Saturday 27 October 2012

Saturday started off very slowly with not many birds about as i headed towards the riverine forest area where cuckoos are known to hang out.The Diederik Cuckoo was around and making a noise it stayed well hidden. This Redchested Cuckoo appeared and called once or twice then disappeared.

Redchested Cuckoo

Colourful Bugs

Some bugs caught my eye they made for a bit of colour on the leaf this photo was the result.

Yellow Stamen

Next was this flower that this amazing array of yellow stamen the red of the flower and the yollow make for an interesting combination of clours.

Greenback Heron

Eventually ending up at the bird hide the action started to pick up with the Greenback Heron putting in his appearance. He soon had a fish then went and hid behind some reads so no photos possible but could just see it through the reads as it beat the fish to death and then ate it. 

Greenback Heron - Takeoff

Purple Heron - Hunting

Purple Heron

The next visitor the dam was the Purple Heron this bird is quite exquisite when the sun shine on it in a certain way the feathers seam to glow gold in colour.

Burchell's Coucal

The Burchell's Coucal put in his appearance he had good look around found a waevers nest that was unattended reached in snatched the chick and then cool as you like just perched on the tree next to the nest. 

This Red Bishop and one that is out of frame then attacked the Coucal .

I you look carefully you can see the chick in it beak .

This bird is truly the neighbor from hell.

Olive Thush

This chap popped out of the bush and just sat on the rock in the sun then flew off he just looks cool.

A Days Bird Photograpghy

Saturday while going to the gardens the weather looked decidedly dodgy, arriving there went down to the river  forest area where I could hear some cuckoos calling. Little did I know what a mornings photography was going to take place.
As the light was not of the best I fitted the flash to my camera and took a few experimental shots to check settings etc.then settled down to wait. These photos are what transpired so please enjoy as I had a great time photographing these birds.

Robin Chat

This Robin was the fist to appear out of the undergrowth.

Crested Barbet

This Punk rocker lead me on a merry dance, while trying to photograph it.

Diederik Cuckoo

This very shy bird flew off each time i tried to photograph it.

Black  Cuckoo

Difficult to see and find.

Juvenile Black Eagle - Launch

This Youngster is still learning how to fly.

Gliding Practice 

Have a great week and lets hear from you and feel free to share with your friends.

A Day of Macro Photograhy

African Bee

A very satisfying day of Macro Photography.
On the right is an African bee that had spent the night in the open. As it was moving very slowly from flower to flower on this succulent, after the sun shone on it, it soon began behaving normally. 

Grasshopper

Red Clivias

I never realized that grasshoppers were so hairy.
As I was focusing on the grasshopper I was just hoping that the hairiness would show up on the photo, it remained very still during the photo-shoot at the end of the shoot with great dignity just stalking off into the bush that he was sitting on.












These Clivias were in great shape and with vibrant colour.

Purple Succulent

It was the colour of this flower that caught my eye and i just had to capture this beauty.