I think buzzard too, Amoli. Steppe buzzard.
Great bird sightings once again - with the starling being top of the pops.
Looking different or not, it still is a beauty.
Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg*
- Mel
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die.
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
I forgot to show you this cheeky youngster picking a power push with a bull waterbuck.
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
And the Wart family…
Mommy teaching babies to bath
Mommy teaching babies to bath
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
2nd day -
This morning we decided on a slow drive down Korwe loop – in search of unusuals…
A shrub/tree bearing fruit – yet it didn’t attract birds or animals..
Two Crimson breasted shrike kept us busy – pics on SHRIKE – Bird of the month January.
A grey go-away bird flew down and sat right next to my window – I could have put out my hand and scratched it’s head.
This mushroom made me think of Nan – please tell us the story of what it is used for, in case somebody hasn’t read it, or forgotton - like me. I asked the lizard to come into the picture for the beauty of it.
(I really did first see the mushroom first and then through the lens saw the lizard)
Very casually Efjay said we need to move a little forward as he saw a black bird…. So we moved….
…. A wishlist bird – another lifer… Jacobins Cuckoo
This morning we decided on a slow drive down Korwe loop – in search of unusuals…
A shrub/tree bearing fruit – yet it didn’t attract birds or animals..
Two Crimson breasted shrike kept us busy – pics on SHRIKE – Bird of the month January.
A grey go-away bird flew down and sat right next to my window – I could have put out my hand and scratched it’s head.
This mushroom made me think of Nan – please tell us the story of what it is used for, in case somebody hasn’t read it, or forgotton - like me. I asked the lizard to come into the picture for the beauty of it.
(I really did first see the mushroom first and then through the lens saw the lizard)
Very casually Efjay said we need to move a little forward as he saw a black bird…. So we moved….
…. A wishlist bird – another lifer… Jacobins Cuckoo
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
This is the second time I see the Chestnut vented babbler and yet it amazes me for even seeing it.
It is well hidden inbetween these branches, all the same colour.
White winged widowbird
Nature’s own Christmas tree
On our way to the Rathalgo hide, we saw the European Roller .
It was very quiet at hide and at the water side except for a lone ellie coming downhill for a drink.
He gave himself a shake – boy, what a noise those ears make when the get flapped around
And walked away
This was a pretty picture for me – peace and content…
Afternoon Drive to follow……-
It is well hidden inbetween these branches, all the same colour.
White winged widowbird
Nature’s own Christmas tree
On our way to the Rathalgo hide, we saw the European Roller .
It was very quiet at hide and at the water side except for a lone ellie coming downhill for a drink.
He gave himself a shake – boy, what a noise those ears make when the get flapped around
And walked away
This was a pretty picture for me – peace and content…
Afternoon Drive to follow……-
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
Thanks Nannan wrote: the mushroom is a "Coprin chevelu" (chevelu = lot of hair , something like hirsute )
we eat them, they are very nice mushroom, just not to drink too much alcohol with
and this one is maybe a little bit dry, but we don't have to eat one completly open
have a look here : Coprinus comatus
Thanks Mel...
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
Brunch at the centre was a sure winner once again – their food is fresh and value for the price.
These guys knew something I needed to learn… two heads are better than one
And…
We drove the Manyane Route in search of the Leopard !!
A squirrel.. – here my thoughts were of Liz …
Saw some nice birdies
These guys knew something I needed to learn… two heads are better than one
And…
We drove the Manyane Route in search of the Leopard !!
A squirrel.. – here my thoughts were of Liz …
Saw some nice birdies
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
We came across some zebras with youngsters. These kids were in a playful mood
Last edited by Amoli on Mon Jan 27, 2014 8:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
On our return trip we saw the Buzzard again.
As I stopped to take some pics, it took off, flying towards us.
Frantically I was trying to focus, and only caught up once it landed quite near to us.
In its claws it had a lizard of sorts. These birds have super eyesight!!
And then it took off and went back to its perch to enjoy supper – and we headed to camp for our supper.
As I stopped to take some pics, it took off, flying towards us.
Frantically I was trying to focus, and only caught up once it landed quite near to us.
In its claws it had a lizard of sorts. These birds have super eyesight!!
And then it took off and went back to its perch to enjoy supper – and we headed to camp for our supper.
Last edited by Amoli on Mon Jan 27, 2014 8:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Pilansberg - another festive season in the Berg
Last day – 24 December
We left for a short ride before we would return to pack and return home to spend Christmas with the family – wondering if there could be more pleasant surprises locked up in this reserve.
Not far from camp, we heard a bird cry. My mind was racing,
a secretary bird … no
a bustard…. No
a korhaan… no
looking for it, I realized although I had never heard this before, that it is Francolin – a coqui francolin.
I went in search for the little dam on the Tau link and followed STF directions to the last koppie where it flattens out… I couldn’t believe that I had never seen this turn-off before.
As we approached the dam we found a African olive Pigeon. I have seen it before, but these were my first nice pics.
We sat around for about an hour with no further sightings, so we decided to move on.
This sparrow and his wife had a nest at the centre. Still one of the prettiest birds around.
This Diderick was so near to the car – a great sighting.
We came across this boon family the previous day. They raid the nests in the tall grass around the trees for eggs.
Have you ever seen such submission!! This is no prin(ce)s – no ways…. This is the King himself.
A beautiful, large Black Shouldered Kite – sorry for the harsh light.
I see some references refer to them are Black Winged kites.
We returned to camp, packed up and took a leisurely drive home with the knowledge that the holiday is only half way.
Day after Christmas we will head north to Nylsvley.
We left for a short ride before we would return to pack and return home to spend Christmas with the family – wondering if there could be more pleasant surprises locked up in this reserve.
Not far from camp, we heard a bird cry. My mind was racing,
a secretary bird … no
a bustard…. No
a korhaan… no
looking for it, I realized although I had never heard this before, that it is Francolin – a coqui francolin.
I went in search for the little dam on the Tau link and followed STF directions to the last koppie where it flattens out… I couldn’t believe that I had never seen this turn-off before.
As we approached the dam we found a African olive Pigeon. I have seen it before, but these were my first nice pics.
We sat around for about an hour with no further sightings, so we decided to move on.
This sparrow and his wife had a nest at the centre. Still one of the prettiest birds around.
This Diderick was so near to the car – a great sighting.
We came across this boon family the previous day. They raid the nests in the tall grass around the trees for eggs.
Have you ever seen such submission!! This is no prin(ce)s – no ways…. This is the King himself.
A beautiful, large Black Shouldered Kite – sorry for the harsh light.
I see some references refer to them are Black Winged kites.
We returned to camp, packed up and took a leisurely drive home with the knowledge that the holiday is only half way.
Day after Christmas we will head north to Nylsvley.
Last edited by Amoli on Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Pretoriuskop
Satara
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