I went down to the river, but it was the opposite of a blues song! :-) This giant kingfisher got things off to a spectacular start. Also, the river cruise was like the best drinks stop ever - the bar and snacks set up the whole time! Wheeeeeeeee! If we are able to visit Phinda again, we might take a picnic lunch and spend all day on the river cruise. How awesome would that be???? :-)
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Giant Kingfisher |
The weaver bonanza started right away. I love them!
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Chestnut Weaver |
But it wasn't all weavers. A sunbird! We saw these a bunch of times, and none of the pictures are really any good. Oh well - next time.
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Mystery Sunbird |
Check out this crazy cuckoo!
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Diederik Cuckoo |
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Diederik Cuckoo |
Most of the weavers were males building nests, although I think some of them were females. I mean, because I just couldn't find any males that look like this in the field guide. Gorgeous!
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Mystery Weaver |
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African Golden Weaver |
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Mystery Weaver |
Another non-weaver, this darter didn't mind a few pictures. There were several other herons there, and some jacana, but the darter was the best poser.
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African Darter |
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Spotted-backed Weaver or Village Weaver |
Osprey! I saw this once and it flew off before Sam got a good look, and he tried to convince me it was the cuckoo. Ummmm, no. We saw it again though, and I was totally vindicated. And then Sam revealed why he doubted - they haven't seen an osprey here for about 10 years!
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Osprey |
Well hello hadeda!
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Hadeda Ibis |
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Southern Masked Weaver |
We only saw a green heron flying away, but we saw plenty of evidence that they nest here.
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Green Heron Eggs |
Weavers! Weavers! Weavers!
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Weaver Nests |
And a croc hanging around just under the weaver nests. You know, no particular reason.......
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Crocodile |
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Lesser Masked Weaver |
They were busy at work.
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Lesser Masked Weaver |
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African Golden Weaver |
On the way back to the dock the malachite kingfisher gave us quite a nice view. Terrible pictures due to the terrible light, but a great view!
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Malachite Kingfisher |
We really got spoiled for sunsets.
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Sunset |
Our good-bye bird (for the river cruise anyway) was a heron in bowling pin configuration. And that's about it for our Africa trip. Tomorrow morning it's up way early and off to the airport! It was a fantastic time.
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Purple Heron |