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Hi Ducklings,

I'm bowing out of running the Ducklings challenge for a short while .... a few weeks or so... but I will be back... so watch this space for more Ducklings challenges later in the year

(Reason: time limits as well as photographic resources limits, although I have had a few offers of photographs to use, which I might well take up later on..)

If anyone else want to run a few Ducklings challenges.... please go ahead

Dabchick, thank you so much for your contribution

It has been very much appreciated.

I am thinking until we get a new fundi, why don't we run our own thread for a while. I am sure that many of us have enough birds on our lists to be able to have a bit of fun. If we have a problem, perhaps some more knowledgable person could give input.

Sharifa, did you hear that?

about the lovely photos, I mean

If nobody else wants to, I am even willing to start the ball rolling with my own small selection.

MM go for it

Ok, lets go for it.

These were all taken in the Cradle area, close to Lanseria.


1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

A very satisfying 10/11 for me. Thanks MM

Full marks for me.

We are going to have a discussion later on number 9. The jury is out on that one and the second bird in the tree. It is going to be interesting to see why people posted what they posted.

Dabchick you will be missed Hope you return soon I enjoyed your challenges a lot!!!!
MM I'm going to send in my answers tomorrow.

Aaahhh Dabchick, that is sad, but we understand.
If it takes me sooo long to try and do these challenges, I can only imagine how long it takes to put them together - find the photos, make sure that you have the correct ID, with all the reasons for it, getting and going through all the PMs, some if which must make you smile and then putting together the comprehensive answers so that numbskulls like me can learn from it....and believe me , I have learnt a huge amount from this forum's challenges. If it wasn't for them, I doubt that my interest in birding would have grown as much as it has.

So thank you to you and everybody else involved!

Now, MM, I will send in my guesses (they are only answers if I am sure I know it) and we can have some fun together.

Oh dear Dabchick very sad to hear we lost you, hopefully, for just a little while only.
You and PL have made this a very educational execise.

Thank you very much for your time and patience. Much appreciated



@ MM thank you for posting this challenge only saw it now but will try my best to send in my answers asap. You are hard task master

Well done Great Dane and LD

Thought you wanted me for my bird knowledge

Will definitely get some bird pics together MM

Thank you all for your participation

I will be posting results later today. Anyone who still wishes to send a last minute shot, please do.

OK, firstly, a confession, there were not meant to be 11 birds

The first bird did not pose much of a challenge. The bill gave it away as a Yellow billed duck.

1.

Number 2 stumped a couple of people. The bill looked rather large, but the forhead is very indicative of a Thick billed Weaver.

2.

Number 3 also caused a bit of confusion, it is a Black headed heron

3.

The Pin tailed Wydah did not pose problems. This was taken close to my bird feeder and he was an unbelievably cheeky little thing. He would often chase other birds away.

4.

The Pied Crow didn't cause problems. Another cheey bird and would often steal my dog's food.

5.

The Egyptian Geese have shattered the peace again. No problems for the mites

6.

Cape Wagtail, these little critters did cause some confusion. As ever, the Capies can't seem to leave G'teng alone

7.

OK, mistake number 1... the picture posted was meant to be of 2 African Olive Pigeons. I marked both the red eyed dove and turle dove correct.

8.

I marked both Fiscal Flycatcher and Fiscal Shrike correct. Again, posted the incorrect picture. I thought that it was not serious until I saw that the bill/beak was not as clear as I had thought. I did not think that it was fair to leave the most defining element out.

I am reminded of why I am not a school teacher.

9.

Red eyed dove posed no problems

10.

So thanks all for participating. I think that I learnt the most.

LOL!!

Thanks for taking on the challenge MM. Looking forward to the next one!

I am going to wait and see if anyone else picks up on posting pics. If nobody else does, I will post another challenge.

This time I will..

-....check for hidden birds in trees

... make sure the identifying features are clearly present.

Dabchick gave a very good run down of the Fiscal in pointing out that the length of the tail played a role on his/her choice. Dabchick, however also pointed out that the stance was rather flycatcherish...

I have just been reading about the importance of a jizz.. this was a bit of a flycatcher jizz with a shrike tail and no beak/bill.