RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE *

[steamtrainfan]

Sunday 26 May 2013 - Amoli's birthday meet.

Our first sighting got me so excited that the camera, on full 500mm, started shivering in anticipation but unfortunately resulted in some out of focus pics BUT I am including them as this was yet another first for us at Rietvlei. It also had all the mites at Amoli's party diving for their bird books.

It was eventually agreed that it was a Black-chested Snake-eagle.

Dewi- hope you agree.





Then a pied crow started to hassle it.




At Island View Bird Hide we saw this Red=knobbed Coot.


Tea time for a youngster.


Dreaming of when I grow up.


What do you do when you got an itchy ear? You put your hoof in it!


Seen at the restaurant fence.


More to follow.

[bigbird]

Jan's favourite local place.

We saw the BCSE a few weeks ago near the firat bird hide. Also look out for Northern Black Korhaan at the top of the loop past the Island bird hide. We also saw BSK feeding chicks on a nest in that area beginning of April, could be the same ones STF saw recently.

Great get together by the way.

[steamtrainfan]

On our way out we stopped at Otter Bridge and got the following pics.

Common Moorhen having a drink with an unknown duck approaching to disturb him.


The unknown spoil sport almost got swept over the weir.


The common moorhen after his ordeal.


Two of the unknown ducks.


The common moorhen admiring his reflection.


We moved on and our final sighting was this Swainsons Spurfowl with a Helmeted Guinea Fowl in the background.


That's all folks for this trip.

On Friday we are going to Stonecradle to savour their pensioners lunch for R85.00 per person so of course we will be at the gates of Rietvlei nice and early with some more pics and hopefully another first.

Until then - stay safe.

[Flutterby]

I think your unknown duck is an African Black Duck. Love the moorhen reflection!