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Hi Waterbuck

I think you have two different birds there. They are both too small to be a common ostrich

The bird on the left looks like a sabota lark, and on the right, I would agree with lark-like bunting.

I'm curious to see what the others have to say.

I would agree with the Sabota (soon to be hopefully Bradfields ) Lark, but not totally on the Bunting. It definetely fits the giss but I am not sure if LL Bunting should have those markings on the chest, it could just be the angle of the photo though.

I have seen Lark-Like Buntings all over Beaufort-Wes, but never inside the Karoo NP. (Weird, I know)

Here is an example of the Buntings I found in that area in January

http://www.vdberghimages.co.za/LLBunting.aspx

So DotDan what are you thinking Larklike-Something

I dunno, I just wouldn't tick it off, if it isn't clear enough. The Lark I would be happy to agree on Sabota

The Karoo has plenty of things that are brown, so I would really need a better photo unfortunately to make a call.

I also agree that the one on the left is a Sabota Lark (C. s. bradfieldi race), but the one on the right I can't make out a positive ID. It could be a Lark-like Bunting, but the white throat and supercilium makes me think that maybe it's a White-throated Canary. Very tough to make a call on that one from just this picture.

The problem with the Karoo is, and I know, is that there are so many birds that have this same uniform brownish colour and pattern to them that if you don't get all the details it is impossible to make an ID correctly.

Hell, after consultation with Imax even, from what I can see they both look like Buntings to me. Cinnamon-breasted or Cape. I just don't know the image is just not good enough to be viewed on my phone.

Skrik net wakker asb.. The one on the left is a Lark.. Kom Kom.. maximise op daai Samsung!!

Email me the photo so that I can look at it here on my work laptop. This proxy block is driving me insane!

Sorry DD but the one on the left doesn't look like a lark to me at all! More like some sort of seedeater, with a small beak like that! Could be female/Juv Yellow Canaries but not sure..
Don't you have close-up shots with them sun bathing so we can see the real colour on these birds Waterbuck?

Thanks for the photo, Lizet!

Ja, DD, skrik jy wakker, that has got to be the seldom seen pygmy Lark.

Definitely a seed-eater of some sorts. I just cannot see enough detail to make out exactly what it is. Sorry.

Hey there MattAxel, adrainp, DotDan. wiltuinman and Lizet
.........u guys are all gonna shoot me
I was so keen to get the last pic onto the forum for some help that I forgot to mention that I had left the Karoo NP when I took the pic. I was in fact already in the West Coast NP, which I think will rule out Sabota (?????). I had seen + photographed some White-throated Canaries a while before I saw these and I am reasonably certain they are not WT canaries - bill not bulky enough. These two birds were part of a loose grouping of about 8 and I assumed them all the be of the same species, but that is open to interpretation. I am happy to leave them as "un-ticked" for the trip, rather than taking a chance on the ID.
Lizet - I don't have any better pics, but perhaps this will help......this is the right hand bird from the previous photo, which I am assuming was a female.

This (poor) image is of the same species (?????) I think

Any chance that anyone wants to confirm if this next bird is a dead straight forward Steppe Buzzard??

Waterbuck,
The first pic fits Larklike Bunting well...
Have to pass on pic2
The raptor is an African Marsh Harrier

Ag hell sorry Lizet "ek kan photoshop te goed gebruik" Grobbelaar

Ja, I agree with Lizet on the Bunting ID, that pic shows it nicely.

(I still say it is a Lark, just turned sideways so the beak looks small )