25-5-2019 MANA POOLS , ZIMBABWE - SIDE STRIPED JACKAL (Canis adustus)

The side-striped jackal is a medium-sized, omnivorous canid in sub-Saharan Africa, known for the faint white stripe running along its flanks and a white-tipped tail. These adaptable animals are mainly nocturnal, live in monogamous pairs, and their diet varies seasonally to include small animals, insects, fruits, and carrion. They inhabit diverse environments, including savanna woodlands, marshes, and even human settlements, and are classified as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN due to stable populations. 

Appearance and physical traits

Stripes: The most distinctive feature is a faint white stripe running from the elbow to the hip on each side, with black lower margins.

Tail: Their tail is black with a white tip.

Color: They are typically buff-grey, with a darker back and lighter undersides.

Size: They are slightly larger than black-backed jackals, with males being somewhat larger than females.

Mass: Males can weigh 7.3 to 12 kg, while females rarely exceed 10 kg.

Length: Head and body length is around 650-800 mm.

Shoulder height: Around 400-500 mm. 

Habitat and behavior

Habitat: They are adaptable and can be found in savanna woodlands, bushveld, marshes, and even towns and farmlands.

Activity: They are primarily nocturnal but can also be active during the day.

Social structure: They are monogamous and form pairs that can last for life. They live in family groups that help raise the young.

Dens: Dens are often found in termite mounds or disused aardvark burrows. 

Diet and feeding

Omnivorous: Their diet is opportunistic and flexible, consisting of both plants and animals.

Food sources: They eat insects, small mammals, birds, reptiles, fruits, and carrion.

Scavenging: They will scavenge from rubbish dumps in urban and peri-urban areas. 

Reproduction and lifespan

Breeding: Breeding seasons vary by location, occurring from June to November in southern Africa.

Gestation: The gestation period is about 63 days.

Litter size: Females typically give birth to a litter of 1 to 6 pups.

Lifespan: They can live up to 14 years in the wild. 

Conservation status

IUCN Classification: 'Least Concern' (LC) due to stable populations.

Threats: They face threats from persecution by farmers protecting livestock and from being killed or poisoned due to their perceived role in rabies transmission. 

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - GENUS CROSSANDRA

Crossandra is a genus of plants in the family Acanthaceae, comprising 54 species that occur in Africa, Madagascar, Arabia and the Indian subcontinent. Some species, especially Crossandra infundibuliformis, are cultivated for their brightly colored flowers.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - ELEGANT DROPWING DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Trithemis werneri)

Trithemis werneri is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Angola, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and rivers.

The Elegant Dropwing (Trithemis werneri) is a species of dragonfly native to sub-Saharan Africa, known for the male's distinct orange/red coloring and its habit of perching away from the water on tree branches. 

Named after Dr. Franz Werner, an Austrian zoologist who collected the first specimens in Uganda in 1905. 

Key Facts

Scientific Name: Trithemis werneri.

Appearance: Mature males have a red abdomen and brownish thorax with orange/mustard-yellow coloring and large amber patches on the hind wings. Females are less vibrant with a yellow to yellowish-brown abdomen and face.

Size: They are a small to medium-sized dragonfly, up to 40mm long with a wingspan up to 66mm.

Habitat: They inhabit large tropical and subtropical rivers and streams in savanna regions, often in well-wooded areas.

Behavior: This species typically perches on trees and large bushes, often far from the water. They "drop" their wings when resting, a trait of the Trithemis genus.

Distribution: Found in numerous African countries, including Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

Conservation Status: Globally listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The South African population is Near Threatened due to its need for undisturbed habitats.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - VIOLET DROPWING DRAGONFLY (FEMALE) (Trithemis annulata)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trithemis_annulata

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - CAPE ELAND (FEMALE) (Tragelaphus oryx ssp. oryx)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/698862-Tragelaphus-oryx-oryx

25-5-2019 MANA POOLS , ZIMBABWE - RED HEADED WEAVER (Anaplectes rubriceps)

The red-headed weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is placed in the monotypic genus Anaplectes and is found throughout the Afrotropics.

The red-headed weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) is a bird commonly found in eastern and southern Africa in countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and most of Mozambique and Botswana. They frequent savanna biomes as well as bushland and other wooded areas. At this time the species trend is stable and the population is concentrated and not fragmented into different regions.

The species can be found in a wide range of areas, from Senegambia to Ethiopia and northwest Somalia, and southwards to Mozambique, northern and northeast Namibia, northern and eastern Botswana, Zimbabwe, northeast South Africa, eastern Eswatini, and northeast KwaZulu-Natal.

The red-headed weaver is typically found with a white belly and brown wings. The northern male red-headed weavers commonly have a distinct red head that sticks out to the females of the species. The northern females have a more brown head that doesn't stick out as much, while the southern females are found with yellow heads and yellow accents on their wings. All red-headed weavers are found with a moderately long and pointed beak and short strong claws. A typical red-headed weaver flock tends to usually have one male who stays with a pack of eight or nine females. Their nest is usually made of dry sticks that they have collected, it is usually suspended from a tree and shaped like a raindrop, but in some cases the Red-headed Weavers put their nest in a man made structure. A distinct feature of the nest is the long entrance tunnel that is more commonly used with the Malimbus genus.

The oldest documented red-headed Weaver was recorded to live for 9 years and 1 month, however studies estimate that the maximum lifespan is around 11 years.

25-5-2019 MANA POOLS , ZIMBABWE - MEVES'S STARLING (Lamprotornis mevesii)

Meves's starling (Lamprotornis mevesii) or Meves's glossy-starling, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Its common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German ornithologist Friedrich Wilhelm Meves. A medium-large, iridescent glossy starling with a very long and graduated tail. The color of the iridescence is blue and purple in most of the range, but the southwestern Angola population shows yellowish bronzy gloss. Pairs, groups, and flocks are resident in open savanna, preferring broadleaf woodland like Brachystegia (miombo) and areas with baobabs.

The species feeds on the ground, walking with long strides, and sits low in trees, searching mostly for insects to eat. The similar Burchell’s Starling differs from Meves’s Starling by being greener and larger, with a less graduated tail that is proportionately shorter. This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). 

The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

25-5-2019 MANA POOLS , ZIMBABWE - KALAHARI FORK TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus adsimilis ssp. apivorus)

The fork-tailed drongo, also known as the common drongo or African drongo, is a member of the Dicruridae family. It is a small bird with a distinctive fork-shaped tail, red-brownish eyes, and an entirely black plumage that exhibits a blue-green iridescence in certain lights. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with the underside of the bird being uniformly black, contrasting with the glossy black-blue upper body.

When identifying the fork-tailed drongo, look for its robust black beak, red eyes, and the deeply forked black tail. Juveniles can be distinguished by their dark brown tone, less pronounced tail fork, and lack of glossy shine on the lower body. During flight, the darker remiges of the D. a. adsimilis subspecies are particularly noticeable.

The fork-tailed drongo inhabits wooded habitats, including woodlands and savannas, and is tolerant of arid climates. It can be found at elevations up to 2200 meters.

This species is widespread across Africa south of the Sahara, with four recognized subspecies varying in range and physical characteristics. It was once thought to range into Asia, but the Asian species is now classified as the black drongo (D. macrocercus).

The fork-tailed drongo is known for its aggressive and fearless nature, often attacking larger animals to protect its nest. It is also a skilled kleptoparasite, using deceptive mimicry of other birds' alarm calls to steal food. These birds are solitary hunters and spend a significant portion of their day feeding.

The vocalizations of the fork-tailed drongo are diverse, including sharp calls, whistles, and squeaks. They are known to mimic the calls of other bird species and even the sounds of other animals, such as cats and meerkats.

Breeding seasons vary by region, with the bird nesting close to wetlands, forests, and farms. The female lays one to four eggs, which hatch in 15 to 18 days. The species is monogamous and aggressively defends its nest from various predators.

The diet of the fork-tailed drongo is primarily insectivorous, including butterflies, termites, and grasshoppers. They also consume small fish, other birds, nectar, and plants when available. They are known to follow large mammals to catch insects disturbed by their movement.

25-5-2019 MANA POOLS , ZIMBABWE - HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hippopotamus amphibius)

25-5-2019 MANA POOLS , ZIMBABWE - CHACMA BABOON (Papio ursinus)

Chacma baboons are found throughout southern Africa, ranging from South Africa north to Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique. They live in diverse habitats from woodlands to savannas, steppes, and sub-deserts. Chacma baboons are found in the Kalahari Desert as well as on the alpine slopes of the Drakensberg. They usually sleep on hills, cliffs, or large trees and during the day, avoid arid areas with a lack of water.

The Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) is a member of the Old World monkey family. It is one of the largest of all monkeys. Located primarily in southern Africa, the chacma baboon has a wide variety of social behaviors, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings. In general, the species is not threatened, but hunting, trapping, and accidents kill or remove many baboons from the wild, thereby reducing their numbers and disrupting their social structure.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SPUR WINGED GOOSE (Plectropterus gambensis)

The spur-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis) is a large, Sub-Saharan African waterbird in the family Anatidae, which includes geese and shelducks. However, P. gambensis developed unique environmental adaptations, which resulted in the evolution of several anatomical features that are not shared with other anatids; thus, the species has been classified one step further into its own subfamily, the Plectropterinae.

Adults are 75–115 cm (30–45 in) long, and weigh an average of 4–6.8 kg (8.8–15.0 lb) (rarely up to 10 kg (22 lb)), with ganders (males) being noticeably larger than the geese. The wingspan can range from 150 to 200 cm (59 to 79 in). One source claims the average weight of males is around 6 kg (13 lb) and the weight of females is around 4.7 kg (10 lb). However, 11 individuals that were banded in South Africa, were found to average only 3.87 kg (8.5 lb), with a range of 2.4 to 5.4 kg (5.3 to 11.9 lb). Another South African-based study found 58 males weighing an average of 5.52 kg (12.2 lb) and measuring 98.1 cm (38.6 in) in total length; meanwhile, 34 females averaged 3.35 kg (7.4 lb) in weight and 84.2 cm (33.1 in) in total length.[8] Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 42.5 to 55 cm (16.7 to 21.7 in), the bill is 5.7 to 6.4 cm (2.2 to 2.5 in) and the tarsus is 5.7 to 12 cm (2.2 to 4.7 in). 

They are among the largest true African waterfowl (besides the wading Goliath heron) and are, on average, the world's largest "goose", although in average weight, their size is at least rivaled by the Cape Barren goose. Spur-winged geese appear to be more closely allied to shelducks than "true geese" such as those from the Branta and Anser genera. They are mainly black, with a white face and large white wing patches. The long legs are pinkish red in colour. 

Some populations of the spur-winged goose are toxic. Populations that have a diet that includes significant quantities of blister beetles are poisonous. The poison, cantharidin, is held within the tissue of the bird resulting in poisoning of those that eat the cooked goose. A dose of 10 mg of cantharidin can kill a human.

This species often occurs in open grasslands with lakes, seasonal pools, rivers, swamps and river deltas. Large inland rivers and lakes are perhaps most commonly inhabited, with saline lakes and upland areas generally being avoided, although the species can occur to an elevation of 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in eastern Africa. It is also absent from arid zones.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN LION (FEMALE) (Panthera leo ssp. melanochaita)

The Southern lion is a lion subspecies from Southern and East Africa. In this region, lion populations were referred to by several regional names, including Katanga lion, Transvaal lion, Kalahari lion, Southeast African lion, Southwest African lion, Masai lion, Serengeti lion, Tsavo lion, and Uganda lion. It has also been referred to as 'Eastern-Southern African lion', 'Southern lion', and as 'southern subspecies'.

The fur of Southern lions varies in color from light buff to dark brown. They have rounded ears and a black tail tuft. Mane color varies from sandy, tawny, isabelline, and light reddish yellow to dark brown and black. Mane length varies from short to extending to knee joints and under the belly. Lions without a mane were observed in the Tsavo area. Mane development is related to age: older males have more extensive manes than younger ones; manes continue to grow up to the age of four to five years, long after lions become reproductively mature. Males living in the Kenyan highlands develop heavier manes than lions in the more humid and warmer lowlands of eastern and northern Kenya. White lions have occasionally been encountered in and around South Africa's Kruger National Park and the adjacent Timbavati Private Game Reserve. Their whitish fur is a rare morph caused by a double recessive allele. It has normal pigmentation in the eyes and skin. They were removed from the wild in the 1970s, thus decreasing the white lion gene pool.

Southern lions are found in East and Southern Africa. They are grouped into three clades. Lions, which can be grouped into the North East African clade are found in Somalia, Northern Kenya, and Ethiopia. Lions, which can be grouped into the South East African clade are found in Southern Kenya, Western DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, southern Namibia, and South Africa, with a larger hybridization zone to the southwestern lion clade in the Kruger National Park area (Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park). Lions, which can be grouped into the South West African clade are found in Angola, Northern Namibia, Northern Botswana, and western Zimbabwe, extending southeast into the Tuli block. There is a larger hybridization zone in the southeastern clade around the Kruger National Park.

Little is known about the behavior of Southern lions. In general, lions can be active at any time of the day but their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socializing and grooming. Most hunting often takes place at dusk. Apart from that African lions spend much of their time resting. They rest in order to save energy, in the absence of prey, or to escape the midday heat. African lions are highly social animals, gathering in groups or prides, which include up to 3 male lions and multiple lionesses with their young. Prides are defended by males, who patrol and mark the territory. However, there's harsh competition between males for the territory and position in the pride. In a case, if another male overcomes the leading male of the pride, he usually kills all cubs, sired by the previous male. Meanwhile, males do not tend to hunt due to their slow speed and eye-catching appearance. Instead, hunting is left to females of the pride, who hunt in groups, cooperating with each other during their hunting trips. The females are excellent hunters: they are faster and more agile than males, able to hunt down animals that are much bigger and faster than them. Lions have a large repertoire of vocalizations. Most of them are variations of growling, snarling, meowing, and roaring. Other sounds produced include purring, puffing, bleating, and humming. Roaring is used for advertising their presence. Lions most often roar at night, a sound that can be heard from a distance of 8 km (5 mi).

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN RED BISHOP (FEMALE) (Euplectes orix)

The southern red bishop is 10–11 centimetres long and has a thick conical bill. Breeding males are brightly coloured with red (occasionally orange) and black plumage. The forehead, face and throat are black and the rest of the head is red. The upperparts are red apart from the brown wings and tail. The upper breast and under tail-coverts are red while the lower breast and belly are black. The non-breeding male and female have streaky brown plumage, paler below. Females are smaller than the males.

It has various twittering calls and a nasal contact call. The male has a buzzing song.

Breeding males of the northern red bishop have a red throat, black extending further back on the crown and long tail-coverts which almost cover the tail. The females and non-breeding males are almost identical to those of the southern red bishop.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SACRED IBIS (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

The African sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus ) is a wading bird native to Africa and the Middle East. It is especially known for its role in the religion of the Ancient Egyptians, where it was linked to the god Thoth; despite this, the species is currently extirpated from Egypt.

African sacred ibises have all-white body plumage apart from dark plumes on the rump. Males are generally slightly larger than females.

The bald head and neck, thick curved bill, and legs of these birds are black. The white wings show a black rear border in flight. The eyes are brown with a dark red orbital ring. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have dirty white plumage, a smaller bill and some feathering on the neck, greenish-brown scapular, and more black on the primary coverts.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - RUFOUS BELLIED HERON (Ardeola rufiventris)

The rufous-bellied heron (Ardeola rufiventris) is a species of heron in the genus Ardeola, the pond herons, of the family Ardeidae. It is found in southern Africa.

This is a small dark species of heron with a dark grey head, back and breast contrasting with a rufous belly, wings and tail. When seen in flight the bright yellow legs and feet contrast with the dark feathers of the underside of the body. Juveniles are paler and browner, darkening as they mature.

It is found in eastern, central and southern sub-Saharan Africa widespread although absent from the arid south-west and is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

It is found in seasonally flooded grasslands, marshes, flood-plains and inland deltas (e.g. the Okavango Delta), shallow water along riverbanks and lake shores, stands of papyrus, reedbeds and paddies.

This is a skulking species which when hiding assumes a bittern-like posture but with its bill in a horizontal rather than vertical position. It usually prefers to hunt on the landward side of well vegetated wetlands and in the shallow water. It is a largely sedentary species, which may make partial migratory movements to follow rainy season inundations of flood-plains.

Breeding occurs during the rainy season, or when flooding is at a peak where this occurs early in the dry season. It nests colonially in mixed colonies, typically in small groups of 6-30 pairs, although at Lake Bangwelu in Zambia, groups of 60-80 pairs have been recorded. Rufous-bellied herons feed during the day but will sometimes forage at night, normally they hunt alone or in small flocks of no more than five individuals, although aggregations of over 120 have been recorded. It prefers to roost in trees. The nest is a small platform of vegetation positioned low in reeds, trees or shrubs that are normally positioned over standing water. In mixed-species colonies rufous-bellied herons normally nest around the edges.

The diet consists mainly of small fish such as tilapia and barbus, amphibians, crustaceans, aquatic insects and other aquatic invertebrates.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - WHITE CRESTED HELMETSHRIKE (Prinops plumatus)

The white-crested helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus), also known as the white helmetshrike, is a species of passerine bird in the Vanga family Vangidae, formerly usually included in the Malaconotidae.

It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

It is a gregarious bird and is found in small, active parties that are always on the move as they forage among the foliage or on the ground. They chatter noisily to one another as they move through their territory.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - CAPE ELAND (MALE) (Tragelaphus oryx ssp. oryx)

The Common eland (Taurotragus oryx) is an antelope species from East and Southern Africa. It was scientifically described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1766. The Common eland is used by humans for leather, meat, and milk, and has been domesticated in many areas. Common elands are spiral-horned antelopes. Their coat differs geographically, with elands in the northern part of their range having distinctive markings (torso stripes, markings on legs, dark garters, and a spinal crest) that are absent in the south. Apart from a rough mane, the coat is smooth. Females have a tan coat, while the coats of males are darker, with a bluish-grey tinge. Bulls may also have a series of vertical white stripes on their sides (mainly in parts of the Karoo in South Africa). As males age, their coat becomes more grey. Males also have dense fur on their foreheads and a large dewlap on their throats. Both sexes have horns with a steady spiral ridge (resembling that of the bushbuck). The horns are visible as small buds in newborns and grow rapidly during the first seven months. The horns of males are thicker and shorter than those of females (males' horns are 43066 cm (17-26 in) long and females' are 51-69 cm (20-27 in) long), and have a tighter spiral.

Males use their horns during rutting season to wrestle and butt heads with rivals, while females use their horns to protect their young from predators. Common elands inhabit southern Africa and the foothills in the great southern African plateau, as well as Ethiopia and most of the arid zones in South Sudan, as well as western Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. They prefer to live in semi-arid areas that contain many shrub-like bushes and often inhabit woodlands, and mountaintops. Elands typically avoid deep forests, swamps, deserts, and very open grasslands but do occur in grassland with good herb cover. Common elands are crepuscular and are most often found feeding at night, when vegetation has taken in moisture from the air, thus providing a higher water content.

When it is hot during the day, they will often be found resting in areas of shade. Common elands are social animals, often found in herds of 25-60, occasionally gathering in groups of more than 1,000, especially during the rainy season. Typically, mature males form herds, and mature females do as well, with the young congregating in nursery herds. A hierarchy exists within these herds, which determines, for a male, access to breeding females, and to feeding sites for a female. Common elands are nomadic creatures. Males are not territorial, though will become possessive with regard to breeding females. The home range of a female, which makes extensive movements in the wet season, is much bigger than that of a male. Male territories are mostly in wooded areas. If a predator is seen, the bull of a group will bark and start walking back and forth to warn other elands of danger. They also use the odors in their urine to communicate.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - BLACK CRAKE (Zapornia flavirostra)

The black crake is diurnal, and this confiding bird will feed close to humans and often in the open. It eats a wide range of invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds. It will take the eggs of birds and scavenge on carcasses. It will forage on the ground or climb reeds to find prey including flying insects.

This species will perch on hippopotamuses and warthogs and remove parasites.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in Southern and Eastern Africa, and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It prefers open woodland and savanna, and it is for the most part absent from treeless places. Usually found alone or in pairs, it perches at the tops of trees, poles or other high vantage points from where it can spot insects, amphibians and small birds moving about on the ground. Nesting takes place in a natural hole in a tree where a clutch of 2–4 eggs are laid, and incubated by both parents, who are extremely aggressive in defence of their nest, taking on raptors and other birds. During the breeding season the male will rise to a fair height (69 to 144 metres), descending in swoops and dives, while uttering harsh, discordant cries. The sexes are different in coloration, and juveniles lack the long tail streamers of adults. This species is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya. Alternative names for the lilac-breasted roller include the fork-tailed roller, lilac-throated roller (also used for a subspecies of purple roller) and Mosilikatze's roller.

Lilac-breasted rollers are found throughout eastern and southern Africa, and occurs locally at sea level, and up to 2,000 metres above sea level or over. Their range extends from the Red Sea coast of Eritrea through East Africa (including Zanzibar) to southern Africa, where they occur commonly in Namibia (excluding the Namib Desert), Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa. The nominate subspecies C. c. caudatus is non-migratory, but a measure of post-breeding dispersal occurs into miombo woodland or sandy areas, before they return to the breeding areas at the start of the rains. Its counterpart, the lilac-throated roller (C. c. lorti) migrates from northeast Kenya to northwest Somalia to breed from late April to mid-September. The latter subspecies is also a vagrant to Eritrea, Oman and Yemen. Lilac-breasted rollers are most abundant in Kenya, though the species is less abundant than in former times.

Both subspecies live in open savannah habitats with scattered trees and shrubs, as the birds require higher perches for feeding and nesting. Less often they frequent riverine vegetation and light forest, and may enter subdesert steppe or open grassland where any elevated perches may be used. In protected areas, lilac-breasted rollers are among the bird species that frequent the verges of roads, especially during fires, when the small animals and insects that emerge from cover are easily predated. However, lilac-breasted rollers avoid other human-influenced areas and are not found in urban or rural areas unless they are abandoned. Outside of protected areas such as national parks, lilac-breasted rollers may infrequently be seen when farmers burn land for agricultural use. Such brush fires stir up insects and other invertebrates, and birds can be seen swooping in for easy prey.

23-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - ZEBRA WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pinacopteryx eriphia)

The Zebra White is another butterfly that is distributed over much of South Africa, and is found in pockets of all our provinces. It doesn’t appear to be numerous anywhere though. It inhabits arid scrub and thickets, warmer grasslands and savanna habitats. Adults have a wingspan of between 4 and 5cm and can be seen throughout the year. They usually fly slow and very close to the ground but can accelerate very quickly to escape danger when required.

23-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN YELLOW PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia hierta ssp. cebrene)

The African Yellow Pansy (\(Junonia\) \(hierta\)) is a butterfly with a bright yellow upperside and black markings, found in open habitats across Africa, Arabia, and the Indian subcontinent. It has a low, fast flight and feeds on a variety of herbs as a larva, while adults extract nutrients from mud, rotting fruit, and animal dung. It is also known for being very common and is not considered endangered globally or in South Africa. 

Key facts Scientific Name: Junonia hiertaFamily: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)Appearance:Males: Bright yellow upperside with black markings and sometimes a purple or blue spot.Females: Similar colors but duller and often with different markings, including a black spot on the hindwing.

23-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - WHITE BROWED SPARROW WEAVER (Plocepasser mahili)

The white-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali) is a predominantly brown, sparrow-sized bird found throughout central and north-central southern Africa. It is found in groups of two to eleven individuals consisting of one breeding pair and other non-reproductive individuals.

The white-browed sparrow-weaver is found in greatest numbers in north-central southern Africa. While this species most densely populates dry regions with woodland or wooded grassland at northern South Africa, its range includes Botswana, northern and central Namibia, and western Zimbabwe. It is seen very often in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia and southern Malawi. Populations may be found as far north as Ethiopia. Populations are sedentary.

This species nests in colonies along thornveld and scrubby, dry riverbanks.

23-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - TAWNY EAGLE (Aquila rapax)

The Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) is a large bird of prey, belonging to the family Accipitridae. It is characterized by heavily feathered legs, indicative of its membership in the subfamily Aquilinae, or booted eagles. Exhibiting a polymorphic plumage, the Tawny Eagle's coloration ranges from dark grey-brown to rufous-tawny, with a strong and bold bill, well-proportioned frame, and fierce countenance. This eagle is known for its opportunistic feeding habits, engaging in both active predation and scavenging.

The Tawny Eagle can be identified by its long neck, large bill without a deep gape, and moderately long wings with pronounced "fingers." Its tail is shortish and square-ended, resembling that of a vulture. Adults may have variably colored eyes from yellow to pale brown, with a yellow cere and feet at all ages. The species is polymorphic, with individuals varying in plumage from dark brown to rufous and buffish-yellow.

Tawny Eagles favor open dry habitats such as semideserts, deserts steppes, or savanna plains. They are seldom found in areas completely devoid of trees, as they require perches for hunting and nesting.

The Tawny Eagle has a discontinuous breeding range across much of the African continent and the Indian subcontinent, with rare residency in the southern Middle East.

The Tawny Eagle is largely sedentary and non-migratory, though it may exhibit nomadic tendencies in response to environmental conditions. It spends much of its day perched, taking flight intermittently to hunt or scavenge.

Generally silent, the Tawny Eagle may occasionally vocalize with a harsh, hollow-sounding bark. Males are more vocal, especially during displays of courtship.

Tawny Eagles are resident breeders, laying one to three eggs in a stick nest typically located in the crown of a tree. They often pair for life and are territorial.

The Tawny Eagle can be confused with the Steppe Eagle, but differs in size, gape, and plumage. It also shares its range with various other booted eagles, but can be distinguished by its unique tail shape, bill size, and flight profile.

The Tawny Eagle has a highly variable diet, including live prey such as small to medium-sized mammals, birds, and reptiles, as well as carrion. It is also known for kleptoparasitism, stealing food from other raptors.

The Tawny Eagle is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Its population has declined significantly due to habitat loss, persecution, and other anthropogenic factors.

19-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WAVE MOTH (Idaea obsoletaria)

Idaea obsoletaria

(Rambur 1833)

Kingdom: Animalia

Subkingdom: Eumetazoa

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Hexapoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Superfamily: Geometroidea

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Sterrhinae

Genus: Idaea

23-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - SPOTTED BUSH SNAKE (Philothamnus semivariegatus)