Wings

Spitting_madSpitting mad Giant Kingfisher, St Lucia
Cape_Gull

Cape Gull skimming the surface

Whitefronted Plover on Yzerfontein Beach Whitefronted Plover on Yzerfontein Beach
Jackal Buzzard preparing for flight, Addo Elephant National Park Jackal Buzzard preparing for flight, Addo Elephant National Park
Black_Harrier_Juv_2015_09_24_WCNP juvenile black harrier
Crowned Cormorant photographed by Hannelie de Klerk at Grotto Bay on 17 December 2011. Crowned Cormorant at Grotto Bay on 17 December 2011.
his and hers in flight his and hers in flight- different coloured faces for the male and female african shelduck
yellow tipped beak a yellow tipped beak is characteristic of the sandwich tern

Sandwich_Tern_WestCoastNPThe white forehead on a Sandwich Tern is an indicator that it is not currently in breeding season
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Flying female Namaqua Sandgrouse. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Flying female Namaqua Sandgrouse above, male getting ready to dip his chest into the water in the photograph below.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Male Namaqua Sandgrouse.
Sandgrouse_3336_HdeKlerk_KgalagadiBurchell’s Sandgrouse – note different facial colours for his (below) and hers (above)
A Little Egret flies over the Berg river at Velddrift. A Little Egret flies over the Berg river at Velddrift.
Forktailed Drongo stretching. Pilansberg.
fujifilm_walk_DSCF2729 baby Egyptian Goose taken in the Company Gardens, Cape Town. Taken with Fuji camera on loan via Orms.
Oystercatcher. Yzerfontein.
flamingo_20seven13_DEK1809Greater Flamingo at the West Coast National Park
A Familiar Chat perched on a rock at the Marakele Game Reserve

Forktailed Drongo in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Forktailed Drone displays the deep cut v in the tail that names it.Flamingo_wingtipAdult Greater Flamingo has a pale pink beak
 Greater FlamingoJuvenile Greater flamingo has a hardly any pink to display
 Karoo Prinia, West Coast National Park.
Drakensberg Prinia with its catch of the dayBlackheaded Heron drinking water from the dam at Abramskraal, West Coast National Park Blackheaded Heron drinking water from the dam at Abramskraal, West Coast National Park
Grey_Heron
The Grey Heron is distinguished from the Blackheaded Heron by having a yellow beak and by fishing in waterways rather than scavenging for insects in the veld. Undoubtedly made more confusing by the fact that the blackheaded heron quite often drops by water just for a quick drink, as well as the further complication of their juveniles having yellow beaks. Ultimately knowing them apart may be in the GISS, with the Grey coming across as larger and with a lighter colour due to its white neck.
A female Malachite sunbird showing the tip of her tongue after drinking from an aloe in my garden. These little birds have set routes that they follow all day long, giving enough time for the plant to reproduce some nectar before stopping back in for the next feed. A female Malachite sunbird showing the tip of her tongue after drinking from an aloe in my garden. These little birds have set routes that they follow all day long, giving enough time for the plant to reproduce some nectar before stopping back in for the next feed.
There is always an anxious reserve while waiting next to raptors to see if one's reaction speed is going to be quick enough to capture the moment of the bird's diving into the wind. This Juvenile Pale Chanting Goshawk taken in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was worth every second of the anticipation. There is always an anxious reserve while waiting next to raptors to see if one’s reaction speed is going to be quick enough to capture the moment of the bird’s diving into the wind. This Juvenile Pale Chanting Goshawk taken in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was worth every second of the anticipation.
Marsh Harrier hunting at Abramskraal, West Coast National Park. Marsh Harrier hunting at Abramskraal, West Coast National Park.
Karoo Prinia after having a bath Karoo Prinia after having a bath
At a distance birds may be hard to distinguish, but this close up view of a spoonbill clearly shows the reason for its name. The blue ring around its eye, furthermore, is the perfect make up for the watery surrounds within which it can be found. At a distance birds may be hard to distinguish, but this close up view of a spoonbill clearly shows the reason for its name. The blue ring around its eye, furthermore, is the perfect make up for the watery surrounds within which it can be found.
Jackal Buzzard taking off in a blur of speed. Addo Elephant National Park. Jackal Buzzard taking off in a blur of speed. Addo Elephant National Park.
night hunters Night hunters: Spotted Eagle Owl displaying it’s formidable claws.
fugly beaut Helmeted Guineafowl portrait
I am bigger than you, Mapunggubwe I am bigger than you, Mapunggubwe
Female Southern Black Korhaan in flight
Cape Gull flying over Geelbek, WCNP

5 comments

  1. Pingback: Crowned Cormorant | hanneliedeklerk
  2. Pingback: Joy of water | Hannelie de Klerk

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