Winter Birding in Mwadui (continued)

I said I would have another post about our recent birding so here it is.

During the two weeks we've been back in Mwadui, we have seen many, many birds. Note: the two weeks do not comprise of 14 days. No, our birding sorties are two hours twice on a weekend and a couple of evenings amounting to an hour and a half each.  

I have just a few more "large" birds before I show the smaller birds seen in the surrounding bush and on the road.

 Black-chested Snake Eagle

 Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant

Purple Heron 

Of an evening, we were slowing cruising through the bush. The sun was beginning to set and the birds were catching the last of its warming rays before they faced the night. Grant stopped and pointed into the bush at a slight movement.

 Pearl-spotted Owlet

In Africa, especially South Africa, the mousebird is considered very common. Some people find them a pest as they can invade your fruit trees in the garden and make short work of the crops. However, here in East Africa, we've always stopped to check which mousebird we were seeing. The Blue-Naped Mousebird is only found across Africa from East to West in a thin line. They do not occur in North Africa and certainly not in South Africa. Grant and I love it when we see a flock of these birds and of course, I always take photos. 

Blue-naped Mousebird

The blue nape is diagnostic in the Blue-Naped Mousebird! 

Another bird which I've seen and posted about but which is fascinating, is the Eastern Paradise Whydah. This bird parasitises the Green-winged Pytilia, which means it doesn't build its own nest but uses the aforementioned bird's nest in which to lay and leave its egg for the other bird to rear. 

Eastern Paradise Whydah (male)

This time, however, I noticed the glorious, colorful male with its flamboyant tail and when it flew down into the leafy undergrowth, I noticed the female.  (only just!) 

 Eastern Paradise Whydahmale with the nondescript female (center of photo) feeding in the leafy undergrowth

While I was creeping up on the whydahs, I noticed a movement in the corner of my eye. I followed it and was rewarded by a colorful bird in the tree above. 

Hunter's Sunbird

Once again, I have to love and leave you. I hope to post the last of our first winter birding in tomorrow's post. Once again, I'm linking to Wild Bird Wednesday which you can access by clicking  here.