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On arrival, a Red-winged Starling flew over head - flashing its bright rusty feathers. We had stopped at Manyane’s reception on the morning of the 27th of August. The ever present pair of Groundscraper Thrush frolicked about on the green lawn just outside reception along with a Kurrichane Thrush pair. The temperature was already soaring close to 30°C, it was going to be a hot weekend! The Speckled Pigeons (whom have made themselves quite at home at the restaurant) watched me from the roof’s rafters as I fetched our parking permit. The trio that peered over the rafter looked somewhat comical with their bulging, yellow eyes and scrawny neck. 
Shortly after putting up our make-shift home for the next few days, a Golden-breasted Bunting appeared followed by Hornbills showing off their characteristic bill shape. The drumming of Cardinal Woodpeckers against aged tree trunks could be heard in the distance. Bird watching in the camp site was productive, regardless of all the odd looks you tend to get when lying on your belly in the sand, attempting to photograph a ‘little brown job’ as far as the tourists are concerned. 
One encounter in the camp site was that of a Familiar Chat. It all began with me following the Chat around but after a while, I wasn’t to sure who was following who? The Chat repeatedly made journeys between a perch above me and a few centimetres next to where I was sitting: inspecting my gadgets on each visit. 
 Our weekend’s expeditions revolved around Mankwe Dam, the largest body of water in the park. The dam itself has a well positioned hide, with plenty activity in and around the hide (including the two-legged kind with cameras slung around their necks). Pied Kingfishers darted back and forth across the dam while a Malachite Kingfisher also put in an odd appearance. The water’s edge was lined with white birds ranging from Great White Egrets to the smaller Black-winged Stilts.
It was great to see a flock of Red-billed Oxpeckers, scaling up and down the long necks of healthy Giraffes with great agility. Amidst all the gleaning for ticks, a scorpion was tactfully devoured by a Lilac-breasted Roller! Amazing how such a beautiful bird can eat such a lethal creature…
  
It was clearly evident that it was nearly spring: from birds singing duets to building nests! A Kalahari Scrub-Robin spent time collecting fine pieces of grass for its cupped nest, located 50cm off the ground in a low bush. After adding the grass, the Scrub-Robin sat in the cup, bouncing around whilst rotating clockwise in an attempt to hollow out the cup.
A platform of untidy sticks staged an interesting interaction between an African Fish-Eagle and two Vervet Monkies. The Monkey had launched itself on to the Eagle’s nest only to find the Eagle displaying an impressive wingspan! After a ‘hand-to-hand’ combat scene, the Vervet left (tail still intact).  
 55 White-breasted Cormorant
60 African Darter
62 Grey Heron
66 Great Egret
67 Little Egret
74 Green-backed Heron
81 Hamerkop
91 African Sacred Ibis
94 Hadeda Ibis
95 African Spoonbill
102 Egyptian Goose
116 Spur-winged Goose
137 African hawk-Eagle
148 African Fish-Eagle
161 Gabar Goshawk
189 Crested Francolin
196 Natal Francolin
203 Helmeted Guineafowl
255 Crowned Lapwing
258 Blacksmith Lapwing
295 Black-winged Stilt
322 Caspian Tern
349 Speckled Pigeon
352 Red-eyed Dove
354 Cape Turtle-Dove
355 Laughing Dove
373 Grey Go-away-bird
421 African Palm-Swift
426 Red-faced Mousebird
428 Pied Kingfisher
435 Brown-hooded Kingfisher
447 Lilac-breasted Roller
451 African Hoopoe
457 African Grey Hornbill
458 Red-billed Hornbill
459 Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
464 Black-collared Barbet
465 Acacia Pied Barbet
473 Crested Barbet
486 Cardinal Woodpecker
494 Rufous-naped Lark
498 Sabota Lark
523 Pearl-breasted Swallow
524 Red-breasted Swallow
527 Lesser Striped Swallow
541 Fork-tailed Drongo
548 Pied Crow
554 Southern Black Tit
560 Arrow-marked Babbler
568 Dark-capped Bulbul
576 Kurrichane Thrush
580 Groundscraper Thrush
583 Short-toed Rock-Thrush
587 Capped Wheatear
589 Familiar Chat
596 African Stonechat
602 White-throated Robin-Chat
613 White-browed Scrub-Robin
615 Kalahari Scrub-Robin
621 Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler
651 Long-billed Crombec
656 Burnt-necked Eremomela
681 Neddicky
683 Tawny-flanked Prinia
685 Black-chested Prinia
695 Marico Flycatcher
698 Fiscal Flycatcher
701 Chinspot Batis 
713 Cape Wagtail
716 African Pipit
735 Magpie Shrike
736 Southern Boubou
739 Crimson-breasted Shrike
740 Black-backed Puffback
741 Brubru
758 Common Myna
764 Cape Glossy Starling
769 Red-winged Starling
772 Red-billed Oxpecker
787 White-bellied Sunbird
792 Amethyst Sunbird
801 House Sparrow
802 Great Sparrow
803 Cape Sparrow
804 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
805 Yellow-throated Petronia
814 Southern Masked-Weaver
844 Blue Waxbill
847 Black-faced Waxbill
869 Yellow-fronted Canary
884 Golden-breasted Bunting
885 Cape Bunting
» 4 Comments
1Comment
at Friday, 03 September 2010 08:50
A lovely report, Candy!
Well done on getting such nice photos!
2Comment
at Friday, 03 September 2010 10:19
Great Shots and report Candy!!
3Comment
at Friday, 03 September 2010 15:27
wonderful write-up, Candy, felt like I was there too ;-)) and lovely shots too, sounds like you had a good time!
4Comment
at Friday, 03 September 2010 17:03
Wow, Candy, what a lovely experience, thanks for sharing.
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