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Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 6:58 pm
by Dewi
Thanks for the comments Puff Addy, Nan, Lis, Mel, Alf & RP. \O X#X

Lis - you might change your mind when you see one in flight. They are very graceful. \O

Mel - I do get a bit excitable when I see something I've always wanted to catch up with. lol

RP - lol They are related to terns, with some claims that they are closely related to the noddies. More research is required to confirm this. \O

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:06 pm
by Flutterby
Hey Dewi,

Had lots to catch up on! O** Very interesting reading about the wild dogs' tails....the doggies in Kruger have very clean tails. :yes:

Stunning pics of the ellies from the boat and awesome skimmer sightings! ^Q^ ^Q^

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:32 pm
by Dewi
Thanks Flutt's. Glad you god your modem fixed. \O

More ellies to come later. \O

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:44 pm
by Dewi
The skimmers continued to entertain us for quite some time.

The birds would fly out over the river, then return to the sandbank to rest.

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Some were roosting. Their beaks tucked under their scapulars.

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Their flight is elegant & buoyant, their long wings making them very graceful as they flew by.

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Some were getting ready for their nocturnal fishing flights.

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After spending the day roosting on the sandbars, they were getting their flight feathers spruced up for night ahead.

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Before setting out over the river in the fading light.

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Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:45 pm
by Flutterby
Such beautiful pics. \O

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:50 pm
by Lisbeth
It is a very elegant bird in flight, but you cannot call it pretty standing on the ground with it's short legs and especially in a frontal pic with the black cap covering the eyes and the bill looking like a long red thorn =O: Nothing personal, mind you O** lol

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 8:15 pm
by Mel
I'm with Dewi on this one: I love their colourful beaks going with the black and white plummage - very fashionable. O:V

Awesome photos!!! O/\

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 10:33 pm
by Pumbaa
Magnificent shots of the African skimmers, Dewi :-0 :ty: X#X WoW

Also love the ellies in the water O\/

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 3:41 pm
by Alf
But why is the lower beak so much longer -O-

Re: Dog Day Afternoons.

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2016 3:52 pm
by Lisbeth