I had planned on creating a post about hummingbirds this week, but it’s just not going to happen. I have been out taking photos of them as much as possible, but I haven’t had a chance to edit them yet. As it’s Father’s Day today, I want to spend time with Pops rather than at my computer editing images.
Below is a selection of bird images from my travels that I haven’t had a chance to share yet.
Hummingbirds next week – I promise.
A huge gathering of marabou storks and white backed vultures on the banks of the Boteti River in Botswana. May, 2017.Groups of darters and cormorants in the early morning fog at one of the dams on Phinda Game Reserve. A few hippos in there for good measure
A pair of tawny eagles spotted in the Okavango Delta. May 2017.My best guess at identification is a banded snake eagle. This bird was up and away very quickly; spotted on a game drive through Amboseli National Park. September, 2016.A Coqui Francolin spotted in the Masai Mara. September, 2016.
A young rhino grazing peacefully in the early evening on Ongava Game Reserve in Namibia. May it have the opportunity to live in peace, free from the harm of poaching.
It has been a challenging week for photographing the birds, with dull, cold, rainy days, and flat, lifeless skies. But, regardless of the weather, the show must go on, and if I were on holiday I wouldn’t give up on taking pictures just because the weather wasn’t perfect.
I took a trip early in the week to a nearby farm where there are nest boxes for swallows and bluebirds. While I saw a couple of brief glimpses of the bluebirds, I didn’t capture any images, so I will have to go back and try again for those. I did get some good images of the swallows and bluebirds in the same area a couple of years ago, you can find that old post here.
It looks like the sun may make a brief appearance today, so it’s time to sign off and get outside and get shooting. I hope you enjoy this week’s images, I am hoping to have some hummingbird images to share next week.
I find it difficult naming the wide variety of small, brown and beige coloured birds we have in the area, but I am almost certain this is a Clay-Coloured Sparrow. While it looks like the bird is singing a beautiful song, it actually sounded like some type of buzzing insect, which is the exact description of the song for this sparrow in my bird book.
To find out more about the Clay-Coloured Sparrow (and here the insect buzz call), check out the link below.
Part of the reason that I chose bird photography this month was to get out and enjoy the nice weather, as well as get familiar with a new lens I have purchased. So at first glance it may not make any sense that today I’m posting images from my last trip. I have gotten out a bit over the past couple of days and taken some bird images, and I have been really impressed with the lens so far. But I’m already half way through Sunday and I haven’t had a chance to start editing, so rather than miss posting altogether or rushing my editing process, I decided to go for some bird images from my catalogue that I haven’t posted before.
I hope you enjoy my selections for this week, and next week I will be sharing some of our local birds.
Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.
We came across a very large sociable weavers nest while on a game drive through Etosha National Park. There was a lot of activity in and out of the large communal nest, here one of the birds pauses in a more open spot where it is easier to see them.Up against the nest, the weaver is very camouflaged.The nest itself was so large it brought down one of the large branches of the acacia tree.This crimson breasted shrike played hard to get for a photo; this was the best that I could do while driving through the Makgadikgadi Pans.A beautiful glossy starling in early morning light.My personal favourite, the lilac breasted roller.
I thought it would be nice to start the week with some big cat cuteness. I spent a morning watching this gorgeous leopard family in a swampy ravine; Mom mostly resting and watching as the youngsters climbed trees, played in the swamp, ran around in random circles and terrorized each other. We were all laughing and smiling at the antics of the cubs, and I am glad I came away with some photos to share of the moment.
I hope you enjoy!
A recognizably dirty look as one cub gets all of Mom’s attention, and the other seems none too pleased about it.Watching the world from a perch on a high fallen tree.Diving for her sibling’s tail.One tries for a peaceful drink, while the other takes a bite of tail.Mom joined in on the fun as well, chasing the cubs up the hill. I’m not sure if the cub was attempting escape or a kick to her head…
Anyone that has read this blog more than once or twice is familiar with my love of elephants. So it should come as no surprise that I have created a painterly effects project using elephant images.
I’ve really enjoyed working with elephant images this week, as the large, recognizable shape has allowed me to work with some very abstract settings, without compromising the ability to know what it is you are looking at.
I hope you enjoy my images for the week, and wishing you the best for a positive and happy week ahead.
A pair of young elephants greet each other with affection.A pair of bull elephants test each others strength in the shallows of the river.Follow me.A herd of elephants gathered at a dam. This is an 8 shot stitched panorama.Mother and daughter stealing a drink from a broken pipe.