By 05:45 we were parked on the dam wall. Everything was quiet; only the frogs in the marshy area behind us were giving a concert. It was too dark to see birds roosting in the trees in and around the dam. Sitting there in the hour before dawn, was so very peaceful.
The quiet hour before sunrise
Once the sun's rays reflected on a fleecy cloud, I focused and waited. Then as happens in Africa, the dark skies turned red, then golden as the sun crept up above the horizon until it was a bright orb behind the trees. I posted a few of my sunrise photos on Facebook but will post a couple more on Skywatch Friday later this week.
The sun turned the horizon a molten gold color
After getting my fill of sunrise photos, it was time to return to town and for Grant to go to the office.Driving along the dam wall, I snapped a huge flock of egrets as they flew up off the trees they'd roosted in overnight.
As we drove along the dirt road through the bush, I spotted a bird high up in a tree nearby. Grant stopped, I got out and got beautiful images of...
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...a Hadeda Ibis catching the first rays of sun
We went out of town to nearby Shinyanga for lunch. We wanted to treat the General Manager who was on a company visit, so we took him to Minas which I've posted about before. As usual we all enjoyed the delicious spicy "bitings" (snacks) followed by chicken curry, rice and chappatis. I had my favorite, paneer tikka, (grilled cheese curry)
We arrived back home at 03.30 and while I caught up on my blog visits, Grant watched sport on telly. At 05:15pm we decided to take a ride to the dam again.
Just beyond the boom gate, I spotted a large bird perched on top of the power lines. Grant stopped and I took several photos. When we sent the photos off to Jez to see this strange phenomena, he also said you don't often see Guinea Fowl perched on a wire. (they're always running through the grass) . He also mentioned that this particular Guinea Fowl was of the race reichenowi .
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Helmeted Guinea Fowl (race reichenowi)
Post to be continued...
I'm linking this post to Stewart's Bird blog which you can access by clicking here
Lovely colors, beautiful birds and fantastic captures, Jo!! So much beauty!! Thanks for sharing!! Hope your week is going well!
ReplyDeleteI hope Grant was happier with you than I would have been getting up so early. ;) But so worth it for that brilliant sunrise. Too funny to see a Guinea Fowl on a wire.
ReplyDeleteSunrise is such a beautiful time of the day, especially if there is now wind. If only I could get my lazy bum out of bed earlier.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of photos! Well worth getting up early.....
ReplyDeleteCertainly worth getting up for that magnificent sunrise, the ibis in the flowering tree, the massed risen of egrets as well as the fun of seeing a Guinea Fowl perched on the wire. Loved seeing them all.
ReplyDeleteJo, I think you left me a comment you meant for Eileen, no matter.
Beautiful sunrise, Jo! And the Ibis is a great bird! The Helmeted Guinea Fowl is cool looking. Thanks for sharing your WBW. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteand you are still alive ! If I would wake up Mr. G for watching birds or sunrises he would kill me, lol ! But it was worthwhile your photos are gorgeous !
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed going along with you on your day's photo shoot, Jo. It must be thrilling to experience such a dramatic sunrise--ours are usually more gentle. Your bird sightings were equally dramatic--or, in case of guinea, unexpected and amusing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love the colours of the sunrise and the ibis.
ReplyDeleteThat WAS a huge flock of egrets! Your guinea fowl looks a bit like ours, but yours is prettier!
ReplyDeleteA local farmer here in the UK rears Guinea Fowl and it always tickles me when I see 20 of them huddled together on the same high branch of a tree.
ReplyDeleteFor the rest of the day they are scurrying around as one would expect Guinea Fowl to do.
It is so beautiful looking over the dam and the sunrise is breathtaking. I don't think I've seen your dam before. The birds are amazing too.
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