African Snipe(Ethiopean Snipe): great camouflage

After disappearing for some few years from the Lichtenburg Bioderversity Conservation  Centre (formerly known as the Lichtenburg Nature Reserve), the African Snipe reappeared this week once again.
At first I could not recognise them; all I could see were the Common Greenshanks, but at close scrutiny with the help of  a spotting scope I started seeing them. What an amazing camouflage.

African Snipe: well camouflaged

Help identify this bird

Yesterday, (just before a storm) while birding at Modimola Dam; enjoying the parade of Whiskered Terns up and down the dam, Egrets and Ruffs taking on each other over a patch of dry a spot.

 I spotted  the bird in the image below in a group of Curlew Sandpipers. At first, I thought it was one of the Ruffs by just scanning at its plumage. 

On second look, the black head turned out to be  a mystery. I also thought maybe it was a juvenile of a Whiskered Tern. 

Please, help in identifying this bird. 

The black bill and the head from the side

The head from the back

The neck and the chest all white and the back plumage grey to brown

I mistakenly thought it was a Ruff by its plumage. But, then the head was that of a Tern.

Now, if it was a Tern then it must have been a juvenile one. Which Tern or what bird could this have been?

In a matter of minutes the bird was gone but I managed to take some few shots of it.

Red Bishop: New year birds

My birding in the new  has been wonderful. I have had shots of birds which have been illusive in the past years.
 One of these birds is the Red Bishop. Known to be polybgamous; can keep up to seven females.

Red Bishop male in breeding plumage. Can keep up to seven females

Red Bishop displaying from perch with plumage puffed out to attract females

Red Bishop female



A day after Christmas: Cape Longclaw

Cape Longclaw walking on tufty grass foraging for food

After deciding not to do any birding on Christmas day, I set off on the day thereafter for some few hours of birding. There was not much to be seen as far as birds were concerned. I guess, most of the spots, where I do my birding, were deserted due to holiday picnics. There were only empty bottles and tins to the aftermath.
Amids the litter, the Cape Longclaw caught my eye. I could not resist the  orange throat but to have a shot at it 

Climate ChangeTalks have come and gone

Hi everyone,

Great to be back again. Well, I do not have any photos this time for you, my adorable readers, due to a minor eye operation I had two weeks ago. Anyway, I am fine after a restful short-break.

In the mean time, a lot has taken place including the Climate Change Talks which were held down here in South Africa at Durban.

In support of our feathered friends; the climate issue is of grave concern. We cannot ignore the fact that in some parts of our world, bird migratory patterns have already started altering. Everyone is saying "It's all about climate change."

Let me share the following with you for a CHANGE from BirdLife International Community website.

Happy Holidays

Special plea by Bird Life International to the talks:

Bird Life’s 6 key “asks” for the Durban Conference:
1. Secure a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, and secure a mandate to negotiate a legally binding instrument to be adopted no later than 2015;
2. Agree modalities and guidance for halting emissions from deforestation and degradation by 2020, whilst safeguarding biodiversity and livelihoods;
3. Agree robust and transparent rules for accounting for emissions from the land use, land use change and forestry sector that reflect emissions actually released to the atmosphere;
4. Account fully for emissions from bio energy;
5. Agree modalities for national adaptation planning that deliver to vulnerable groups and ecosystems;
6. Establish a pathway to deliver adequate finance to the new Green Climate Fund from 2013.

For a full story follow this link:
http://www.birdlife.org/community/2011/11/birdlife-calls-on-governments-to-deliver-in-durban-climate-change-talks/

This was the ultimate outcome:
“Durban has kept alive and opened the political space to negotiate a fair, ambitious and binding deal but much still needs to be worked out. Parties must approach the negotiations from 2012 with a renewed sense of urgency, increasing their ambition in terms of emission reductions, and putting these pledges firmly on the table.”

For a full story follow this link:
http://www.birdlife.org/community/2011/12/roadmap-to-a-new-global-agreement-%e2%80%93-what-did-durban-deliver-for-our-climate/

Hope there's a light at the end of the tunnel for our feathered friends as well.

Pink-backed Pelicans return to Modimola Dam

Pink-backed Pelican's crest on head fairly distinct

Today, while birding at Modimola Dam, I witnessed the return of Pink-backed Pelicans. They were last seen in the area in February/ March this year. There were both adult and juveniles in the group of ten.

Pink-backed Pelican giving some guttural notes

During their presence just before winter they were in  the company of Great White Pelicans. This time the Great Whites were not present.

Pink-backed Pelican emptying the big pouch

Pink-backed Pelicans just after arrival