I filmed this Hamerkop on my way home on the outskirts of East London (South Africa). It was crossing the road of the small causeway which provides a nice location for nature and wildlife very close to town. Here’s the HD Video: How to Identify a Hamerkop The Hamerkop (English translation is “Hammer Head”) is…Read More
Tag: Birding Planet Video
Crowned Crane HD Video
I filmed this pair of Crowned Cranes on a farm in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape. It is the same place I filmed the Blue Cranes a few years ago. And, just the same as in the Blue Crane video, these Crowned Cranes appeared to putting on the mating dance. Both sexes enjoy dancing, and the breeding…Read More
Knysna (Turaco) Loerie – HD Video and Story
The Story: This is another bird I saw while trying out a new coffee shop (click here to see all the birds I’ve filmed while visiting coffee shops). It was a treat to get such a clear view of a Knysna Loerie (aka Knysna Turaco) in its natural habitat. It was the first time I…Read More
Black-Shouldered Kite Bird (HD Video)
I filmed this Black-Shouldered Kite at Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. It’s a small raptor which enjoys wide open spaces. It has striking red eyes, and black shoulder patches which make it easily identifiable. The Black-Shouldered Kite likes to eat small rodents. They are often found alone, or in pairs,…Read More
Southern Red Bishop on Birding Planet (HD Video)
The Story: I filmed this Red Bishop at an outdoor coffee shop which overlooked a pond (not the same place where I filmed the Red-knobbed Coot). There were two or three male Red Bishops flitting in and out of the reeds of the pond, which is a tell-tale sign that it was breeding season as…Read More
Red-Knobbed Coot (nesting with her eggs) Video
The Story: I filmed this Red-Knobbed Coot (sometimes called the Crested Coot) while sitting in restaurant which overlooked a large pond. There were some rocks and reeds which made for some decent nesting spots. There was also an island in the middle of the pond, with some trees on it, where dozens of weavers had…Read More
Red Billed Wood-Hoopoe (HD Video) (aka Green WoodHoopoe)
I filmed these Red-Billed Woodhoopoes in a garden in East London, South Africa. It is also sometimes known as the Green Wood-Hoopoe. Click play to watch the video of the Red-Bill Wood-Hoopoes It has a long, curved red bill, red legs and white wingbars. The long tail has white bars in the outer feathers.…Read More
Cape White-Eye Video
The Story: I’ve often found this bird a difficult one to film, for two reasons: 1) they are small and very quick, flitting from branch to another, hardly ever sitting still and 2) they seem very shy and prefer to go deep into a bush than sit out in the open. Having said that I…Read More
African Black Oystercatcher
The Story: This bird is an all-black wader with unmistakable pink legs and an orange bill. I filmed this bird at the beaches of South Africa’s Wild Cost (The Indian Ocean). I spent two days looking for, and filming, them. There were quite a few and I was fortunate enough to see them prying a…Read More
Black Headed Oriole Video
The Story: South Africa has four types of Orioles, but only this one has a black head. The head, throat and breast are all black. It has an olive-green tail and an orange beak. I filmed this bird at two different locations; in the video the first Oriole (close-up) was filmed in East London, while…Read More
Common Fiscal Shrike Birding Video
The Common Fiscal Shrike, also known as Jackie Hangman or the Butcher bird because of its tendency to catch prey and hang it on wire fences as a storehouse. This was another bird I filmed on the outskirts of Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Size The Fiscal Shrike is 21-23cm long and…Read More
Grey-Headed Bushshrike Video (aka The Ghost Bird)
The Story: I saw this Grey-Headed Bushshrike one day through my kitchen window;it is the one and only time I have seen this bird in my area. It is a striking bird, with beautiful, bold colours. It has a grey head and yellow eyes. It is olive green along its back. It is also known as the…Read More
Fork-Tailed Drongo Video
The Story: The Fork-Tailed Drongos are quite common throughout Africa, and I see them often. They also go by the name of African Drongo, Common Drongo or Savanna Drongo. The birds are completely black with the male being a bit more glossy/shiny. It has red eyes and a big head, as indicated in the video…Read More
African Hoopoe Birding Video (Hoopoe eating Worms)
The Story: This is another bird I filmed while visiting some family on their farm near Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape. The Hoopoe is an easily recognizable bird with is long tapering, black bill and its distinctive ‘crown’ or ‘crest‘ of feathers. It is chestnut coloured and has black and white stripes on the wings and tail. The crest on…Read More