Birdwatching Around Drakensberg Dams

Fond Memories In Spring With Feathered Friends Southern Africa

Photography not yet shared after visiting the Drakensberg, October 2020 going into months of courtship, nest building, there was a lot of song and dance all around!

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus) a bird you will hear the liquid warble through vegetation, seldom see, even though presented in bright plumage.

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)

Looking up into the tree where you hear the call, waiting I was lucky enough to get one or two reasonable photos of the bird moving, Normally feed on insects or fruit, in this case I would imagine insects.

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) A big bird with not much song, more a variety of squawks, growls, gurgles and croaks. Nesting between July to November the wet season, here is one high in the tree, very close to water where it will find plenty favourites foods to feast upon.

With many dams in the area these bigger birds find sufficient supply of food, abundance of established trees in the valleys afford them nesting sites.

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) Another tall bird came in before sunset, landing on an island of reeds, the rusty coloured markings in late afternoon sun hopping through the reeds made it difficult to get clear photographs.

Purple heron has distinctive black head marking, a shy bird, and is half the size of the Goliath Heron we see down along the coast.

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Another bird with the "S" bend neck more recognizable when swimming, here either finding food beneath the reeds or settling down for the evening.

African Darter (Anhinga ruta) Enjoying end of the day many birds enjoying the last rays of sun falling into the small dam, an African darter sitting with a Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) quietly surveying the world around them.

Kingfisher did not sit long, photographing the African darter with air heavy with midges we call then miggies making distant photography a nightmare. Fortunately these midge didn't bite and make a good dinner for most smaller birds.

Following photograph was taken a couple of days earlier in the shaded side of the dam slightly earlier, obviously considering a last fishing trip for the day.

African Darter (Anhinga ruta)

Next time will be the smaller birds in the vicinity, bird life in the region during early Spring is something special to behold, plenty not yet revealed photography to come.

Additional information sourced from Avibase

All photography is my own. Any queries or requests please drop a comment below or make contact with me, have a wonderful day! Photography without tripod, go with the flow wherever life takes you. NB: Amateur photographer and bird watcher, keep smiling!

Thought for Today: "The sky is wide enough for two birds to fly without their wings touching." - African Proverb

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