Birds by the dozen

The birds in and around Hlalanathi seemed to be quite content to pose for portraits, so at the risk of boring some, lets look at a few that can prove tricky to identify because of their rather drab attire. Meet the streaky-headed seed-eater that was a sparrow until fairly recently - don't ask why it is no longer referred to as such......I've no idea.  The conical beak indicates a seed-eating species and the streaks on the crown are easily seen but otherwise it is mos a sparrow.

Cisticolas are notoriously difficult and with some even the calls may be confusing.  Two that regularly cause me problems (even more so with advancing years and a disappearing brain) are this little guy which is a lazy and the following which is a wailing.The lazy cisticola habitually cocks it's tail, has the distinctive rufous crown of most of the family, and sports a greyish back.

So this is the wailing, see the difference?  It's the subtle things like lack of tail lift, the head and neck are brown and the back is streaked and it sounds slightly different! Enough said.

Discovered the wall the retains the massive amount of water that is Woodstock Dam while out on a ride one day. Amazing what a small plug in the right place can achieve.

Did I mention how much rain had been falling and the possibility of an Ark, appears that one of the locals has serious aspirations!

Another visit to Spionkop provided a photo-op for one those birds whose plumage is so striking that they are always a pleasure to look at.  A migrant from north of the equator, the extremely elegant red-backed shrike.

Down at the water's edge I managed to get a reasonable action shot of a pair of South African shelduck coming in to land.

Another indication of the amount of rain that's fallen is the spillway which was at least a metre under water.

At first sight, I assumed this was a canola field but as I got closer it became apparent that it was soybeans in their final stages of life...............has beans I guess.

It's cosmos season and it was again apparent that the that the white and pale pink flowers were abundant but the deep crimson variety nowhere to be found.....this being the darkest I could locate.  Evolution at work?

Have featured pictures of white-fronted bee-eaters before but they are always worth another punt.

While taking a stroll around the golf course I bumped into a large flock of our rarest members of the family, the aptly named bald ibis.

One even stopped feeding long enough to allow a shot of it's rather splendid plumage, glowing in the early sunlight. The featherless crown and face and the rather fetching ruff complete the ensemble.

Not another LBJ!  Yes but this lesser swamp (or Cape reed) warbler had picked a very pretty place to forage.

The wonderfully sinuous road to Cathedral Peak demanded to be ridden and I revisited Didima Camp.....

...............which features these weird shaped cottages.  Something to do with celebrating  the San heritage and their rock art which is well represented in the area.  Couldn't find any explanation why they look like musk oxen.

Managed to get closer to the "floppy koppie" mentioned in the last post and could see that there is a path leading straight up to the base of a cliff.  Thereafter, I guess it's crampons and ropes.

The problem with long tailed birds is that that feature hogs the shot so the actual size of the bird is hard to imagine.  This pin-tailed whydah is actually quite small but the tail makes him appear much bigger so they are frightful bullies.  Ask any local who has a feeder, most would happily strangle the little sods.and they're still obnoxious when they lose their tails in winter.

Another walk in Royal Natal .......

...................brought me close enough to the "Policeman's helmet" to get a picture, but I certainly didn't attempt to reach it with my dickey knees.

A little further along the trail was a patch of these hesperantha H. baurii (I hope!)...........

..................and on returning the sun was emphasizing the tassels of these tall grasses - not even going to try! 

Arriving back at the Beast, the bakkie was immediately set upon by the loony puffback.........

..........and on an afternoon stroll, I managed to get a half decent picture of a brubru which had always been particularly uncooperative.

After two months, my time at Hlanathi was finally up and with Easter closing in I headed the scene of a previous mishap - Midmar Dam.  Managed to avoid another incident fortunately and was surprised to see that the toilet that my bakkie demolished has been repaired.

On the far side of the dam is Thurlow Park, a reserve that usually provides something of interest.  This grey crowned crane took to the air before I could snap it, but this gives an idea of it's massive wingspan.

Dozens of barn swallows were taking s breather in the road and this male already had his tail streamers ready to impress the ladies back in their breeding grounds.....

.......and a red-necked francolin lurked in the grass nearby.

Brigid and Peter Turner very kindly offered parking for the Beast in their driveway and as I had to get to Boksburg, I drove up for Easter.  Paid a visit to Marievale, which was extremely full, so the waders and waterbirds were scarce, other than this ruff grubbing for breakfast.......

........and a juvenile reed cormorant who had already caught his and was now digesting in the sunlight.

Down the road an African snipe was busy preening with that ridiculously long beak - quite a job I imagine.

On the far side I again found the mountain chats, nowhere near any mountains but I suppose mine dumps could be substituted.  The male with the epaulette.....

......and his rather dowdy but nevertheless cute partner.

Mrs African stone chat is also less colourful than her husband......

........and finally the unexpected sight of a white-winged tern on the hunt.  They are more usually seen in the much duller winter plumage but this fellow had changed into the tux before heading back over to his palaearctic home.