Birds in the Mwadui area

On Saturday morning Grant and I took a ride around the mine looking for birds. As we drove through the security boom gate, we spotted our first bird of the day: a Grey-headed Kingfisher sitting in a thorn tree and obviously watching for its next meal. (Note: this kingfisher does not feed on fish but a variety of insects and small lizards) I managed to capture a few poses of the bird just before it dived down to the ground to catch its meal.

I spy with my little eye...

...something tasty!

As we drove onto the mine, we spotted another Grey-headed Kingfisher on the power lines

 And a little way ahead,  two immature Grey-headed Kingfisher ! Aren't they just too adorable? 

The ride provided more surprises as I manged to photograph my first Bee-eaters here in Tanzania. Above is a European Bee-eater

To the right of the vehicle a youngish pair of European Bee-eaters caught my attention so I clicked away at them too!   

Not to be outdone by small fry (or should that be small fly? lol!) a Dark Chanting Goshawk sat upright on a pole while I photographed it. Don't you just LOVE the right leg peeking out from its feathers? 

Driving towards our favorite waterhole, we saw a bird flit across our path and land in a tree on the left side of the road. Grant stopped and although the bird was partly obscured by the branches, I managed to get a reasonable photo of my first Silverbird in Tanzania!  

The Silverbird is endemic only to East Central Africa. I saw my first Silverbird in Kenya in 2011. Of course, I was thrilled to come across this pretty bird here in Tanzania as well

The little dam did not disappoint either. As we approached it, (Grant - as befits a serious birder - driving at 10kmh, and I hanging out of the passenger window camera at the ready!) we both spotted the pair of White - faced duck at the same time.

White-faced Duck

As I clicked away at this serene pair gliding in front of us on the dam, I turned the camera slightly and suddenly I was focusing on another kingfisher; this time a Malachite Kingfisher sitting on a bush overhanging the water.

The Malachite Kingfisher, like its Grey-headed cousin, makes a beautiful subject for photography, don't you think? 

Panning back across the water, I noticed a movement to the far left of the dam that was covered in lilypads. There was a strikingly beautiful waterbird nimbly negotiating the lily pads in search of a meal. Although I managed a number of clear photos of the bird, I am unable to identify it properly so for now I am referring to it as a Moorhen. 

 A Moorhen

Just beyond the dam, Grant stopped so that I could photograph a little brown job (known to birders as an LBJ). I have managed to narrow it down to a Seed-eater, perhaps a Streaky - headed Seed-eater? The tuft on the head is a little confusing though.

Not much further along Grant stopped again while I tried to get a photo of a completely black bird sitting on the uppermost branches of a bush at the side of the road.  

 A Village Indigobird posed a photographic challenge against the brightness of the sky! 

We continued along the mine road eventually making a full circle until we were on the outskirts of the area where our house and the Guest House is. Grant had told me about a number of Kestrel that he'd been seeing recently when he goes to work. Sure enough as we spoke I told him to stop and reverse: a kestrel was perched beautifully on a marker pole along the road.

Common Kestrel, female

Then as we drove past a signboard on the way back through the security boom, I spotted another Grey-headed Kingfisher. Grant reversed and I managed to get a couple of beautiful photos of this equally photogenic bird! Take a look and let me know if you agree...

 Grey-headed Kingfisher in different surroundings yet looking every bit as beautiful as always

 I hope you all enjoyed reading about the birds of Tanzania (Mwadui area) as much as Grant and I enjoy spotting them. I am linking this post to Wild Bird Wednesday.