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Sunday, 3 April 2022
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Saturday, 2 April 2022
Friday, 1 April 2022
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Thursday, 31 March 2022
20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN RED BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus rufirostris)
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The Southern red-billed hornbill, Tockus rufirostris, is a distinguished member of the Bucerotidae family, gracing the savannas and drier bushlands of southern Africa with its presence. This bird is characterized by its striking red bill and the streaks of blackish plumage that extend from its ear coverts down the side of its neck.
Upon observing this species, one will note the sexual dimorphism where males are generally larger with slightly longer bills. The male's lower mandible may exhibit varying degrees of black pigmentation. Both sexes boast a yellow iris surrounded by pale orbital skin, ranging from pink to greyish hues. The throat is a pristine white, and the wing coverts are adorned with conspicuous spots.
The Southern red-billed hornbill is a native inhabitant of the savannas and dryer bushlands, thriving in these open environments where it can forage and nest.
This hornbill's range extends from Malawi and Zambia to southern Angola, northeastern Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, eastern Eswatini, and northern South Africa, including Transvaal and northern KZN province. It is also found in the upper Zambezi valley of Mozambique, though it is mostly absent from the eastern lowlands.
A notable behavior of the Southern red-billed hornbill is its unique call, an accelerating series of notes that culminates in a crescendo of double notes. Unlike its congeners, this species does not engage in wing-raising displays.
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Wednesday, 30 March 2022
20-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - KITTLITZ'S PLOVER (Charadrius pecuarius)
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The Kittlitz's plover, named after Heinrich von Kittlitz, is a diminutive shorebird, tipping the scales at a modest 35-40 grams. This species is adorned with a black bill, dark brown eyes encased in black eyelids, and legs that may shift in hue from black to greenish or grey. During the breeding season, the male is distinguished by a white forehead and a series of bands on the forecrown, while the female's plumage is similar but with a narrower black band. The non-breeding plumage sees little change, save for a paler underbelly and a browner eye stripe.
Adults boast a wing length of 100–110 mm, a bill length of 15–23 mm, and a tarsus length of 26–33 mm. Juveniles resemble adults but lack the black facial markings and have brown upperparts with a buff-colored hindneck collar.
Kittlitz's plover is partial to open habitats near water, such as lakes, lagoons, rivers, tidal mudflats, and inland saltmarshes. It breeds in areas with short vegetation and is strictly terrestrial in its activities.
19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - AFRO NEOTROPICAL DWARF GECKO (Genus Lygodactylus)
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Lygodactylus is a genus of diurnal geckos with 82 species. They are commonly referred to as dwarf geckos. They are mainly found in Africa and Madagascar although two species are found in South America. Lygodactylus picturatus, the best known species, is found in Kenya and commonly known as the white-headed dwarf gecko. Recently, illegal importation from Tanzania of brightly colored (and critically-endangered), Lygodactylus williamsi, known as electric blue geckos, has been gaining attention for Lygodactylus geckos in the reptile trade.
Since all trade in wild-caught Lygodactylus williamsi is illegal, shipments of these geckos are often intentionally mislabelled as Lygodactylus spp. or as Lygodactylus capensis. As some customs officials have difficulty identifying members of this genus, a Lygodactylus spp. identification guide has been published online by CITES.
Tuesday, 29 March 2022
19-5-2019 BUMI HILLS, ZIMBABWE - RAINBOW SKINK (Trachylepis margaritifera)
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Rainbow skinks are a diverse group of lizards known for their vibrant coloring, with males often displaying more bright and bold patterns than females. They are native to parts of Africa and Australia, but invasive populations exist elsewhere, and they are often found in habitats like rock crevices, scrub, and savannahs. Key facts include their diet of insects, ability to regenerate a lost tail, and sexual dimorphism (color and size differences between males and females).
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