Aloes, Aloes everywhere!

25 May 2024 - The Aloe Farm

I had heard about the opportunities to photograph Sunbirds at The Aloe Farm, so when my good friend Glynn Harrington invited me to join him one crisp winter's morning, I jumped at the chance.

It was an hour's drive from Midrand and I met Glynn at the entrance just on opening time, along with a few other photographers. There were flowering Aloe's inside and outside the nursery, so it was tough to choose where to start in amongst the riot of orange, red and yellow flowers.

The majority of Sunbird's present were Amethyst, but they were very active in the cold early morning temperatures, so patience and staying one area was the strategy. Here is a selection of male Amethyst's in different plumage's.

Male Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

A few females

Female Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

and a juvenile

Juvenile Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

White-bellied Sunbirds were the next numerous, but were often chased off by the more aggressive or territorial Amethyst's - here a few images of the male

Male White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

and female

Female White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

I was disappointed not to find any Marico Sunbirds, but in between the Sunbirds, there were other distractions - Blue Waxbill

Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis)

Along with Cape Weaver's which also enjoy feeding on Aloes

Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

In the gardens, I found Southern Boubou

Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus)

And White-throated Robin-Chat which is always good to see

White-throated Robin-Chat (Dessonornis humeralis)

Later in the year, White-fronted Bee-eaters have a small breeding colony in one of the sandbanks on the nursery - I managed to find two on the overhead lines

White-fronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides)

Looking up, Cape Vultures from the nearby Magaliesberg colony were seen cruising by overhead

Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

It was a great morning out with many photographic and creative opportunities and I will be sure to visit again, especially if other Sunbird species occur more regularly.

Raptor's in the 'Fairy Forest'

23 May 2024 - Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary

I managed to spend 2-hours walking around and enjoying this local Sanctuary with its 100+ year old Blue Gum trees. Yes they are not indigenous, but how can you even think of replacing such glorious old trees that locals call the "Fairy Forest".

I was greeted by a few Cape Starling's in the car park

Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens)

The backlit Bulrushes glimmered in the early morning light, adding further mystic in the shade of the giant trees as the sun slowly rose

Mystical Bulrushes

Raptors generally love this Sanctuary, as the big dead trees provide lofty places to perch and so it was for this cool Long-crested Eagle. Sadly, this tree has since been chopped down for reason's unknown

Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)

Little did this Long-crested know that the Fairy Forest was the territory of the local Ovambo Sparrowhawk and soon after taking off, had to put on the gas as the Ovambo came tearing out of the forest and after a little aerial sortie - the bigger Long-crested gave way and flew off into the distance

Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) versus Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

The Ovambo returned to his kingdom in the Bluegum forest where I was able to track him down and get a few images as he surveyed his domain from above

Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

Ovambo's are uncommon in our area, but they really do love these ancient Bluegum's where they both hunt from (as they are ambush predator's) and build nests in. Long may this pair stay at this reserve as breeding season is imminent.

A crisp morning at the Farm

20 May 2024 - Northern Farm

I had a brief early morning visit to the Farm, but took a different route after entering the gate just after sunrise.

In the open fields, I found a pair of Namaqua Dove feeding on the twin track road

Female Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

Male Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

Driving back toward the bigger dams, a Cape Grassbird emerged from the verge and sat quietly in the shade 

Cape Grassbird (Sphenoeacus afer)

At the dam, a Goliath Heron surveyed it's domain from the top of a Willow Tree

Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)

I managed to catch a glimpse of a Giant Kingfisher as it passed by at speed

Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)

I saw a small Accipiter fly into a Blue Gum and after some time managed to relocate it - a cracking Little Sparrowhawk

Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus)

I then finished off at the quarry where I had Levaillant's Cisticola

Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens)

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Lesser Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris)

and a fair number of Cape Teal's which are always great to see at the Farm - as they are considered uncommon to scarce. I was happy with a few BIF images too.

Cape Teal (Anas capensis)

On the way out, I could see the Heron colony was getting a little more active with both Black-headed and Grey Heron present. 

Unfortunately, a shorter than normal visit - but always enjoyable

Grey (Ardea cinerea) and Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)