Birding In Satara Restcamp

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Tara

Following on from my review of the restcamp, I thought the birds deserved their own post as there were so many! Just get up at first light and wander around, you will probably see these birds as they were found all over the camp. I started in the circle where our hut was, then followed my ears as more birds made their presence known.

Red-billed Hornbill

Cape Glossy Starling

The African Hoopoe was one of my favourites, I loved watching him manipulate his crest!

I got lucky with a Hail Mary shot of a bird flying overhead, it was a Brown-headed Parrot!

A gorgeous Crested Barbet

Going by the photo in the Sasol book, I think this one is a Greater Blue-eared Starling.

Grey Go-Away Bird

Here you can see our car and our cabin and how close it is to the bush.

Francolin

Mystery bird!

Cape Buffalo just outside the camp

Dark-capped Bulbul

I know I missed some, if anyone can help me out, please comment!

Samango Monkeys & Other Birds – Magoebaskloof

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Tara

Although we only had one day in the Woodbush Forest and we spent most of it on the Grey-headed Parrots, we still managed to see some other birds and the elegant Samango Monkey! Kurisa Moya has a bird list.

This Olive Woodpecker was in the same tree as the Grey-headed Parrots.

After the Grey-headed Parrots, Narina Trogons and any Turacos were next on my wish-list so David did his best to find them. We did hear them but never saw them.

I think this is a Dark-backed Weaver

These Samango Monkeys were a few metres down the road from the Grey-headed Parrots.

So was this pretty butterfly.

Little Sparrowhawk

We drove around in the forest still hoping for Trogons & Turacos but no luck.

Either an Amethyst or Malachite Sunbird

Jackal Buzzard

Not sure about this raptor.

Duiker

My Top Thirty Bird Sightings Of 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Tara

Most other years this would be a top ten, but with 3 major birding trips this year I am struggling to make it a top thirty! If you want to see last year’s birds click here. There is no way I could single out one top bird with so many to choose from so they are being presented in chronological order. I haven’t finished blogging the Queensland road trip or the African Adventure so I have to cheat a bit with the photos. They are my photos but just pasted in.

1. Carnaby’s Cockatoo – seen at several places in Western Australia, Feb 2014.

2. Western Rosella – seen at Dryandra and Stirling Range in Western Australia, Feb 2014

3. Purple-crowned Lorikeet – seen near Fitzgerald National Park, Western Australia, Feb 2014

4. Western Bowerbird – seen at Nallan Station, Western Australia, Feb 2014

5. Splendid Fairy-wren – seen at Yanchep, Western Australia, Feb 2014

6. Orange-bellied Parrot – seen at Melaleuca, Tasmania, March 2014

7. Eastern Ground Parrot – seen at Melaleuca, Tasmania, March 2014

8. Swift Parrot – seen on Bruny Island, Tasmania, March 2014

9. Major Mitchell Cockatoo – seen at Bowra Station, QLD, March 2014

10. Cockatiels – seen at Bowra Station, QLD, March 2014

11. Satin Bowerbird – seen at Girraween, QLD, March 2014

12. Ultramarine Lorikeet – seen on Ua Huka, Marquesas, French Polynesia, June 2014

13. Rimatara Lorikeet – seen on Rimatara, French Polynesia, June 2014

14. Cape Parrot – seen in King William’s Town and Magoebaskloof, South Africa, Nov 2014

15. Lilac-breasted Roller – seen in Kruger Park, South Africa, Nov 2014

16. Echo Parakeet – seen at Black River Gorges, Mauritius, Nov 2014

17. Vasa Parrots – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

18. Schlegel’s Asity – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

19. Hoopoe – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

20. Paradise Flycatcher – seen in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

21. Red Malimbe – seen in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

22. African Grey Parrot – seen (fleeting glimpse) in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

Didn’t click fast enough!

23. Senegal Parrot – seen in Shai Hills, Ghana Nov 2014

24. Tacazze Sunbird – seen at Addis Ababa Hilton, Ethiopia, Nov 2014

25. African Red-bellied Parrot – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

26. Cordon Bleu Waxbill – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

27. Meyer’s Parrot (Brown Parrot) – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

28. Red-and-yellow Barbet – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

29. Superb Starling – seen all over Tanzania, Nov 2014

30. Lovebirds – seen in Madagascar (Grey-headed), Tarangire (Yellow-collared) and Ndutu (Fischer’s). Just couldn’t choose between them! Nov 2014

These aren’t necessarily the rarest birds but they were birds that made a major impression on me. Maybe for their rarity, maybe for their beauty or maybe for their behaviour! Apologies for not having profiles up on about half the birds but I still have a lot more to blog about!

Other Birding Locations Near King William’s Town

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Tara

Although the Cape Parrots were by far the main attraction, there are some other birds to keep an eye out for in and around King William’s Town.

HOSPITAL AREA

High up on a hill just in front of the hospital are a few trees with hundreds of birds – herons, egrets, ibises all crowding together in a few select trees. The sight and sounds of these birds has to be seen to be believed!

Undaunted by the larger birds, it’s business as usual for these little Cape Weavers.

POND OUTSIDE OF TOWN

I’m not sure if this pond has a name but it does attract a lot of different waterbirds such as various ducks and geese. I forgot to take notes so hopefully someone can help me identify them. Sadly there is a lot of rubbish dumped around the pond by locals which made me a bit uncomfortable being around there. What kind of people would want to spoil what would otherwise be a nice, peaceful area?

Bowerbirds: The Art Of Seduction

Posted on December 17, 2014 by Tara

Nothing beats a David Attenborough documentary to bring exotic birds up close and personal……………..except of course going there to see them in person! I did this in both West Papua and West Australia, but I can’t shoot video to save my soul so we are lucky Mr Attenborough does these amazing docos!

Australians click on the image to watch online.

Click here to view on Australia’s Channel 10.

If the link above expires or you can’t view Australian based videos, then try this link.

Israel’s 10 Most Beautiful Birds

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Tara

You don’t normally think of Israel as a birding destination but they do have some very beautiful birds there!

Full List

Sneak peek!

Winged Migration

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Tara

When this movie first came out, it was ground-breaking! No one had ever seen birds in flight filmed in such spectacular detail! There really is nothing like seeing it on the big screen but since that isn’t possible, your big screen tv will have to do!

This is my affiliate link, if you use it to purchase this product or any other on Amazon I will get a small commission at no added cost to you. Thank you for your support!

A One-Legged Seagull In Swansea

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Tara

After a morning of birding in Freycinet, it was time to hit the road and head back to Hobart. Swansea is about an hour’s drive from Coles Bay and makes a good lunch stop. There are a few take-aways and sit-down cafes to choose from, most with a beautiful view of the sea.

I don’t know what happened to this poor bird. I know you’re not supposed to feed wild birds but I took pity on this one and gave him some of my sandwich. It can’t be easy trying to catch fish when you only have one leg to balance on!

After leaving Swansea we passed these picturesque riverside houses.

Documentary – 101 Australian Birds

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Tara

While this is an older production and doesn’t have the resolution and sharpness of modern videocameras, this documentary is still a valuable resource to anyone coming to Australia for birding. It’s 1:45 minutes long so take your time and enjoy!

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Tara

The Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus), also known as the superb blue-wren or colloquially as the blue wren, is a passerine bird of the family Maluridae, common and familiar across southeastern Australia. They were recently voted as Australia’s favourite bird. Two subspecies groups are recognized: the larger and darker Tasmanian form cyaneus and the smaller and paler mainland form cyanochlamys.

Superb Fairy-wrens have a large range in eastern Australia and Tasmania. I’ve personally seen them in the Captain Cook Caravan Park in Bruny Island, Strahan, around Hobart and near Girraween National Park in Queensland.