Africa – Page 67 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

January 18, 2015

Scarlet Chested Sunbirds

I decided to work through the last of the sunbird photos I had flagged off, so that I could start on something new in the coming week. Hopefully 4 posts in a row dedicated to just one bird type isn’t too boring. I had hoped that I could include the white fronted sunbird I captured as well, but those photos were taken from the hide and the bird was in a tree quite far away. Sadly, they are completely lacking.

It looks like this sunbird has a streak of pollen on his chest. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 180 — It looks like this sunbird has a streak of pollen on his chest.
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 180

I include this photo only because I absolutely love the shape her wings has created. It looks like she is drawing a cloak around herself. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 500 — I include this photo only because I absolutely love the shape her wings have created. It looks like she is drawing a cloak around herself.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 500

After all that editing of sunbirds in aloe plants, I wanted to try something a bit different. This photo was taken with the house in the background, giving a stark white backdrop. I quite like the black and white treatment. Thoughts? 1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 400 — After all that editing of sunbirds in aloe plants, I wanted to try something a bit different. This photo was taken with the house in the background, giving a stark white backdrop. I quite like the black and white treatment. Thoughts?
1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 400

A male scarlet chested sunbird caught with an open mouth, and covered in pollen. 1/100sec, f5.6, ISO 800 — A male scarlet chested sunbird caught with an open mouth, and covered in pollen.
1/100sec, f5.6, ISO 800

A male scarlet chested sunbird stretches for an aloe flower. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 800 — A male scarlet chested sunbird stretches for an aloe flower.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 800

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January 13, 2015October 4, 2020

Scarlet chested sunbird – stare down

A scarlett chested sunbird looks straight into the camera, whilst pierced on an aloe plant. 1/1000 sec, f5.6, ISO 800 — A scarlet chested sunbird looks straight into the camera, whilst pierced on an aloe plant.
1/1000 sec, f5.6, ISO 800

January 7, 2015

Zebra on the move

One of the skittish zebras on Zimanga Reserve, heading for the hills as the vehicle approached.

January 6, 2015

Black Bellied Bustard

I saw both male and female black bellied bustards while at Zimanga Reserve, but only managed to capture a few photos of the male, on a couple of different days. Each time, it was on the ground looking for food, and took off after being startled by the approaching vehicle.

Like most bird species, the female is far drabber in appearance, and lacks the black belly. Unfortunately the only photo I have of a female is completely out of focus as it was shot from the moving vehicle.

December 30, 2014

Vervet Monkeys

While at Zimanga Game Reserve with Wildlife Act, our group was fortunate enough to have two sessions in their fantastic bird hides. The first was an afternoon session in the Bhejane birdbath hide, and the second, where these photos were taken, were from a morning session at the Mkhombe birdbath hide. The morning session provided over 900 photos, and not just of birds; warthogs and the vervet monkeys came from a drink as well.

While the vervet monkeys can be incredibly cheeky around a lodge or camp, snatching food and wrecking havoc should they decide to go inside, I find them fascinating to watch and love seeing their antics. Around the birdbath, they were more concerned with each member getting a drink than getting into any mischief (although there was one snacking on the scattered birdseed). I especially loved to see the moms with the tiny babies clinging to their stomachs, and I believe there were either two or three babies in the troop.

Mom inspects the water while the baby peeks out between her arms. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1600 — Mom inspects the water while the baby peeks out between her arms.
1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1600

The little one on the right was close to falling into his drink! 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600 — The little one on the right was close to falling into his drink!
1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600

Careful Mom! The baby's head is dangerously close to the rocks as she leans in to drink. 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600 — Careful Mom! The baby’s head is dangerously close to the rocks as she leans in to drink.
1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600

Everyone likes to make silly faces at babies! 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600 — Everyone likes to make silly faces at babies!
1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600

A vervet monkey leans in for a drink at the Mkhombe birdbath hide. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250 — A vervet monkey leans in for a drink at the Mkhombe birdbath hide.
1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250

It's always nice to have a drink with a friend. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250 — It’s always nice to have a drink with a friend.
1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250

Zimanga Game Reserve

Wildlife ACT

December 29, 2014

Mama and baby rhino

On one of my South African trips, I was lucky enough to see this white rhino cow and calf having an afternoon rest. Mama was providing a shady spot away from the afternoon heat for her baby, but they were very quickly startled by our presence and moved off just a moment after I pressed the shutter down.

A white rhino cow and calf resting in the afternoon heat, with a trio of oxpeckers accompanying them. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO800 — A white rhino cow and calf resting in the afternoon heat, with a trio of oxpeckers accompanying them.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO800

December 26, 2014

Lilac Breasted Roller

The lilac breasted roller is one of my favourite South African birds – it has such a wide variety of colours in its feathers. While I saw quite a few on my trip, usually it was while we were driving and they were flying away – not the best opportunity for capturing a photo. Here though, I lucked out. A bright sunny day really brings out the feather colours, but the flat white sky also serves as a good backdrop.

December 25, 2014

Grey Herons

While on a drive along Lake Sibaya, I saw a pair of grey herons – I don’t know it was a pair of males battling for dominance, or a male and female completing an intricate mating ritual. Regardless, they were beautiful to watch and I love the shapes created by their wings.

All photos 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO1800. Black and white conversion with Nik Silver Efex Pro2.

December 7, 2014

A different view of an oxpecker

I was quite good about going through my photos while I was away, adding keywords and even doing some ratings, to make it easier to sort through when I got home. Until I had my session in a bird hide that is. The volume of photos was so immense (over 1200 from two mornings of shooting) that I wasn’t able to work on them while away, and so any time over the last week that I have had to work on my photos, it has been spent working on bird identification and adding keywords. Not that I mind that type of work at all, it just seems like forever since I have posted anything. Hopefully, now that I am able to actually sort through my photos effectively, I’ll be able to get back into posting more routinely.

Now for today’s photo. I chose this because before my hide session, I had never seen an oxpecker anywhere but on the back of an animal (giraffe, buffalo, rhino etc.). We had quite a few visit during the time in the hide, and several even came right up to the glass to investigate. While my main camera was on a tripod, I had my macro lens on my second body and was able to snap this shot of the bird less than a foot away.

November 16, 2014

Wild Dogs at play

My first trip to Africa, I was lucky enough to see a pack of wild dogs, and we spent a short amount of time with them while they lazed away a hot afternoon under the trees. This trip, I spent a great deal of time with the pack, as we tried to monitor them twice a day; first thing in the morning as they were settling in for their days rest, and then in the late afternoon as they set out on the move. This much time in close proximity of the dogs gave me ample opportunity to witness a variety of pack dynamics and behaviours. Watching them play was definitely one of my favourite moments with them.

One of the dogs rolled in the dirt for ages, kicking up quite the dust storm. 1/1250 sec, f7.1, ISO 1600 — One of the dogs rolled in the dirt for ages, kicking up quite the dust storm.
1/1250 sec, f7.1, ISO 1600

Time for a headlock! 1/1250sec, f7.1, ISO 1600 — Time for a headlock!
1/1250sec, f7.1, ISO 1600

A pair of dogs wrestle on the road, while another member tries to catch up on sleep. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1600 — A pair of dogs wrestle on the road, while another member tries to catch up on sleep.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1600

wildlifeact.com

zimanga.com