Soukous Big Year 2017

[Soukous]

#176 Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Majete NP,Malawi. Nov 2017

Sadly I couldn't get any closer

[Soukous]

#177 Violet Backed Starling (also called a Purple Starling) (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

Majete NP, Malawi. Nov 2017

 

another disappointing photo I'm afraid. I always seemed to spot them with the light behind them. But I did catch both the male and the female.

 

[Soukous]

#178 Red Headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)

Majete NP, Malawi. Nov 2017

 

 

[Soukous]

#179 Dark Chanting Goshawk (Melierax metabates) & #180 Burchell's Coucal (Centropus burchellii)

Majete NP, Malawi. Nov 2017

 

we were returning to camp in the late afternoon when this Dark Chanting Goshawk swooped over us and settled in a nearby tree to eat his prey, a Burchell's Coucal. 

I don't think it states anywhere that the birds have to be alive 

 

 

[PeterHG]

2 hours ago, Soukous said:

 

"I don't think it states anywhere that the birds have to be alive "

 

 

 

Excellent! 

[Galana]

6 hours ago, Soukous said:

I don't think it states anywhere that the birds have to be alive 

 

Hmmm! I think I might draw the line at a roadkill or Fossilised Dodo. 

[Peter Connan]

Opportunism at it's very best!

[xelas]

I recon also stuffed birds and wall hangers are off the list ?!

[Soukous]

#181 This one had me baffled. In the end I decided it was a male Long Tailed Paradise Whydah in non breeding plumage. (Vidua paradisaea)

Majete NP, Malawi. Nov 2017

 

 

[Soukous]

#182 Klaas's Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas)

Majete NP, Malawi. Nov 2017

 

 

[Soukous]

#183 Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti)

Majete NP, Malawi. Nov 2017

 

 

[Peter Connan]

You got a Klaas! Well done!

 

And you managed to get nice and close to the Kingfisher too!

[Soukous]

6 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

You got a Klaas! Well done!

 

And you managed to get nice and close to the Kingfisher too!

 

At the time we saw it my guide insisted it was a Diederik Cuckoo. But we heard Klaas's Cuckoo calling the next day and when I got a chance to check my photos it was indeed Klass's not Diederik. 

Either one would have been a first for me, so I was happy either way.

[Soukous]

#184 Teal (Anas crecca)

Boynton, Suffolk, UK. Nov 2017

 

 

[Soukous]

#185 Black Tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Boynton, Suffolk, UK. Nov 2017

 

 

[Soukous]

#185 Redshank (Tringa totanus)

Shingle Street, Suffolk, UK. Nov 2017

 

 

[Soukous]

#186 Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)

Butley, Suffolk, UK. Nov 2017

 

 

[Soukous]

#187 Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Boynton, Suffolk, UK. Nov 2017

 

Unlike Africa that has so many different Lapwings, we have just 1 species in the UK.

 

 

 

Edited November 27, 2017 by Soukous

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Soukous said:

Lapwings, we have just 1 species in the UK.

That's to stop you getting even more confused with all those Plovers.

[Peter Connan]

Well, I would say it is a far prettier bird than any of the Lapwings we get down here...

[Soukous]

#188 Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

 

South Luangwa NP, Zambia. Oct 2017

 

[Dave Williams]

Edging steadily upwards, nice mix of home and away too!

 

[Soukous]

#189 Greylag Goose (Anser anser)

Minsmere, Suffolk, UK. Dec 2017

 

A sunny day in December so a quick dash to RSPB Minsmere, on the basis that there is always something to photograph there. 

Hmm. heavy recent rains meant the pools which are usually chock full of shore birds and waders were too full of water.  So slim pickings.

But the geese did give me a nice fly past.

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#189 Pheasant (Phasianus colchius)

Minsmere, Suffolk, UK. Dec 2017

 

I went to Minsmere expecting shore birds but found loads of pheasants instead. No doubt seeking sanctuary from all the 'shoots' taking place. There was a constant background noise from shotguns the whole time I was there.

 

 

[Soukous]

#190 Magpie (Pica pica)

Minsmere, Suffolk, UK Dec 2017