Red Bishop

Red Bishop

Their habitat is grasslands and savanna, usually close to water. Breeds in reed beds and sometimes in crops. Become 14cm. (Rooivink - Euplectes orix) 

Cape Weaver

A male Cape Weaver hanging from a tree as it is building a nest

Breeding male can be disguised by it's yellow plumage. The female and non-breeding male are olive brown. Habitat is grassland and fynbos and often along rivers. Nests continually in reed beds and trees. Become 17cm in size. (Kaase Wewer - Ploceus capensis)

Hadeda

Hadeda

The Hadeda is a large bird and becomes around 76cm. They are widespread through sub-sahara Africa and can be found in savanna's, grass fields and wetlands. (Hadeda Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash)

Spotted Thick-knee

Spotted Thick-knee bird

The Spotted Thick-knee can reach up to 45.5cm. With it's brown and white speckled coat, it is good at camouflaging itself and very difficult to spot. They are spread widely through sub-saharan Africa in savannahs and grasslands. They hunt mostly on the ground, eating small insects and lizards. (Spotted Dikkop - Burhinus capensis)

Whale breaching

Whale breaching

City lights reflecting on the river

City lights reflecting on the river

Pink Flamingo

Pink Flamingo with it's reflection in the water

Kalahari sunset

Sun setting in the Kalahari behind the Camelthorn trees.

Klipspringer

Klipspringer

Lone Oryx on a Kalahari dune

A lone Oryx standing on a Kalahari dune

Botswana sunrise

Sun rising behind a tree in Botswana

Lilac-breasted Roller

Lilac-breasted Roller / Troupant

Giraffe by a tree

Giraffe standing by a big tree

Reed Cormorant

Reed Cormorant

A fully grown Reed Cormorant is black with grey-brown wings and a yellow or reddish face. A young one is more brown in colour with a white chest. They become 60cm in size. (Rietduiker - Microcarbo africanus)

Cape Grey Mongoose

Cape Grey Mongoose not too excited about taking photos :-)

The Cape Grey Mongoose or Small Grey Mongoose is a small species of 55–69 cm long and weighs around 0.5 – 1.0 kg. It has a dark grey colour with legs slightly darker. (Kleingrysmuishond - Galerella pulverulenta)

Ostriches

Ostriches and their small ones

Little Stint

Little Stint

The Little Stint is a small bird with a fine dark bill and dark legs. It's feathers have dark centres. Can be found one-one or in small groups by river mouths. Become 14cm. (Kleinstrandloper - Calidris minuta)

Little Bee-eater

Little Bee-eater

The Little Bee-eater is a small bird. It has a yellow throat and orange-yellow underside. A yound one (like in the photo) would have a light green underside. 17cm in size. (Kleinbyvreter - Merops Pusillus)

Friendly Dassie

A friendly Dassie looking on from behind the safety of a rock

White-quilled Bustard

White-quilled Bustard

The White-quilled Bustard (Northern Black Korhaan) looks very similar to the Southern Black Korhaan but can be found futher up North in Southern Africa. Habitat is open grassland and scrub. Size is 53cm. (Witvlerkkorhaan - Afrotis afraoides)

Colourful Vineyards

Colourful Vineyards by the Orange river

Secretarybird

Secretarybird

Meerkat

Meerkat family portrait

The Meerkat or Suricate is small in size and belongs to the mongoose family. The live in clans (mobs or gangs) of 5 - 40 members. They will dig a large network of tunnels under ground, but will also share the tunnels of ground squirrels or red mongooses. (Stokstertmeerkat - Suricata suricatta)

Slender Mongoose

Black-tipped or Slender Mongoose sitting in a tree

The Slender Mongoose is a common type of mongoose with 50 subspecies. They vary in colour from yellow-brown to a dark rich-brown. It has a straight tail with a black tip. It will usually be found one-one or in pairs on the ground, but it will also climb trees.  (Swartkwasmuishond - Galerella sanguinea)

Lappet-faced Vulture

Lappet-faced Vulture with a Cape Vulture flying past in the back.

The Lappet-faced Vulture is the largest vulture with blackish, dark brown feathers above and contrasting white below. It also has a red head and neck. It's a powerful vulture that will dominate other vultures at a carcass. Become 115cm. They are endangered and listed as vulnerable. (Swartaasvoel - Torgos tracheliotus)

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Pearl-spotted Owlet

The Pearl-spotted Owlet is a small owl with a brown back with small white speckels. It's underside is white with brown stripes and pearl-like spots. It also has two black spots on the back of it's head which look like eyes. It likes to sit in trees and get regularly seen during the day. Become 15-18cm in size. (Witkoluil - Glaucidium perlatum)

Jackal portrait

Portait of a Black backed Jackal

Rocky sunset seascape

Rocky sunset seascape

Kalahari Scrub Robin

Kalahari Scrub Robin

The Kalahari Scrub Robin has a rusty red brown colour and a black stripe on it's tail. Can be found one-one or in pairs by Kalahari thorny fields or old farmlands. They become 16-17cm in size. (Kalahariwipstert - Erythropygia paena)

Lionesses and cubs drinking

Cubs and their mothers drinking water

Martial Eagle

Martial Eagle

Eland

Eland

The Eland is the largest antelope. Bulls weight 700kg, but can go up to 900kg. The cows weigh 450kg. They have a brownish colour with grey in front. Both genders have horns that are straight with a slight spiral. They have a large variety of habitats from desert fields to mountainous terrain and savannah. For food they eating mainly leaves, but will now and then also eat grasses. If water is available, they will drink, but are not reliant on it. (Eland - Tragelaphus oryx)

Red-headed finch

Red-headed finches sitting on a branch

The male Red-headed finch has a red head, the female's head is lighter. It has fine stripes on it's underside. They would often look for food on the ground and mix with other birds. Their habitat is grass or thorny fields. Become 12-13cm in size. (Rooikopvink - Amadina erythrocephala)

Want to play?

Kalahari lion acting all serious...

Southern Pied Babbler

Southern Pied Babbler

The Southern Pied Babbler is an insect eating bird that can often be found on the ground in small groups of up to 12, looking for food. Habitat is thorny bush or tree veld. It a mainly white bird with black wings and tail and has orange eyes. Size is 26cm. (Witkatlagter - Turdoides bicolor)

Leopard

Leopard, on the lookout.

I hope you enjoy this leopard as they are extremely shy so one doesn't see them all that often. Some interesting facts are: Leopard reach a height of 70-80cm, weight of 20-90kg males and 17-60kg females. They're large cats and yellow-ish fur is marked with rosettes. They will eat insects, small animals, birds and sometimes larger antelope. It will sometimes catch more than it can eat at the time and will then store the left overs under rocks or bushes. They will eat rotten carcasses. (Luiperd - Pathera Pardus)

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

The (Southern) Pale Chanting Goshawk is a bird of prey. They become 56-65cm. The adults have grey upper parts and a white rump. They have red eyes, mostly red bills and long red legs. They eat large insects, small mammals and birds and lizards. (Bleeksingvalk - Melierax canorus)

Monkey see

What's this? :-)

Young Blue Wildebeest sleeping/relaxing

Young Blue Wildebeest relaxing in the sun :-)

Jackal sitting in the morning sun

Black backed Jackal sitting in the field, waiting for some action.

Scratching my head

Scratching my head :-)

Moon behind the trees

Moon behind the trees

Seagulls flying up

Seagulls flying up while some stay behind

Sunset seascape

Sunset seascape

Laughing Dove

Laughing Dove lying outside

The Laughing Dove can be distinguished by it's pinkish head, cinnamon, black speckled chest and rust brown back. Becomes 25cm. (Rooiborsduifie - Spilopelia senegalensis)

Three-banded Plover

Three-banded Plover

The Three-banded Plover can be distinguished by it's red eye rings and two black stripes on it's neck. Can be found one-one or in pairs close by water. (Driebandstrandkiewiet - Charadrius tricollaris)

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is small bee eating bird with a swallow tail. It has a blue collar and yellow throat. Can be found at various tree habitats and the Kalahari sand areas. Becomes 20-22cm.
(Swaelstertbyvreter - Merops hirundineus)

Golden beach sunset

Golden beach sunset

Acacia Pied Barbet

Acacia Pied Barbet

The Acacia Pied Barbet is a smallish bird of 17-18cm. It has a red forehead and a white underside. It's head is black-and-white striped and yellow colouring above the eyes. Can be found one-one or in pairs in semi arid savannah. Similar in manner to a woodpecker, the Acacia Pied Barbet drills holes into dead wood in order to create cavity nests. (Bonthoutkapper - Tricolaema leucomelas)

Bitterpan Startrail

Bitterpan Startrail