Uploads from Candice Swarts

Ant-eating Chat

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 10:31:27 -0700

Anteating Chats, Myrmecocichla formicivora
Taken at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria
globalbirdtrekkers.org/

Ingwe

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 07:00:52 -0700

I usually avoid posting up photos of animals but I couldn’t resist sharing this sighting. With out a doubt, it stands as the best sighting of Leopard, Panthera pardus, that I have had. This male was seen in Karongwe Private Game Reserve whilst I ‘job shadowed’ the staff at Kuname River Lodge as part of a school programme.

I also had two great sightings of an African Civet and a Narina Trogon.

Waiting...

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:33:26 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

Summer is on its way: the temperature is steadily increasing as the days go by, migrant birds are returning and the locals are preparing their new nests for the season! It is only a matter of time before the first rains come…

Tawny-flanked Prinia, Prinia subflava
Taken at Pilanesberg National Park
globalbirdtrekkers.org/

Fight-or-Flight

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:01:42 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

I’ve recently had a first hand experience of how quickly this response kicks in. It is vital in the natural kingdom, a response triggered by the firing of nerve cells determining your survival or potential harm. This female Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis, had a slight mishap with another and decided to take flight to avoid any further confrontation.

Taken at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
globalbirdtrekkers.org/

A White-throated Gentleman

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:21:27 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

A small family group of White-throated Swallows, Hirundo albigularis, have built themselves nests underneath the Island View Bird hide in Rietvlei Nature Reserve. In August, the group used to fly back and forth gathering mud pellets for their nests. Now that the nests are complete, the Swallows spend a lot more time darting over the water. I can't wait until the chicks fledge!

View On Black
Made Explore Sep 27, 2009. Highest position #396!

globalbirdtrekkers.org/

Unheard Music

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:09:44 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

"Don't you hear it? she asked & I shook my head no & then she started to dance & suddenly there was music everywhere & it went on for a very long time & when I finally found words all I could say was thank you." ~StoryPeople.

Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis, formerly known as a Dabchick.
Taken at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
View On Black
Made Explore Jul 15, 2009. Highest position #187! :)

globalbirdtrekkers.org/

A Tale of Two

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:13:42 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

...The same routine continued on for two consecutive days. On the third day, he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, an adult appeared sporting a bent tail. He was the complete opposite of the sub-adult’s personality. Darting back and forth with whirring wings, he chased the other fruit-eaters away from his prized apple. The courageous bird even had a stand off with the Grey Go-away-bird, a bird almost three times longer and four times heavier! Needless to say, he was victorious in all his attempts to keep the apple to himself...
Continue reading on the GlobalBirdTrekkers' Website.
View On Black

Love like Winter

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:51:22 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

Another photo of the Southern Masked Weaver Male, Ploceus velatus, from Rietlvlei Nature Reserve. This is a cliche photo of a typical weaver behaviour: the Male displays his nest by hanging upside down while vibrating his wings... Even though he was courting, his nest was not entirely finished.
Winter is quickly creeping into our country. All the birds have already turned into their eclipse plumage and all the migrants have left on their long journey to the North.
View On Black

Quiet Spaces

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:31:56 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

Rufous-naped Larks, Mirafra africana, usually lead the Summer grassvled chorus from a conspicous perch. While rattling their wings in a phrrp sound, they raise their loud whistles so that they are heard long before they are actually seen. This is one of the many reasons I've learnt to enjoy their presence.
Since Winter is edging closer, they've stopped singing their love songs and now the grassvled is a whole lot quieter without them.
Taken at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
View On Black
Made Explore Mar 26, 2009. Highest position #114! :D

Swing Life Away

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:05:32 -0700

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

A Southern Masked Weaver Male, Ploceus velatus, hanging near his nest.
This was taken on my last trip to Rietlvlei Nature Reserve.
View On Black
You may Buy this photo here.

Globalbirdtrekkers' Blog

The Ruby of Nature...

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:43:27 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

A Male Red Bishop, Euplectes Orix, eating seeds from my bird feeder.
In Summer, the Males are a brilliant red accompanied by a velvet black belly and face. During courtships, they puff up their feathers which makes them look like red balls rolling through the air. An oversized, red bumble-bee buzzing around underneath the African Sun would be another way to describe these birds in courtship.
In Winter, they loose their elaborate plumage to a plain buffy white, beige colour. This makes it virtually impossible to tell them apart from the Females.
View On Black
Made Explore Feb 04, 2009. Highest position #305:)
You may Buy this photo here.

Globalbirdtrekkers' Blog

Gone Fishin'

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:41:02 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

A Green-backed Heron aka Little Heron or Striated Heron (Butordes striatus) taken at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.
89% of the time you can find this heron along with his mate in the same area at Rietvlei, however, these sightings are of them darting off into the distance as you approach their area. My mom and I decided to have a stake-out, on Sunday, in hope that they would get used to us and allow photos to be taken. Our patience was well rewarded. As we waited for the heron pair, we saw 3 Otters, a Water Mongoose (which we had first mistaken as an otter) and 2 Wood Ducks :l (in South Africa(!): probably escapees) just to name a few. Of course, the herons came back and gave us lovely views of their whimsical acts.
The bird list total: 75, not too bad I think...
View On Black
Made Explore Jan 26, 2009. Highest position: #152:)
You may Buy this photo here.

Famous last words...

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:03:33 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

...for now anyway...
A portrait of my curious, holiday neighbour. While my family and I were camping in the Pilanseberg Nature Reserve (North West Province, South Africa), this Kurrichane Thrush, Turdus libonyanus, popped by in the afternoons. If you laid down flat on the ground, he would quite happily come near you and pose for photographs. However, I soon learnt that the ground first had to be scanned for ticks (or anything similar) as a few of them had made themselves at home on my clothing...
I haven't been as active as I would like to be since I'm back at school: back to reality. Hopefully when I get settled in again I'll be able to take more photos.
Until then,
Happy Snapping!
View On Black
Made Explore Jan 18, 2009. Highest position: #131:)
You may Buy this photo here.

Love Affair

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:39:21 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

The Southern Masked Weaver Male, Ploceus velatus, is a committed nest builder. I watched for ages as he protected his nest collection from Diderick Cuckoos and protested his love to the Females in the nieghbourhood. If a Female was in the area, he would put on quite a show. With dropped wings and a vibrating tail, he would start his swizzling chorus. If the Female showed the slightest interest, he would then hang from underneath his nest and vibrate his wings.
One of the nests were already accompanied by a Female and (by the sounds of it) two chicks.
I was limited to what I could see and shoot. I was watching all this through a hole in the back of the Marais Dam Bird Hide in Rietvlei Nature Reserve. The hole in the hide was only big enough for my lens to be stuck through and focus on this particular perch. It worked out well for me though as this seemed to be his center point of work. Oddly enough, he had placed the Acacia leaf (bottom right) in the perch minutes before this shot was taken. Whether it was done on purpose or by accident, I will never know...
Featured Picture of the Day for the Spectacular Animals group on January 9, 2009 :))
'Pick of the Week' for the Avian Photography group, February 02-08, 2009!
2nd place in the Avian Photography group Contest :)
You may Buy this photo here.

Time to Reflect on Life

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:00:18 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

At Rietvlei Nature Reserve, I spent an hour watching a family of Egyptian Geese, Alopochen aegyptiacus. This is an Immature, the adults have a bigger dark brown patch around their eye. The family spent most of the time preening themselves in the setting sun...

Happy New Years!
Another year has passed in the blink of an eye. This year I'll be in grade 10, a critical year as we have to choose our subjects for a career.
I wish you all the best for 2009 and I hope you are successful in the choices you decide to pursue!

You may Buy this photo here.

All I want for Christmas is You...

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:53:35 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

For the duration of last week, I was at the Vaal Dam (Free State, South Africa) with my family and friends to celebrate Christmas. We really had an amazing time filled with laughter and never ending memories. My parents had bought me a PDA with the latest Roberts' program and a large camera bag suitable for all my birding equipment:)
I hope you all had a great day spent with the people you love...
Every day, this pair of African Hoopoes, Upupa africana, visited the 'garden'. (The Vaal Dam is 2m to the right of them). The Male (right) would dig up a beetle and start hitting it a couple of times on the ground. Then he would quickly run to the Female (left) (almost looking as clumsy as a penguin on land) and give her the offering. This courtship ritual helps to affirm their bond.
These Hoopoes are sub-species of the Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epops.
Featured Picture of the Day for the Spectacular Animals group on January 7, 2009 :D
Featured Photo for the Winged Wonders- Elite group on March 21, 2009 : )
You may Buy this photo here.

Mottled with Red, Yellow and Orange

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:16:51 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

The Crested Barbet, Trachyphonus vaillantii, is one of two Barbert species that occurs in my garden. This fella, the Black-collared Barbet, is the other. They are both beautiful in their own right and are great characters to watch. Although this Bird is full of mottled coloured feathers, he is a fully grown adult male.
This was taken at my 'Garden Hide' I had recently made. Since I wasn't able to go out and take bird photos at a nature reserve, I strategically placed myself at a window in my house that over looks a bird feeder and a concrete 50x50cm pond. The bird feeder had various seeds, apples, bananas (which no one seemed to eat) and bread crumbs. The Barbet was hoping on the rocks, which surrounds my exotic waterhole, while enjoying a piece of apple...
Made Explore Dec 21, 2008. Highest position: #87!!!

Bye-bye December African Rain...

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:27:20 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

"Bye-bye December African Rain," Johnny Clegg :) His songs about Africa are amazing. My favourite has to be Great Heart and Scatterlings of Africa. They make me feel good about my continent... However, every time I hear Great Heart it makes me teary as it reminds me of Jock of the Bushveld (original) movie. I used to watch it in the mornings when I was a bit younger and cried every time. Long live Jock!
Last week (02-06 December 2008), my parents took me to the area around Durban in South Africa. This was my first time there but on all 5 days the heavens had opened and it was raining. I only managed to get 7 lifers.
A pair of White-faced Whistling-Ducks, Dendrocygna Viduata, kept me entertained for a while. It was the first time I had heard their three syllable swee-swee-sweeu whistle.
We were hit by lightning last night and my ADSL line has blown so I will be limited to the internet. It could of been worse, at least I still have my Laptop and external drive which is right next to the ADSL :l
Made Explore Dec 9, 2008. Highest position: #222 : )
You may Buy this photo here.

The Great Water Chicken

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:56:51 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

On the 29th of November 2008, it was the Birding Big Day in South Africa! More can be read about it over here. The GlobalBirdTrekkers split into three teams competing against each other. One was situated in the Western Cape and the other two in Pretoria. I was part of the team birding in the Northern parts of Pretoria with Laine and Wildtuinman. We had a very successful day and I thoroughly enjoyed myself, thank you so much for taking me along!
The Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus, was one of the many birds we saw on Saturday. It just had a water bath and was now preening himself.
Our total came to 161 bird species and I got 19 lifers... Congratulations to all teams that took part in the BBD!
Made Explore Nov 30, 2008. Highest position: #476. Thank you:)
You may Buy this photo here.

Nice to finally meet you...

nobody@flickr.com (Candice Swarts) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:22:45 -0800

Candice Swarts posted a photo:

Meet the bird that is everywhere but nowhere at the same time. Their common 'Piet-my-vrou' call can be heard throughout the Summer but trying to find the actual bird from its concealed perch is another story.
The Red-chested Cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius, is a bird I've been after for awhile now. Every morning in Summer, I am woken up by their call and rush out to find it. However, I only find an empty space above the perch where it once sang from. The call is where the Afrkaans name is derived from, Piet-my-vrou.
I finally came across one at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens on Saturday with the help of Laine and Wildtuinman. It was also the first time I had met them, although, I have known them for about two years now as I speak to them on the forum. It was a great honour to meet both of them and I had an enjoyable time. The Red-chested Cuckoo was one of the 10 lifers I ticked on Saturday.
My mom enjoyed it equally as much and invited the whole family over for Lunch at the gardens on Sunday. This is when I got the shot. Our time was short spent as the heavens soon opened up and the rain came pouring down...
Replaced: Used an Auto-white balance to remove the green reflected on the bird.