Birding in Mwadui mid-January 2015

On Saturday morning Grant and I took a ride across the mine and into the bush. Stopping for me to photograph a bee-eater, we were nevertheless a little confused as to which bee-eater we were watching. Later I sent the photos to my sister-in-law, Shelley who identified the two birds (taken in separate locations) as Little Bee-eaters (Juveniles) We see these bee-eaters regularly, but they were different there you have it; they're still growing up.

Little Bee-eater (Juvenile)

Little Bee-eater (Juvenile)

Just around the corner at the explosives magazine, Grant stopped when we spotted a small brown bird on the ground. Later I had to send this bird to Shelley for Id'ing as well, and she came back with Isabelline Wheatear. I was thrilled as the first and only  time I'd seen this upright chat-like bird was in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. And this was the first time we 'd seen it here too.

Isabelline Wheatear

And then along the bush road we stopped again. This time to watch and listen to a bird. I've photographed this bird many times and had Jez id it as a Rattling Cisticola. I sent it to Shelley and she confirmed that it was indeed a Rattling Cisticola.

Rattling Cisticola 

Riding along the road with the dam on our right, I asked Grant to stop and reverse a little. I'd seen a movement in the leaves of a bush. I focused and managed some images of a Southern Red Bishop, in transitional plumage. 

Southern Red Bishop (Transitional)

Now turning onto the dam wall with the water on my left and reeds in the hollow beside Grant's window, we both spotted the jeweled red plumage of a Southern Red Bishop, this time in full breeding apparel.

Southern Red Bishop in breeding plumage

Although we saw many more birds that morning and again on Saturday afternoon, I'll keep them for a later post. For now I'm linking my post to Wild Bird Wednesday hosted by Stewart Monckton. 

Happy Wednesday to you all!