Wednesday, January 7, 2015

First Birding weekend 2015

Our first birding weekend in 2015 delivered several LBJ's, some waterbirds and a raptor. As we left the boom gate behind us, I spotted a little brown job (LBJ) on the wire overhead. 

Cisticola spp

Riding alongside the airstrip, I saw a movement in the grass. Grant stopped, I focused and clicked. 
Purple Heron 

Further into the bush, Grant stopped at a waterhole where we normally see Jacanas, ducks and coots and herons. We weren't disappointed on the duck-front! 


Common Moorhen

White-faced Whistling Ducks

Along the road we saw our first Southern Red Bishop in breeding plumage. 

Southern Red Bishop (Male)

And nearby were several females, but I only managed to capture one on film.

Southern Red Bishop (Female)


As we turned to come home, as usual, we rode along the slimes-dam wall. And as we have often done before, we spotted a raptor on a dead tree in the middle distance. Grant stopped and I tested the manual and custom functions on my camera. 
Martial Eagle (Juvenile)

I'm linking my post to Wild Bird Wednesday hosted by Stewart Monckton. You can visit his interesting blog here

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2015 TO ALL BIRDERS AROUND THE WORLD







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9 comments:

  1. TexWisGirl07 January, 2015 03:58

    fabulous whistling ducks!!! always love to see other varieties around the world!

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  2. Janice07 January, 2015 04:46

    Wonderful series of so many beauties.

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  3. Gaelyn07 January, 2015 06:22

    It's fun to go birding with you and even recognize some of the species.

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  4. diane b07 January, 2015 07:22

    Great bird shots. I especially like the funny heron and the way the eagle is perched on the tree/ post

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  5. Margaret Birding For Pleasure07 January, 2015 10:50

    Fabulous shot of the Martial Eagle. Lovely to see the Red Bishop is full breeding plumage as they were only starting to do that when I was in S.A.

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  6. eileeninmd07 January, 2015 12:40

    Hello JO, these are wonderful birds.. I love the whistling ducks, heron and the Red Bishop is gorgeous.. The eagle is awesome.. Great shots, are you enjoying your new camera? Have a great day!

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  7. MadSnapper07 January, 2015 15:42

    they are all beautiful, i love the eagle and the red bishop. i have seen moorhens here but only twice.

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  8. Karen07 January, 2015 19:31

    Terrific shots. A great first day out!

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  9. BumbleVee07 January, 2015 21:11

    LBJ.... that's funny...there I was trying to figure out what it meant... ..hahahh...silly me... little brown job...very cute.... I see several like that ... never knowing exactly what they are sometimes.....

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