Purple-crested Turaco
My 1st encounter with a Purple-crested Turaco! Perched on a green bush this bird's purple crown, the red eye-ring and the bright green forecrown is portrayed.
Ostriches
Group of five ostriches, males and females, heads-up in front of bloomy acacia trees.
Giraffe and Oxpecker
Yellow-billed Oxpecker doing its job on giraffe leg. Yellow and red tip of bill and eye contrasting nicely with the otherwise almost black-and-white sujet.
Red-necked Spurfowl
Indeed very common, this red-necked spurfowl is posing nicely on a termite mound at dawn. Perfectly illuminated plumage!
Martial Eagle
The Martial Eagle is a very large and powerful eagle growing up to 84cm. This Immature shows already massive claws. It will attain adult plumage over 5-6 years!
African Golden Weaver
African Golden Weaver (aka Yellow Weaver ;-)), nicely perched. To me, the ultimate golden yellow.
White-crowned Lapwing
Portrait of a White-Crowned Lapwing showing the right wing's spur on the chest and spectacular yellow wattles.
Squacco Heron
Common Squacco Heron not yet in full breeding plumage behind a soft, green curtain of vegetation on a bank of Lake Manze.
Water Thick-knees
Two Water Thick-knees searching for food between green leaves on the bank of Lake Manze.
Take Off!
African Fish Eagle taking off from its lookout on Lake Manze showing in detail underwing feather-structure.
Mustering of Open-billed Storks
Dead tree and a muster of African Open-billed Storks at Nzerakera's lakefront.
Cattle Egrets
Scattering of cattle egrets in breeding plumage at Nzerakera's lakefront.
Verreaux's Eagle Owl
Impressive encounter with a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl. Note the pink eyelids, erected ear tufts and the massive claws of this huge, finely grey-brown barred owl (up to 66cm, aka Giant Eagle Owl).
White-fronted Bee-eater
Close-up of a White-fronted Bee-eater, bill opened and tongue clearly visible. Razorsharp image taken while on boat safari. The boat is btw clearly visible on the Bee-eaters iris.
Böhm's Bee-eater
Interesting sample of a Böhm's Bee-eater with a striking, blueish (not white) stripe below the black eye-stripe.
White-throated Bee-eater
Portrait of an immature White-throated Bee-eater nicely perched. Beautiful creamy green background.
The Approach
White-throated Bee-eater spreads the wings while observing the approach of a conspecific.
Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleus
Male in front and female Red-cheeked Cordon-bleus looking for food.
Southern Cordon-bleu
aka Blue Waxbill, the Southern Cordon-bleu has an exquisite color combination of blueish, brownish and purpleish on the bill (try to name these colours, I can't ;-)).
The glance
Lovely Pearl-spotted Owlet shares a glance for a second or two. These small owls grow up to 19cm only (e.g. common blackbirds up to 24-27cm!)
Crested Barbet
Colorful portrait of a seldom common Crested Barbet perched on a small butt.
Striped Kingfisher
1st time encounter with a Striped Kingfisher. Very exquisite blueish feathers on the back, again I have no names for that specific color.
Pied Kingfisher
This Pied Kingfisher is perched right in front of 2 Cattle Egrets upon a small river near Lake Manze.
Grey-headed Kingfisher
Portrait of a Grey-headed Kingfisher, the red bill open, perched in a bush.
Fat prey
Female Brown-hooded Kingfisher squeezes in its red bill a 30cm lizard still alive.
