the first time I have seen a male, and I have also only seen one female, in Mkuze last year.

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Thanks @@Tom Kellie

 

Interesting bird, the violet-backed Starling. All the other Starlings I know have little sexual dimorphism (IE the female look similar to the males), but in this species there is a remarkable difference. This is the first time I have seen a male, and I have also only seen one female, in Mkuze last year.

 

~ @@Peter Connan

 

Then I'm unsurprised that photos of violet-backed starlings are so seldom posted.

Thanks for the background information, which causes the image to be all the more precious.

Tom K.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Jameson's Firefinch

 

Hennops river valley, just north-west of Centurion

 

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I am leaving for Cape Town on Saturday morning, taking the scenic route through Camdebo National Park, Oudtshoorn and Prins Albert, and a slightly different scenic route back.

 

Hopefully I will be able to photograph some new species along the way, but I will only be able to post them next year as I will only return on the 2nd of January.

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@@Peter Connan have a great Christmas

 

I'm sure if they are uploaded soon after New Year, the bearded one won't mind too much!!

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Jameson's Firefinch

 

Hennops river valley, just north-west of Centurion

 

attachicon.gifFirefinchODP.jpg

 

I am leaving for Cape Town on Saturday morning, taking the scenic route through Camdebo National Park, Oudtshoorn and Prins Albert, and a slightly different scenic route back.

 

Hopefully I will be able to photograph some new species along the way, but I will only be able to post them next year as I will only return on the 2nd of January.

 

~ @@Peter Connan

 

That's a terrific firefinch image!

You've captured it looking at the lens with an insouciant charm.

I like the details.

Thank you for letting us know about your multi-week travels.

I hope that the photography will be relaxing and productive.

We've enjoyed your Big Year 2015 and look forward to a pleasant 2016.

Happy Travels!

Tom K.

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  • 5 weeks later...

Barn Swallow

 

Camdeboo National Park

 

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post-24763-0-67063600-1452425483_thumb.jpg

 

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Black-winged Stilt

 

Strandfontein

 

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