Monday, 17 June 2019
7-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN GREY HORNBILL (Lophoceros nasutus)
In spite of it's top heavy appearance the beak of the grey hornbill is made up of a light skin of keratin overlying a bony support. The beak has lots tiny holes that are air chambers, resulting in the beak being incredibly light. The large bill may be the reason why hornbills have the first two neck vertebrae fused together.
Nesting african grey hornbills are monogamous.
When nesting natural cavities are used.
The female lays two to four white eggs.
To protect their young from predators the female seals herself inside the nest using mud, droppings, fruit pulp and her own feathers, leaving only a narrow slit through which the male will feed her and the young. Her mate will bring her and the chicks food as often as 10-20 times a day.
When the chicks are about half-grown, it gets a little cramped inside the nest, the female will break out and rebuild the wall. Both parents will then feed the chicks.
The young grey hornbills break their way out of the nest only when they are ready to fledge.
It's fair to say that African Grey Hornbills are not only beautiful, they are incredible parents.
7-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BURCHELL'S STARLING (Lamprotornis australis)
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Burchell's starling (Lamprotornis australis) or Burchell's glossy-starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. The monogamous and presumably sedentary species is native to dry and mesic woodlands and savannah of southern Africa. The name of this bird commemorates the English naturalist William John Burchell.
This species is found in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is absent from miombo woodland, but is present in westerly gusu woodlands.
In the Kalahari they associate with camelthorn trees and also feed on their flowers. Their food includes flowers, fruit and small animals. They breed during the summer months.
The species is not threatened and is locally common in conservation areas.
7-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BRADFIELD'S HORNBILL (Lophoceros bradfieldi)
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Bradfield's hornbills are African birds found in southern Africa's woodlands, characterized by a black back, white belly, and an orange beak. They are medium-sized, live solitarily or in pairs, and primarily eat fruits, insects, and small reptiles. A key identification feature is the small white corners on the tail, which are visible in flight.
Identification Appearance: Black back and wings with a white belly and a red-orange beak. The tail has small white corners that are conspicuous in flight. They have a black eye mask.Size: Medium-sized, about \(50-57\) cm (\(20-22\) in) long.Females: Smaller than males and have turquoise facial skin.Call: A long, insistent series of piping notes.
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Habitat and diet Habitat: Woodland areas, especially those with mopane and Zambezi teak trees, in northeastern Namibia, northern Botswana, southern Angola, and eastern Zimbabwe.
Diet: Primarily feed on fruits, large insects like locusts and beetles, nuts, and small reptiles. They also hunt for flying insects.
Reproduction Nesting: Typically nest in natural tree cavities.Clutch size: Usually lay 3 eggs.Incubation: The female incubates the eggs alone for about 4 weeks.Parental care: After the chicks hatch, the female leaves the nest to help the male with hunting. The chicks stay in the nest for about 2 months.
Conservation status Status: Classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN. However, the population is likely declining due to habitat loss from logging.
6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - WATTLED CRANE (Grus carunculata)
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The wattled crane (Grus carunculata) is a large, threatened species of crane found in wetlands and grasslands of eastern and southern Africa, ranging from Ethiopia to South Africa. Some authorities consider it the sole member of the genus Bugeranus.
At a height known to range from 150 to 175 cm (4 ft 11 in to 5 ft 9 in), it is the largest crane in Africa and is the second tallest species of crane in the world, after the sarus crane. It is also the tallest flying bird native to Africa third only among all birds to the two species of ostrich. The wattled crane is taller and, despite the appearance of gracility imparted by its sharp but slim beak and slender neck and legs, is the heaviest on average of several very large, long-legged waders in Africa (i.e. the 2 largest African storks, shoebill, greater flamingo, goliath heron).[10] It is also roughly the fourth heaviest African flying bird after the great white pelican, the much more sexually dimorphic kori bustard and cape vulture.[10] The wingspan is 230–260 cm (7 ft 7 in – 8 ft 6 in), the length is typically 110 to 140 cm (3 ft 7 in to 4 ft 7 in) and weight is 6.4–8.28 kg (14.1–18.3 lb) in females and 7.5–9 kg (17–20 lb) in males.[11][12][13] Among standard measurements, the wing chord length is 61.3–71.7 cm (24.1–28.2 in), the exposed culmen is 12.4–18.5 cm (4.9–7.3 in) and the tarsus is 23.2–34.2 cm (9.1–13.5 in).
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Going on standard measurements, it is the second largest proportioned crane after the sarus species, outsizing in these respects even the ostentatiously heavier red-crowned crane. Three adult wattled cranes averaged 8.15 kg (18.0 lb). The back and wings are ashy gray. The feathered portion of the head is dark slate gray above the eyes and on the crown, but is otherwise white, including the wattles, which are almost fully feathered and hang down from under the upper throat. The breast, primaries, secondaries, and tail coverts are black. The secondaries are long and nearly reach the ground. The upper breast and neck are white all the way to the face. The skin in front of the eye extending to the base of the beak and tip of the wattles is red and bare of feathers and covered by small round wart-like bumps. Wattled cranes have long bills and black legs and toes. Males and females are virtually indistinguishable, although males tend to be slightly larger. Juveniles have tawny body plumage, lack the bare skin on the face, and have less prominent wattles. The generation length (in years) is 13.
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The wattled crane occurs in eleven countries in eastern and southern Africa, including an isolated population in the Ethiopia Highlands. More than half of the world's wattled cranes occur in Zambia, but the single largest concentration occurs in the Okavango Delta of Botswana.The wattled crane has been spotted in Uganda for the first time in 2011, seen in the Kibimba Rice region in the eastern side of the country. This sighting brings the total number of bird species in Uganda to 1040.
In April 2018, a new population of Wattled Cranes was discovered in Angola.
Wattled cranes inhabit fairly inaccessible wetlands under most conditions. It requires shallow marsh-like habitats with a good deal of sedge-based vegetation. All cranes are omnivorous. The principal food of the wattled crane is mainly aquatic eating the tubers and rhizomes of submerged sedges and water lilies. It is one of the more herbivorous of extant cranes. The other primary portion of the diet consists of aquatic insects. They will supplement the diet with snails, amphibians and snakes when the opportunity arises. Roughly 90% of foraging done by this species occurs in shallow waters. They typically forage by digging vigorously with their bill into the muddy soil. On occasion, it will eat grain and grass seed as well, but does so much less often than the other three African crane species.
6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN REEDBUCK (Redunca arundinum)
The southern reedbuck, rietbok or common reedbuck (Redunca arundinum) is a diurnal antelope typically found in southern Africa. It was first described by Pieter Boddaert, a Dutch physician and naturalist, in 1785. It is placed in the genus Redunca and family Bovidae. This antelope has an average mass of 58 kg (128 lb) and a body length of about 134–167 cm (53–66 in).
The southern reedbuck is larger than the other species in Redunca, namely R. redunca (Bohor reedbuck) and R. fulvorufula (mountain reedbuck). It stands 80–90 cm (31–35 in) at the shoulder. Females weigh 48 kg (106 lb), while the males weigh 68 kg (150 lb). It has distinctive dark lines running down the front of each of its forelegs and lower hindlegs and whitish rings around the eyes. It has a lifespan of 10 years.
The coat is silky and almost woolly. The color of its coat ranges between light- and greyish-brown, and may be lighter on the neck and chest. A small, black, bare glandular patch can be noticed at the base of each ear. White fur covers the underparts and the areas near the lips and chin. The tail is white underside, and appears short and bushy. Southern reedbucks measure an average of 85 cm (33 in) at the shoulder. Females lack horns. Males bear forward-curving horns, about 35–45 cm (14–18 in) long, with the base having a distinct band of pale, rubbery tissue.
Southern reedbucks live in pairs or alone. Sometimes, they form herds consisting of about 20 members. They prefer to lie in grass or reed beds in the heat of the day and feed during sunrise and sunset, or sometimes even at night. Old reedbucks are permanently territorial, with territories around 35-60 hectares, and generally live with a single female, preventing contact with rival males. Females and young males perform an 'appeasement dance' for older males. During the dance, the bucks run around speedily and take considerably long jumps, with the tail curled up and scented air being released from a pocket in the groin at every bounce, making a popping sound. Within this territory, it is active all the time in summer, but it is nocturnal in the wet season. It regularly uses paths to reach good sites to rest, graze, and drink water. Average lifetime home ranges have been estimated as 123 ha for females and 74 ha for males.
Their main predators include lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, Cape hunting dogs, African rock pythons and nile crocodiles. They can camouflage themselves in the grasslands due to their coats, which are almost the same color. If startled or attacked, they stand still, then either hide or flee with an odd rocking-horse movement, and cautiously look back to ensure the danger is gone, generally. They use vocalizations like a shrill whistle through their nostrils and a clicking noise to alert others about danger.
6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - NILE MONITOR (Varanus niloticus)
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Nile Monitors are large, semi-aquatic lizards native to Africa, known as Africa's largest lizard, growing up to 8 feet long with powerful tails for swimming and sharp claws for climbing. They are opportunistic carnivores eating eggs, fish, small mammals, and more, basking by day and hiding at night, often near water. These intelligent reptiles use forked tongues for scenting, lay eggs in termite mounds, and can hold their breath underwater for up to 15 minutes, impacting ecosystems in Florida where they are invasive.
Physical Characteristics
Size: Up to 8 feet (2.4m) long, weighing up to 44 lbs, with a long, muscular tail.
Appearance: Gray-brown or olive skin with yellowish spots or bands, creating camouflage.
Features: Strong claws for climbing, a forked tongue to "taste" the air, and a rudder-like tail for swimming.
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Behavior & Diet
Activity: Diurnal (day-active), spending time basking and hunting.
Diet: Carnivorous, eating fish, frogs, birds, eggs (including croc and turtle eggs), insects, and carrion.
Swimming: Excellent swimmers, holding breath for 12-15 minutes.
Intelligence: Show problem-solving skills, like coordinating ambushes and counting eggs.
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Reproduction & Life Cycle
Nesting: Females lay large clutches (up to 60) in termite mounds for warmth and humidity.
Hatching: Babies emerge after months, independent but vulnerable.
Mating: Males fight fiercely for mates.
Habitat & Status
Native Range: Sub-Saharan Africa, near rivers, lakes, and swamps.
Invasive: Established in Florida, where they prey on native species like sea turtles.
Conservation: Listed as "Least Concern" by IUCN, but threatened by habitat loss and poaching in Africa.
6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - SOUTH AFRICAN HIPPOPOTAMUS (JUVENILE) (Hippopotamus amphibius ssp. capensis)
South African hippos are large, semi-aquatic mammals found in rivers, lakes, and wetlands, now concentrated in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and reintroduced in the Eastern and Western Cape. They are herbivorous, spending their days in water and grazing at night, and are considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa due to their aggressive and unpredictable nature, particularly when feeling threatened.
Habitat and distribution
Current locations: Primarily found in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo.
Reintroduced areas: They have been reintroduced into the Eastern and Western Cape provinces.
Habitat preference: They prefer deep bodies of water and slow-moving rivers with shallow banks, but are also found in lakes and mangrove swamps.
Behavior and lifestyle
Daily routine: Hippos spend the day in the water to stay cool, emerging at dusk to graze on grass for several hours, sometimes traveling many miles from the water's edge.
Social structure: They are gregarious, often living in groups called pods or schools of five to 20 individuals, which can increase to larger numbers in the dry season when water is scarce.
Breeding: Calves are born in the water after a gestation period of about 240 days and can swim immediately. The mother will initially hide her newborn in reeds for a few days.
Danger and conservation
Dangerous animals: Hippos are known to be highly aggressive and are responsible for more human fatalities in Africa than most other large animals, often due to feeling threatened.
Threats: Habitat loss and poaching for meat and ivory are the biggest threats to hippos.
Conservation status: The hippopotamus is listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - HADADA IBIS (Bostrychia hagedash)
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The Hadada ibis is a large, grey-brown bird native to sub-Saharan Africa, named for its distinctive "haa-daa-daa" call. They primarily eat insects, worms, and snails, which they find by probing the ground with their sensitive, curved bills. Hadadas live in pairs or small groups during the day, but gather in large roosts at night, and build solitary, basket-shaped nests in trees or on man-made structures.
Habitat and distribution
Habitat: They live in a variety of habitats, including wooded streams, grasslands, savanna woodlands, and man-made environments like large gardens and sports fields.
Distribution: They are native to sub-Saharan Africa and are common in many countries in that region.
Diet and feeding
Diet: Primarily carnivorous, they eat insects, worms, millipedes, snails, crustaceans, and small reptiles. They are also the only known ibis species to eat fruits and vegetables.
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Feeding method: They use their long, curved, and sensitive beaks to probe the ground and shallow water for hidden prey, relying on touch to find food.
Behavior and breeding
Calls: The name "Hadada" comes from their loud, raucous call, which sounds like "ha-da-da".
Nesting: They build solitary nests out of sticks, often on tree branches or telephone poles.
Parental care: Both male and female parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks by regurgitating food.
Social structure: They are monogamous and typically breed in pairs. During the day they forage in pairs or small groups, but roost in large communal groups at night.
6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - PLAIN BACKED PIPIT (Anthus leucophrys)
The plain-backed pipit or plain pipit (Anthus leucophrys) is a medium-sized passerine bird which is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
It is found in open habitats, especially short grassland and cultivation. It builds its cup-shaped nest on the ground and usually lays three eggs. Like other pipits, this species is insectivorous.
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The plain-backed pipit is a large pipit at 17 cm, but is otherwise an undistinguished looking species, faintly streaked grey-brown above and pale below with light breast streaking. It has a strong white supercilium, and dark moustachial stripes. It has long legs and tail, and a long dark bill. Sexes are similar, but juveniles have warmer brown upperparts.
Some care must be taken to distinguish this species from wintering tawny pipits, Anthus campestris. The plain-backed pipit is sturdier and darker than the Tawny, and stands more upright. Perhaps the best distinction is the characteristic "ssissik" call, quite different from the tawny pipit's "tchilip".
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The plain-backed pipit is a medium-sized, insectivorous bird found in open habitats across sub-Saharan Africa, including short grasslands, cultivated land, and savannas. It has a plain, dark olive or grey-brown back, buffy underparts with streaking, and a cup-shaped nest built on the ground. Its diet consists mainly of insects like moths and grasshoppers, though it also eats seeds.
Identification
Size: About 17cm long and weighs around 28g.
Plumage: Has uniform dark olive or grey-brown upper parts with streaked or mottled crowns. The breast and flanks are buff with dark streaks, and the belly is whiter.
Features: Has buffy outer tail feathers and a white eyebrow. Its legs are pink and its bill is strong with a yellowish, rather than pink, base, differentiating it from similar species.
17-6-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - MALLARD (FEMALE AND YOUNG) (Anas platyrhynchos)
Whilst laying, the female needs a lot of nutrition so will leave the nest, sometimes for longer periods of time to feed and rest. Once all her eggs are laid she will rarely leave the nest; unlike osprey, the male does not bring food to the female whilst she incubates. This means that when she does require a short break to feed, toilet and stretch her legs the eggs are left alone. Whilst she is away, the nest is it at risk to predators such as crows, jays, mink, foxes and rats. The female will always cover her nest with vegetation such as leaves and grass to hide the eggs. One of the reasons which mallards lay so many eggs, is because there is a significant chance not all the young will reach maturity. This way there is hope that one or two of her chicks will survive. Mallards will also often lay more than one clutch in a season to increase the chances of their offspring reaching maturity.
The chicks hatch after 23-30 days, and despite being laid separately, they will all hatch around the same time. The chicks are mobile and ready to feed very soon after hatching, they will stay in the nest for just 10 hours to learn how to use their legs. Once ready to leave the nest the female will lead them to the nearby water body.
17-6-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - GREAT TIT (Parus major)
A great tit clutch can be anything from five to 11 eggs, with the female doing all the incubation.
The cock helps the female with feeding the brood: the chicks usually leave the nest around 20 days after hatching.
Though great tits living in oakwoods rarely have a second brood, it's not uncommon for them to do so in pinewoods.
Most individuals are sedentary, rarely moving far from where they hatched, but there is a tendency for them to move more in years when the beech crop fails.
It is becoming increasingly rare for British-ringed great tits to be recovered abroad. This is thought to be because of the increase in the amount of food available in gardens.
The most widespread of all the species of tit, it is found across almost all of Europe and east to Japan and south to Indonesia. It is also found in North Africa.
Though widely distrubuted throughout the British Isles, the great tit is a rarity in the Hebrides and Shetlands.
There are no fewer than 30 different races of great tit, many of which are predominately grey and black and lack the bright yellow of European birds.
Britain's population of around 2 million pairs puts it in 8th place in Europe. Germany has the most: an estimated 8 million pairs.
The great tit owes much of its success to its adaptability, while increasing numbers in Britain may well be because it is an enthusiastic user of garden feeding stations.
Because of its wide range and the fact that it often lives in close proximity to man, it is one of the most intensely studied of all birds.
The readiness of great tits to use nest boxes is one of the reasons they are such popular birds to study.
The longest running study started in Wytham Wood near Oxford in the 1930s and continues to this day. The university manages it.
The male's distinctive double-note song is one of the most familiar sounds of spring.
There are, however, a huge number of variations of the song, and a typical cock great tit will use around 40 variations.
If you hear a bird song that you can't identify, then there’s a good chance it will be a great tit.
It has been found that the individual birds with the greatest repertoire of songs enjoy the most success with the girls.
Many old country names for this species reflect its song. One of the best is sharp-saw, from Norfolk.
The most successful and dominant cocks tend to have the thickest black stripes down the center of the underparts.
In the 1960s, when sparrowhawk numbers had been decimated by pesticide poisoning, the most dominant great tits were also the heaviest. However, these fatter birds are the most vulnerable to sparrowhawks, so once the latter's population recovered, the dominant males lost their excess weight.
Great tits invariably nest in holes, but here they can be remarkably inventive, often using manmade sites such as post boxes.
Sunday, 16 June 2019
6-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE) (Panthera pardus pardus)
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The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat conversion. Leopards have also been recorded in North Africa as well.
The African leopard exhibits great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Coat colour varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and sometimes black, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are larger, averaging 58 kg (128 lb) with 90 kg (200 lb) being the maximum weight attained by a male. Females weigh about 37.5 kg (83 lb) on average.
The African leopard is sexually dimorphic; males are larger and heavier than females. Between 1996 and 2000, 11 adult leopards were radio-collared on Namibian farmlands. Males weighed 37.5 to 52.3 kg (83 to 115 lb) only, and females 24 to 33.5 kg (53 to 74 lb). The heaviest known leopard weighed about 96 kg (212 lb), and was recorded in South West Africa.
5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - RED BILLED BUFFALO WEAVER (Bubalornis niger)
The Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis niger) is a robust bird, the largest within the Ploceidae family, with males averaging a body mass of 82.1 grams and females slightly lighter at 70.7 grams. The species exhibits a modest sexual dimorphism; males are adorned with dark chocolate brown plumage, accented with white flecks on the wing edges and tips, and a distinctive red bill. Females share the same rich brown coloration but lack the white wing markings and feature broad white hems on their chin and throat feathers. Juveniles present a paler brown hue as they mature.
To identify the Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, look for its red bill, which sets it apart from its cousin, the White-billed Buffalo Weaver. The male's red bill contrasts with his dark plumage and reddish-brown feet, while the female's lighter brown legs and white throat markings are key distinguishing features.
This species thrives in the dry savannas and sparse woodlands, often in areas influenced by human activity and grazing livestock.
The Red-billed Buffalo Weaver is found across eastern and southern Africa, where it has adapted well to environments altered by humans.
These birds are social, living in colonies, and can be seen in small family units or large flocks. Males are polygamous, with a hierarchy where dominant males control more nest chambers and females. Aggressive displays and loud calls are used for defense, while some males may cooperate in nest building and chick rearing.
5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, 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.
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