Uploads from Patrick Berden, with geodata

Kitties don't like wet

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:23:58 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

This lady looked all grumpy and powerful in the rain.

Kruger park, SA.

drakensbergen oasis

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:48:29 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

This is an impression of a nice stroll we had in the beautiful Drakensbergen of the rainbow nation!

Jackal

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:03:41 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Between the branches and only for a second we saw a jackal in the distance.
I just managed to simultaneously step on the brake, grab the camera in the back of the car and swing the camera around to shoot one photo.
Here it is!

Drakensbergen bird, it is a Bush Blackcap

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:38:00 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Photographed september, Drakensbergen, South Africa.
Bird ID wanted and obtained.

Maybe there will also be an Obama Bluebird or a Rutte Redhood someday!

It's near threatened:
The bird is limited to the South African region and the South African population has been estimated at 1,500-5,000 individuals. Swaziland is thought to hold a resident breeding population of 40 individuals. The range of 1,500-5,000 individuals roughly equates to 1,000-3,300 mature individuals.

Helmeted guinea fowl

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:48:00 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Wearing rain coats...

All tongue and spit

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:09:56 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

This baby tried to imitate mom and dad. Sweet little cutie pie, but I'd rather stay clear of the pack.

Pied kingfisher

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:47:57 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

I guess the quality of the photo of this pied kingfisher didn't suck after all.
This completes my collection of king fishers so far....

We saw this buddy eating a fish in the St. Lucia Wetlands. Unfortunaltely the fish eating photos were bogus. In this photo he just had swallowed.

Male Nyala

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:06:47 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

I posted the lady earlier and got some comments that people didn't know about this species.
Let's just say that that is a shame. They are a large and beautiful antilope.
The male is spectacular.
Here is a shot of him!

The nyala is a middle-sized antelope, between a bushbuck and a kudu. I will post photos of those species later.
The male stands up to 110 cm (43 in) and weighs up to 125 kg (280 lbs), the female is up to 90 cm (3.0 ft) tall and weighs up to 68 kg (150 lbs).
Only the males have horns. Horns are 60–83 cm (24–33 in) long.

Brown hooded kingfisher

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:49:00 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

We saw three species of kingfishers and I did manage to photograph them. In order of quality:
- earlier post of a giant kingfisher. Very happy with everything about that photo.
- this African brown hooded one. Nice photo, but one can't see the nice blue color on it's side.
- a pied kingfisher but I doubt if it is of a quality worth posting. Will look into it.

But what a luxury! In the Netherlands a wholly different approach must be chosen to capture kingfishers!

Tawny Eagle photographed in Kruger park

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:22:00 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

This is a large eagle. It is 60–75 cm (24–30 in) in length and has a wingspan of 159–190 cm (63–75 in).

Afrikaanse name: Roofarend.

Baby giraffe

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:12:44 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Sam just happened to fall in love with baby giraffes this evening :-)

Albino elephant youngster

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:33:57 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

We think that this cutie is an albino elephant.

In this specific photo the strange color of the eye is well visible. For the "pinkish" skin I would have to upload different photos although it is possible to see some pink.

Albinos are much more rare among African elephants than in Asia. They are reddish-brown or pink, and may suffer blindness or skin problems from sun exposure.

This elephant was part of a larger group of elephants that wreaked havoc on a forest of small trees and bushes.

fighting waterbucks

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Sun, 05 May 2013 00:35:29 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Waterbucks are considered by many to be the most beautiful antilopes. I have much more stuff from last years trip to the Rainbow Nation.

Female nyala in the golden hour

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Sat, 04 May 2013 09:08:53 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Shot on a safari in Kapama Game reserve

Dunnock

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:11:55 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Sometimes also called hedge warbler, hedge accentor or hedge sparrow.

The name "dunnock" comes from the Ancient British *dunnākos, meaning "little brown one"

Blackcap

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:32:29 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

First photo of this bird for me. I had to look this species up. I've never seen them before. Apparently these birdies normally stay in the brushes.

The haunted hunting house of the Echelkuil

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:45:07 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

In the ponds that are next to this house doctor Smagghe grew 'echels' or leeches. The doctor bought old horses on the market and drove them in the pond, where the bloodsuckers attached themselves to the horses. This is how the doctor was able to capture the little vampires and he sold them to French hospitals.
In 1934 mr. Misonne bought the estate. The house looks as if it is built out of wood and stone, but it was in fact made out of concrete, which was very expensive at that time.

The house is supposed to be haunted.

Little colourful bird

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:39:18 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

Small little booger. I never know the species.

Viviparous lizard

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:09:36 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo:

A new species for me, this little lizard.

frog mirror

nobody@flickr.com (Patrick Berden) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:47:53 -0700

Patrick Berden posted a photo: