Dog Day Afternoons.

[Flutterby]

Lots of lovely birds! I like the flying darter!

[Dewi]

Thanks for the comments Nan, Lis & Flutt's.

[Dewi]

More vultures were dropping in every few seconds or so. I counted them several times during this sighting and got a maximum of 122 which included the ones circling overhead.

Some would come in right over the centre of the mob.



Look for a suitable place to pile in.



Adjust themselves to prepare for landing.



Then streamline to drop into the mele.



Landing on top of the others.



And scramble down into the throng.



Only to be repelled by the ones below.



Others opted to come in from the side.



Forcing an opening to gain access to the feast.



And fighting their way through.

[Lisbeth]

I would not like to be at the bottom of that pile It's impressive though and great pics

[Pumbaa]

Again so many amazing bird shots, Dewi,

my favourites are the bee eaters and the darter in flight

[Alf]

Another vulture feast

[Flutterby]

They are a scruffy bunch!

[Richprins]

Well done, old chap! Another 100 vultures!

Looks like they are all the same species?

Rakops is a dismal place....I see nothing has changed...

Where is the coppery tail...I would have photographed that first!

[Dewi]

Thanks for your comments Lis, Pumbaa, Alf, Flutt's & RP.

Lis - It was impressive to watch.

Pumbaa - Those little bee-eaters are quite something to see.

Alf - This is getting to be a rare sight these days.

Flutt's - Yes we were.... Oh, you mean the vultures.

RP - Yes, all white-backed. Looked agaain for cape, but no luck (see link below). You only see the coppery sheen to the tail when the light reflects on it. You can see this is one from what feature visible in the pic?

For those interested in seeing the difference in size and colouration between an adult cape vulture & white backed, click on the link below and fast forward to 43.13 minutes in.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ve9QCPKG6A

[Dewi]

I had intended to post a lot of our vulture sightings from this trip on International Vulture Awareness Day last week, but things got ahead of me so I'm making all this week IVAW on my TT. If you don't like vultures, pop back in next week & skip ahead from here.

Birds kept coming down to land at the carcass. It gave me a great opportunity to catch all the little nuances of vulture landing tactics.



Slight adjustments to the positioning of the feet, tail & wingtips were all evident.



With brakes on full as they made final approach.



Choosing a spot to land .



Flaring out at the last moment as another goes for take off.



Looking for a better spot.



Seen one. Full brakes applied.



And drop.



Find a soft landing point.



And dig your way in.