Spring 2014 Birding continued

As a follow-up to this morning's post here are the rest of the birds seen in Mwadui earlier this week.

On the way to New Alhamisi Dam, we spotted our first Dik-dik of the season! 

Dik-dik

On the road through the bush seperating us from the dam on our right, we saw a flurry in the grass near the road. 

Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch) 

And on the bank above the dam, we saw this common, but pretty dove:

Namaqua Dove (Male) 

Driving along the dam wall now, with the water on our left, we were blessed with many sightings of water birds.

 A small flock of Hamerkop

Hamerkop

African Jacana and juvenile

The African Jacana is a rich chestnut bird with a white next and yellow upper breast. Its contrasting black-and-white head highlights the blue frontal shield. The Jacana has very long legs and extremely long toes and nails that enable it to walk on floating vegetation. The female is the larger, dominant sex; male incubates and cares for the young. The juvenile is paler with a white belly. It lacks the blue frontal shield (See above)

 African Jacana with Red-knobbed Coot 

African Sacred Ibis (Juvenile)

The African Sacred Ibis is a large ibis with a heavy, decurved black bill. The adult's head is naked, wrinkled and black. Its feathers are black with white wings that are also black-tipped. The juvenile white-feathered neck (see above) and slightly grey cast to white plumage. 

 Yellow-billed Stork  (juvenile) resting with Hamerkop nearby

The Yellow-billed Stork juvenile is brownish above and washed with grey-brown below, becoming white with age. The stork near the Hamerkop is juvenile with the one on the far side a little older, but not yet an adult - an intermediate bird.

Reed (Long-tailed Cormorant)

Leaving the dam wall, we drove along the bush road once more. Grant stopped for me to photograph a common bird in the area. 

Yellow-billed Kite

Grant dropped me at home and as I walked into our yard, a lizard scurried up a large tree root.

 Agama Lizard (Breeding Male)

I'm linking this post to Saturday Critters with Eileen which you can access by clicking here