A variety of birds

Once again this weekend, Grant and I drove out to the mine for a spot of birding. He actually wanted me to a waterbird's nest with an egg in it. However, on the way to the dam, we stopped several times for me to photograph birds. As always, I snapped Kingfishers, Rollers and Bee-eaters along the first part of the drive. 

Around the corner from here, I spotted a jewel of a bird with several drab little birds flitting around the bush where he was perched. The Black Bishop male is a bright and beautiful little bird. He is the largest red bishop and in breeding plumage is easily identified by the black (not red) rump, narrow breast band and orange-red mantle. The extent of orange on its back is diagnostic in Northern Tanzania where we live as it is in Kenya.

The gloriously colored Southern Red Bishop Male

While we watched the bishop flew down into a puddle where he was joined by a Golden-backed Weaver male, a female weaver and a Pin-tailed Whydah. We spent a good few minutes here while I tried to get a decent photo of the pool-party! 

 A cheery swimming party of birds: a Golden-backed Weaver, Southern Red Bishop and a female weaver extreme right

A not-very-clear photo of the Pin-tailed Whydah swimming in the puddle with the weavers and Black Bishops

We eventually dragged ourselves away from this scene and drove to the dam to see the Dabchick's nest.

The Dabchick's nest in the middle of the dam with one egg in it. The Dabchick was nowhere to be seen!

A closer look!

After waiting in vain for the Dabchick to make her appearance, we eventually decided to move on; Grant said he'd drive back that way to see if she'd returned.  (He sees her sitting on the nest often, but then again he passes that dam half-a-dozen times a day! )  We spent another forty minutes spotting and photographing birds (which I will post about later) and then doubled back to the dam. As the vehicle nosed its way around the bend and the dam came into sight, I saw the Dabchick on the nest frantically busy. Then she jumped into the water and disappeared from sight. We stopped and I focused on the nest. The egg had been covered by weed and grass! 

 The Dabchick's nest with the egg concealed! 

I'm linking my post today to Wild Bird Wednesday here.

I hope you're all having a great week.