tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78733438195858929012024-03-05T10:15:36.391-08:00The Hwange birderBIRDS AND BIRDING IN HWANGEConflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-67857526749932058282016-01-26T06:07:00.002-08:002016-01-26T06:07:27.739-08:00Black-bellied Korhaan in Hwange<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Black bellied Korhaan is not a species that we see much here in Hwange whereas the performances of the Red-crested are quite a common sight. You will appreciate my excitement then when yesterday I went down the road to see if i could see a lion and there performing on an ant-hill was this plucky male.<br />
They make a really beautiful sound described as "Wwwwhhhhhhhaaaaaoooppppp!!!! by a very good friend of mine<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ8kPlB5N0IEl2d2zew6nL6PtnHDg9s2JRUEZ2kWVb6k226qVZD5dAhDWFVs3snqFBpumigXTz_hrCC3eUIB6ZnzBIID-WJT21CSehiXWtleR2IzTGHikFw_2chYdgGOafECXBHPIJJ8/s1600/BB+in+hwange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJ8kPlB5N0IEl2d2zew6nL6PtnHDg9s2JRUEZ2kWVb6k226qVZD5dAhDWFVs3snqFBpumigXTz_hrCC3eUIB6ZnzBIID-WJT21CSehiXWtleR2IzTGHikFw_2chYdgGOafECXBHPIJJ8/s320/BB+in+hwange.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-bellied Korhaan performing in Hwange</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Needless to say that I forgot all about the King of the beasts and took a few images of this guy. It must have been quite a sight in itself because my bean-bag has had a huge hole worn throught the side by the big 400mm lens and I couldn't switch off my truck's engine for fear that it wouldn't start again!!<br />
with popcorn seeds pouring out of the bean-bag i had to open the lens to its max at 2.8 and in rather grey light try and get a fast enough shutter speed to not capture the vibration from the engine.....<br />
<br />
A real challenge but I managed to pull it off!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivS7m82izVj-RMaIIg49ZG9d4yiJwghZ_6EGPFaPHoFqKqDR8RwpMvryvPcpkK14AQyLOrI-1zXa5wn9mbf-vYVZtc8pqsq0SCaBm1o4vSSgCet2ZHeVNpYNkO-QmYQTnNdsEcmL1_Gtc/s1600/Hwange+rarity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivS7m82izVj-RMaIIg49ZG9d4yiJwghZ_6EGPFaPHoFqKqDR8RwpMvryvPcpkK14AQyLOrI-1zXa5wn9mbf-vYVZtc8pqsq0SCaBm1o4vSSgCet2ZHeVNpYNkO-QmYQTnNdsEcmL1_Gtc/s320/Hwange+rarity.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Hwange rarity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-30218579650137894132015-11-19T02:37:00.002-08:002015-11-19T02:40:14.053-08:00Pelican Pete - Hwange<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been touched by a tale of survival recently! The name of our hero is "Pelican Pete"<br />
Pelican Pete arrived at a waterhole in Hwange several months ago, along with literally hundreds of others according to Hwange's own Santa....Mr B!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcQ39ujItXuWy_x54uEQCyuLQdJm0Wn1FrgmolIIt44fkG2-XA_7-Ls5sVPHCTTKoIyackoCM58t_fFCYnK3sKQ1DRKN1172rG4uuL1uUvQVnB-4JlTJdF4fZ0dMzchVm4-1LT39B7Bo/s1600/Pelican+pete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcQ39ujItXuWy_x54uEQCyuLQdJm0Wn1FrgmolIIt44fkG2-XA_7-Ls5sVPHCTTKoIyackoCM58t_fFCYnK3sKQ1DRKN1172rG4uuL1uUvQVnB-4JlTJdF4fZ0dMzchVm4-1LT39B7Bo/s320/Pelican+pete.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelican Pete not so much flying as plummeting!</td></tr>
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To Mr B's surprise, the next day they had all flown away....well all but one! Pelican Pete had suffered an injury in the night and couldn't fly.<br />
<br />
Well water was plentiful and "old Pete" was quite content until the dry season matured and his little pan was muddied up by hundreds of thirsty mammals. He was visited on several occasions by passing pelicans but they never stayed longer than a day or two before heading to some distant horizon!<br />
<br />
Poor Pete has been seen running full-tap into gale-force winds with wings open in the hope that he too can head for the horizon but gravity has other ideas!<br />
<br />
I spent a few days in that area and watched with dismay as his little pan dwindled!<br />
<br />
His neighbours all want him too! but watch this space for news on<br />
Pelican Pete!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE382RzcjLKAKloi6Ec-8595CoACUKpJsBeiKxQhKhfjVyHy3raoZ0P_JoKRjZsCtowb9OxrW3JG22Z2dpbAuPhVBOXnBq6w_JIz5m5d0wPb6aUkBdV1ShSvagTdCxy3MU-IoIwSvS8pQ/s1600/Pelican+pete+and+neighbours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE382RzcjLKAKloi6Ec-8595CoACUKpJsBeiKxQhKhfjVyHy3raoZ0P_JoKRjZsCtowb9OxrW3JG22Z2dpbAuPhVBOXnBq6w_JIz5m5d0wPb6aUkBdV1ShSvagTdCxy3MU-IoIwSvS8pQ/s320/Pelican+pete+and+neighbours.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pelican Pete and his neighbours</td></tr>
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<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-14754194283501335632015-09-16T02:36:00.000-07:002015-09-16T02:47:22.548-07:00Post Cecil-mania....back to birds!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukJAAv7_Ttf7xkHvK8_dMO-PujMmELKbbyUk5eUz1HGPUv9xM96wQlPZH4_Doseh8UrUVkZMN8R5y9_fO8yx7Gu2XXBkiDH8Qy1bf6i3ecqNSb3MTy0koBRGrz0bccVmwAZkACXCnwuQ/s1600/Martial+matters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukJAAv7_Ttf7xkHvK8_dMO-PujMmELKbbyUk5eUz1HGPUv9xM96wQlPZH4_Doseh8UrUVkZMN8R5y9_fO8yx7Gu2XXBkiDH8Qy1bf6i3ecqNSb3MTy0koBRGrz0bccVmwAZkACXCnwuQ/s400/Martial+matters.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Martial eagle dominates a puddle in Hwange</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, for those of you that know me, you will realize that my absence from my birding blog has probably been due to the phenomenon now called "Cecil-mania". It has been a roller-coaster of interviews and emotions but it is finally settling down and I can start to catch up on those items and pastimes that have taken a back seat. Just in time mind you as the migrants are returning to Hwange.<br />
I have seen YBKs already and watching out for the others.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYEm9_myUR2FtFAnTqwRg6u77Mfn_fOCJkUc9S0I_Gt4psJr8eyCXD8MlqCYKlDq279zrD8f0PFaPz5KF8RGEB5pG3HEo3sbXG8S7EG7uuI1HLSlwV5Wx16fIJhuw1Zp8jmF7qlZF0SQ/s1600/An+Orchestra++of+trumpeters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYEm9_myUR2FtFAnTqwRg6u77Mfn_fOCJkUc9S0I_Gt4psJr8eyCXD8MlqCYKlDq279zrD8f0PFaPz5KF8RGEB5pG3HEo3sbXG8S7EG7uuI1HLSlwV5Wx16fIJhuw1Zp8jmF7qlZF0SQ/s400/An+Orchestra++of+trumpeters.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Orchestra of Trumpeters in my garden in Mabale communal lands</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we approach our driest park of the year we are seeing huge numbers of birds at our birdbaths and elsewhere in our rural garden in the mabale communal lands with the highlight being anything up to 50 trumpeter Hornbills in our pod-mahogany and Mukwa trees in the early hours!<br />
<br />
Glad to be back.......<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-12627578033245643372015-07-02T04:11:00.000-07:002015-07-02T04:11:20.591-07:00C212 again and more details of its movements<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5VDWgh1Av6972qSielU8y7qJzFRbke0P0dm0BVwGEIRy-WcgOKlcEVzFBUrnWfPwy37hy3aG6yjFU25ygisxklrTa7WrlPidfm3Nod5WBwTP7S-8QGtUzEBA3CiSApHGTd4YgpYb3Fk/s1600/C212+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5VDWgh1Av6972qSielU8y7qJzFRbke0P0dm0BVwGEIRy-WcgOKlcEVzFBUrnWfPwy37hy3aG6yjFU25ygisxklrTa7WrlPidfm3Nod5WBwTP7S-8QGtUzEBA3CiSApHGTd4YgpYb3Fk/s400/C212+again.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C212 - tagged Cape Griffon seen again at Ngamo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yesterday I saw C212, the tagged Cape Griffon, again at Ngamo and this time all bloodied up from feeding on an elephant carcass with many other vultures.<br />
I have sent this sighting in to add to the list of sightings that this bird is racking up!<br />
<br />
Shortly before I saw it at Ngamo last week it as seen in the Limpopo region: This from their records<br />
<br />
<i><b><span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0">This
bird was also spotted by Joseph Heymans 14/05/2015 248558.6 282124.3 On
the sprinbok plains near Settlers in Limpopo Province.</span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
<br />
<span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0">We will keep you updated if we see it again</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0"> The Hwange Birder </span></span></span></span><i><b><span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".a.1:4:1:$comment1104246766270695_1107720052590033:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0"> </span></span></span></span></b></i></div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-80927409980305383992015-06-26T01:06:00.002-07:002015-07-06T02:00:11.551-07:00Latest news on the tagged Cape Griffon in Hwange<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the latest on the tagged Cape Griffon<br />
<br />
Many thanks to Vulpro and the various people who responded.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; padding-top: 7px; text-align: left; width: 540px;"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" style="padding: 5px 5px 5px 0px;" valign="top"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom: 5px; width: 473px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/n/?profile.php&id=1501666884&aref=1435236163939103&medium=email&mid=bf6eabdG5af3b35a6f0dG51956f5b86b1fG85Gfc86&bcode=1.1435299215.AblKDXYCRgtU76ut&n_m=brent.conflictcats%40gmail.com" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times;">David Pretorius</span></a></td><td style="padding-right: 5px; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8:13am Jun 26</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="padding-bottom: 7px; width: 458px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">C212 was ringed G31869 and tagged as a juvenile on 24/01/2014 at Blouberg Nature Reserve in the Limpopo Province as part of EWT vulture monitoring project.</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-bottom: 7px; width: 458px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="padding-bottom: 7px; width: 458px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is a suggestion that the Cape Griffons we see here in Hwange are all dispersal aged birds exploring.</span></span></div>
<div style="padding-bottom: 7px; width: 458px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="padding-bottom: 7px; width: 458px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> The Hwange Birder</span></span></div>
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</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-30573515917929856622015-06-25T02:56:00.001-07:002015-06-25T02:58:57.105-07:00Another tagged "Capie" in Hwange<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just a day or so ago I was looking for lions in the Ngamo area of
Hwange when a large vulture caught my eye. Its wing seemed to shine and
when I put my bins on it I realised why......it had a tag!<br />
I took a
careful photograph from about 100m just in case i couldn't get closer
but in hind sight I needn't have bothered because with a careful
approach I managed to get underneath the tree it was in.<br />
The 400mm
lens did a superb job of getting me a shot clear enough to see the
number on its yellow wing tags and as luck would have it.....I had 3G
coverage on my cell. I Googled "Tagged Cape Vultures" and got a contact
address and send in my re-capture sighting. Within an hour or two I had a
reply from Kerri Wolter (Vulpro) to say that that bird had been rehabilitated
and released from the Blouberg nature reserve in South Africa. More info
is being collected for me on the other sightings but in the mean time I
have looked back in my photos and found another Cape Griffon that I saw
in Hwange with tags. That one too was a rehabilitated bird from the
same area. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T-E1GCWEzXyLMwgqtcDl0YMFz1w6cNhvG_pQr4dPflTEwLvSeWr2vtMxzvCSw2X_Wx-cy7d4fdxTrmdgKsWf2kWOpOVelqrkn9sEM5p3FarXP7o7Zournd-yRJW9pTTwDm_MbfjQXgk/s1600/tagged+Capie+at+Ngamo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7T-E1GCWEzXyLMwgqtcDl0YMFz1w6cNhvG_pQr4dPflTEwLvSeWr2vtMxzvCSw2X_Wx-cy7d4fdxTrmdgKsWf2kWOpOVelqrkn9sEM5p3FarXP7o7Zournd-yRJW9pTTwDm_MbfjQXgk/s640/tagged+Capie+at+Ngamo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Griffon (tag number C212) seen in Ngamo, Hwange</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-63723930140543659052015-05-22T03:22:00.003-07:002015-05-22T03:22:45.016-07:00Perfect exposure!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BZo_757yeKwz9Q3pJF2AlivrppOd1dWVa_VT1AW5npDfXKpQjhlmzCIimvkbcPJkE7NhhYH0_VpPUouvCmmgH_KMrx6ZQlyXa-GdpTwRj98p9i4DqjNPwaiwndZBR1tqi8JQl9363ZY/s1600/Mirror+stillness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BZo_757yeKwz9Q3pJF2AlivrppOd1dWVa_VT1AW5npDfXKpQjhlmzCIimvkbcPJkE7NhhYH0_VpPUouvCmmgH_KMrx6ZQlyXa-GdpTwRj98p9i4DqjNPwaiwndZBR1tqi8JQl9363ZY/s640/Mirror+stillness.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect exposure makes a happy photographer</td></tr>
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Like a unicorn (or a pangolin for that matter) perfect exposure has been the object of my photographic search for ages now. I have looked high and low for situations where the light is strong and rich and the subject has that lovely soft feel. To capture that is a whole other story even when you do manage to find the situation. Well, a couple of days ago I managed a series of shots that I just love. These birds were all roosting in the shallow pan at Ngamo in Hwange and I realised that if I was sitting with them as the sun rose...I would be onto something!<br />
<br />
The photo above was taken with a Canon EOS 5D with a 400mm f 2.8. ISO 500 and 1/60sec for those of you who are interested.<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-50339971140787359392015-05-07T07:14:00.001-07:002015-05-07T07:14:47.343-07:00Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVVO6SoC96V46RNvE_uLgFduzLBwjO55y8c1z2gjulRtfgU4WO3ngfyuGqB_h4Z_GksMouTfC9EXATa5I3Cez-M4Vy0kREiN1coODo4DGEfYfh9Eq2PKhnIerQFjnK0fyJKxdFpQqozY/s1600/Hey+beautiful!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVVO6SoC96V46RNvE_uLgFduzLBwjO55y8c1z2gjulRtfgU4WO3ngfyuGqB_h4Z_GksMouTfC9EXATa5I3Cez-M4Vy0kREiN1coODo4DGEfYfh9Eq2PKhnIerQFjnK0fyJKxdFpQqozY/s400/Hey+beautiful!.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love at first sight!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I sat and waited for a lion to drink after 5 whole days on a buffalo carcass. These beautiful Hooded Vultures flew down ahead of him and had a very welcome drink after 5 days of fruitless waiting.<br />
I love the look of the first one as it seemed to be the first time it ever set eyes on itself!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPlaQCBTS6RDMJ2bTxg93MJknDdDW-gIJrVeseZ8QqvLeZP299sMTGhPQFGlUi_aLVzSiGuf-CsITWz-WGDnnFWgIVoXbxB7-qEXsPHlk1196qtK_MuBJF9nr4jrc2JP4IbcTITEmGGU/s1600/Vulture+enjoying!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPlaQCBTS6RDMJ2bTxg93MJknDdDW-gIJrVeseZ8QqvLeZP299sMTGhPQFGlUi_aLVzSiGuf-CsITWz-WGDnnFWgIVoXbxB7-qEXsPHlk1196qtK_MuBJF9nr4jrc2JP4IbcTITEmGGU/s400/Vulture+enjoying!.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing washes down carrion like an ice cold drink!</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x6aQbGpnHJLbd5671giH-pdg6ESIFoVzDomKhPjCGvskkdrmlA4EfAQglZ6pNJqaf5NJtXToSs-0wPBBzv4SGom0OjW9787d2zZVcAgdqTO2V8KxrSHjDk_-B6E8FFsyknbyb4Wjntg/s1600/Welcome+drink!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6x6aQbGpnHJLbd5671giH-pdg6ESIFoVzDomKhPjCGvskkdrmlA4EfAQglZ6pNJqaf5NJtXToSs-0wPBBzv4SGom0OjW9787d2zZVcAgdqTO2V8KxrSHjDk_-B6E8FFsyknbyb4Wjntg/s400/Welcome+drink!.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vulture drooling!</td></tr>
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The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-86694063261634904442015-03-24T08:19:00.003-07:002015-03-24T08:19:28.800-07:00Bird on fire!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34y2iv2MFuCWWfitGLHh9GFoaar8l1Tl8AWlnwUjIW82Qaws70QtbmNzyckPsNg3SfEqwuqjrA6FUfDv4YuKeofsEYy7pxTeGT3PssK7dFatYhzNeSO8TDUC0U4VPRYhuDw9Qnm4eikc/s1600/bird+on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34y2iv2MFuCWWfitGLHh9GFoaar8l1Tl8AWlnwUjIW82Qaws70QtbmNzyckPsNg3SfEqwuqjrA6FUfDv4YuKeofsEYy7pxTeGT3PssK7dFatYhzNeSO8TDUC0U4VPRYhuDw9Qnm4eikc/s1600/bird+on+fire.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird on fire!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So large are ostriches that I often don't think of them as birds!....sounds daft I know but at over 2 m tall they are in a league of their own. This female just couldn't resist getting my heart racing as she and her companions headed past me and into the sunset......<br />
<br />
Nando's sponsorship photo or what??<br />
<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-89400781186638299222015-03-10T02:12:00.000-07:002015-03-10T02:12:31.280-07:00Combat <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This morning I was tracking lions as usual when I stopped to glass over a small natural pan near the road. There were a couple of Hammerkops, Black-winged stilts, Greenshanks and Wood sandpipers.<br />
I got the old 400mm lens trained on the woodies as there was some posturing etc going on and then took a number of shots as two of them had a brief but violent fight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1ngOKcupwxiXmkQLTM_sSxE-Pex_1S82GE2RBLLgq83P4q39WPMlcwhI8RoZpG4b3MRrYrxcY_hbP8Hm0JDAUz8ueUTfDzLNJ-8FP8ihUTBZFqmhgEjVChqG3Rw94RENx0LhOK-KoDU/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1ngOKcupwxiXmkQLTM_sSxE-Pex_1S82GE2RBLLgq83P4q39WPMlcwhI8RoZpG4b3MRrYrxcY_hbP8Hm0JDAUz8ueUTfDzLNJ-8FP8ihUTBZFqmhgEjVChqG3Rw94RENx0LhOK-KoDU/s1600/012.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One "Woodie" dunking another</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wp-JKMyC_9ut_JWLSdMyTVkLpKvuWRMZWgNGErZ4Wg-YkxHufV8vbliRlKFn04tb892TnOdGFgJGGRG9FulvK4xWY3EAN_ra8bfF3INujxXh2rZ3VxuGhsYNeRhe8yWKG0XUsP9uVRE/s1600/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wp-JKMyC_9ut_JWLSdMyTVkLpKvuWRMZWgNGErZ4Wg-YkxHufV8vbliRlKFn04tb892TnOdGFgJGGRG9FulvK4xWY3EAN_ra8bfF3INujxXh2rZ3VxuGhsYNeRhe8yWKG0XUsP9uVRE/s1600/018.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incoming!</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNQiB6ge3SZmFLLTvLxIR68KsZGwLYVOF6kYs2ryHLpgv5KWov57W7VhNT2ky75fnWNXirP8mOCFOQGg-hzsn-GOxdwJ0T3r5OBusLueX98pjEp5z5YrpgFn7a81pE73eXGcrXRZ8f9k/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjNQiB6ge3SZmFLLTvLxIR68KsZGwLYVOF6kYs2ryHLpgv5KWov57W7VhNT2ky75fnWNXirP8mOCFOQGg-hzsn-GOxdwJ0T3r5OBusLueX98pjEp5z5YrpgFn7a81pE73eXGcrXRZ8f9k/s1600/019.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Combat at the pan</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Vk_OiZkoRVGYow5ycWWNGQ2jmyvuzIV68jokplj3Yuwh-62wBrpsuCZFAWbJfh1SAv8Ge7aCCP4oaU7h6cdSgj0x33slQ8XVhO_st2TNLfgDy8Y1wHaPJ0oJMDeFvr1k9q8a1VE5XA/s1600/Woodies+fihting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76Vk_OiZkoRVGYow5ycWWNGQ2jmyvuzIV68jokplj3Yuwh-62wBrpsuCZFAWbJfh1SAv8Ge7aCCP4oaU7h6cdSgj0x33slQ8XVhO_st2TNLfgDy8Y1wHaPJ0oJMDeFvr1k9q8a1VE5XA/s1600/Woodies+fihting.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here comes a flying round-house kick!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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For this sequence I had the camera set on manual with an ISO of 1600, 1/4000sec shutter to freeze the action and f11 to give me sufficient depth to keep the birds in focus.<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-38698082941162578072015-03-06T00:47:00.000-08:002015-03-06T00:48:25.639-08:00Hwange update:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8eGClY2LVtrezjLz15h6lQN4Uo4OzeC7TLJBmFAp4pYded-ePl2MAm92Pn_odh7ckaOCbM6xIX40UrlTVGif3BzL7DiZxoXwbmUxNwCrrJ0WY5hVoepPD2elWUhEDeDjU6_Mn-gbki4/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8eGClY2LVtrezjLz15h6lQN4Uo4OzeC7TLJBmFAp4pYded-ePl2MAm92Pn_odh7ckaOCbM6xIX40UrlTVGif3BzL7DiZxoXwbmUxNwCrrJ0WY5hVoepPD2elWUhEDeDjU6_Mn-gbki4/s1600/019.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A flight of Caspian plovers shoot over nyamandhlovu pan and past a drinking kudu!</td></tr>
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Hwange is in its wet season now and it really has not been a good one. We had almost non-stop rain in December and then apart from some really violent storms.....we have had almost nothing since.<br />
I have not seen the termite alate events as I have come to expect, neither the numbers of predatoy raptors here to feed on them!<br />
<br />
But there is still some water about and at certain pans you are still seeing good birds. Just yesterday I saw the Caspian Plovers (shown in the image above) as well as Black-winged Pratincole, Ruff, Wood sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt and Egyptian goose at Nyamandhlovu pan.<br />
<br />
We are expecting a hard dry season now as we can only really look forward to rain in about November. I will keep you posted<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-37782701408090603962015-02-18T00:48:00.001-08:002015-02-18T00:48:33.544-08:00Bird Photography - Back-light!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today, on the way to drop my boy at school, I passed a field and was stopped in my tracks by the beautiful scene in the second photo!.<br />
Red-billed Quelea were flitting around in the most stunning light and I took a few decent shots.<br />
The typical light a photographer looks for is with the sun behind you and the subject is nicely lit. This can be great light for wildlife photography, especially in the late afternoons or early mornings when the colour temperatures are a little warmer. The image below is one such image (also taken this morning). It is a Ruff and you can't fault it as a decent representative shot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3nXuw2n5Inwv6Z0Bqm5cG0E1UTDZNWpzf3f_2jl6GLShR012RA0cak8nIX_CBGZyrXtZAH0-bTDinEUtzqaTNUC5XJbPtL9OEsLf2eGFPGoeDYEyydF8jvqHUD4HOBTYyfLtVhM3eSg/s1600/057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3nXuw2n5Inwv6Z0Bqm5cG0E1UTDZNWpzf3f_2jl6GLShR012RA0cak8nIX_CBGZyrXtZAH0-bTDinEUtzqaTNUC5XJbPtL9OEsLf2eGFPGoeDYEyydF8jvqHUD4HOBTYyfLtVhM3eSg/s1600/057.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruff in perfect light!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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But......if you are looking for something more artistic and dramatic in your photography then I cannot over emphasize the beauty of "back-light". Back-light does what it says on the tin and when the light is coming straight at you and your camera. For subjects like birds wings, grass heads and the long hair of a lion's mane......this is what you want and it is dead simple to achieve.<br />
<br />
for best results set your metering to "spot", meter off the brightest part of the frame like the grass below these birds and then use your exposure slider to go -1 or -2 stops in the under-exposure direction. A fast shutter speed for freezing action (in this case 1/2500sec) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyJmjNFz-jjkbquBF4mr0uER1XTV_7GMCuJ3bv_SPA2xpaTU-B_WE4GPDm0PPEI0KFJOatAZcA56k6y3gjtea4t42cSd_Xsq6sr8K0EZmHPgwMtBCwcUkuBxcgLuuhiTvba1IPMN2IKc/s1600/031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyJmjNFz-jjkbquBF4mr0uER1XTV_7GMCuJ3bv_SPA2xpaTU-B_WE4GPDm0PPEI0KFJOatAZcA56k6y3gjtea4t42cSd_Xsq6sr8K0EZmHPgwMtBCwcUkuBxcgLuuhiTvba1IPMN2IKc/s1600/031.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back-lit Red-billed Quelea. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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If I had to sacrifice photographic situations.....this is the type I would keep.<br />
<br />
Good luck and get back-lit!<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder<br />
<br /></div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-63680439896902595562015-02-17T03:30:00.000-08:002015-02-17T03:30:25.632-08:00Colour!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Not that I believe in such things.....but I remember as a child my mother went to a fortune teller. She came back and told us that my twin brother would be rich and look after the whole family (we still wait with baited breath every lottery night!) and that I would have a career where I would look for colour in everything! That struck me because I have always valued my eyes more than any other organ!! (keep it clean!)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_PK5SpgTMin2T9MPfIDcBMgLMwmhI44Exe1-sw1aaOvLikVwe7weR7bfmhXc9KWgy1YAo6KVBtMEdrBqCdEri_R0lZhmNsMQwiJDdcDtnLM6CDwscxvblrfNccz7UG-iAtZP_fS5YPU/s1600/049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_PK5SpgTMin2T9MPfIDcBMgLMwmhI44Exe1-sw1aaOvLikVwe7weR7bfmhXc9KWgy1YAo6KVBtMEdrBqCdEri_R0lZhmNsMQwiJDdcDtnLM6CDwscxvblrfNccz7UG-iAtZP_fS5YPU/s1600/049.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three-banded plover and a painted snipe</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSr-4A1o-Z5f4tNj79mLg56jhyh2bErqbxCC5ZirOsDhPAC9oM6ytEFvqT8H1xcuuvUdQjFa1KUFaLra1YSEW8lL3NwejcrVnPFXsO4iKDrHhc-gUT5Bb5ui0okQggH6G459aqUycog6E/s1600/063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSr-4A1o-Z5f4tNj79mLg56jhyh2bErqbxCC5ZirOsDhPAC9oM6ytEFvqT8H1xcuuvUdQjFa1KUFaLra1YSEW8lL3NwejcrVnPFXsO4iKDrHhc-gUT5Bb5ui0okQggH6G459aqUycog6E/s1600/063.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rainbow bursting!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I marvel at the colours in the bird world an remember that it is the females that are responsible for it.....so a big cheer to all those others that are looking for colour in their daily lives, oh and to my twin...I await your call!<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-32478721961270758042015-02-06T01:17:00.000-08:002015-02-06T01:27:12.070-08:00Rainbow after the storm!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvLgch6CpBd3BNh62R2oxdhG-PN3RfBGGkj0hUGg3qth7tgAv8eFJAPd6xtFwiNoQyzw6eCoZlJgS4fkM4aaCgcPrXANREoWwc-KVxlCbaGjvI2iLjaQzY3VTGbWquRacAlyO5oNlhps/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvLgch6CpBd3BNh62R2oxdhG-PN3RfBGGkj0hUGg3qth7tgAv8eFJAPd6xtFwiNoQyzw6eCoZlJgS4fkM4aaCgcPrXANREoWwc-KVxlCbaGjvI2iLjaQzY3VTGbWquRacAlyO5oNlhps/s1600/019.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drongo and a juvenile African Golden Oriole add colour to a rainbow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6FJzohX3rWjtrA7ydO4_WGhgq6mVM4DN5YFeW3m8CWnMFYKkHJwMt_qzUni7dqahBkV5Gr4lgT5m4VCSBnue5Xu677_YCtbCwVqSFxzUwwKjVVJS5Q7ukNtB8EFO70s24S4MGrqHEDg/s1600/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6FJzohX3rWjtrA7ydO4_WGhgq6mVM4DN5YFeW3m8CWnMFYKkHJwMt_qzUni7dqahBkV5Gr4lgT5m4VCSBnue5Xu677_YCtbCwVqSFxzUwwKjVVJS5Q7ukNtB8EFO70s24S4MGrqHEDg/s1600/035.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's meet in a rainbow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fjXrwHgNVMTgk2R-Q_kC1qtCoypamlzkKdJn9zO9y9o62aYB02QSs84CEgWyYhGbgu7rBi-4LSsZk23UzcigLDCHuIYQ099sL7MOuChY7bfBYWm0xyImz8v53QiB9eK7tLIm7Ai9WcE/s1600/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fjXrwHgNVMTgk2R-Q_kC1qtCoypamlzkKdJn9zO9y9o62aYB02QSs84CEgWyYhGbgu7rBi-4LSsZk23UzcigLDCHuIYQ099sL7MOuChY7bfBYWm0xyImz8v53QiB9eK7tLIm7Ai9WcE/s1600/043.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four African golden Oriole's and a drongo enjoy a rainbow</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yesterday we had a storm at home the like's of which we rarely see in a landlocked country!!<br />
Trees were blown down and snapped and more than one person hid under a table during its arrival. We had 25mm of rain in about 20min and we thought the world had ended!<br />
<br />
Then when all was said and done....not one but two rainbows appeared in the most beautiful sky and a family of African Golden orioles added their colour to an already amazing scene.<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-3346331983857543082015-01-15T01:09:00.000-08:002015-01-15T01:10:20.759-08:00Mob justice!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The act of mobbing a predator is a behavior that is common to many species and found in many families of animals. I regularly watch impala in the open walking slowly after a lioness or zebra following and then chasing wildogs. The theory says, "if you let a predator know it has been seen, it won't try hunt you!". There secondary purpose of this behavior (accompanied by a lot of alarm calls) is to notify others of your kind that a predator is around. As a birder you will be rewarded if you learn the alarm calls of the birds in your area and even mimic them to call-in birds.<br />
Yesterday I heard the familiar alarm call of the African paradise fly-catcher in my garden and raced off to see what he had spotted. To my delight, in the perfect light, was a Lizard buzzard being dive-bombed by a pair of flycatchers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMTb30ASk_wZgaDEHzVGkKl13P3yUnDyHKFr-EYY6ZLj2Vh8_TzDMqrcWjbYB5T5yUXj6cbY2egmS25bD42HVCf25evIQ_Zb8WhDpfgwhfpmaiEzfAPnsKxcZSwNw6NkZsFrOW52Mo0Q/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMTb30ASk_wZgaDEHzVGkKl13P3yUnDyHKFr-EYY6ZLj2Vh8_TzDMqrcWjbYB5T5yUXj6cbY2egmS25bD42HVCf25evIQ_Zb8WhDpfgwhfpmaiEzfAPnsKxcZSwNw6NkZsFrOW52Mo0Q/s1600/001.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The male Paradise fly-catcher mobbing the Lizard Buzzard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLU6NQBqaT1G_vTvCtr-tnhpcC-M9pa0GqSPgmOxoJuQEDuWFhuIfidcNpKSx8-ajT2Amq9X0X0z-_AiWGgm9-Foq5A2xcP6hJzZq7H_-Q89LzQerO9ElVVLyQB2trIkasWKcMUOJDso/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLU6NQBqaT1G_vTvCtr-tnhpcC-M9pa0GqSPgmOxoJuQEDuWFhuIfidcNpKSx8-ajT2Amq9X0X0z-_AiWGgm9-Foq5A2xcP6hJzZq7H_-Q89LzQerO9ElVVLyQB2trIkasWKcMUOJDso/s1600/006.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then the female!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-67177933762031760582015-01-09T00:40:00.000-08:002015-01-15T04:42:06.754-08:00another one for my "Birds and Lions challenge"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp1MSjE48BjO5vlSUJfuyh2gO3zHx63vt9cQV8KVQjPvBBuUkNqd7JKGSH25Q8fi_vxCfsJSo9BFHlcW5ahVLLwj6B81sgyt2dg5OnGBmLt7VnGkdW1IK_qFbZ7Ez38ZxnD7BNoLXo1s/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitp1MSjE48BjO5vlSUJfuyh2gO3zHx63vt9cQV8KVQjPvBBuUkNqd7JKGSH25Q8fi_vxCfsJSo9BFHlcW5ahVLLwj6B81sgyt2dg5OnGBmLt7VnGkdW1IK_qFbZ7Ez38ZxnD7BNoLXo1s/s1600/007.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lioness watches a passing swallow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I know its been fairly slow but you try getting images with both lions and birds in the same frame!<br />
That was a challenge I set for myself a while back and here is another.<br />
<br />
So below is the complete series to date:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLwsnl297bKEIL0dojfVjknIM0Wk2ZTcULf_8TcZU3-0jUwSQT7ovdaxek7T3_5z7YyTaouGc5JIuNk3vGp5FMqRmvo7HAamhTXO6uHEFrhMNyxIV6vh3FMIstumDVT3UsYz2WFyXTdo/s1600/yguyu+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLwsnl297bKEIL0dojfVjknIM0Wk2ZTcULf_8TcZU3-0jUwSQT7ovdaxek7T3_5z7YyTaouGc5JIuNk3vGp5FMqRmvo7HAamhTXO6uHEFrhMNyxIV6vh3FMIstumDVT3UsYz2WFyXTdo/s1600/yguyu+002.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxNaIhpajEVmt4TOtielyTld63LH44lHC1-ZQjSlIfXuDl-tsFP8joZDqAuED2xLthJFWe9pR5PwLMbLkVdNG0cgucq21AUrwI37INf8rLuw-3vXrPxmlzZvk_QRRRnTKpfw7SMwUYtw/s1600/lions+and+dogs+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxNaIhpajEVmt4TOtielyTld63LH44lHC1-ZQjSlIfXuDl-tsFP8joZDqAuED2xLthJFWe9pR5PwLMbLkVdNG0cgucq21AUrwI37INf8rLuw-3vXrPxmlzZvk_QRRRnTKpfw7SMwUYtw/s1600/lions+and+dogs+135.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkzTa6yMz_cPlrXiTapiOwyPwtsUQEViBiku8resoooihxdDpH_ZOngYKyIZZ3B-_5JJ0s7DRBAVHeK35rWqz1XSQV0JSg7y5rrEUe2MtF4pjiOHKSj0BGwTqrepH_eKz0aTjO22pUOU/s1600/lions+and+doves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkzTa6yMz_cPlrXiTapiOwyPwtsUQEViBiku8resoooihxdDpH_ZOngYKyIZZ3B-_5JJ0s7DRBAVHeK35rWqz1XSQV0JSg7y5rrEUe2MtF4pjiOHKSj0BGwTqrepH_eKz0aTjO22pUOU/s1600/lions+and+doves.jpg" height="169" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdDV_JOYVJAr8Rhwf5H67l0Z-Sx1r0nnK3EJs0GJyvKHQm3-Y6N8eSRCeiYu1s-ObkmUDowJG3z4pDl7pBgpSa3rtPOlHIBGIevUZYWXPi0_PaRZLDifTDxAIyW5CF4RxvGX9MRbOcEs/s1600/lion+etc+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdDV_JOYVJAr8Rhwf5H67l0Z-Sx1r0nnK3EJs0GJyvKHQm3-Y6N8eSRCeiYu1s-ObkmUDowJG3z4pDl7pBgpSa3rtPOlHIBGIevUZYWXPi0_PaRZLDifTDxAIyW5CF4RxvGX9MRbOcEs/s1600/lion+etc+124.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzciweDC3WCK5UnsBvSLClCvoLxxpv3PVUv82AMT9v1-uwK8OfyyUhKuZSHDrYNocqjgllC809l6wLZsKjcgMCESKULRcul_ij23VvXEmmVzxGIUAtOFtgjAjzBf_ULqJFPuF9yiyUtI/s1600/Lion+and+Blacksmith+lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzciweDC3WCK5UnsBvSLClCvoLxxpv3PVUv82AMT9v1-uwK8OfyyUhKuZSHDrYNocqjgllC809l6wLZsKjcgMCESKULRcul_ij23VvXEmmVzxGIUAtOFtgjAjzBf_ULqJFPuF9yiyUtI/s1600/Lion+and+Blacksmith+lapwing.jpg" height="262" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50mGhqQtfT3CRe22wGQjxYN1khsmHpAEwUGuhwYANZCCgksMVnbJmh-BkkZiGOhhf87RPfDt1Vfv2KYh1r6FS0ef9p0ars8BUD7LO_MvTyk9TrQKH-arPNp8BR9rqCQlFB-WOGMHojps/s1600/dfdf+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50mGhqQtfT3CRe22wGQjxYN1khsmHpAEwUGuhwYANZCCgksMVnbJmh-BkkZiGOhhf87RPfDt1Vfv2KYh1r6FS0ef9p0ars8BUD7LO_MvTyk9TrQKH-arPNp8BR9rqCQlFB-WOGMHojps/s1600/dfdf+148.jpg" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWdUfp5lFfmBed62TsgR__QkuBIG6IwQvHstWh8-p5Jpnnx64SqNDDfg-8x9-42u4uwLYF5YgeKt1junnwBBRev3-VlG0nUZnfWMO25svqiY1AFogvQfVbOJpgjRs50zeXF99ry4xLcI/s1600/055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWdUfp5lFfmBed62TsgR__QkuBIG6IwQvHstWh8-p5Jpnnx64SqNDDfg-8x9-42u4uwLYF5YgeKt1junnwBBRev3-VlG0nUZnfWMO25svqiY1AFogvQfVbOJpgjRs50zeXF99ry4xLcI/s1600/055.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v5MEjgCUDgFQjo4tGg3oDwPCcieDRx81j8haeuZABtuCglDWrUcHtv93ljRHnIwXIevXjQTHzlIVAqzaP-l4Qw_SmiXiNtU9p9pFwhNaYG_dlUDxF51AU1ncFnD6GtrzZsCKt1ijGQ8/s1600/053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9v5MEjgCUDgFQjo4tGg3oDwPCcieDRx81j8haeuZABtuCglDWrUcHtv93ljRHnIwXIevXjQTHzlIVAqzaP-l4Qw_SmiXiNtU9p9pFwhNaYG_dlUDxF51AU1ncFnD6GtrzZsCKt1ijGQ8/s1600/053.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-31677234248911297352015-01-07T05:57:00.002-08:002015-01-07T05:58:35.643-08:00The importance of Peanut-butter!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It is this time of year that I harp on about the importance of Termites to the Hwange ecosystem.<br />
Indeed I feel it is impossible to overstate the importance of these little peanut-butter flavoured beasties! <br />
Just yesterday I was tracking for lions and the sun was shining. We had had almost non-stop rain for weeks and now was the termite's chance to spread wings and look for mates. The air was once again filled with Alates and the predators that eat them!<br />
<br />
some unusual predators too......here is a Grey Hornbill taking one in the air.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewd2Ztgox7rqwmGlmFLy3C9zIzceG21IZcwQOjudqF0k8vW2anYzm8EErPcvur_0YO6VpvbyEWpkce41p_ot_UO3gBbXJjU-iavJ5FahN-FFE752sKTPp0mNG_TaS-Km-VtehYjKL1mg/s1600/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewd2Ztgox7rqwmGlmFLy3C9zIzceG21IZcwQOjudqF0k8vW2anYzm8EErPcvur_0YO6VpvbyEWpkce41p_ot_UO3gBbXJjU-iavJ5FahN-FFE752sKTPp0mNG_TaS-Km-VtehYjKL1mg/s1600/017.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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There were doves and finches, sparrow weavers and white-crowned shrikes as well as kites and eagles, rollers and guineafowl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2h3FTmRR7va_WONvszoFC8LVbqnRDyX7f_z7IX2Nga0Pdu8_SoFsqhMkn-0X_muwG-2nvDduyIDNArPzccOgY3pNVvNXMOs2xVqU8JNPPMJY5pSnqpYeTjSvih3JXPToxSG7s50lY2A/s1600/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2h3FTmRR7va_WONvszoFC8LVbqnRDyX7f_z7IX2Nga0Pdu8_SoFsqhMkn-0X_muwG-2nvDduyIDNArPzccOgY3pNVvNXMOs2xVqU8JNPPMJY5pSnqpYeTjSvih3JXPToxSG7s50lY2A/s1600/033.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Yellow-billed Kite searches for termites</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisizCB3kbKNTWanGTH4nWoxAUgQxoMvTxgkYLhmlO5IUK-FclpUqr94YUgmeoH9e7CVP35wvNVCTbOHgsMANiU3mKnPtJ6sO9TWE4KSrlgeKO0jB5k54T-PU62ax2ox_eJHQRNQf5X9T8/s1600/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisizCB3kbKNTWanGTH4nWoxAUgQxoMvTxgkYLhmlO5IUK-FclpUqr94YUgmeoH9e7CVP35wvNVCTbOHgsMANiU3mKnPtJ6sO9TWE4KSrlgeKO0jB5k54T-PU62ax2ox_eJHQRNQf5X9T8/s1600/025.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hundreds of Bee-eaters cruising for peanut-butter filled termites!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This is the stuff of birder's dreams......<br />
Get out there if you are in Southern Africa...better still, come to Hwange and see it for yourself!<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-66341772764942499172015-01-07T00:07:00.001-08:002015-01-07T00:07:06.336-08:00Quirky birding!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You will notice that my page header has changed to a new Quirky version of the photographs I have posted over the year. This was put together by a really wonderful illustrator at http://www.quirky-ink.co.uk/ whom I have had a long association with. Follow the link and see what they can do for you!<br />
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Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-27427955567698953382014-12-29T00:02:00.001-08:002014-12-29T00:02:18.394-08:00Lush abundance!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqsVXk4sR7Hmz1OGz0eGnrG1VvsVxwyMAts2AU48p3ooWbUi9NEXfXyEDg88RYrSZsDAHRcpXA11wSMgyf4BqUOnyzNCHl7P1R8I5kVjQ71O-9NKFRRwEBQIlDb7rCyYLsXFuoCN2m2A/s1600/055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqsVXk4sR7Hmz1OGz0eGnrG1VvsVxwyMAts2AU48p3ooWbUi9NEXfXyEDg88RYrSZsDAHRcpXA11wSMgyf4BqUOnyzNCHl7P1R8I5kVjQ71O-9NKFRRwEBQIlDb7rCyYLsXFuoCN2m2A/s1600/055.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vultures flee from a protective lioness</td></tr>
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Hwange is looking beautiful now as we have had nonstop rain for a couple of weeks now. There are natural pans everywhere and the expected migrants are here and widespread. Its a season of plenty with a noticeable change in the animals behavior as they can relax a bit and enjoy life.<br />
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Still I wait for those large termite emergence s when the Amur Falcons, kites and eagles congregate in their thousands to catch the new Kings and Queens on the wing so watch this space for pictures soon.<br />
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All the best for 2015<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-82362352803102055082014-12-22T01:58:00.001-08:002014-12-22T01:58:18.875-08:00Stuff yourself!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well guys, it is very nearly Christmas! I saw these Ground Hornbills this morning on the way to work and thought the bright colours were appropriate for the season.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Y1KmQSGBC8q1iaRdWOHa-srtW1L_rmTP08L8gRDRian4LyIO1SKlPVPoDAYLgbs1hLMM9vOiiTu3z7LkmCFNcLJ1r3__8ZLLZcTejO91Mnp6V0loL4zYcIN6h8ctOpuSEAiJk3EvgQ0/s1600/087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Y1KmQSGBC8q1iaRdWOHa-srtW1L_rmTP08L8gRDRian4LyIO1SKlPVPoDAYLgbs1hLMM9vOiiTu3z7LkmCFNcLJ1r3__8ZLLZcTejO91Mnp6V0loL4zYcIN6h8ctOpuSEAiJk3EvgQ0/s1600/087.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go on......one last mouthful on Christmas day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ5rhPIru-yzXLUH9s8LawDpzE1DZbGiLaY0ypk15jPPSL1_DuYTitI-j84Fo7XR5QxOQRBD2bcGI-ep5SolAdZ6XfPGZbyAcQxlFAb9My9ESr1g2GHnT6Ads5QbG8Djieb9VWvljE3U/s1600/098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJ5rhPIru-yzXLUH9s8LawDpzE1DZbGiLaY0ypk15jPPSL1_DuYTitI-j84Fo7XR5QxOQRBD2bcGI-ep5SolAdZ6XfPGZbyAcQxlFAb9My9ESr1g2GHnT6Ads5QbG8Djieb9VWvljE3U/s1600/098.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down the hatch!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Unless a Pectoral Sandpiper or that Grasshopper Buzzard pitch up you won't hear from me until after Christmas so have a good one and I wish you all a Bird-filled 2015!<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-1639035971703335902014-12-18T00:30:00.002-08:002014-12-18T00:30:49.646-08:00Happy outcomes!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Like everyone else, I like a happy ending. Especially when I was involved!<br />
This morning I was driving to work when I saw a small bird fly across the road and my relief at missing him was short lived when I heard him hit my tracking aerial that sticks up from the roof.<br />
"dunggggggggg!". I saw the poor fellow drop onto the road behind me and so slammed on brakes and reversed to see what he<i><b> WAS</b></i>!.<br />
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As I picked him up and realised it was a Willow warbler he came alive in my hand. Obviously stunned, I put him in the car, and took him with me. At the office I set him up on the branch of a "Lucky bean" and left him to catch his breath. About and hour later I walked out, he saw me approaching and flew up into the canopy.<br />
Alive and well!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ0dFsK_SCJPKMCAlUnPEIY1iwGW8pvAsSSZV3BveWsOTxZEgP5z-T6e04uyY0ah4xFQy2stPSfm3sM5U_eoeEQHXvn7NQ5AgIo-sQ_Gy-KfTW9699I0vGJF9I7BDCLJktrdgwWw4x5Q/s1600/IMG_1698+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJ0dFsK_SCJPKMCAlUnPEIY1iwGW8pvAsSSZV3BveWsOTxZEgP5z-T6e04uyY0ah4xFQy2stPSfm3sM5U_eoeEQHXvn7NQ5AgIo-sQ_Gy-KfTW9699I0vGJF9I7BDCLJktrdgwWw4x5Q/s1600/IMG_1698+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow warbler catching his breath!</td></tr>
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Here is the distribution map of the Willow warbler for your interest. Swiped from Wikipedia (with full credit to).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrV4L4Fx1g3906zgdU33vCYz2zI2x4mlb5SRQG5Hxv5HlHCTFn23TDpAMPR0z4cw6xI41loJUQgXVqZW_51yURhWI1m-5efW9rpE8eV46o5aOUN54D4YsKRru28_tgoITYNLFTGMJmSA/s1600/Phylloscopus_trochilus_Range_Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrV4L4Fx1g3906zgdU33vCYz2zI2x4mlb5SRQG5Hxv5HlHCTFn23TDpAMPR0z4cw6xI41loJUQgXVqZW_51yURhWI1m-5efW9rpE8eV46o5aOUN54D4YsKRru28_tgoITYNLFTGMJmSA/s1600/Phylloscopus_trochilus_Range_Map.png" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow warbler distribution and migration (thanks Wikipedia)</td></tr>
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<br />
The Hwange Birder<br />
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Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-40286922820329519162014-12-15T03:19:00.002-08:002014-12-15T03:20:24.951-08:00Birthday ringing!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today is my birthday....37 years old! can you believe it and I don't look a day over 25.<br />
This morning started at 03:30 when I pre-empted my alarm and tried in vain to leave the bed without waking my beautiful wife. We have some visitors in Main camp, here for some bird ringing, and so it was well worth the early morning.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO08p7GCtE_EuZptqd8O_cuHwMgRjZ8BplTbqWoDwVajN_mvsTb-1Bqa88aqETdD174YoiDPQNWJCdeEo6aGs3RrLSsrfXLvj1EC2skBdJqOHcC_LT4mfQlNZytrX5RThshKSqgjZWheQ/s1600/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO08p7GCtE_EuZptqd8O_cuHwMgRjZ8BplTbqWoDwVajN_mvsTb-1Bqa88aqETdD174YoiDPQNWJCdeEo6aGs3RrLSsrfXLvj1EC2skBdJqOHcC_LT4mfQlNZytrX5RThshKSqgjZWheQ/s1600/015.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-bellied Sunbird being photographed before it's release</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A female Sunbird causes a brief ID crisis</td></tr>
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It was a very successful first day of three and we caught perhaps 50 birds of eight or nine species. Several were recaptures that we had ringed in November 2013.... so that was interesting.<br />
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Now to end my day I am heading home to enjoy another bird...this time its a chicken Poiki with a beer cold enought to burn the tips of the fingers where the Red-backed shrike "Bit me"!<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-77434416535311023432014-12-09T23:20:00.000-08:002014-12-09T23:20:05.261-08:00Our little piece of paradise!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We have been looking forward to moving into our new home for ages now as my wife has worked tirelessly to build us our home. We have been welcomed into the Mabale communal lands and have a lovely plot of land. We, unlike our neighbours, have decided to leave the forest as a forest and only have a small field to grow some food. We have an abundance of wild fruit and this attracts a huge diversity of birds. We moved in about 10 days ago and it is paradise.<br />
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These following images were taken within 10min at our birdbath.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpyA_872XY37niuUlGrMSJYkiDN75VsR8QKRrt2v5lHZ-kHWDWutiSUZTizTIDRi1-HKJG6PkrAYz9Im1d3K1axzNzoWjiWXQnl8l54_rb7_Mn1VVgCrLNfUsRczFTuDbArBp4H2rR0s/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpyA_872XY37niuUlGrMSJYkiDN75VsR8QKRrt2v5lHZ-kHWDWutiSUZTizTIDRi1-HKJG6PkrAYz9Im1d3K1axzNzoWjiWXQnl8l54_rb7_Mn1VVgCrLNfUsRczFTuDbArBp4H2rR0s/s1600/004.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied Greenbul</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5Rk8zrxgeiQA40v8eniPH-oRIvtAEZbFCz3zN8_tdahi-mtTdPwiqdQkOWKk3E25aTFP-2kOpCnVmanq43gk8gRy4KsdIVcpL-sMMomrza1pjc2ZWxxvbB7o5BeKln1xW1e2ylL3__c/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5Rk8zrxgeiQA40v8eniPH-oRIvtAEZbFCz3zN8_tdahi-mtTdPwiqdQkOWKk3E25aTFP-2kOpCnVmanq43gk8gRy4KsdIVcpL-sMMomrza1pjc2ZWxxvbB7o5BeKln1xW1e2ylL3__c/s1600/010.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Oriole</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVw1Iz4BWlu2jc6rPCv-9YL7EX4RJuutbCDVhenW7wtUBS5fFIff445QaCykcoKpNpNFhKr2IC7NLzjRILYx1MIau43RVT8AzC_-RygEZumKWTAnUUW3CYuyb7JxbC_lkif1wRi_NAio/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVw1Iz4BWlu2jc6rPCv-9YL7EX4RJuutbCDVhenW7wtUBS5fFIff445QaCykcoKpNpNFhKr2IC7NLzjRILYx1MIau43RVT8AzC_-RygEZumKWTAnUUW3CYuyb7JxbC_lkif1wRi_NAio/s1600/014.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-winged starling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaft-tailed Whydah, Cut-throat Finch</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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On our first evening there we were delighted to see five Grey-headed Parrots and a couple of days ago my wife saw an African Green Pigeon.<br />
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We will keep you up to date as the list increases.<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-39547165290991404492014-12-09T00:59:00.004-08:002014-12-09T01:01:59.350-08:00Vulture spit!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, in my last post the title promised you "back-lit spit!"<br />
So, here it is.............<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVhso9B_qUR8-I8CirgbwUHePM0k6Qmxznrch-iFLBP8ciQoSZoOcSn_cbfKKFyIRTOBW_UfjKEtkBST_HsY1wvlqtNDmDX8B2fz_Ek64eLK-hRpGAd2DghSyIWx5y0nFpeIi6W-rGF4/s1600/108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVhso9B_qUR8-I8CirgbwUHePM0k6Qmxznrch-iFLBP8ciQoSZoOcSn_cbfKKFyIRTOBW_UfjKEtkBST_HsY1wvlqtNDmDX8B2fz_Ek64eLK-hRpGAd2DghSyIWx5y0nFpeIi6W-rGF4/s1600/108.jpg" height="394" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmmmm.......look at the flies on that carcass!</td></tr>
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I guess the equivalent would be how I drool over a piece of lemon-meringue pie!<br />
<br />
The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7873343819585892901.post-41740258675635003932014-12-04T23:20:00.001-08:002014-12-04T23:23:17.995-08:00Vulture dust and backlit spit!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently a giraffe was killed when it touched a low power cable and it has attracted lions. I have been there a couple of times to watch the cats but yesterday the lions had moved off when the electricity authority came to fix the pole. When I got there in the afternoon the sun was heading for the horizon and that means one thing to a wildlife photographer.......BACKLIGHT!!!!!<br />
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I set myself facing directly into the sun and put my camera on spot metering. I set up my shutter speed to 1/8000sec and the camera used the full f2.8 on my 400m lens to keep the ISO to a relatively low 2000! To some of you that may sound gobble-de-gook but here are the results!<br />
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Hundreds of White-backed vultures, who had been waiting patiently for days, descended and the ensuing battle for "an opening" was wonderful action to photograph. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD4EePihTeym5JWgtuGuUpvAjUyNkwkE0-UpNqZ4_8NPQGL7zrjAKWHa_KA-ILnvGLI5DHBeENyzqYvgMzmIhcKb3uuBoO_bh3XDquU93mTyzbhCLNJXn24EtZpdg-o7m0qR6-91hu94/s1600/012+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD4EePihTeym5JWgtuGuUpvAjUyNkwkE0-UpNqZ4_8NPQGL7zrjAKWHa_KA-ILnvGLI5DHBeENyzqYvgMzmIhcKb3uuBoO_bh3XDquU93mTyzbhCLNJXn24EtZpdg-o7m0qR6-91hu94/s1600/012+(2).jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthwSDfRepex4TPOWcoB4x_Kd60FplkRuvrGuapQhD30ryyX2KuZECsi-Pe7zCz20-TXs44IXnSmYO9J0x0oRRT1FPBgmGSxfs8Yb1pfAo4dVq7KWL5Up1x6gixYcqC2HvTgdImhg_Xek/s1600/113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthwSDfRepex4TPOWcoB4x_Kd60FplkRuvrGuapQhD30ryyX2KuZECsi-Pe7zCz20-TXs44IXnSmYO9J0x0oRRT1FPBgmGSxfs8Yb1pfAo4dVq7KWL5Up1x6gixYcqC2HvTgdImhg_Xek/s1600/113.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
If you are a wildlife photographer and havn't tried "Contre jour" ("back-light" to us plebs) then do because it will add a new dimension to your work.<br />
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The Hwange Birder</div>
Conflictcatshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04769009061218289257noreply@blogger.com0