Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

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Flutterby
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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

Post by Flutterby »

I soon came across a road block...

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These zebbies and their passengers would not leave the road and kept me crawling behind them for about 20 mins! ;-) But I had great fun chatting to them and watching the antics of the egrets.

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Not sure what caused this...an over-zealous egret perhaps? =O:

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Eventually they let me pass and I saw some birds flying in the distance. Could it be? A look through the binocs confirmed what I thought...Amur Falcons!! O:V O:V This is what I'd come for, and my second lifer of the morning! O/\ O/\

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There were quite a few of them dipping and diving all over the place. I sat there for about half an hour but battled to get any good pics, so I admitted defeat and drove on hoping to get a better sighting somewhere else.

Otter Bridge was quiet with just a lonesome kingfisher to say hello to.

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There were lots of bee-eaters around but they all insisted on choosing the worst places to perch for decent pics! :O^

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I headed towards Island View Bird Hide and drove very slowly. I love this area as it's one of the few places in the reserve which has dense thickets of trees close to the road. I could hear bird calls all around me so I turned off the engine and waited. It wasn't long before something caught my eye....another lifer - a Greater Honeyguide! O/\ O/\

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A moment later a Bokmakierie landed close by but it was gone before I managed a pic. Then a bird landed in the road about 10 metres ahead.

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It flew into a tree and I edged the car slowly forward until I could get another glimpse of it...my 4th lifer...a Red-throated Wryneck!! O/\ O/\

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It soon flew off and I carried on towards the hide, but the road was closed due to the mud. I turned around and headed towards the Coffee Shop and found another Wryneck! O:V

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I stopped at the Coffee Shop and ordered a toasted sandwich and a coffee and then went to sit under the large oak tree. I was the only person there and it was totally quiet....except for the acorns which were dropping all around me...a helmet might be a good idea! =O:


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

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What a lucky birding morning ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

Post by Lisbeth »

How did it happen, that almost all the forum angels have become "Birders" :-? -O- :-0


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

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It must have something to do with having wings! ;-)


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

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O:V O:V =O: =O:


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

Post by Amoli »

One lifer per visit is a good visit...

FOUR lifers is an excellent visit. Well done Fllutts and thanks for the super pics.. O/\ O/\


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

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Thanks Amoli! \O I was super-stoked! ;-)


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

Post by nan »

naughty Egret 0- =O: =O: =O:

what a lot of birds I would like to see O/\ O/\ O/\
superb sample ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

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Thanks nan! \O


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Re: Rietvlei Nature Reserve through Greenies' Eyes

Post by Dewi »

Great day for you with four superb lifers Flutt's. O/\

Great pics too. \O


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