This is a follow up to my first bird post that had some of the birds that I see on a daily basis. This post has birds that are slightly rarer or a bit more seasonal.
See the first post here: Birds of the Kalahari – Part 1.
Swallow-Tailed Bee-Eater
There were a pair of these Bee-eaters that used to hang around the pool in the summer, picking off the dragonflies that were around. Hopefully they come back when it gets warmer.
Pygmy Falcon
These are the smallest birds of prey in Africa, they are probably a bit smaller than a blackbird. They use unoccupied chambers in the Sociable Weavers nests to roost in so waiting by one of the weaver’s nests will give you a good chance of seeing one.
Pearl-Spotted Owlet
Another very small bird of prey, they aren’t much bigger than the pygmy falcons. The bird books say’s that “they stare furiously at intruders” and that was definitely true of this one.
Martial Eagle
From two of the smallest birds of prey to one of the largest, these guys are huge. Martial eagles are one of the main predators of the Meerkats but can also take much larger prey. The meerkats will run and hide in a bolt hole if one flies over or stand and bark if they see one sitting in a tree. Last week someone spotted one flying over with the dominant male of one of our groups in its talons!
Acacia Pied Barbet
Very cool little bird, we had a pair nesting in a tree right next to the farmhouse. I sat with my camera and waited for them to return and was lucky to catch one poking it’s head out.
Shaft-Tailed Whydah
I have only seen one of these and luckilly it was from my hide that I have set up by one of the cattle watering holes. They are a brood parasite of the Violet-Earred Waxbill (another cool bird that I haven’t managed to get a good picture of).
Red-Headed Finch
Another bird only seen at my hide.
Bennett’s Woodpecker
There are loads of woodpeckers around as there is a lot of dead trees. I often here them pecking however getting pictures is a little more difficult. They all look very similar but this is one of the rarer ones that happens to forage more on the ground.
Namaqua Dove
