Birds on Safari in South Africa

[Mike Buckley]

Neither my wife nor I have the equipment or skills to reliably, properly photograph birds but these photos captured while self-driving through Addo Elephant National Park turned out reasonably well. She photographed the first bird and I post-processed the image.

If you know the birds that are not identified, I would appreciate learning about them.


Photo 1 - Crowned Lapwing



Photo 2 - Black-headed Heron



Photo 3 - Unidentified



Photo 4 - Guinea Fowl



Photo 5 - Glossy Starling

[davidedric]

Hi Mike,

Excellent photos - should have been easy to id.

#1 is a crowned lapwing (or plover)

#2 is a black headed heron

#3 is a bit trickier. Based on the long partly feathered legs, the pinkish cere and the yellow eye I'd go for a sub-adult pale chanting goshawk. The plumage looks juvenile but the cere is the adult colour. Be interested if there are any real birders out there who know for sure.

Dave

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for the IDs, David!

[ajohnw]

Nice shots. All I might get in the UK is the Guinea Fowl. People often eat them before they get that big though.

Reassuring too. I recently bought a 27in Dell Ultrasharp monitor and look at some shots and think no way. I haven't calibrated it yet but yours look good so as I thought it's very close as it comes.

John
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[Brownbear]

Beautiful images... I especially adore the first for the wonderful background, composition and detail. That Guinea fowl looks like an amazing bird.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you also to John and Christina.

[Digital]

Mike, these images are excellent.

Bruce