lmSA84 - Big Year 2017

[elefromoz]

@@lmSA84, #49, another great Thick-knee photo, Im definitely a bit of a fan of these lovely Birds with their huge yellow eye. I really enjoy all the lovely Sunbirds that can be seen in SA.

[lmSA84]

I'll start this posting with another correction - 106. Is not the Brown Scrub Robin, it's actually a Karoo Scrub Robin. I haven't often found reliable internet so far on our travels so sometimes I'm being a bit hasty with my posts. Whoops!

[lmSA84]

The next 20 or so birds which I post will all be smaller birds from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park (KTP).

[lmSA84]

112. White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Mata Mata, 3/02

 

These birds are common in both the camps which we visited - Twee Riverien and Mata Mata

 

[lmSA84]

113. Sociable Weaver, Twee Riverien, 31/01

 

These common throughout the park and in the Twee Riverien camp. Strangely I didn't see any in the Mata Mata camp.

 

[lmSA84]

114. Scaly-feathered Finch, Twee Riverien, 31/01

 

Common in both areas.

 

[lmSA84]

115. Yellow Canary, Marrick (Kimberley), 08/02

 

This image was actually taken a few days after we left KTP at a game farm called Marrick near Kimberley - however, I did see many of these birds on the Nossob road from Twee Riverien so I'm including it in this little sub section.

 

[lmSA84]

116. Marico Flycatcher, Twee Riverien, 31/01

 

These birds are particularly common in the Twee Riverien camp. The second image was taken at Marrick.

 

 

[lmSA84]

117. Common Scimitarbill, Twee Riverien, 31/01

 

[lmSA84]

118. Ant-eating Chat, Mokala National Park, 09/02

 

These birds are common throughout the KTP and Northern Cape. I had a good photo from Mata Mata which I accidentally deleted so I'm using a replacement from Mokala.

 

[lmSA84]

119. Capped Wheatear, Mata Mata, 03/02

 

Adult is pictured below

 

 

Juvenile - Twee Riverien, 31/01

 

[lmSA84]

120. Crimson-breasted Shrike, Mata Mata, 03/02

 

[lmSA84]

121. Black-chested Prinia, Twee Riverien, 01/02

 

These are quite common in the Twee Riverien camp next to the reception and restaurant.

 

[lmSA84]

122. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Twee Riverien, 02/02

 

This group have nested in the bank of the Auob road leading to Mata Mata - close to the Monro waterhole. The park ranger told us that this behaviour could sadly be their undoing. The roads are occasionally graded and when this occurs the sand in the road is pushed onto the banks often burying their nests.

 

[lmSA84]

123. Crowned Lapwing, Mata Mata, 02/02

 

 

We saw lots of birds in KTP but strangely no cats! No matter how hard I looked!!

 

[lmSA84]

124. African Cuckoo, Mata Mata, 02/02

 

I saw this at the Mata Mata camp hide. It's a lifer so I was very pleased.

 

[lmSA84]

125. Black-throated Canary, Mata Mata, 02/02

 

[lmSA84]

126. Ashy Tit, Mata Mata, 03/02

 

[lmSA84]

127. Violet-eared Waxbill, Mata Mata, 03/02

 

One of my favourite birds

 

[lmSA84]

128. Lark-like Bunting (seriously that is it's name!), Mata Mata, 03/02

 

[lmSA84]

129. Groundscraper Thrush, Twee Riverien, 05/02

 

These are common in both camps but they're much more approachable in Twee Riverien.

 

[lmSA84]

130. Lilac-breasted Roller, Mata Mata, 03/02

 

We saw none at the Twee Riverien area but we found them to be quite common at Mata Mata.

 

 

[lmSA84]

131. Cape Glossy Starling, Mata Mata, 04/02

 

[lmSA84]

132. Lesser Grey Shrike, Mata Mata, 04/02

 

This is common Winter visitor to the park but we only saw them in the Mata Mata area.

 

[lmSA84]

I'm off to Maputaland now so it'll be a while before I next post but I'm planning to share my raptors / bustards / owls of the KTP next.