Amur Falcons roost in Mafikeng

Male and Female Amur Falcons that roost at the Mafikeng CBD on a telephone line



Lesser Kestrels roost in Mafikeng

Lesser Kestrel on a telephone line. They are found in great numbers during the day. 

Kestrel Count Day

Today (22nd February 2011) is the official Kestrel Count Day in South Africa and volunteers are all out counting Kestrels from  their roost trees. The following pictures were taken today just before and as they left for the day from their roost tree. This roost tree is in Hatchard Street in Mafikeng CBD. I arrived at the tree with members of the Mafikeng Bird Club at 05h00 to witness the lift off. The roost has Lesser Kestrels in the majority,the Red Footed Falcons following the latter in numbers and the Amur Falcons in the minority.The first group arrived at the roost tree on the 13th November 2010 and they were Lesser Kestrels and later on bigger groups started arriving from their wintering grounds in Europe and Asia.  Click on the following link for more information

http://www.africanraptors.org/amur-falcon-migration-route-finally-plotted/.

Click to enlarge the image

The large group lift-off at 05h30

The first group lift-off at 05h16

At 05h10 before lift-off -just some twittering in the tree

Water ponds all over for birding

After the recent heavy rains, water has collected in ponds all over and birds are gathering in great numbers. You do not have to travel far for a shot of some of these beautiful feathered friends.  Below are some of the photos I took in some of the ponds in and around Mafikeng.( alongside some roads)

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

 

Little Egret - looking around

               

Grey Heron a bit confused

Blackwinged Stilt - water in abundance

                             

Swallow-Tailed Bee-eater Juvenile

Today while chasing the Great Scimiterbill at Disaneng Dam, I came across this Swallow Tailed Bee-eater juvenile. Athough it was overcast and drizzling I managed to get a shot of it.

Dusky Lark at Disaneng Dam

On the 9th January 2011 close to the village of Dibono I spotted this Dusky Lark