Sabirding

I’ve joined a tiny bird group to monitor the presence of birds where the Liesbeek River meets the Black River. Once a week we go out to this spot on the Black River in the morning and spend 5 minutes noting every species we can see and their numbers. Yesterday was a two kingfisher day with a trio of Pied Kingfishers fussing just on the right edge of the Liesbeek mouth and a Malachite Kingfisher I didn’t see (I was taking notes and, when I thought I saw it later, was asked if I wasn’t looking at a Morning Glory flower - I was 😂). Despite being an urban river system, it’s bursting with wildlife. ...

#balconybirds No.2 An unloved introduced species, the European Starling. It’s the same one that forms those giant, pulsating flocks of viral video fame in its native Eurasia. Held in contempt though they be for their crime of having their ancestors brought here against their will, like all starlings they’re full of intelligence and virtuosity of voice. And like many starlings, they’re a blaze of iridescence when the sun hits them just so.

#balconybirds No.1: A Laughing Dove kook-ka-kooring atop the telephone pole. I got a Nikon lens adapter from #kandfconcept. Took about 8 days to get from Senzhen China, direct from the company, to Cape Town. Shipping was free. And way cheaper than the extortionate local markups. So now to try some #telephotography with the little old Fujifilm XE1. Usina a 300mm f4 Nikkor with a 1.4x converter. And I’m going to try get pics of all the birds that we get to see across from our #balconyofprivilege here in Observatory - be they ever so humble.