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Friday, 4 May 2018

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE AND JUVENILE) (Panthera pardus pardus)


The African Leopard is widely distributed across Africa, but the population of this sub-species is decreasing and it has been classified as Vulnerable by IUCN’s Red List.

Like most felines, African Leopard are incredibly athletic predators and they can run up to 58 miles per hour and leap an impressive 6 metres forward through the air.

The coat of the African Leopard is covered with rosette-shaped markings. The rosettes on the leopards coat do not contain spots, unlike those of their new world relative the Jaguar. The average lifespan of African Leopard is 10 to 12 years in the wild.


African Leopards are predominantly nocturnal, solitary animals and spend most of their time in trees, out of the way of other predators which may pose a threat. Their diet tends to adapt to prey availability and the presence of competitors – they hunt a wide variety of animals which can range from small mammals to large ungulates, reptiles to birds and sometimes even insects.

Where competitors are present, leopard will hide their prey under thick vegetation or hoist it into the branches of a tree. They are very strong climbers, with shoulder blades that have a special attachment site for stronger climbing muscles. A female typically gives birth to a litter of two or three cubs, which stay with her for about two years as she teaches them how to hunt.

Native to more than 35 African countries, leopards occur in the widest variety of habitats among any of the Old World Cats – from desert to grasslands and tropical forest. In Cameroon, leopard are found in northern and southern sections of the country, but their distribution is thought to be scattered due to habitat fragmentation and illegal hunting for bushmeat.


African Leopard have suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation, increased illegal wildlife trade, decline in prey and poorly managed trophy hunting.

Prey species are increasingly under threat from an unsustainable bushmeat trade across large parts of Africa’s savannas. Leopards are also killed illegally for their widely sought-after skins and other body parts used for ceremonial purposes.

African Leopard have limited levels of ecological resilience to human-caused habitat fragmentation, and as a result are more restricted to conservation areas – future decline is anticipated unless conservation efforts are undertaken.

African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy deserts. They used to live in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. African leopards successfully adapted to altered natural habitats and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution and they have often been seen close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, they have become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, African leopards remain patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, they were recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia. They are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe, where the climate is temperate to cold. In 2016, an African leopard was recorded for the first time in a semi-arid area of Yechilay in northern Ethiopia.


African Leopard have suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation, increased illegal wildlife trade, decline in prey and poorly managed trophy hunting.

Prey species are increasingly under threat from an unsustainable bushmeat trade across large parts of Africa’s savannas. Leopards are also killed illegally for their widely sought-after skins and other body parts used for ceremonial purposes.

African Leopard have limited levels of ecological resilience to human-caused habitat fragmentation, and as a result are more restricted to conservation areas – future decline is anticipated unless conservation efforts are undertaken.

African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy deserts. They used to live in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. African leopards successfully adapted to altered natural habitats and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution and they have often been seen close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, they have become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, African leopards remain patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, they were recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia. They are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe, where the climate is temperate to cold. In 2016, an African leopard was recorded for the first time in a semi-arid area of Yechilay in northern Ethiopia.

In Kruger National Park, male African leopards and females with cubs were more active at night than solitary females. In general, leopards spend their time singly and most active between sunset and sunrise, and kill more prey at this time. They maintain home ranges that usually overlap with each other. Thus, the home range of a male can often overlap with the territories of multiple females. Females live with their cubs in home ranges that overlap extensively and continue to interact with their offspring even after weaning; females may even share kills with their offspring when they can not obtain any prey. Leopards usually hunt on the ground and depend mainly on their acute senses of hearing and vision for hunting. They stalk their prey and try to approach it as closely as possible, typically within 5 m (16 ft) of the target, and, finally, pounce on it and kill it by suffocation. Leopards are known to be excellent climbers and often rest on tree branches during the day, dragging their kills up trees and hanging them there, and descending from trees headfirst. Leopards are also powerful swimmers. They are very agile and can run at over 58 km per hour (36 mph), leap over 6 m (20 ft) horizontally, and jump up to 3 m (9.8 ft) vertically. They produce a number of vocalizations, including grunts, roars, growls, meows, and purrs.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)


The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is one of two living African elephant species. It is the largest living terrestrial animal and is distributed across 37 African countries. Since 2021, it has been listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is threatened foremost by habitat destruction, and in parts of its range also by poaching for meat and ivory.

The African bush elephant has grey skin with scanty hairs. Its large ears cover the whole shoulder and can grow as large as 2 m × 1.5 m (6 ft 7 in × 4 ft 11 in). Its large ears help to reduce body heat; flapping them creates air currents and exposes large blood vessels on the inner sides to increase heat loss during hot weather. The African bush elephant's ears are pointed and triangular-shaped. Its occipital plane slopes forward. Its back is shaped markedly concave. Its sturdy tusks are curved out and point forward. The trunk is a prehensile extension of the upper lip and nose. Short tactile hair grows on the trunk, which has two finger-like processes on the tip. This highly sensitive organ is innervated primarily by the trigeminal nerve and is thought to be manipulated by about 40,000-60,000 muscles. 


Because of this muscular structure, the trunk is so strong that elephants can use it for lifting about 3% of their own body weight. They use it for smelling, touching, feeding, drinking, dusting, sound production, loading, defending, and attacking. Both sexes have tusks, which erupt when they are 1-3 years old and grow throughout life. Tusks grow from deciduous teeth known as tushes that develop in the upper jaw and consist of a crown, root, and pulpal cavity, which are completely formed soon after birth. Tushes reach a length of 5 cm (2.0 in). The tusks of males grow faster than the tusks of females.

African bush elephants occur in Sub-Saharan Africa including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, and Angola. They move between a variety of habitats, including forests, dry and seasonally flooded grasslands, woodlands, shrubland, and wetlands to mountain slopes. In Mali and Namibia, they also inhabit desert and semi-desert areas.


Savanna elephants live in a rather complex social hierarchy. These animals gather into family units, consisting of about 10 females and their offspring. Reaching maturity, male calves usually leave the family unit, forming bachelor herds or living solitarily. As a general rule, males socialize with these family groups only when mating. Meanwhile, several family herds may gather together, making up a 'clan'. Each clan is dominated by a female matriarch and can consist of as many as several hundred elephants. African bush elephants are very careful and protective animals. Allomothering is a common practice in this species: females can raise calves of other females of their herd. They protect and care for the calves of the herd, while all adults are sleeping. If a calf strays too far, these allomothers are responsible for retrieving the baby. These active animals are constantly on the move. These elephants forage during the daytime hours, wandering the home range of their herd. Savanna elephants freely communicate with conspecifics both verbally and non-verbally.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - VERVET MONKEY (JUVENILE) (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)


The Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) is an Old World monkey native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. These adorable monkeys live in social groups and involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition, and particular predator sightings.

The Vervet monkey is of medium to large size and has a black-tipped tail which is often longer than its body. Its fur is olive or gray, lighter on the underside. Its hands and feet are black, as are its ears and face. Its face has a white band above it, framed with white cheek tufts. Its arms and legs are long, about the same length as each other, to enable the monkey to walk with ease on all fours while on the ground, and this actually makes it quite speedy when running. The males tend to be bigger than the females.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - STRIPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon chelicuti)


The Striped Kingfisher, known scientifically as Halcyon chelicuti, is a member of the tree kingfisher subfamily. It is a small, robust bird, with a general length ranging from 16 to 18 cm. The upper parts of the adult are predominantly greyish brown, while the lower back, secondary flight feathers, and tail boast a striking metallic blue, which is particularly visible in flight. The underparts are off-white, with varying degrees of buff and brown streaking across the subspecies.

When perched, the Striped Kingfisher may appear rather inconspicuous, but its flight reveals a white patch at the base of the primary flight feathers and a black border along the wing linings. Males can be identified by a black bar at the base of the primaries. The head is streaked dark brown, with a buffy grey or brownish background depending on the sex. A black line runs through the eyes and around the back of the neck, sitting above a white collar. The bill is blackish above and reddish-orange below, with the lower mandible being dull red in juveniles.


The Striped Kingfisher favors woodlands, thorn scrub, dry bush, and open savannas, but it tends to avoid densely forested areas, intensive farmlands, and extreme deserts.

This species is found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, with two subspecies: H. c. chelicuti occupying most of the range, and H. c. eremogiton residing in the northern desert regions from central Mali to eastern Sudan.

Highly territorial, the Striped Kingfisher defends an area that may encompass up to three hectares and contain around 100 tall trees. It is known to chase away intruders, including other kingfishers, shrikes, doves, and rollers. The bird surveys its territory from a treetop, singing from before dawn until after midday.


The call of the Striped Kingfisher is a high-pitched, piercing "cheer-cherrrrrr" or a far-carrying "KEW, kerrrrrrrrr," with the latter featuring a descending trill. This call is often part of a dusk display involving wing-opening.

Breeding pairs engage in a display of sitting opposite each other, flicking their wings while singing. They nest in disused woodpecker or barbet holes, with both sexes incubating by day and only the female by night. The male feeds the female during this period. The species is mainly monogamous, though instances of polyandry have been observed.

The diet primarily consists of grasshoppers, other large insects, and occasionally small lizards, snakes, and rodents. The Striped Kingfisher hunts from a perch, swooping down to capture prey, which is then beaten before being swallowed.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SMITH'S BUSH SQUIRREL (Paraderus Cepapi)



Thursday, 3 May 2018

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN BUSHBUCK (Tragelaphus scriptus)


The bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus ) is a common and a widespread species of antelope in Sub-Saharan Africa. Bushbuck are found in a wide range of habitats, such as rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaic, savanna, bushveld and woodland. Bushbuck stand about 90 centimetres (35 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 45 to 80 kilograms (99 to 176 lb). They are generally solitary, territorial browsers.

The bushbuck is a widespread species of antelope in Sub-Saharan Africa. These animals have a light brown coat, with up to seven white stripes and white splotches on the sides. The white patches are usually geometrically shaped and on the most mobile parts of their body such as the ears, chin, tail, legs, and neck. The muzzle is also white and horns are found only on the males.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SADDLE BILLED STORK (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)


The Saddle-billed Stork, known scientifically as Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis, is a magnificent and large wading bird belonging to the stork family, Ciconiidae. It stands tall, reaching heights of 145 to 150 cm (4 ft 9 in to 4 ft 11 in), with a wingspan stretching an impressive 2.4 to 2.7 m (7 ft 10 in to 8 ft 10 in). The male of the species is typically larger and heavier than the female, with weights ranging from 5.1 to 7.52 kg (11.2 to 16.6 lb).

Distinguishing between the sexes is straightforward; the female boasts golden yellow irises, while the male has brown irises complemented by dangling yellow wattles. Both sexes share a striking plumage, with iridescent black covering the head, neck, back, wings, and tail, and the rest of the body along with primary flight feathers being white. The juvenile birds wear a more subdued brownish-grey attire. The stork's bill is a vivid red adorned with a black band and a distinctive yellow frontal shield, the namesake "saddle." Their legs and feet are black with pink hocks, and a bare red patch of skin can be found on the chest, which intensifies in color during the breeding season.

Saddle-billed Storks have a preference for protected areas abundant in open water, such as national parks and protected swamps, which provide safer environments for both the birds and ornithologists.


This species is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa, with its range extending from Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in the east, down to South Africa, and also found in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Chad in West Africa.

In flight, the Saddle-billed Stork is a sight to behold, with its neck outstretched and its large bill drooping below the belly. They are generally silent, save for the bill-clattering sounds made at their nests. The species is known for its solitary nesting habits and lifelong pair bonds, often seen in pairs even outside the breeding season.

The Saddle-billed Stork builds large, deep stick nests in trees, where it lays one to five white eggs, with incubation lasting 30–35 days. After hatching, the chicks fledge in another 70–100 days, often staying within the parents' territory until the next breeding season.

These storks are adept hunters, stabbing their bills into water, mud, and vegetation to catch a variety of prey. They primarily feed on aquatic creatures like lungfish and catfish, which can weigh up to 1.3 kg (2.9 lb). They also consume frogs, snails, small mammals, birds, snakes, and various insects.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - RED BILLED TEAL (Anas erythrorhyncha)



20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - RATTLING CISTICOLA (Cisticola chiniana)


The Rattling Cisticola, Cisticola chiniana, is a small, sprightly bird belonging to the Cisticolidae family. It is a bird that is native to the diverse landscapes of Africa, south of the equator, and parts of East Africa.

This species is characterized by its streaked appearance and a distinctive rufous cap. When perched, one may notice its tail is typically held upright, and its flight is undulating, which aids in identification.

The Rattling Cisticola thrives in a variety of savanna and scrubland habitats, from arid to moist and upland regions. It has a particular affinity for environments dominated by thorn trees or shrubs, such as those of the genera Dichrostachys. It is also a common sight in miombo and mopane woodlands, as well as the Mozambican coastal plain.


This bird's range extends across a swath of the African continent, including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo, DRC, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Rattling Cisticola is particularly conspicuous during the summer months, when it can be seen—or more often heard—delivering its strident calls from prominent perches atop trees or bushes.

Its call is a distinctive and repetitive sound that can be transcribed as "chee-chee chichi-chirrrrr," although there is some variation among individuals.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - PLAINS ZEBRA (Equus quagga)


The Plains zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchellii) is the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra. It is the most recognizable grazing animal on the African continent. Their closest relatives are donkeys and horses. The sparkling coat of zebras reflects more than 70% of incoming heat, which is likely to help them survive under the scorching African sun. Each of these animals has its own unique stripe pattern, which helps identify individuals. Additionally, the striped coat is used as ideal camouflage, allowing zebras to remain unspotted by predators in the grass.

The Plains zebra is dumpy bodied with relatively short legs and a skull with a convex forehead and a somewhat concave nose profile. The neck is thicker in males than in females. The ears are upright and have rounded tips. As with all wild equids, the Plains zebra has an erect mane along the neck and a tuft of hair at the end of the tail. It is boldly striped in black and white and no two individuals look exactly alike. Compared to other species, the Plains zebra has broader stripes. The stripes are vertical on the fore part of the body and tend towards the horizontal on the hindquarters. Northern zebra populations have narrower and more defined striping; southern populations have varied but lesser amounts of striping on the under parts, the legs, and the hindquarters. Southern populations also have brown "shadow" stripes between the black and white coloring. These are absent or poorly expressed in northern zebras. The natal coat of a foal is brown and white and the brown darkens with age.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - FORK TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus adsimilis)


20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)


3-5-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)



3-5-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)


The Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, is a small wader of the Palearctic region, easily recognized by its greyish-brown upperparts and pristine white underparts. Adults typically measure between 18-20 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32-35 cm. They possess short, dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill that is pale at the base with a dark tip.

In the field, look for the Common Sandpiper's distinctive stiff-winged flight pattern, just above the water's surface. During the non-breeding season, they appear duller and exhibit more noticeable barring on the wings, which is most visible at close range. Juveniles display heavier barring above and buff edges to their wing feathers. The species can be differentiated from the similar Spotted Sandpiper by its darker legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern, especially in flight.

These birds are often found near freshwater sources, where they nest on the ground in close proximity to the water's edge.


The Common Sandpiper breeds across much of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. During migration, large numbers may congregate in stop-over locations such as Palau in Micronesia.

Common Sandpipers are typically solitary or found in small groups. They may form larger flocks during migration or at breeding season roosts but seldom join multispecies flocks.

When breeding, these birds nest on the ground near freshwater. A notable behavior is the young's ability to cling to a parent's body, being flown to safety when threatened.

The Common Sandpiper forages by sight, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates from the ground or shallow water. It is also known to catch insects in flight.

The species is widespread and common, thus classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, it is considered vulnerable in some Australian states. The Common Sandpiper is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

3-5-2018 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)


The Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, is a small wader of the Palearctic region, easily recognized by its greyish-brown upperparts and pristine white underparts. Adults typically measure between 18-20 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32-35 cm. They possess short, dark-yellowish legs and feet, and a bill that is pale at the base with a dark tip.

In the field, look for the Common Sandpiper's distinctive stiff-winged flight pattern, just above the water's surface. During the non-breeding season, they appear duller and exhibit more noticeable barring on the wings, which is most visible at close range. Juveniles display heavier barring above and buff edges to their wing feathers. The species can be differentiated from the similar Spotted Sandpiper by its darker legs and feet and the crisper wing pattern, especially in flight.

These birds are often found near freshwater sources, where they nest on the ground in close proximity to the water's edge.


The Common Sandpiper breeds across much of temperate and subtropical Europe and Asia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. During migration, large numbers may congregate in stop-over locations such as Palau in Micronesia.

Common Sandpipers are typically solitary or found in small groups. They may form larger flocks during migration or at breeding season roosts but seldom join multispecies flocks.

When breeding, these birds nest on the ground near freshwater. A notable behavior is the young's ability to cling to a parent's body, being flown to safety when threatened.

The Common Sandpiper forages by sight, picking up small food items such as insects, crustaceans, and other invertebrates from the ground or shallow water. It is also known to catch insects in flight.

The species is widespread and common, thus classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, it is considered vulnerable in some Australian states. The Common Sandpiper is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

3-5-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius dubius)


3-5-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - WOODCHAT SHRIKE (Lanius senator)


The Woodchat Shrike, Lanius senator, is a captivating bird, slightly larger than its cousin, the Red-backed Shrike. The male boasts a distinctive appearance with black and white upper parts and a rich chestnut crown, while the female and juveniles display a more subdued brown and white vermiculated plumage with buff underparts.

To identify the Woodchat Shrike, look for the male's striking black and white upper parts and chestnut crown. The female and young birds are less conspicuous with their vermiculated brown and white upper parts and buff underparts. The western Mediterranean race, L. s. badius, lacks the prominent white wing patches seen in other subspecies.

This species has a preference for open wooded areas with scattered trees, such as orchards, especially where the ground is bare or sandy.

The Woodchat Shrike breeds across southern Europe, the Middle East, and northwest Africa, and migrates to winter in tropical Africa. Its range spans from Portugal to Greece and from Mauritania to Libya, with occasional sightings as far north as Great Britain.


The Woodchat Shrike is known for its perching behaviour, often seen on exposed lookouts from where it swoops down or glides to capture its prey. It is also known to occasionally impale its prey on thorns, a behaviour typical of shrikes.

Breeding occurs from early May to mid-July. Both sexes contribute to nest building, which is typically situated in a tree. The clutch consists of 5-6 eggs, incubated mainly by the female, with fledglings cared for by both parents.


The diet of the Woodchat Shrike is primarily insectivorous, with beetles being a favoured choice. It employs a sit-and-wait hunting strategy from elevated perches and is known to dismember larger insects.

The Woodchat Shrike is currently classified as Near Threatened due to long-term population declines attributed to habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, hunting during migration, and other factors. Despite this, it has a large estimated population of 5.9-10 million individuals.

3-5-2018 PEGO MARJAL, ALICANTE - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)


The Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, is a diminutive and sprightly leaf warbler known for its distinctive, onomatopoeic song. This small, migratory passerine is characterized by its greenish-brown upperparts and off-white underparts, with a weight ranging from 6 to 8 grams and a length of 10-12 centimeters.

In the field, look for the Common Chiffchaff's short whitish supercilium, fine dark bill, and dark legs. Its primary projection is short, and the plumage may appear duller and browner as it wears. Juveniles are browner above with yellow-white underparts, but they soon acquire brighter plumage after their first moult.

The Common Chiffchaff breeds in open woodlands with a mix of taller trees and ground cover across northern and temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of north Africa. It prefers woodland with trees at least 5 meters high and an undergrowth of grasses and nettles.

This species has a vast breeding range, extending from Europe to eastern Siberia and northward to about 70 N. It winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia, and north Africa. The Common Chiffchaff is one of the earliest spring migrants to return to its breeding grounds and one of the last to depart in autumn.

1-5-2018 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)


22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - GREATER KUDU (FEMALE) (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros)


The Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) is a woodland antelope found in Africa. Despite occupying such widespread territory, Greater kudus are sparsely populated in most areas due to declining habitat, deforestation, and poaching.

The range of Greater kudu extends from the east in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Eritrea, and Kenya into the south where they are found in Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Other regions where they occur are the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Swaziland, and Uganda. These antelopes live in mixed scrub woodlands and bush on abandoned fields and degraded pastures, mopane bush, and acacia in lowlands, hills, and mountains. They will occasionally venture onto plains only if there is a large abundance of bushes but normally avoid such open areas to avoid becoming an easy target for their predators.

Greater kudus are social animals that live in groups within their home areas. Females usually form small groups of 6-10 with their offspring, but sometimes they can form a herd of up to 20 individuals. Male kudus may form small bachelor groups, but they are more commonly found as solitary and widely dispersed individuals. Solitary males will join the group of females and calves only during the mating season. Home ranges of maternal herds can overlap with other maternal herds while home ranges of adult males generally encompass the ranges of two or three female groups. Greater kudus may be active throughout the 24-hour day. During the day, they normally cease to be active and instead seek cover under woodland, especially during hot days. They feed and drink in the early morning and late afternoon, acquiring water from waterholes or roots and bulbs that have high water content. When a herd is threatened by predators, an adult (usually female) will issue a bark to alert the rest of the herd. Greater kudus communicate using many other vocalizations, including low grunts, clucks, humming, and gasping.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - HIPPOPOTAMUS (Hippopotamus amphibius)


20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - HAMERKOP (Scopus umbretta)


The hamerkop is mostly silent when alone, but is fairly vocal when in pairs or in groups. The only call it usually makes when alone is a flight-call, a shrill “nyip” or “kek”. In groups, vocalisations include a range of calls including cackles and nasal rattles. One highly social call is the "yip-purr" call. This call is only made in a social context, when at least three birds, but up to 20 are gathered in a flock. Birds start by giving a number of "yip" calls, eventually giving way to purring notes. This call is made with the neck extended and sometimes accompanied by wing flapping, and becomes more vigorous when larger numbers of birds are present.

Another common social behaviour is "false mounting", in which one bird stands on top of another and appears to mount it, but they do not copulate. This behaviour has been noted between both mated pairs and unmated birds, and even between members of the same sex and in reversed mountings, where females mount males. Because of this, the behaviour is thought to be social and not related to the pair bond. Dominant birds may signal to subordinates by opening their bills slightly and erecting their crests, but the species is not very aggressive in general towards others of its species. Birds in groups also engage in social allopreening when in groups. One bird presents its face of back of the head to the other to be preened.


This species normally feeds alone or in pairs, but also feeds in large flocks sometimes. It is a generalist, although amphibians and fish form the larger part of its diet. The diet also includes shrimp, insects, and rodents. The type of food they take seems to vary by location, with clawed frogs and tadpoles being important parts of the diet in East and Southern Africa and small fish being almost the only prey taken in Mali. Because it is willing to take a wide range of food items and also take very small prey, it is not resource-limited and only feeds for part of the day.

The usual method of hunting is to walk in shallow water looking for prey. Prey is located differently depending on circumstances; if the water is clear, it may hunt by sight, but if the water is very muddy, it probes its open bill into water or mud and shuts it. It may shuffle one foot at a time on the bottom or suddenly open its wings to flush prey out of hiding. Prey caught in mud is shaken before swallowing to clean it, or if available, taken to clearer water to do so. The species also feeds while in flight. A bird flies slowly low over the water with legs dangling and head looking down, then dipping feet down and hovering momentarily when prey is sighted. The prey is then snatched with the bill and swallowed in flight. This method of hunting can be very successful, with one birds catching prey on 27 of 33 attempts during one 45-minute session. It is also opportunistic, and feeds on swarming termites when they conduct their nuptial flights, snatching as many as 47 alates (flying termites) in five minutes.
This species has been recorded foraging for insects flushed by grazing cattle and buffalo, in a manner similar cattle egrets, and has been observed fishing off the backs of hippopotamuses.It has also been recorded feeding in association with banded mongooses; when a band of mongooses began hunting frogs in dried mud at the side of a pool of water a pair of hamerkops attended the feeding group, catching frogs that escaped the mongooses.


The strangest aspect of hamerkop behaviour is the huge nest, sometimes more than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) across, and strong enough to support a man's weight. When possible, it is built in the fork of a tree, often over water, but if necessary, it is built on a bank, a cliff, a human-built wall or dam, or on the ground. A pair starts by making a platform of sticks held together with mud, then builds walls and a domed roof. A mud-plastered entrance 13–18 cm (5.1–7.1 in) wide in the bottom leads through a tunnel up to 60 cm (24 in) long to a nesting chamber big enough for the parents and young. Nests have been recorded to take between 10 and 14 weeks to build, and one researcher estimated that they would require around 8,000 sticks or bunches of grass to complete. Nesting material may still be added by the pair after the nest has been completed and eggs have been laid. Much of the nesting material added after completion is not sticks, but an odd collection of random items including bones, hide, and human waste.

Pairs of hamerkop are compulsive nest builders, constructing three to five nests per year whether they are breeding or not.[25] Both members of the pair build the nest, and the building of nests may have a function in creating or maintaining the pair bond between them. Barn owls and eagle owls may force them out and take over the nests, but when the owls leave, the pair may reuse the nest. Owls may also use abandoned nests, as may snakes, small mammals such as genets, and various birds, and weaver birds, starlings, and pigeons may attach their nests to the outside. A few reports exist of hamerkops nesting close together, including in Uganda, where 639 nests were seen in an area of 8 km2 (3.1 sq mi); even if each pair had made seven nests, this would mean 80 pairs were nesting in that area. The species is not treated as colonial, as it does not habitually nest close together, but is not thought to be highly territorial, either. Even where pairs have home ranges that are more spread out those home ranges overlap and are the boundaries are poorly defined.

Breeding happens year-round in East Africa, and in the rest of its range, it peaks at different times, with a slight bias towards the dry season. Pairs engage in a breeding display, then copulate on the nest or on the ground nearby. The clutch consists of three to seven eggs which start chalky white, but soon become stained.[10] The eggs measure 44.5 mm × 33.9 mm (1.75 in × 1.33 in) on average, and weight around 27.8 g (0.98 oz), but considerable variation is seen. Egg size varies by season, by the overall size of the clutch, and from bird to bird. Both sexes incubate the eggs, but the female seems to do the most of the work. Incubation takes around 30 days from the first egg being laid to hatching, eggs are laid with intervals of one to three days, and they hatch asynchronously.

Both parents feed the young, often leaving them alone for long times. This habit, which is unusual for wading birds, may be made possible because of the thick nest walls. The young hatch covered with grey down. By 17 days after hatching, their head and crest plumage is developed, and in a month, their body plumage. They first leave the nest around 44 to 50 days after hatching, but continue to use the nest for roosting at night until they are two months old.


It is known in some cultures as the lightning bird, and the Kalahari Bushmen believe or believed that being hit by lightning resulted from trying to rob a hamerkop's nest. They also believe that the inimical god Khauna would not like anyone to kill a hamerkop. According to an old Malagasy belief, anyone who destroys its nest will get leprosy, and a Malagasy poem calls it an "evil bird". Such beliefs have given the bird some protection. A south African name Njaka meaning "rain doctor" is derived from its habit of calling loudly prior to rain.

Scopus, a database of abstracts and citations for scholarly journal articles, received its name in honour of this bird, as did the journal of the East African Natural History Society, Scopus.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - GREEN WOOD HOOPOE (Phoeniculus purpureus)


20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ZAMBESI CRESTED BARBET (Trachyphonus vaillantii ssp. nobilis)


The crested barbet, Trachyphonus vaillantii, is a small, vibrantly colored bird, easily recognized by its thick bill and speckled plumage. Its face is a mosaic of yellow and red, adorned with a modest black crest. The belly mirrors the face with yellow and red speckles, while the wings are black with white dots. A striking black band encircles its neck. The bird's overall yellow hue, peppered with black and white feathers and red at the body's end, provides excellent camouflage in its natural bush habitat. The crested barbet's call is a distinctive trill.

When identifying the crested barbet, look for its unique coloration and markings. The combination of a yellow and red speckled face, a small black crest, and a broad black neck band are key features. The bird's trilling call can also serve as an auditory clue to its presence.

The crested barbet thrives in a variety of environments, including forests, savannahs, suburban gardens, woodland thickets, and areas near watercourses.

This species is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, with sightings confirmed in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.


Crested barbets are typically observed alone or in pairs. They exhibit a preference for foraging on the ground but are also known to vocalize from exposed branches. Their flight is limited and typically consists of short bursts. These birds roost in tree cavities and are highly territorial, often aggressively defending their space against other birds and even larger threats like rats and snakes.

The male crested barbet is renowned for its continuous trill, a call that can persist for extended durations, serving as a vocal beacon within its habitat.

Crested barbets are monogamous and territorial during the breeding season. They nest in tree holes or logs, with territory size varying by habitat. Their breeding season spans from September to December, during which they may lay one to five eggs at daily intervals. Incubation, primarily by the female, lasts between 13 and 17 days starting from the second or third egg. The hatchlings are altricial, being naked and blind at birth, and are fed insects by both parents. After about 31 days, the fledglings leave the nest, and up to five broods may be raised in a single season.

The crested barbet's diet is omnivorous, consisting of insects, other birds' eggs, fruits, and occasionally small mammals like mice.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN AFRICAN GIRAFFE (Giraffa giraffa ssp. giraffa),


The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.

In 2016, the population was estimated at 31,500 individuals in the wild.

The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies. The Cape giraffe, along with the whole species, were first known by the binomen Camelopardalis giraffa as described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in his publication Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen (The Mammals Illustrated from Nature with Descriptions) during his travel in the Cape of Good Hope in 1784. Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert also described it under the binomial name Giraffa giraffa whilst also identifying the nominate specimen of said species under the ternary name Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa in 1785.

The South African giraffe has dark, somewhat rounded patches "with some fine projections" on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of males is less developed.


The South African giraffe is found in northern South Africa, southern Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, and south-western Mozambique. After local extinctions in various places, South African giraffes have been reintroduced in many parts of Southern Africa, including in Eswatini. They are common in both in and outside of protected areas. South African giraffes usually live in savannahs and woodlands where food plants are available. Giraffes are herbivorous. They feed on leaves, flowers, fruits and shoots of woody plants such as Acacia.

South African giraffes live in a fission–fusion society system based on factors such as sex, age, season, and kinship. This allows them to adapt to environmental changes.

At present[when?], the South African giraffe population is estimated at 37,000 individuals, showing an increase of over 150% over the past three decades. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the body that administers the world's official endangered species list, announced in 2016 that it was moving the giraffe from a species of Least Concern to Vulnerable status in its Red List of Threatened Species report. That means the animal faces extinction in the wild in the medium-term future if nothing is done to minimize the threats to its life or habitat.

South African giraffes are uncommon in captivity. As of 2010, there are around 45 South African giraffes breeding in zoos. Approximately 12,000 privately owned farms, ranches, and national parks maintain populations of this giraffe.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN AFRICAN GIRAFFE (Giraffa giraffa ssp. giraffa)


The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.

In 2016, the population was estimated at 31,500 individuals in the wild.

The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies. The Cape giraffe, along with the whole species, were first known by the binomen Camelopardalis giraffa as described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in his publication Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen (The Mammals Illustrated from Nature with Descriptions) during his travel in the Cape of Good Hope in 1784. Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert also described it under the binomial name Giraffa giraffa whilst also identifying the nominate specimen of said species under the ternary name Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa in 1785.

The South African giraffe has dark, somewhat rounded patches "with some fine projections" on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of males is less developed.

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN AFRICAN GIRAFFE (Giraffa giraffa ssp. giraffa)


The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.

In 2016, the population was estimated at 31,500 individuals in the wild.

The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies. The Cape giraffe, along with the whole species, were first known by the binomen Camelopardalis giraffa as described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in his publication Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen (The Mammals Illustrated from Nature with Descriptions) during his travel in the Cape of Good Hope in 1784. Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert also described it under the binomial name Giraffa giraffa whilst also identifying the nominate specimen of said species under the ternary name Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa in 1785.

The South African giraffe has dark, somewhat rounded patches "with some fine projections" on a tawny background colour. The spots extend down the legs and get smaller. The median lump of males is less developed.