More Gabar Goshawks showing up

Gabar Goshawk in the neighbourhood

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



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"