Dog Day Afternoons.

[Dewi]

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

Alf - I tried to find a video of their fishing behaviour on you-tube, but I could only find ones with their American cousins, the black skimmer, so hope this will explain the longer lower mandibles better than I can describe it.

[Dewi]

Along the river we encountered many African darters. Most were drying themselves out after a bout of fishing. Wings spread out, with feathers glistening in the late afternoon sunlight.



African fish-eagles are very common here. They seem to be evenly spaced out at intervals along the riverbank trees. Keeping a close watch for trespassing neighbours or easy piscine pickings.





A couple of cape buffalo were feeding at the waters edge, grazing on the aquatic plants growing in the shallows.



They were accompanied by a couple of red-billed ox-peckers who were searching for ticks or open wounds.



We sat for a while with these animals, they ignored the boat the same way that animals ignore cars, only looking up if they heard a noise or a quick movement was made by someone on the boat.









We moved on up river where a water monitor male was doing his best to woo a nearby female.

[Mel]

Thanks for the Video, Dewi! Amazing how they manage to "float" above the water and rake through it for Food
Fascinating to watch those clever birds!

Ahhh, and there has a new post come in while I was watching it...

What a handsome fish eagle! Not quite sure why I'm engrossed with them - after all there are more colourful feather bearers around -
but all the same I think they are totally beautiful. Maybe, just maybe, there is a bit of influence because of their unique and symbolic call though.

Cheeky Monitor is sticking his tongue out

The oxpecker-buff

[Lisbeth]

I like the "mugshots" of the buff

The tongue of the monitor looks disconcerting Nice pic though

[Richprins]

Normally birds get boring after a while, but you make it so interesting Davidi!

Thanks for that, and this report should be in a major international publication, IMO...

[Alf]

Thanks for the video Dewi

Missed it Lis

[Pumbaa]

Great bird shots, Dewi, especially the darter

love also your buffaloes and the monitor

[Flutterby]

More great pics. Good use of the tongue filter.

[Dewi]

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

Mel - That call is when I always know that I'm in Africa. I can never get enough of it. We might get a bit closer to one later.

Lis - Mugshot seems an apt word for these cantankerous animals.

RP - Birds, boring? Never! They are always doing something interesting. I'm not sure that anyone would be interested to read about me prattling on about my Summer holidays.

Alf - When we were in Namibia last year we met an American researcher who was keen to do studies on African skimmers. It was only after this trip and trying to read up on them that I realised how little study has been carried out on them.

Pumbaa - More darters to come later. And buffaloes.....and monitors....

Flutt's - The tongue filter gets a full workout in the next episode.

[Dewi]

Oh. I forgot to mention, there's quite a few pics of more or less the same coming up in a bit.......