Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Discussions and information on all Southern African Birds
User avatar
Dewi
Posts: 9147
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 7:38 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by Dewi »

White-crested Helmet-shrike
Image


Dewi

What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on? (H D Thoreau)
User avatar
Amoli
Posts: 6032
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:30 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Kempton Park
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by Amoli »

The craziest thing about the Helmet-Shrikes is – they have feathers growing right out of their bills. Not just at the base of the bill, but right out of the hard, horny black part. Completely unexpected.

Dewi can I borrow your pic.. :-0 :-0
Dewi wrote:White-crested Helmet-shrike
Image

.
The Helmet-Shrikes are the gangsters of the African savanna – they roam in groups and good luck to any Pearl-spotted Owl that is brave enough to make a peep in their near. In fact, this is a great trick to see if there are any Helmet-Shrikes in the area; just whistle the call of a Pearl-spotted Owl and if there are any within whistling distance, they will be at you within seconds.


Pretoriuskop
Satara
Shingwedzi
20-30 Dec 2014
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by nan »

and still this one O/\

Kruger -21.5.2011

White-Crested (White) Helmet-Shrike/Bagadais casqué

Image

Image


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
okie
Posts: 3446
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2013 1:58 pm
Country: Not here
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by okie »

Helmeted shrike seen on Mahonie loop , KNP . September 2013 .
Very far off .

Image

and he was not very willing to show his face either


Image


Enough is enough
User avatar
Super Mongoose
Posts: 808
Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:10 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Pretoria North
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by Super Mongoose »

Near the viewing tower, Ndumo Game Reserve, KZN, October 2013

White-Crested Helmet-Shrike

Image

Image

Image

Image


Imagine RhiNOs!
We have to stand together to STOP the madness!
Please support a Rhino project!
User avatar
Dewi
Posts: 9147
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 7:38 pm
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by Dewi »

Great pics everyone. ^Q^ \O

Orange-breasted Bush-shrike
Image


Dewi

What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on? (H D Thoreau)
okie
Posts: 3446
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2013 1:58 pm
Country: Not here
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by okie »

And while we cooling off in deep shade of a tree , this beautiful , Orangebreasted Bushshrike came to have a quick look at us , before flying away again . So , regret the poor quality .


Image


Enough is enough
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by nan »

Kruger

Grey-Headed Bush-Shrike
15.3.2011 - around Talamati

Image


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
Richprins
Committee Member
Posts: 75834
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
Location: NELSPRUIT
Contact:

Re: Shrike - BIRD OF THE MONTH JANUARY 2014

Post by Richprins »

WATCH: Gutsy grey-headed bush shrike makes quick meal of snake

2018-08-16 06:30 - Selene Brophy

Image

Never underestimate a sighting that is not as glamorous as the Big 5, says Gabriela Benavides, a wildlife vet who shared the following video with LatestSightings.com.

You might end up being a witness to a really unique experience that will make you have all emotions at once, she says.

Gabriela says, “We went to the Kruger National Park just for the weekend, in early August, as my husband and his family run the Skukuza half marathon every year and we take every opportunity to spend time in the park.

On Friday and Saturday we were lucky enough to spot the Big 5, both days. The family, after being so lucky, decided they have had enough and didn’t want to go out on a game drive on Sunday and rather sleep-in and spend time together back at camp.

However the couple admit they can "never have enough of the bush".

"We broke a deal to escape as early as the gates opened and be back around 9:30. We had an awesome sighting with 2 honey badgers and we were getting ready to head back when we decided to drive one more loop. As we turned, my husband spotted a snake in a mud hole, which was quite unusual for winter time.

It was then that a bird flew away as soon as they stopped.

phpBB [video]


"We are trying to figure out what type of snake was it, when the bird, a grey-headed bush-shrike, started tugging at something that also pulled the snake. Soon we realised they were the intestines of the snake, a Rufous Beaked snake. At a closer look it didn’t have eyes anymore and there was some blood on its face. The bird kept pulling and pecking on the snake, and the snake kept opening its mouth as a threat, but couldn’t do much else to defend itself in its weak state.

“At first, we got excited for the scene of a bright colored bird and a snake, but as we figured out what was going on, it became gruesome and sad. It was obvious the bird was winning so we just hoped it ended quickly for the snake. We knew it was nature, but took all our strength to stay on and be witnesses of how cruel sometimes the circle of life is.”

“The bird got a chunk out of the hole where the intestines were sticking out and flew away with it. The snake didn’t move after that, the head was in a hole in the mud, so we couldn’t see any movement of the tongue and we assumed it was dead. Since we arrived it took another 20 minutes for the fight to be over.”

“I have never seen a bird so small kill a snake for what looked like a meal. In fact, I never even thought a snake would on its menu. We first thought it was defending its nest, but at the end the bird took a big piece of some internal organ of the snake, which ultimately caused its death. It surely was a once in a lifetime sighting.”


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
Post Reply

Return to “Birds”