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
Tag: Eastern Cape
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
Black Bird Walk
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
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
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 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.
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
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
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