This morning I woke up early and went for a quick birding walk in my neighbourhood. It turned out to be a black bird morning as I saw Black-Collared Barbets Black Sunbirds Black-eyed Bulbuls Black-headed Orioles As well as Hadedas, Cape Turtle Doves, Cape Weavers, Red Winged Starlings and… this Brown-Hooded Kingfisher: (click on image…Read More
Author: Rory Wilson
I am an avid hiker, birdwatcher and camper. I love the outdoors. I initially started Birding Planet to share my bird videos, now I enjoy connecting with birdwatchers around the world. Come join the Birding Planet group at facebook.com/groups/birdingplanet
Brown-Hooded Kingfisher on Birding Planet
Black Oystercatcher on the rocks in South Africa's Eastern Cape
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
Paracord Bracelet with Whistle
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Black Headed Oriole on Birding Planet
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
Bermuda Petrel aka the Cahow
The Endangered Bermuda Petrel
The Bermuda Petrel is the national seabird of the island of Bermuda. Only about 250 remain and the Bermudans are currently implementing massive conservational efforts to help the species survive. The Bermuda Petrel is a nocturnal, ground-nesting seabird; the young Petrel stays at sea for about five years before it comes back to land to…Read More
Southern Red Bishop on Birding Planet
Southern Red Bishop – Male
I photographed this Southern Red Bishop yesterday on a dam in the Eastern Cape. The male is a brilliant red colour. They are related to the Weavers and often found with them in reeds and near water.
Common Fiscal Shrike on BirdingPlanet.com
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
Streaky-Headed Seedeater
I photographed this Streaky-Headed Seedeater recently while in Chinsta, in the Eastern Cape. Part of the Canary family, this bird has a distinct streaky crown. It is often found near Aloes.
Pygmy Falcon (from birdquest-tours.com)
Interesting Bird Fact – Pygmy Falcon – The Tiny Killer
The Pygmy Falcon is the smallest Bird of Prey. It weighs only 60-70g and is only about 150mm from the beak to the tip of the tail. They mainly eat insect and small lizards.
Grey-headed bushshrike on Birdingplanet.com
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
Cape Vulture (pic from thegreentimes.co.za)
Breeding Cape Vultures
If you are a fan of Raptors, then you will enjoy seeing a Cape Vulture breeding colony up close. The Mbashe River Gorge at Collywobbles in South Africa’s Eastern Cape currently has approximately 200 pairs of breeding Cape Vultures. At one stage, during the 1980’s, the figure rose to over 300 pairs making it one…Read More
ForkTailed Drongo on Birding Planet
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
A male Plum Coolured Starling (from treknature.com)
Interesting Bird Fact – Plum Coloured Starlings Traveling in Same-Gender Groups
The Plum-coloured Starlings (also known as Violet-backed Starlings) have a marked difference between the the sexes. The Male is a bright, eye catching plum/violet colour whereas the female is a much plainer tawny brown. After breeding (which usually occurs between late February and April) the sexes form separate, nomadic flocks as they migrate from Southern to…Read More
Hoopoe eating a worm on Birding Planet
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
