Zvezda & Alex Big Year 2016 - first attempt

[Galana]

<but they do spot the spots!>

Yes, You can actually see a couple above the thigh of the lower bird. Really smart.

[xelas]

PUNDA MARIA & PAFURI / 25. - 27. 11. 2016

 

 

Deciding to start from the northern part of Kruger NP was in major way dictated by our participation to Big Year contest. Birding there is best one can find in Kruger, and indeed we have had great joy , and great success.

Our first sighting was what many regards as a highlight or bucket list bird, and the rest of the afternoon gave us great light and new birds.

 

326. Southern Ground-Hornbill - Bucorvus leadbeateri

 

female

 

male

 

 

327. Grey Go-away-bird - Corythaixoides concolor

 

 

 

328. Greater Blue-eared Starling - Lamprotornis chalybaeus

 

 

 

329. Groundscraper Thrush - Psophocichla litsitsirupa

 

 

 

330. Three-banded Plover - Charadrius tricollaris

 

Edited November 27, 2016 by xelas

[xelas]

PUNDA MARIA & PAFURI / 25. - 27. 11. 2016 (continued)

 

 

Our full day was spent driving slowly towards Pafuri and back. The sky was slightly overcasted in the morning.

 

331. Natal Spurfowl - Pternistis natalensis

 

 

 

332. White-crested Helmet-Shrike - Prionops plumatus

 

 

 

333. Red-billed Hornbill - Tockus erythrorhynchus

 

 

 

334. Yellow-throated Petronia - Petronia superciliaris

 

 

 

335. Long-billed Crombec - Sylvietta rufescens

 

 

 

336. Blue Waxbill - Uraeginthus angolensis

 

 

 

337. Steppe Eagle - Aquila nipalensis

 

 

 

338. Water Thick-knee - Burhinus vermiculatus

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

PUNDA MARIA & PAFURI / 25. - 27. 11. 2016 (continued)

 

 

Around midday the sun evaporated thin layer of clouds. Birding just become better.

 

339. Purple Roller - Coracias naevius

 

 

 

340. Meves's Starling - Lamprotornis mevesii

 

 

 

341. Bearded Scrub-Robin - Cercotrichas quadrivirgata

 

 

 

342. Grey-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brevicaudata

 

 

 

343. Yellow-fronted Canary - Chritagra mozambica

 

 

 

344. White-crowned Lapwing - Vanellus albiceps

 

 

 

345. Red-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus erythorhynchus

 

 

 

346. Red-crested Korhaan - Lophotis ruficrista

 

female

 

male

Edited November 27, 2016 by xelas

[xelas]

PUNDA MARIA & PAFURI / 25. - 27. 11. 2016 (continued)

 

 

Before moving to our next camp we have returned back tu Pafuri picnic site, as a day before we have agreed with Frank Mabasa (078 12 65876, 078 79 31150) for birding, specially to see famous Pels Fishing Owl. We did see the bird, very quickly and only through binoculars, but no photos. However we have spent an infomative morning with Frank (more about in upcoming trip report). Here are the birds.

 

347. Red.billed Buffalo-Weaver - Bubalornis niger

 

 

 

348. Crested Guineafowl - Guttera edouardi

 

 

 

349. Yellow-billed Kite - Milvus aegyptius

 

 

 

350. White-fronted Bee-eater - Merops bullockoides

 

 

 

351. African Openbill - Anastomus lamelligerus

 

 

 

352. White-throated Robin-Chat - Cossypha humeralis

 

 

 

353. Jameson's Firefinch - Lagonosticta rhodopareia

 

 

 

354. Trumpeter Hornbill - Bycanistes bucinator

 

 

 

355. Magpie Shrike - Corvinella melanoleuca

 

 

 

356. Marabou Stork - Leptoptilos crumeniferus

 

 

 

357. Dickinson's Kestrel - Falco dickinsoni / barred tail but not much longer then wings, yellowish around eye (not visible on this crop), pale grey in colour; correct me if wrong

 

 

 

And this last one: a baby bird . Well I have no idea who the parents are. To me is a baby plover. I thought of Little Ringed Plover but highly unlikely to be found in Kruger. So any idea out there??

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

Long legs indicate maybe Courser or Dikkop. Lapwing? I think the smaller Plovers are ruled out.

[Peter Connan]

Some truly stunning birds and beautiful photos here! The light on the blue-eared starling and trumpeter hornbill is beautiful.

 

My guess is Crowned Lapwing, but it is only a guess.

[PeterHG]

A very rewarding time in the northern parts of Kruger! Quite a few specialties and a lot of excellent photos again, @@xelas (and Zvezda, of course!)

[xelas]

Let's say is a baby bird then.

[Galana]

A chick rather than a fledgling or am I being picky?

[xyz99]

Great variety, my friend! As always, Zvezda got some amazing pictures, can't wait to see more :-)

[TonyQ]

@@xelas

Beautiful photos throughout

I particularly like the Crested Guineafowl!

[xelas]

SHINGWEDZI / 28. - 30. 10. 2016

 

 

Before continuing I have to correct the dates of our Punda Maria & Pafuri; it was October (10.) and not November (11.) as I wrongly put in the title.

 

 

Shingwedzi Camp is placed along the Shingwedzi River, on the northeast side of the park. It was greener here, more elephants and we have seen our first hippo in the wild.

But back to birds. Our first day of birding gave us one bird I was really hooping to see. Which one it is?

 

 

347. Crested Francolin - Dendroperdix sephaena

 

 

 

348. Dark-capped Bulbul - Pycnonotus tricolor

 

 

 

349. Lesser Spotted Eagle - Aquila pomarina

 

 

 

350. Little Bee-eater - Merops pusillus

 

 

 

351. Brown Snake-Eagle - Circaetus cinereus

 

 

 

 

352. African Hoopoe - Upupa africana

 

 

 

353. Yellow-billed Stork - Mycteria ibis

 

[xelas]

SHINGWEDZI / 28. - 30. 10. 2016 (continued)

 

 

There is a bird hide near Kanniedood Dam, a Kanniedood Hide. We have stopped there but although it was late afternoon birding was none. However the rest of the area showed us plenty of new species.

 

354. Black-headed Oriole - Oriolus larvatus

 

 

 

355. Brown-headed Parrot - Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

 

 

 

356. Forrest Buzzard - Buteo trizonatus

 

 

 

357. Wahlberg's Eagle - Aquila wahlbergi

 

 

 

358. Southern Black Tit - Parus niger

 

 

 

359. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting - Emberiza tahapisi

 

 

 

360. African Grey Hornbill - Tockus nasutus

 

 

 

361. Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus

 

 

 

362. Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

SHINGWEDZI / 28. - 30. 10. 2016 (continued)

 

 

Still in the morning of second day, I have spotted this beauty!!

 

363. Pearl-spotted Owlet - Glaucidium perlatum

 

 

 

 

364. Lesser Masked-Weaver - Ploceus intermedius

 

male

 

female

 

 

365. Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove - Turtur chalcospilos

 

 

 

366. Red-billed Quelea - Quelea quelea

 

 

 

367. Green Wood-Hoopoe - Phoeniculus purpureus

 

 

 

368. Golden-tailled Woodpecker - Campethera abingoni

 

 

 

369. White-browed Robin-Chat - Cossypha heuglini

 

 

 

And this one, I think, is a Bunting. Could it be Cape Bunting??

 

 

Edited November 28, 2016 by xelas

[Tdgraves]

@@xelas isn't your bunting a female cinnamon breasted?

[xelas]

Yes, that was my other option. Thanks, @@Tdgraves !

[xelas]

SHINGWEDZI / 28. - 30. 10. 2016 (continued)

 

 

Last two photos from Shingewedzi area, on the way to the next camp.

 

 

370. Broad-billed Roller - Eurystomus glaucurus

 

 

 

371. Pied Crow - Corvus albus

 

[Tdgraves]

Broad-billed roller - I am jealous

[PeterHG]

Broad-billed roller - I am jealous

 

I agree! Beautiful shot of this Roller. We did see it in the north in 2014, but only record shots.

[xelas]

That spreadsheet with names does helps me a lot, not only when I need to look for duplicates! Almost scored 25 own goals ! The proper numbering of Shingewedzi area birds is as below:

 

358. Crested Francolin - Dendroperdix sephaena

359. Dark-capped Bulbul - Pycnonotus tricolo

360. Lesser Spotted Eagle - Aquila pomarina

361. Little Bee-eater - Merops pusillus

362. Brown Snake-Eagle - Circaetus cinereus

363. African Hoopoe - Upupa africana

364. Yellow-billed Stork - Mycteria ibis

365. Black-headed Oriole - Oriolus larvatus

366. Brown-headed Parrot - Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

367. Forrest Buzzard - Buteo trizonatus

368. Wahlberg's Eagle - Aquila wahlbergi

369. Southern Black Tit - Parus niger

370. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting - Emberiza tahapisi

371. African Grey Hornbill - Tockus nasutus

372. Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus

373. Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus

374. Pearl-spotted Owlet - Glaucidium perlatum

375. Lesser Masked-Weaver - Ploceus intermedius

376. Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove - Turtur chalcospilos

377. Red-billed Quelea - Quelea quelea

378. Green Wood-Hoopoe - Phoeniculus purpureus

379. Golden-tailled Woodpecker - Campethera abingoni

380. White-browed Robin-Chat - Cossypha heuglini

381. Broad-billed Roller - Eurystomus glaucurus

382. Pied Crow - Corvus albus

[PeterHG]

With the number of species you're getting it's hard to keep track....!

Edited November 29, 2016 by PeterHG

[Galana]

I see 400 looming. More now you are home. Good score.

[xelas]

SHIMUWINI / 30. 10. - 01. 11. 2016

 

 

Shimuwini is much smaller camp, and also more basic one. It falls into category of Bushveld camps. To me, it was just what I like. And on top of this, it has its own bird hide! Just a few steps away from our cabin!!

Majority of new birds photographed in Shimuwini area were taken from this bird hide.

 

 

383. Green-backed Heron - Butorides striata

 

 

 

384. Burchell's Coucal - Centropus burchelii (very much ebc but still clearly recognisable)

 

 

 

385. Lesser Striped Swallow - Hirundo abyssinica

 

 

 

386. Greater Painted-Snipe - Rostratula benghalensis

 

 

 

387. Hammerkop - Scopus umbretta

 

 

 

388. Black Crake - Amaurornis flavirostra

 

 

 

389. Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus

 

 

 

390. African Reed-Warbler - Acrocephalus baeticatus

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

@@xelas

Getting very close to the magic 400! The Greater Painted Snipe is a beauty + very skilled focus through the branches on the Pearl-spotted Owlet.

Edited November 29, 2016 by TonyQ