Last birding in April - continued

Passionate cat-lover and avid birder! Photo Credit: Michael Askari

Continuing on the "last" birding in April, before the Easter weekend, as we stopped at the explosives magazine, we saw the Dabchick on the dam below. I zoomed in and was very excited to see two chicks on the adult's back. We'd been watching "this space" for the past three weeks and always only saw one Dabchick in front of the reeds. At times I could hear the call of another Dabchick from within the reeds, so obviously their nest was much more concealed than last year when we could see the eggs while the adult had jumped off into the water.

Dabchick (Little Grebe) with two chicks on its back

 

 Isn't it lovely to hitch a ride on mama or dad's bacK?

 

We traveled along our normal route and at times I would call to Grant to stop and at others, Kevin would ask him to stop. We'd jump out, Kevin with binoculars in hand and me focusing my camera on some bird in a nearby bush or atop a tree.

At one stage while we were busy, Grant had spotted a large bird on top of an acacia in the middle distance. We jumped back into the vehicle and Grant drove to just below the tree. We were all amply rewarded when a raptor, no less than a Black-chested Snake Eagle posed for ever so long while the men got a good look at it and I managed  several good photos.

 Black-chested Snake Eagle 

As I was focusing on the bird above, I could hear one of the iconic African sounds; the warbling, hollow call of the White-browed Coucal. I swung around on the running board from where I'd been photographing the Snake-eagle and almost fell off my perch. Within a mere arm's length of me was the Coucal. I took several photos of this bird which was not the one making the call. When I downloaded the photos at home, I saw why the bird had been silent. It had its meal firmly clamped in its beak!

A White-browed Coucal with a frog clamped firmly in its beak! 

While I was taking these photos, I noticed the light glare and almost deleted it on the camera. Thank goodness I didn't! 

Finally I left the coucal in peace to enjoy its hard-won meal 

 

A few meters along the road, and we spotted the coucal which I had first heard. It was sitting quite prominently displayed on top of a bush and calling! 

 

 I loved the way the White-browed Coucal puffed its chest when calling

Just around the next corner we spotted another coucal, which was also very visible which allowed me to take photos! 

 

And as if to give us a full show for the day, we stopped next to bush in which a coucal was sitting quietly. (Coucals are normally elusive and secretive birds and most difficult to photograph!) 

 White-browed Coucal in full view of excited birders! 

Although we'd seen many other birds, we said that this specific bird outing could be dubbed: Coucal Day! 

 Mwadui Birders: Grant and Kevin

Mwadui Birders: Jo and Kevin

 

I'm linking this post to Wild Bird Wednesday which you can access by clicking here

 

I'm off to pottery this morning to collect my baked ceramics. Then I need to start packing and preparing for our departure from camp at midday on Friday.  

 

I hope you're all having a great week.

 

 

 

 

Last birding for April 2014

In March, we'd heard from Liz and Neil, Dar es Salaam birding club,  who also id my birds when I'm stuck, that a keen birder, Kevin was studying here and would love to go out into the bush with us. 

Grant collected me from home, but as we were driving off, Mataluma, the Guest House gardener came running up to my window. He kept saying I should come and see ndege mtoto/ baby bird. While Grant waited in the car, I got out and walked down the road from our house. When he approached a very densely leafed tree, Mataluma crept under the branch and gesticulated frantically for me to come in as well. I slunk in and looked up to where he was pointing. My heart almost stopped. It was the tiniest owl, sitting there asleep. I asked Mataluma to run up and tell Babu, which is Grant's Tanzanian name, to come down with the vehicle. 

When Grant quietly approached, he also saw the cunningly concealed owl, but said it could be a Pearl Spotted Owlet which is one of or smallest owl. But an owlet doesn't have ear tufts and this owl has prominent ear tufts! 

African Scops Owl 

 I took several photos send to Jez and then left the owl in sleep in peace 

We drove to the student's quarters on the other side of town, and went out into the bush. As we approached the explosives magazine, Kevin called for Grant to stop. In front of us on the road, was a Straw-tailed Whydah. Although it's difficult to get clear photos of birds on the ground, these images came out quite well.

  Straw-tailed Whydah with its glorious tail trailing behind it

The Straw-tailed Whydah is endemic to NE Africa

Just around the corner, Grant stopped for when Kevin spotted a Silverbird. He zoomed in with his binoculars and told me to take a look. I then zoomed in with my camera, and saw that it was a Juvenile Silverbird! 

 Juvenile Silverbird with heavily-marked underparts 

We ultimately spent two hours in the bush and saw many birds (I hope to post the others tomorrow) However, one sighting which was very exciting, was when driving along the bush road near the dam. As we stopped and listened, we heard the bubbling call of a White-browed Coucal. 

Grant stopped as we spotted it and a Bishop in a bush nearby. I got out, stood on the running board with my camera on the roof. I took a photo of the coucal in full cry; then I zoomed out and managed to photograph both birds. While I was still focusing on the birds, the bishop dived in and attacked the Coucal which is a quarter of the size of the larger bird! 

Later we saw the same thing happening as we drove along the mine road while returning to camp! We've concluded that obviously the Coucal robs the Bishop's nests of eggs and babies hence the aggressive behavior of the Bishop when the coucal is nearby! 

The partly concealed White-browed Coucal on the left with the Bishop higher up on the right! 

 The White-browed Coucal in full cry

The much, much smaller Bishop attacks and ultimately chases the White-browed Coucal 

I hope you're all having a great week. I'm linking my post to Wild Bird Wednesday hosted by Stewart Monckton.

 

Toffee and Princess

As the week hurtles towards Friday and our departure for South Africa, I just had to photograph darling little Princess and her old [adopted] aunt, Toffee. Princess has been with us since the week before Christmas 2013, and I imagine that she is about five months old now. 

In February, I brought all the necessary inoculations from South Africa and the local vet injected her. (Toffee's treatments are carried by the company and done regularly as well) Princess and Toffee have also been treated for worms and had their coats de-flea-ed.  Princess has two meals a day from me (one with dog pellets) and in the late afternoon, when Toffee has hers, she has another of ugali which is ground maize meal cooked with a meaty bone. A far cry from what life Princess would be living now if she had remained with the children who discarded her so carelessly! 

Dear old Toffee has been with the company since 2004 and been the guard dog at this (our) house since then. She has a lovely nature and spends most of the day playing with Princess, or lying on the lawn, with her little ward next to her. Toffee is also no slouch when it comes to "guarding" our property and barks at anything which she thinks looks suspicious through the slated reeds surrounding the yard!

During the day, Princess follows Michael - my favorite, trusty askari - around like a shadow. The night askaris have taken a leaf from Michael's book and treat both dogs with kindness and care.This is not normal in Africa, as animals, and especially domestic ones who have almost no use, aren't greatly cared for or respected. However, any man who guards our gate at night can be found cuddling little Princess, calling her to his side when the gate is opened and a vehicle enters or feeding her tidbits from his evening meal! Toffee, who hasn't always had it so good, still remains quite aloof and sleeps a little way from the askari hut. 

  Pretty Princess who is as cute as a button and very intelligent !

Dear old Toffee who has been faithful from her first day here many years ago!

I know that, as I can happily leave our three cats in Regina's capable care, I can also rest easy knowing the two dogs are also well looked after in my absence. 

I'm linking this post to Our World Tuesday which you can access by clicking here