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Not a very good pic, but this is the Mallard, now in breeding colours, in my 'front yard'...

why not... for Xmas

Hi all.
Unfortunately I don`t have a pic of the little residents I have in my garden (they don`t like people ), but I have 5 redbilled oxpeckers staying in a palm tree in my garden!

Roan, that is stunning Very unusual and rather noisy. I do think that they are birds of character.

not "only" Red-billed Oxpeckers but also a palm tree

Yep MM! they`ve got serious character. Doesn't matter how many times they see me (every morning and every evening), they just hate people!
Other regulars and residents include Meyer`s parrot, lesser honeyguide,Orange breasted bush shrike, Ashy tit, Southern white faced scops-owl and a breeding pair of barn owls (in the barn!). And don`t forget the little Pearl-spotted owl!

Quite a busy back yard! Just love it

Roan, not only busy, but fascinating, it seems.

I see you live in Bella Bella which would pick up a very wide variety.

Leucistic Dove in our Phala garden.

Lovely picture Val

what a sweet looking critter. Really, really sweet.

Hi guys,

A first visitor to my garden in Bloemfontein and which I snapped this morning. Can anyone confirm that it is indeed a Speckled Mousebird? And also is it regularly found in my area? Thanks!

* Apologies for the poor images*

I would like to say White-backed Mousebird... Bloemfontein is at the limit of the 2 birds (Speckled and Wgitebacked)
wait and see the specialists
what a chance to have this bird in your garden

Anne-marie is correct with White-backed Mousebird. The bill's colouring and the coral-red legs/feet are useful feautures to look out for.
Speckled's bill is with the upper mandible black & lower mandible pale bluish white with legs & feet purplish brown to dull red.

Both are found in the Bloemfontein area but I think White-backed would be the more prominent species.

Thanks A-M and Johann!

Both these birds surprised me on the same day - the Grey Headed Bushshrike nearly made me drop my camera!





Lesser Honeyguide - honeybees took up residence in the base of the birdbath it is sitting on.





We have been staying in Wierdapark (Centurion) since 1980 and I have never seen a Greyheaded Bushshrike in my garden. Since taking the photo I have heard it calling but have not seen it again.

this morning, on my balcony
I put the "house" about 5 years ago, and for the first time, Blue Tits...........



5 of them flew away