Africa 2

                                                            Giraffe (20+ seen)

                                                       Kudu , 

                                                    Male Lion

                                                                        Cheetah 

                                                       Dung beetle rolling dung

                                                                      Fiscal Shrike 
 Some highlights from the trip ,

    Only a few  butterflys were identified to species  , Yellow Pansy , Painted Lady , African Monarch , African Grass Blue , Broad Bordered Grass yellow , 

Birds ..Red winged Starling , Reed Cormorant ,Pin tailed Whyda , Long tailed Widow , White Winged Widow , Red Shouldered Widow, Red Bishop , Red Billed Quellea , Spot Backed Weaver , Cape Grassbird , Cape Batis , Bronse MAnakin , Lesser Double Collared Sunbird , Black Sunbird , Glossy Starling ,  Black Crowned Tchagra , Red backed Shrike , Hoopoe , Orange - throated Longclaw , Cape Wagtail , African Pied Wagtail , Southern Black Flycatcher , Cape Robin , Arrow Marked Babbler , Red Throated  Wryneck , Pied Crow , Black Crow , Forked -tailed Drongo , White throated Swallow ,  Wire Tailed Swallow , Swallow , Redbreasted Swallow , Lesser Striped Swallow , Greater Striped Swallow , House Martin , Rock Martin , White Rumped Swift , Little Swift , Horus Swift , African Palm Swift Rufouse naped Lark , Bearded Woodpecker , Cape Eagle Owl , Spotted Eagle Owl , Malachite Kingfisher , Jacobin Cuckoo ,, Purple Crested Lourie , Kelp Gull , ...

     

A few early migrants and a mega at Fly flats Pale - bellied Brent Geese...........

                                                                 Thanks Phil Dyson 

 A nice early male Wheatear  at Walshaw Dean  on the  16th and a  male Ring Ousel found by Phil D at Moselden on the 18th .  People often ask what do these early migrants feed on and the numbers of caterpillars on the moors on the 16th answers this question , 20+ Fox Moths , 1 Northern Oak Eggar and 1 Ruby Tiger an easy meal for a passing migrant and 1Chifchaff at EGP on the 19th . The bird/s of the year so far were 3 Pale - bellied Brent Geese at Fly Flats on the 19th found by Brian Sumner  the first time Pale - bellied Brent Geese have been recorded in Calderdale , brilliant to see these birds  locally  . A Common Lisard at Walshaw on the 16th was 10 days later than last years earliest. ......Oak Eggar and Oak Nyceteoline were the best from the moth trap on the 18th ..makes a steady 95 species for the year...........

Goshawk..and Whooper Swan on the move

The highlight of the week was a juv fem Goshawk seen in the west  of Calderdale , I initially thought it was a Hen Harrier , as at a distance it looked to have a white rump but luckily I got it in the scope and noticed they were fluffed out undertail coverts  , buldgeing secondaries and massive body , excellent views of Calderdale's most elusive resident ..!! Whooper Swans have been making there return migration over the Pennines with 9 on Monday at Boothwood  and 60 +35  on the 8th over Cock hill . 1  Short eared Owl, 1 Barn Owl , and a male Peregrine chasing a Woodpigeon (so close) also at Cock Hill  .Kingfisher at Ogden and plenty Skylarks , Lapwing , Curlew , Oystercatcher ,Golden Plover now back on territory...and a Green Woodpecker made for a great week.....1 Little Grebe makes 85 in Calderdale for the year.......

Durban , South Africa

 A mad dash to Durban to see family to celebrate the life of my Dad and Hugh Preston , first time the family' s  have been able to meet since Covid 19...of course I managed a very small amount of birding with the highlights of Red -throated Wryneck  , Long Crested Eagle , Cape Eagle Owl , Spotted Eagle Owl , Cape Batis , Pin - tailed Whyda , Orange throated Longclaw , Cape Grassbird (singing) , African Harrier Hawk , Lanner Falcon,  and Swallow/Swift/Martin migration on another level.....and then the spectacle of Lion , Giraffe ,Rhino  , Waterbuck ,  Kudu , Springbok , Impala , Wilderbeast ,  Jackall , Wild Boar and being chased by a mad Elephant and feeding Yellow billed Kites in the back garden from the BBQ leftovers.....wow.....thats Africa......2 large adult Male Lions were seen to chase an  adult Cheetah, the Cheetah was too fast over a short distance and gave the Lions the slip , fortunately the guide picked up the tracks of the cheetah and followed it , there were two crossing the road in front of the jeep ,you could see there chests gasping for air after the chase...!!! 

                                                         Southern Black Flycatcher

                                                             

                                                                            

                                                               

                                                                 Reed Cormorant

                                                      Hadada Ibis

                                                                  Cape Pigeon

                                                              Golden orb Spider