September 2014 birding

At last I'm posting a few of the birds we saw during the last two weeks of September.

For quite a few months now, Grant and I have watched a nest in an acacia tree near the road. Once we thought we'd seen something sitting straight up in the nest. I took photos, and although it looked like cat in the nest, we were sure it was a bird.

After creeping up on this spot about a dozen times, suddenly one day two weeks ago, we were rewarded. The bird, a Black-chested Snake-Eagle was sitting up in the nest.

Black-chested Snake-eagle sitting on its nest

I managed a slightly clearer photo of the bird

As we watched, the Snake-eagle took off from the nest. I set my camera on Scene Function and managed a few photos of it in flight.

The  Black-chested Snake-eagle soared around above us and then settled on a tree a little further in the bush! 

There are dozens of Black-headed Herons and Sacred Ibis roosted in trees over a small pond just opposite the snake-eagle's nest. They sit quite still and make good photo subjects. Grant waited while I snapped away.

Although there many herons to photograph, I zoomed in on one and here it is! Black-headed Heron 

Riding along the wall of New Alhamasi Dam, we were amply rewarded with many waders and other water birds.

 Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt (Juvenile)

Great White Pelican

Common Sandpiper

Little Egret (I just love this bird with black legs ending in bright golden feet)

Marabou Stork

Spoonbill - you just have to trust me on this one!

Yellow-billed Storks and Sacred Ibis in flight - 

using my Scene Function! 

Last Saturday morning Grant arrived about 30minutes early to collect me. He said he'd spotted a Lanner Falcon on the mine road; if we hurried to the area now, I 'd get good photos.

Sure enough when we arrived at the spot, the falcon was perched on a tree some way off the mine road.

Lanner Falcon -a lifer for me

A quick update on the pups on day 14. All they seem to do is sleep. Their eyes are open and I know they can hear already. Yesterday one pup actually waddled from the back of the hut to the door . Last night when I peeped in for a quick look before Princess is closed in with them, another pup was sitting up. As I watched, it yawned! 

 Princess resting outside the enclosure

 The pups doing what pups do best: sleeping!

After a hard night's sleeping, I need to relax!

Aaaah, life is so good! 

I'm linking my post to Wild Bird Wednesday which you can visit by clicking here.

If you're a birder, avid birder, serious birder or just a recreational birder/photographer, please visit Stewart Monkton's blog  (WBW)  and link your bird posts. His photos are incredible and it's also interesting to meet many other birders from all over the world. Hope to see you there.

Have a wonderful Wednesday