Challenge #3/July 2012Good morning Ducklings I hope you all had a wonderful "birding trip" down to Southern Kruger with me?
We had a total of 7 participants this week of which 1 scored 10/10, 1 scored 9/10, 2 scored 8/10 (With one of the participants trying again and got 10/10) and 3 scored 7/10.
Herewith the answers and explanations:
1. Pearl-spotted OwletSpotting on the head combined with brown streaking on the chest and belly.
2. Southern Black FlycatcherBill a bit slighter than that of Fork-tailed Drongo, however in this picture one can clearly see that this bird has a brown not dark red iris as in Drongos. Also the tail is not as deeply forked as in the Fork-tailed Drongo.
3. White-browed Robin-ChatVery pronounced broad white eyebrow combined with all-over orange underparts is diagnostic.
4. White-crowned LapwingWhen at rest the white stripe separating the brown back and black wing is diagnostic. Other features includes the grey head with a broad white crown stripe, white underparts and the large yellow wattles at the base of the yellow, black tipped bill.
5. Tawny EagleThe only "true" Eagle (due to the legs being feathered to the tallons) which is brown and has this large build found in Southern Africa during winter would be the Tawny. However saying this there might sometimes be an exception to the rule. For instance we saw a single Steppe Eagle Juvenile just up the road from this particular Tawny on the very same day. But chances of this happening is very slim. Other reasons this can't be a Steppe Eagle for instance is the colouration of the bird, Steppe Eagles are much darker in colour and the extend of the gape would stretch to just past the eye with the Steppe Eagles. The generally large chunky appearance with the very loose feathering around the legs and massive bill should sort out confusion with other brown Eagles in the region (especially in winter).
6. Speckled MousebirdThe black upper mandible and pale lower is diagnostic. Range would also have been sufficient.
7. Chestnut-backed SparrowlarkThe mostly black bird with the large white ear patch and chestnut visible on the wing would have been diagnostic. Range would also have bee sufficient.
8. Chinspot BatisFrom this angle it would have been nearly impossible to ID this Batis if it was not for the range.
9. Sombre GreenbulThe all over olive-grey appearance (slightly lighter below) of this bird along with the range would bring you to two possibilities, Sombre and Yellow-bellied Greenbul. The angle was a bit misleading but one can make out that the bird in question has a pale eye (diagnostic) whereas the Yellow-bellied Greenbul would have a reddish eye.
10. Scarlet-chested SunbirdMostly black bird with a metallic green upper-throat and crown. But diagnostic is the large scarlet breast and lower-throat.
Dabchick will be hosting the next challenge.
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8/10 with 10/10 second time around - No. 5 and 9 
