Fancy Feathers - Part 1

Bird photography is just about the most frustrating of all photographic activities. Despite good equipment, a well thought out exposure plan, and oodles of opportunity, most of my birdie shots from the recent South African trip were poor, either in focus, exposure, or hopelessly too small. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in my frustrations, but I did identify one factor, long suspected, that contributes mightily to good bird photography - being alone. As soon as other people are near, camera or no, you cannot concentrate, and the birds become more than usually nervous and difficult.

Nevertheless, here is a selection of shots mainly from the Makakatana Bay Lodge area near St Lucia in the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, a World Heritage Site, the heart of Africa’s largest natural estuary.  makakatana.co.za/ I have made identifications, some tentative, and added a few notes to each shot. Any additional information or corrections are most welcome, and I shall update if appropriate.


Probably the most significant of the birds seen on the estuary was the Giant Kingfisher (Ceryle maxima) and I post two shots of this fascinating bird, the first showing it in full profile, and the second with beak tucked under wing, but with its rufus breast feathers in full view. These captures exemplify my opening remarks. I must have taken 20 or more shots, but only these two have some minor merit. We were on a flat-bottomed boat, which kept moving as it drifted closer to the bank and trees in which the kingfisher was sitting. There was a half dozen people jostling for position, oohing and aahing and tipping the boat hither and thither, having no regard for a poor photographer with hand-held long lens trying to steady himself. Back of head shots a speciality!!! Anyway, these kingfishers are something special themselves.



  


The estuary at St Lucia is also famous for its African Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) and, from countless attempts at bird-in-flight shots, I've caught this one in reasonable focus and exposure. As it turns out, our Ranger Michael and the boat captain, Warwick, were very excited about this very bird identifying it as a 5 year old fish eagle whose plumage had just turned to that of a full adult. They are the most beautiful birds to watch as they sweep over the water looking for fish, then swirling around to land gracefully on the top of a tree, all the better to survey the area.






Not surprisingly, water birds are the main avain occupants of the river and estuary with the Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath) standing out as it patrols the reed beds, long beak at the ready to spear an unwary fish or amphibian. The photograph below manages to capture the reddish head and neck, but its size (about 1.4 meters tall) is difficult to gauge. African Grey Herons (Ardea cinerea) are also frequently seen, but unlike the European species these grey herons have considerable black plumage and a white head and black crown. For some reason, probably because I know our grey herons so well, I was mightily impressed by this bird.



    



Egrets, too, are frequently seen in these waters with the next image showing a Great White Egret (Egretta alba) in flight across from our boat. This egret resembles herons when in flight with its neck folded back in a flattened S-shape.



 



One of the most splendid of birds on rivers and in estuaries in Africa is the Darter (Anhinga melanogaster). Often seen as a dark if not black bird, darters can have highly coloured plumage along the neck and head when they are breeding. I was lucky enough to catch this one as it flew off from a nearby perch. One photographic "trick" I learned while making these shots was to position and focus the bird on the left side of the frame while it was perched, and to use continuous shoot but not to move the camera when the bird flew off. I managed a sequence of four shots as the bird flew across the frame.








Finally, a shot of a ground dwelling bird from the bush, another rarity, the Blackbellied Korhaan (Eupodotis afra) (aka blackbellied bustard). This bird has an interesting mating display whereby the male flies high in the sky, and then falls or parachutes down holding its wings above its head. Perhaps this accounts for its rarity as, according to our Ranger, some birds forget to flap their wings before hitting the ground with deadly effect. Nevertheless, a beautiful bird to observe.



 


In a later post, I'll look at some birds from Montusi in the Drakensbergs, but that is all for now.

Cheers

David