Sighting of a melanistic Gabar Goshawk nearer home

One of my most enjoyable moments  while out birding and atlasing in the last two weeks; was a sighting of a melanistic form of a Gabar Goshawk within some few metres where I had spotted the normal one.
The last time, which was my first time, was at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
This time it was spotted less than 20km from my home.

Gabar Goshawk - common resident

Melanistic form of Gabar Goshawk - a rare occurrence (less than 20km form my home)

Melanistic Gabar Goshawk  I saw at Kgalagadi in March 2012

Birding in the cold weather

I went out birding  and it was wet and chilly.Here are some of my surprises of the day.

Red-billed Oxpecker - regularly wanders beyond normal range (near threatened)

Fiscal Flycatcher - confusion most likely with Common Fiscal



HELP identify the raptor: the final result

This is a follow-up to my last posting

I have received overwhelming response on the identification of the raptor from my last posting on the above subject.

Based on all the inputs and suggestions the final verdict, from my own research as well, is that the bird was an African Hawk-Eagle.

Thanx to all the followers who contributed

Juvenile African Hawk-Eagle

Birding the “No man’s land”: Help ID the bird

Please help in identifying a bird that I spotted while birding along the South African border with Botswana last Saturday. The bird was perched on the Botswana side and I could only get a shot of it after spotting it with my binoculars and off it went.

Help ID the bird

Birding in winter II: the "no man's land"

I went birding on the Botswana and South African border on Saturday.

 In that bitterly cold winter weather ,there were still some interesting species to see. While the space between the two countries was only the “no man’s land” strip of land; the birds were flying over it, in and out of the two countries. Others, like the Scaly-feathered Finch had their nests based in the “no man’s land”.

The Little Bee-eaters were out on display while a solitary Swallow-tailed one was on a wire perch enjoying the sun on the Botswana side.

The Little Bee-eater enjoying a snack from the other side of the border

Just perching for a brief moment - where to now.

South Africa or Botswana?

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater - enjoying the winter sun on the Botswana side

The strip of land between the fences - "No man's land"