23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - RED BILLED OXPECKER (Buphagus erythrorhynchus)

The red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorynchus) is a passerine bird in the oxpecker family, Buphagidae. It is native to the eastern savannah of sub-Saharan Africa, from the Central African Republic east to South Sudan and south to northern and eastern South Africa. It is more widespread than the yellow-billed oxpecker in Southern Africa, where their ranges overlap.

The red-billed oxpecker is a native of the savanna of sub-Saharan Africa. It ranges across Ethiopia and Somalia through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia to southern Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, and north-eastern South Africa.

A juvenile oxpecker is darker brown than its parents. Its bill is dark olive at first, but gradually takes on adult colouration after four months. Its flight is strong and direct, and their call is a hissy crackling trik-quisss.

The red-billed oxpecker nests in tree holes lined with hair plucked from livestock. It lays two to five eggs, with three being the average. Outside the breeding season it forms large, chattering flocks.

The preferred habitat is open country, and the red-billed oxpecker eats insects. Both the English and scientific names arise from this species' habit of perching on large wild and domesticated mammals such as cattle and eating ticks. This species's relationship with rhinos gives the Swahili name Askari wa kifaru meaning "the rhino's guard".

An adult will take nearly 100 blood-engorged female Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus ticks, or more than 12,000 larvae in a day. However, their preferred food is blood, and while they may take ticks bloated with blood, they also feed on it directly, pecking at the mammal's wounds to keep them open.

Field observations in rhinos have shown oxpeckers warning the nearsighted rhino of danger.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - 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 do not differ 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), Mosilikatze's roller, and troupand.

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.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops ssp. africana)

The African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) is a striking, medium-sized bird known for its cinnamon-colored body, black-and-white zebra-striped wings, long, downcurved bill, and a prominent crest. Found across sub-Saharan Africa in woodlands and savannas, they are distinct from European hoopoes due to their deeper color, lack of white in their crest, and sedentary nature. 

African Hoopoe differs from Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops): male African Hoopoe has richer colour above, it lacks the sub terminal white band on the crest, and has black primaries. Female of both are similar. They are two separated species. African Hoopoe's call is a distinctive “hoo-poo” repeated 3 to 5 times or more.

22-2-2026 RHULANI LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - BUSHVELD FAMILIAR CHAT (Oenanthe familiaris ssp. hellmayri)

The Familiar Chat (Oenanthe familiaris), commonly found in the bushveld and rocky areas of sub-Saharan Africa, is a small (14–15 cm) grey-brown bird known for its fearless, curious behavior and signature habit of flicking its wings while perched on fences, rocks, or buildings. These sociable birds are often seen in pairs or family groups, foraging on the ground for insects and sometimes insects, fruit, or farmyard scraps. 

Appearance: They are dumpy, short-tailed birds with dull grey-brown upperparts, warm rufous-brown ear coverts, and a distinct rufous rump and outer tail feathers that are noticeable in flight. 

Habit/Behavior: Exceptionally tame and often called "spekvreter" (fat-eater) in Afrikaans, they used to eat fat from wagon axles, a behavior that shifted to eating lard, butter, or meat scraps around farmhouses. 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN WARTHOG (Phacochoerus africanus ssp. sundevallii)

The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a wild member of the pig family (Suidae) found in grassland, savanna, and woodland in sub-Saharan Africa. In the past, it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P. aethiopicus, but today that scientific name is restricted to the desert warthog of northern Kenya, Somalia, and eastern Ethiopia.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - DUSKY LARK (Pinarocorys nigricans)

The dusky lark (Pinarocorys nigricans), also known as the dusky bush lark or rufous-rumped bush lark, is a species of migratory lark in the family Alaudidae. It is native to the southern Afrotropics.

It is found in southern Central Africa; it is a summer migrant to more southerly areas. Its natural habitats are dry savannah and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.

Formerly, the dusky lark was classified as belonging to the genera Alauda and Mirafra until moved to Pinarocorys.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - RUFOUS NAPED LARK (Mirafra africana)

 The rufous-naped lark (Corypha africana) or rufous-naped bush lark is a widespread and conspicuous species of lark in the lightly wooded grasslands, open savannas and farmlands of the Afrotropics. Males attract attention to themselves by a bold and often repeated wing-fluttering display from a prominent perch, which is accompanied by a melodious and far-carrying whistled phrase. This rudimentary display has been proposed as the precursor to the wing-clapping displays of other bush lark species. 

They have consistently rufous outer wings and a short erectile crest, but the remaining plumage hues and markings are individually and geographically variable. It has a straight lower, and longish, curved upper mandible.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - BURCHELL'S ZEBRA (Equus quagga ssp. burchellii)

Burchell's zebras are described as being striped on the head, the neck, and the flanks, and sparsely down the upper segments of the limbs then fading to white. One or two shadow stripes rest between the bold, broad stripes on the haunch. This main distinguishing characteristic sets the Burchell's zebra apart from the other subspecies. Gray (1824) observed a distinct dorsal line, the tail only bristly at the end, and the body distinctly white. The dorsal line is narrow and becomes gradually broader toward the rear, distinctly margined with white on each side.

(Equus quagga burchellii) is a southern subspecies of the plains zebra. It is named after the British explorer and naturalist William John Burchell. Common names include bontequagga, Damaraland zebra, and Zululand zebra (Gray, 1824).[1] Burchell's zebra is the only subspecies of zebra which may be legally farmed for human consumption.

Like most plains zebras, females and males are about the same size, standing 1.1 to 1.4 metres (3 ft 7 in to 4 ft 7 in) at the shoulder. They weigh between 230 and 320 kilograms (500 and 700 lb). Year-round reproduction observed in this subspecies in Etosha National Park, Namibia, concludes synchronization of a time budget between males and females, possibly explaining the lack of sexual dimorphism.  

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - GRAYFOOT CHACMA BABOON (Papio ursinus ssp. griseipes)

The Grayfoot Chacma Baboon ( Papio ursinus griseipes ) is a subspecies of the Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) distinguished by its grayish hands and feet and a golden-colored coat, rather than the black limbs of the typical chacma baboon. This subspecies has a more golden fur and is generally smaller and heavier than typical black-footed chacmas. They are omnivorous primates found in Southern Africa, inhabiting diverse environments from deserts to forests. 

They are found in Southern Africa, extending from South Africa northward into Zambia and Mozambique.

Grayfoot chacma baboons have also been observed to hybridize with Kinda baboons (Papio kindae) in the Kafue River valley. 

Key Characteristics

Coloration: Grayish fur on the hands and feet, and a more golden coat than typical chacmas.

Size: Smaller and lighter than the black-footed (ursinus) subspecies.

Habitat: Occupy various habitats including coastal, mountainous, woodland, savannah, and semi-desert regions.

Diet: Omnivorous, consuming fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, small animals, and even shellfish on the coast.

Behavior: Terrestrial and diurnal, spending their days foraging on the ground and in trees. 

Ecological Role

As omnivores, they play a role in seed dispersal and soil aeration.

They are part of the food web as both predators and prey. 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - BLACK THROATED CANARY (Crithagra atrogularis)

The black-throated canary (Crithagra atrogularis), also known as the black-throated seedeater, is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.

It is found frequently in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)

The African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the world's largest land animal, standing 10–13 feet tall and weighing up to 13,000 lbs. Found in sub-Saharan savanna and woodland habitats, they are social matriarchal mammals known for their large ears and versatile trunks. They are endangered, primarily threatened by habitat loss and poaching. 

Size and Appearance: They are the largest living land animals, with males (bulls) reaching up to 13 feet in height and weighing 6,000kg (approx. 13,000 lbs). They have large, Africa-shaped ears that help them radiate heat. 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - 22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - AFRICAN SAVANNAH ELEPHANT

The African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the world's largest land animal, standing 10–13 feet tall and weighing up to 13,000 lbs. Found in sub-Saharan savanna and woodland habitats, they are social matriarchal mammals known for their large ears and versatile trunks. They are endangered, primarily threatened by habitat loss and poaching. 

Key Facts About African Savanna Elephants

Size and Appearance: They are the largest living land animals, with males (bulls) reaching up to 13 feet in height and weighing 6,000kg (approx. 13,000 lbs). They have large, Africa-shaped ears that help them radiate heat. 

Habitat and Range: They live across varied habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, including open savannas, woodlands, and deserts. Key countries include Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa.

Diet and Eating Habits: They are herbivores, consuming up to 350 pounds of vegetation daily—including grass, leaves, and bark.

Trunks and Tusks: Their trunks have about 150,000 muscle units, used for breathing, smelling, drinking, and grasping objects. Both males and females havem tusks, which are actually elongated teeth, used for digging and defense.

Social Structure and Life Span: They live in matriarchal herds led by the eldest female. They can live 60–70 years in the wild.

Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN, their populations are declining, partly due to poaching for the ivory trade. 

22-2-2026 RHULANI LODGE MADIKWE, S AFRICA - SOUTHERN CRESTED FRANCOLIN (Ortygornis sephaena ssp. sephaena)

The crested francolin (Ortygornis sephaena) is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is found in southern Africa. One of its subspecies, Ortygornis sephaena rovuma, is sometimes considered a separate species, Kirk's francolin.

Formerly, the crested francolin was classified in its own genus Dendroperdix, but phylogenetic analysis indicates that it groups with the grey francolin (O. pondicerianus) and swamp francolin (O. gularis). As a result, all three species were reclassified into the genus Ortygornis.

Subspecies

Subspecies include:

O. s. grantii (Hartlaub, 1866)

O. s. rovuma (Gray, GR, 1867) - Kirk's francolin

O. s. spilogaster (Salvadori, 1888)

O. s. zambesiae (Mackworth-Praed, 1920)

O. s. sephaena (Smith, A, 1836)

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - SOUTHERN BLACK BACKED JACKAL (Lupulella mesomelas ssp. mesomelas)

The black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) is a medium-sized canine native to eastern and southern Africa. These regions are separated by roughly 900 km (560 mi).

One region includes the southernmost tip of the continent, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. The other area is along the eastern coastline, including Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as least concern due to its widespread range and adaptability, although it is still persecuted as a livestock predator and rabies vector.

It has a reddish brown to tan coat and a black saddle that extends from the shoulders to the base of the tail. It is a monogamous animal, whose young may remain with the family to help raise new generations of pups. The black-backed jackal has a wide array of food sources, feeding on small to medium-sized animals, as well as plant matter and human refuse.

It also plays a prominent role in African folklore, often depicted as a cunning and adaptable trickster figure. Despite ongoing conflict with humans due to livestock predation, its populations remain stable thanks to its resilience and adaptability across diverse landscapes.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - SOUTHERN LION (FEMALE) (Panthera leo ssp. melanochaita),

Panthera leo melanochaita is a lion subspecies in Southern and East Africa. In this part of Africa, lion populations are regionally extinct in Lesotho, Djibouti and Eritrea, and are threatened by loss of habitat and prey base, killing by local people in retaliation for loss of livestock, and in several countries also by trophy hunting. Since the turn of the 21st century, lion populations in intensively managed protected areas in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have increased, but declined in East African range countries. In 2005, a Lion Conservation Strategy was developed for East and southern Africa.

Results of a phylogeographic study indicate that lion populations in southern and eastern Africa form a major clade distinct from lion populations in West Africa, Central Africa and Asia. In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group subsumed lion populations according to the major clades into two subspecies, namely P. l. leo and P. l. melanochaita. Within P. l. melanochaita three subclades are clearly distinguishable. One from northeastern Africa, another one from southwestern Africa and a third one from southeastern Africa.

The type specimen for P. l. melanochaita was a black-maned lion from the Cape of Good Hope, known as the Cape lion. Phylogeographic analysis of lion samples from Gabon and the Republic of the Congo indicate their close genetic relation to P. l. melanochaita samples from Namibia and Botswana. It has been referred to as the Southern lion, Southern African lion, East-Southern African lion and the "southern subspecies". Contemporary lion distribution and habitat quality in East and Southern Africa was assessed in 2005, and Lion Conservation Units (LCU) mapped. 

Between 2002 and 2012, educated guesses for size of populations in these LCUs ranged from 33,967 to 32,000 individuals. The LCUs Ruaha−Rungwa, Serengeti−Mara, Tsavo−Mkomazi and Selous in East Africa, as well as Luangwa, Kgalagadi, Okavango−Hwange, Mid−Zambezi, Niassa and Greater Limpopo in Southern Africa are currently considered lion strongholds. These LCUs host more than 500 individuals each, and the population trend is stable there as of 2012.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - WHITE BROWED SCRUB ROBIN (Cercotrichas leucophrys

The White-browed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas leucophrys) is a medium-sized bird (14–16.5 cm) native to sub-Saharan African savannas, easily identified by a prominent white eyebrow, streaked breast, and a habit of singing loudly while lifting its tail. Often heard in dry woodlands, they feed on insects, live in monogamous pairs, and are known to sing for up to 40 minutes. 

The white-browed scrub robin is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, DRC, Djibouti, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its range spans tropical, subtropical and temperate latitudes. It is present and usually common in any mesic to arid woodland or savanna, provided that there is cover, open scrub or thickets.[5] In the Eastern Highlands it is only present up to 1,400 metres, and in East Africa up to 1,500 metres. It is replaced on the Kalahari sands by the Kalahari scrub robin, while in the Horn of Africa it is sympatric with the rufous bush chat, which lacks any white in the wings. Suitable habitat is usually grassy, which facilitates nesting.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - SILVER PALE CHANTING GOSHAWK (Melierax canorus ssp. argentior)

The Silver Pale Chanting Goshawk—more commonly known as the (Southern) Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus)—is a distinctive bird of prey native to the arid regions of southern Africa. Known for its silver-grey plumage, red legs, and melodic breeding calls, this raptor is a common sight perched on telephone poles along roadsides in dry areas. 

Here are the key facts regarding the Pale Chanting Goshawk:

Appearance

Coloration: Adults have pale, silvery-grey upperparts, a white rump, and a finely barred grey-and-white belly. 

Distinguishing Features: They have bright red legs, a red cere (skin above the bill), and red eyes. 

Flight Appearance: In flight, they show white secondary flight feathers, making them appear pale, with black primaries. 

Size: They are roughly 55 cm long with a wingspan of about 110 cm. Females are larger and heavier than males. 

Juveniles: Younger birds are brown above with white, barred tails and rufous-streaked underparts. 

Habitat and Range

Location: Found in southern Africa, mainly in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and southwestern Angola. 

Environment: Inhabits dry, open semi-deserts, arid savannas, and shrublands with less than 75 cm of annual rainfall. 

Behavior: They are largely sedentary (not migratory) and are often seen perched on roadside telephone poles, trees, or bushes to hunt. 

Hunting and Diet

Opportunistic Diet: They eat small mammals (rodents, hares), lizards, snakes, small birds, insects, and carrion. 

Perch and Drop: They scan from high spots and glide down to catch prey.

Walking: They are known to hunt on foot, running down prey.

Association: They often follow honey badgers and other small predators to catch animals (such as rats) flushed by them.

Tortoise Predators: They are one of the few predators that eat tortoises, swallowing small ones whole while the shell is still soft.

Breeding and Behavior

"Chanting": The name comes from their melodious, whistling call (kleeu-kleeu-kleeu-ku-ku-ku), which is mainly heard during the breeding season. 

Reproduction: Nests are small, built from sticks in thorn trees, and often lined with debris like rags, wool, and dung. 

Polyandry: While usually monogamous, in food-rich areas (like the Little Karoo), one female may breed with two males (polyandry). 

Siblicide: Usually, two eggs are laid, but only one chick survives to fledge, often because the older chick kills the younger one (siblicide). 

Helpers: Young birds from previous seasons sometimes remain in their natal territory to help raise new broods. 

Conservation Status

The species is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

They are widespread and common, though they can be affected by pesticide use during locust outbreaks and occasionally drown in farm reservoirs. 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - LESSER GREY SHRIKE (Lanius minor)

The lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor) is a member of the shrike family Laniidae. It breeds in South and Central Europe and western Asia in the summer and migrates to winter quarters in southern Africa in the early autumn, returning in spring. It is a scarce vagrant to western Europe, including Great Britain, usually as a spring or autumn erratic.

It is similar in appearance to the great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) and the Iberian grey shrike (Lanius meridionalis); both sexes are predominantly black, white and grey, and males have pink-flushed underparts. It is slightly smaller than the great grey shrike, and has a black forehead and relatively longer wings. This species prefers dry open lowlands and is often seen on telephone wires.

This medium-sized passerine eats large insects, especially beetles, butterflies, moths and grasshoppers. Lesser grey shrikes frequently hover when hunting on their breeding grounds, but do not do so while moulting on non-breeding grounds. Like other shrikes, it hunts from prominent perches and sometimes impales corpses on thorns or barbed wire as a "larder".

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - CAPE WILD DOG (Lycaon pictus ssp. pictus)

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), also called painted dog and Cape hunting dog, is a wild canine native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is the largest wild canine in Africa, and the only extant member of the genus Lycaon, which is distinguished from Canis by dentition highly specialised for a hypercarnivorous diet and by a lack of dewclaws.

It is estimated that there are around 6,600 adults (including 1,400 mature individuals) living in 39 subpopulations, all threatened by habitat fragmentation, human persecution and outbreaks of disease. As the largest subpopulation probably consists of fewer than 250 individuals, the African wild dog has been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1990.

The African wild dog is a specialized hunter of terrestrial ungulates, mostly hunting at dawn and dusk, but also displays diurnal activity. It captures its prey by using stamina and cooperative hunting to exhaust them. Its natural competitors are lions and spotted hyenas: the former will kill the dogs where possible whilst the latter are frequent kleptoparasites. Like other canids, the African wild dog regurgitates food for its young but also extends this action to adults as a central part of the pack's social unit. The young have the privilege of feeding first on carcasses.

The African wild dog has been revered in several hunter-gatherer societies, particularly those of the San people and Prehistoric Egypt.

The African wild dog have strong social bonds, stronger than those of sympatric lions and spotted hyenas; thus, solitary living and hunting are extremely rare in the species. It lives in permanent packs consisting of two to 27 adults and yearling pups. The typical pack size in the Kruger National Park and the Maasai Mara is four or five adults, while packs in Moremi and Selous Game Reserves contain eight or nine. However, larger packs have been observed and temporary aggregations of hundreds of individuals may have gathered in response to the seasonal migration of vast springbok herds in Southern Africa. Males and females have separate dominance hierarchies, with the latter usually being led by the oldest female.

Males may be led by the oldest male, but these can be supplanted by younger specimens; thus, some packs may contain elderly male former pack leaders. The dominant pair typically monopolises breeding. The species differs from most other social carnivorans in that males remain in the natal pack, while females disperse (a pattern also found in primates such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and red colobuses). 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - BLUE WILDEBEEST (Connochaetes taurinus ssp. taurinus)

The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), also called the common wildebeest, white-bearded gnu or brindled gnu, is a large antelope and one of the two species of wildebeest. It is placed in the genus Connochaetes and family Bovidae, and has a close taxonomic relationship with the black wildebeest. The blue wildebeest is known to have five subspecies. This broad-shouldered antelope has a muscular, front-heavy appearance, with a distinctive, robust muzzle. Young blue wildebeest are born tawny brown, and begin to take on their adult coloration at the age of 2 months. The adults' hues range from a deep slate or bluish-gray to light gray or even grayish-brown. Both sexes possess a pair of large curved horns. 

19-3-2026 SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFFE, CANARIAS - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Turdus merula)

The Common Blackbird, Turdus merula, is a true thrush and a familiar sight in gardens and woodlands. The male is distinguished by its all-black plumage, bright yellow eye-ring, and orange-yellow bill, which darkens slightly during winter. Females and juveniles are more demure in their attire, sporting mainly dark brown feathers.

Adult males are entirely black with the exception of the yellow eye-ring and bill. Females are sooty-brown with a duller bill, and juveniles resemble females but have pale spots on their upperparts. The very young may also exhibit a speckled breast.

The Common Blackbird thrives in a variety of habitats including woodlands with dense undergrowth, gardens, parks, and hedgerows. It shows a preference for deciduous trees and areas with thick vegetation.

This species is widespread across Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. It has also been introduced to Australia and New Zealand. Its range varies from resident populations in the milder regions to partially or fully migratory populations in areas with more severe winters.

19-3-2026 SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFFE, CANARIAS - SNOWBUSH (Breynia disticha)

Snowbush is a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the leaf-flower family (Phyllanthaceae).  Native to New Caledonia and Vanuatu in the Pacific Islands.  In its native habitat, it is often used in hedges. The original genus name refers to the merchant, Jacob Breyne, and his physician son, Johann Philipp Breyne.  The common name, Snowbush, reflects the mottled white on the green leaves.

Reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and wide. Prefers organically rich soils with consistent moisture, which is well-drained in full sun to part shade.  Grow in full sun for the best variegated foliage color.  Light pruning during the growing season will encourage new foliage. Pull out the suckers to maintain its growth.  Outside tropical areas, it should be grown in containers and overwintered in humid, cool, frost-free locations.  The leaves will drop if indoor conditions are dry.

In addition to the colorful foliage, the shrub is grown for its attractive zigzag stems. Cultivars exist with pink and white mottling on the leaves.

Grow as a houseplant or a container specimen that is overwintered inside.  In tropical climates, grow as a hedge or specimen.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - RED HARTEBEEST (Alcelaphus buselaphus ssp. caama)

The red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama), also called the Cape hartebeest or Caama, is a subspecies of the hartebeest found in Southern Africa. More than 130,000 individuals live in the wild. The red hartebeest is closely related to the tsessebe and the topi.

Alcelaphus buselaphus caama is a large African antelope of the family Bovidae, one of ten subspecies; it is sometimes treated as a separate species, A. caama. Commonly known as the red hartebeest, it is the most colorful hartebeest, with black markings contrasting against its white abdomen and behind. It has a longer face that other subspecies, with complex curving horns joined at the base. The average weight of a male is about 150 kg, and female is 120 kg.

Their average shoulder height is 135 cm, and horns are 60 cm long. The life expectancy of a red hartebeest is around 19 years. Little sexual dimorphism is noted between males and females, showing no distinct identifiable physical features, but body size is slightly affected. Horn size, however, expresses more dimorphism between males and females, as males fight and defend themselves for sexual selection. Thus, male skull weight and circumference is slightly greater than that of the female. Hartebeests have an excellent sense of hearing and smell, although their sense of sight is poor. When alarmed, hartebeests flee, reaching a maximum speed of 55 km/h. Their evasion tactic is to induce confusion by running in a zigzag pattern, making it difficult for predators to catch them.

A. buselaphus subspecies have a gestation period of eight months, and they give birth to single calves. They typically give birth in a seasonal pattern before the summer rain begins. After birth, calves are hidden in dense vegetation before joining a group to increase their chances of survival from predators, since they are weak. Most females begin breeding after the age of two, and can conceive again 9 or 10 months after giving birth.

Red hartebeests are grass feeders, which is evidenced by their long snouts, which give the advantage of an improved cropping ability to acquire and masticate grasses more efficiently. During the rainy season in southern Africa, the grass species Andropogon is in abundance and is the main source of dietary consumption. As grazers, their diets fluctuate seasonally, as they consume higher-quality, green primary production in wet seasons, and lower-quality sheath material in the dry seasons. Hartebeests are considered less water-dependent than most alcelaphines, only needing to drink water when melons and tubers are inaccessible.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - COMMON WATERBUCK (FEMALE) (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ssp. ellipsiprymnus)

Common waterbucks (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) are large, water-dependent African antelopes easily identified by their shaggy, grey-brown coats and a distinctive white ring around their rump. They live in savannas and woodlands, rarely venturing far from water, and use thick, oily, waterproof hair to stay dry. 

Here are some key facts about waterbucks:

Appearance & Size: They stand about 50 inches at the shoulder and can weigh up to 660 pounds. Only males have long, ringed, spiral-shaped horns that can reach 40 inches in length. 

Unique Marking: The white ring around their rump is thought to serve as a "follow me" signal to others, helping keep herds together in thick bush. 

Water Dependency: Waterbucks are rarely found far from rivers, lakes, or swamps. They are strong swimmers and will enter deep water to escape predators like lions, leopards, or crocodiles. 

Habitat & Behavior: They are not migratory and prefer to live in areas with thick cover. They are social animals found in herds (nursery herds or bachelor herds). 

Diet: Waterbucks are grazers that eat coarse grasses, typically feeding in the early morning and late evening. 

Scented Coat: Their coats secrete a musky-smelling oil that acts as a water repellent, which was once thought to deter predators. While this oil can make their meat taste unpleasant, it doesn't prevent predators from eating them. 

Lifespan: They live for roughly 11-15 years in the wild, and up to 18 in captivity. 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - CAPE BUFFALO (Syncerus caffer caffer)

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large species of true buffalo native to Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is found in a number of disconnected ranges stretching from south-eastern Senegal through West and Central Africa to South Africa. The adult African buffalo's horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases that form a continuous bone shield, referred to as a "boss", across the top of the head. The African buffalo is more closely related to Asian buffalo (Bubalus) species than it is to other bovids such as American bison or domestic cattle. 

Its unpredictable temperament may be part of the reason that the African buffalo has never been domesticated and has no domesticated descendants, unlike the wild yak and wild water buffalo, which are the ancestors of the domestic yak and water buffalo, respectively. Natural predators of adult African buffaloes include lions, African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles. As one of the Big Five game animals, the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer), the largest subspecies native to eastern and southern Africa, is a sought-after trophy in hunting.