Migrants have started arriving: Little or Red-necked Stint?

Differentiating between a Little Stint and Red-necked Stint has always been difficult for me. After spotting this bird with my binoculars at Modimola Dam on Saturday I was convinced that it was a Little Stint. It was only after studying  some photos I had taken of it that I started doubting my identification. The bird started looking more like a Red- necked Stint than a Little Stint. Little Stint is abundant in South Africa but not the Red-necked Stint. Have I seen a rare bird?

Help identify the Stint





Help idendtify the Stint



Black Crake: not so shy but adorable

I spend the past two days trying to get a shot of this shy bird. To my surprise it has always evaded me appearing at the most unexpeted places.

Black Crake

Black Crake

Black-shouldered Kites during season of veld fires

It is August and veld fires are a common occurrence. Amidst the smoke and strong winds, it is common to see Black-shouldered Kites patienly perched on power lines awaiting rats and mice as they flee the raging fires.

Black-shouldered Kite  

Black-shouldered Kite going for a perch

Nice perch on a power line

African Hoopoe a fairly common garden bird

As we move into the month of August the African Hoopoe will also go into its breeding season. This African Hoopoe has a nest in my neighbour's  house-roof and every year it has one or two broods during its breeding period.

African Hoopoe

African Hoopoe

Red-knobbed Coots at peak of breeding season

While birding today at Modimola Dam, it was quite apparent that the coots were at the height of their breeding season. Close to seven nests were visible after the tall reeds were cut at Modimola Dam.

One of the Red -knobbed Coots nesting.

Others were already wandering around with their young.

More on "African Spoonbill a remarkable bird"

I have recieved numerous requests from followers, friends and the general public; both within the country and abroad, after my last publishing of the African Spoonbill photos  on this blog. Here are some more images of the bird.These photos were also taken at Modimola Dam which boasts a large number of these wonderful  water birds.

African Spoonbill basking in the sun

African Spoonbill in flight