Africa Wild

I recently spent a few hours in this little piece of wetland right in the heart of the huge development that has sprung up here.

The paths and hides are a wonderful getaway for a few hours, and maybe the birds are not as iconic as some others are, but it was fascinating to see them up close and personal from the hides.

A Purple Heron fished from the reed edge.



African Darters were inquisitive.



African Spoonbills were busy nestbuilding.



Lesser Swamp Warblers were always present flitting amongst the reeds.



With Levaillant's Cisticolas also present in good numbers.



Sacred Ibis bathed and preened in the shallows.



And White-breasted Cormorants dried off in the sunshine.



More to follow....

Recently fledged Sacred Ibis were practicing their new found flying skills, but landing seemed to be a bit of an issue.



Hartlaub's Gulls bathed and preened at the water's edge.



Red-knobbed Coots were busy feeding on weeds.



While a young Darter struggled to get rid of some that it picked up on its underwater forays.



An adult also had the same problem.



Grey Herons made an occasional fly-by.



As did the local Black-winged Stilt.



All in all, a very pleasurable couple of hours in relative seclusion amidst the hustle and bustle nearby. The coffee from a nearby shop on the way out was one of the best I've had. Maybe it had something to do with the frame of mind I was in after a great morning birding?

This is a delightful place and is always worth a visit. There are two bird hides. One looks out over a large expanse of water and attracts gulls, cormorants, moorhens etc. The other has a view of a smaller pond and is my favourite.

There is usually some action with the pieds





Someone with some fancy yellow shoes



and those that like to show off in front

Must be my kind of place

Lovely photos

Great shots, graham!

Utterly adorable birds!

Simply fantastic shots, graham

WOW, graham, those are excellent captures

Awesome birds too.

Great shot of the MK