15 June 2022 - Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary
It had been quite some time since I last visited this local bird sanctuary that is not too far from where I live. It used to host a large and active Heronry, but that has long been abandoned - not sure why?
So, I enjoyed an early morning walk around the reserve after dropping our dogs at play school.
While waiting for the gate to open, I walked around the parking area finding Cape Glossy Starling
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| Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) |
A pair of Cape Wagtails feeding in a small stream
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| Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis) |
A Crested Barbet calling from the top of a tree
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| Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii) |
And a Southern Grey-headed Sparrow with a pleasing winter background
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| Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) |
I quite liked this back lit Strelitzia
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| Strelitzia |
Once inside, I came across a Southern Fiscal
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| Female Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) |
Followed by a calling Red-throated Wryneck against a striking blue winter sky
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| Red-throated Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis) |
that later moved to the parking area to feed
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| Red-throated Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis) |
However, the highlight was an Ovambo Sparrowhawk trying and missing to catch an African Hoopoe
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| Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis) chasing African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) |
After which it flew back to the big Eucalyptus Plantation where it had previously roosted waiting for breakfast to present itself. I believe they are resident in this reserve and this was certainly one of the better sightings I have had of this species
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| Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis) |
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