Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

[Flutterby]

Thanks Sharifa!

[Penga Ndlovu]

Yep.
Long tailed Widowbird.
Not in breeding plumage anymore.

[Flutterby]

[steamtrainfan]

Great shots here F.B. - Fantastic shot of the BCSE and crow - a lot clearer than mine.

A most unusual pic of a FWGC -

[Flutterby]

Tx STF!

What's a FWGC?

[Dewi]

Four Wheeled Gate Crasher?

Great pics Flutt's.

[Amoli]

Great pics Flutts - super bird pics..

Love the BCSE and crow.. very good

[Pumbaa]

More thank lovely Flutterby

So many birdies and even rhinos - love the mom and calf pictures - and lot of antelopes

[Flutterby]

Tx Dewi, Amoli and Pumbaa!

[Amoli]

Within the first half hour of my 19th visit to Reitvlei, I saw ….. Buffaloes.

Their horns are very different, and I must say, I missed the oxpeckers hitching a ride.







I don’t think I have seen starlings before, and I will also show some ‘in flight’ pics taken on this trip.





This is also a lifer for me… still have to find it a name.



I went mainly to see what the hide had to offer…. Well, besides three BIG men and their BIG toys which left me a little corner to sit in…. this was my view. -O -O -O

The darter is beautiful when it suns itself.


Rietvlei has a good stock of African Stonechats – male, female, juvile, in flight, resting….





Saw eland on three occasions yesterday. These group was waiting for one that lacking behind…



There are some precautions in place which I will not discuss here… but this is my first baby in Rietvlei - the mother was ever so protective. Just a look made the other grown one give way. You will notice I don’t even mention the name so that it cannot easily be picked by Google.



Hello… did I hear something,



Where did it come from ?



Agh.. I’ll just hide in case it was something.
I was stationary when this little guy popped out. He didn’t see me, only heard the clicks of the camera.



Some oldies,

Egyptian geese with winter coat



A tired Wattled lapwing



I normally loose the eye with the Blacksmith Plover –



Here it is calling it’s mate – notice the tongue at work..



A wagtail – having breakfast on the run..



What a level of noise the Pied Crows can make



And a favourite - in early light…



One breeding session was a great success – there were lots and lots of these – I think - little weavers.







My stump has taken a beating… oi – life is hard. Sure it serves as a breeding/feeding place for many an insect.



Another wonderful daytrip has ended, and I got momentum for another week of Jhb traffic.