It's been a while since my last writings on this blog. The main reason is that I've hardly been out; mostly busy with work and we went on a short holiday to Western Australia in between. I did manage to shoot some pictures there, which I will share later.
Last Tuesday we had a day off and I took the opportunity to spend a couple of morning hours on KB road, where I hadn't been in ages. KB road has lost a little of its appeal in the last two years. I still like the area, but favor it for evening and night drives. During the day, and especially in the morning, I find the ever present bird catchers a little off-putting and prefer to go to quieter areas around Badas and Labi road.
Still, there is usually always something interesting to be seen. Driving up the road this purple heron was on a high look-out.
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| Purple heron (Ardea purperea). |
I spend at least 30 minutes trying to call in a white-chested babbler. The bird was only a few feet away but I never got more than a short glimpse. Two great slaty woodpeckers where a little easier to see. The male almost looks black against the bright blue sky. I hadn't seen this species, the largest of all woodpeckers, for a long time and it was nice to get re-acquainted.
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| Great slaty woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus). |
I got some good views of a banded bay cuckoo, a bird more often heard than seen. Alas, as soon as I moved for my camera the bird flew of. Blue-throated bee-eaters are a very common sight. This is a juvenile, its blue throat just starting to appear.
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| Bleu-throated bee eater (Merops viridis). |
Finally, a picture of a small crab species that can be frequently seen scuttling sideways across the road. I am certain that they form a delicious snack for the local kingfishers.
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| Crab species |
All in all, a very enjoyable morning.
Folkert, 29/05/2014.
