Birding as part of your daytrip searching for wildlife.

During a visit to Kruger Park I challenged the group to rather spot Birds than search for animals. they accepted the challenge and the result was amazing. Today I would like to show some of the birding shots that where taken during the Gamedrive. what was amazing was that we where spotting a lot more other wildlife as well.

Redbilled oxpecker with nesting mateial, they groom the Impala to take some hair for the nest, the prime job of this bird is to remove any perasites from his hosts.

a lone Little Egret sitting on a stone in the Sabie River, they are identified with their yellow feet.

Helmeted Guineafowl are reluctant flyers, and would run at speed in front of the game vehiecle

Marabu stork, preening on the banks of the Sabie river

Glossy Starlings have striking eyesoffset against the metalic blue of their plumage

The Batteleur Eagle with its bright red facial markings are a favourite of mine

The Yellow-billed kite has to be acrobat of the sky, and are able to feed during flight

The yellow beak and swallowtail are the indicators to look out for

The striking colourful Crested Barbet, looking out for a snack at Sitara Camp Kruger Park

The Masked Weaver will take every opportunity if you are not looking

Again the Glossy Starling

Heuglin's Robin is a rare sighting, it was our lucky day in Kruger Park

Two Mousebirds preening eachother

I just could not resit taking this photograph

Perhaps one of the best looking birds, in South Africa is the Lylac Breasted Roller

The Tawny Eagle will take pray from other raptors

This Sugarbird was spotted at Skukuza Camp in Kruger National Park

The Afrikaans name for this bird is Gewone Troupant, meaning" Common Wedding band"

Two Yellow billed Storks

Yellow billed Storks on a fishing expedition

The African Fish eagle in full flight

sometimes identifying a raptor can be challenging this looks like Steppe buzzard

The grey Horn bill captured on camera near Berg en Dal camp in Kruger National Park

The great white heron in a flight past

This little Nightjar was captured on one of our night game drive.

I have a multitude of photos taken on game drives, and will at a later stage upload some more.

When doing birding during a game drive has some challenges for the Photographer, one has to realise that there will always be movement within the vehicle.

I use a very standard 70-300mm zoom lens on my DSLR because I found that any longer focal length lens will be compromised by all the variables in the vehicle, The skill to photograph from a unstable base is to shoot at the highest possible schutterspeed or on your camera's sport setting. Night photography is also an area that requires a special flash unit, your on camera flash will only disappoint you.

 You also need a very good set of binoculars, that offers a wide view field and the best possible clarity.

Enjoy tour Game Drives and remember even the small things have a place in nature, and if you look to find them, the big and dangerous will become more readily visible, so until next time