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Slowly starting to index my bird sightings, unfortunately I am not yet mastering the art of identifying many of them with enough certainty to log them.

So here the first of a few seen this weekend in Marakele NP. With many of them I have a good idea what they might be bu looking fir confirmation. Others like the below I have no idea. Shape and size tells me Crombec of some sort, but doesn't fit any in my book very well. Also might be slightly larger than the 8-12cm mentioned in the book although not by much.

Here the we go, was must running around the campsite (at a distance) mid-day. Seemed very alert (looking around) was not picking the ground for food. the two pics are of the same bird in different posses.



Later that day this one was sitting in the bush next to the tent before fleeing the paparazzi pointing the camera at it. Same as above? At least there are some similarities yet still looks different to me. Again Crombec comes into mind but still doesn't fit the illustrations in my book



Thanks in advance, Michael

Next up is this fairly long-tailed LBJ, fits Cape Wagtail on many accounts, but misses the dark breast band
Again seen on campsite, was very active jumping from branch to branch. Didn't stay long.




Thanks in advance, Michael

Closest I can get to this one is Levaillant's cisticola. Mainly because I can't get it to look like anything else. Photo quality doesn't help. Was seen in a bush at campsite just around sunset.



Thanks in advance, Michael

Hi, I think this is a Grey-tit flycatcher, which is a nice tick!
The white outer tail feathers and fanning of the tail (seen in one photograph) as well as behaviour fits. A wagtail is normally found on the ground. It wouldn't be hopping about in a tree, so the bird's behaviour also helps us in IDing it.

Cisticolas are notoriously difficult.
It's definitely not a Levaillant's - the back is far too plain. I think it might be a Neddicky.

Thanks a million for the input Mel


Goggling it and looking at the Grey-tit flycatcher topic here on this site I guess you are right


Never mind, sould be possible to find another one of those where its clearer

Any others with input, fell free, Michael

The bird in your 1st post is a Neddicky, second post I would also go with Grey Tit-flycatcher, and 3rd post is also a Neddicky.

I really have NO idea what this bird might be — possibly a pipit or a lark? Seen amongst the vines above my stoep in Darling on 16 May 2012.

Thanks a lot MattAxel. Slightly confused fused with the first one with the very short tail though, is that a youngster, or how does that work

Hi Arks

Check out the cisticola's.... for the Darling area it is either greybacked or Levilant's.

I'm afraid I don't have an explanation for why the tail of this bird is so short, but with that colouring it can only really be a Neddicky.

I see, again many thanks

This bird was somewhat larger than a cisticola .... Anyone else?

Arks, your bird is of the Cisticola family.

The distinct markings under the tail is a dead give away.

Hell, you know how I had to "where's wally" to find the tail in those photo's

But Ja, I agree with WTM, Arks. It is a Cisticola, which one is anyone's guess though, but for that area I would follow MattAxels advice.