Where to look?

19 February 2023 - Dikhololo; Day 3

It rained during the night, but again had stopped in the morning when I was up for a last early morning walk around the resort. It was still gloomy and dark at sunrise, but the birds seemed to be out in full force.

I came across a few African Paradise Flycatchers around a rocky outcrop, I had to push the ISO to get a decent image

Female African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis)

Along with a Kurrichane Thrush in the leaf litter

Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus)

The Sicklebushes were in flower

Sicklebush (Dichrostachys cinerea)

I spent 15-minutes cross-legged on the cold pile-inducing tar road with this Grey-backed Camaroptera that just wouldn't give clear views and then suddenly it did before disappearing back into the gloom. These were the best views I have had of this species

Grey-backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brevicaudata)

A little further down the same road, I came across a busy and entertaining flock of White-crested Helmetshrike's

White-crested Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus)

It started to lighten and clear a little as I made my way to the Reception building and it was here that I came across an insane bird party the likes of which I have not experienced in the bush before. It was hard to decided where to look, never mind point the camera. In no particular order, these were some of the species that I managed to photograph, as there were a few species that I also missed. There were a few Black-headed Oriole's

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)

Some Black-backed Puffback's

Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla)

Brubru

Brubru (Nilaus afer)

Cardinal Woodpecker's

Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)

Long-billed Crombec

Long-billed Crombec (Sylvietta rufescens)

Red-headed Weaver

Female Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)

Foraging on the ground, I found Violet-backed Starling - check that yellow eye!

Male Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

Red-billed Hornbill struggling to get this insect down the hatch - not great tasting perhaps?

Southern Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus rufirostris)

and Crested Barbet

Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii)

A young Diederick Cuckoo was being fed by it's host which I missed

Juvenile Diederik Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx caprius)

It was an insane 45-minutes before they all slowly dispersed back into the bush

Quite satisfied, I walked back to our chalet for breakfast, before we packed up in preparation to head to lunch in Harties. Whilst packing the Hilux - one of my wife's favourite birds, an Oriole called and I found it sitting in a tree in the driveway to our chalet

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)

It was a relaxing weekend, but a few too many kids and noisy inconsiderate neighbours for our liking.