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The weekend arrived and so did I into Langebaan late on Friday afternoon. First order of business...into the park for an hour to see if I could get a few shots with my new 7D . I really did a lot of reading before the weekend to get it all figured out, or to learn from the experts. Bottom line is that if you use it with the straight out the box settings without customising the camera for birding or sports, you will be posting subjects such as "my 7D is heading to the bin" or ""I have a bad copy of the 7D". All I can say is that after this weekend and a few 100 shots, I LOVE MY 7D . Below is a selection of shots taken over the 2 days. I will be adding 2 shots right at the end, both of which were very long shots, but I had to add them as they were both special sightings for me. Firstly there is the Black headed heron catching a snake near the hide at Abrahamskraal, and second the African Purple Swamphen sighted at the Geelbek hide. Having seen the piture up on the inside of the hide numerous times, I never gave it much attention as I thought it may have been seen years ago

First up is this Fiscal Flycatcher, but without a fly. It spat out a small seed or berry.
On Friday out of the Park, I ran into this chap.

Saturday had a number of keepers from the area around the See Berg hide, below a Cape Penduline Tit.

Then this Pied Crow put up a nice show for me.

I then headed to Tsaarsbank to search for the Oystercatchers.
More tomorrow

Tuareg, this is great
The pied crow is a beauty

Its Saturday morning 05:30 when the alarm went off. I know the gates only open at 07:00, but I always get a few good pics on the way to the gate as the sun rises. So into the park by 07:00 and straight to the See Berg hide. It was spring tide at 09:00 but I was hoping that there would still be a few birds close to the hide. The only birds close enough were these Greater Flamingos.

I didn't spend a long time in the hide and decided to go to the Abrahamskraal hide. It is here that I saw a Black Headed Heron come in to land, stomp around briefly, dropped its head and came up with a snake. It promptly swallowed it and moved off in search of more food. It was about 80 meters from the hide so the clarity isn't good, but you get the idea. I know I said I would keep it until last but couldn't wait to show you.

I then heard some voices and 3 elderly German visitors entered the hide, chatting loudly. Next moment another lady tourist arrived and this time in front of the hide and proceeded to walk down to the waters edge....birds scattering. I decided not to say anything and packed my bags and walked to the car in a bit of a mood, but wasn't going to let that spoil my day.
I decided to go around to Tsaarsbank to try my luck with the Black Oystercatchers. There were quite a few about and alowed me a few shots.

Also present were the Black backed and Hartlaub Gulls


On the way out of the park in the afternoon, I decided to take another drive onto the little dirt road leading to the See Berg hide. Here I found the Acacia Barbet which actually stayed still for a few seconds and allowed me a few shots. It has been eluding me for many months.

More tomorrow.

Thanks Touareg, GREAT!

Gorgeous Touareg!

A great selection of photos.
The shot of the oystercatchers with sea spray behind them is really nice.
I also like your very sharp pictures of the Acacia Pied Barbet and the flamingoes. Hope you have a few more for us.

Brilliant photo's and tale there Touareg can't wait for more!

Thank you for the kind comments. I am delayed at Joburg airport, so will not be able to upload more fotod tonight. I will do so tomorrow evening if I ever get home

Nice one Touareg :Love the acacia barbet and crow shots

Lovely Flamingos!!! I hope you'll come home quickly and safely

So after I returned home last night following the delayed flight from Johannesburg, I wasn't up to posting, but now I will give you the next installment. I left Tsaarsbak to go back on the road to the Geelbek hide. Walking on the wooden walkway towards the hide I spotted this beauty..a Cape Teal. They are just so photogenic.

Then from within the hide I shot this Balck Winged Stilt. I will load the biggest possble size as you need to see it in the large size to appraciate it.

Also around this Curlew Sandpiper.

I watched this Pelican come gliding in from afar, not flapping its wings once.

There are a few breeding pairs of the Blacksmith Plovers around the hide.

Another couple came into the hide and spotted this African Purple Swamphen in the reeds. Its was quite far off and wouldn't come into the sun, but I was very pleased to have seen it for the first time from this hide. It walked along the edge of the reeds, seemed to pick a reed, bite it off and then pulled out the rest of the reed and ate the white bit.


I will have a look if there are any more pics to show. If there are any specific questions relating to the park, I would be glad to try and answer them.

What a long leg the black winged stilt has! Great pics as always.

Great shots Touareg, especially like the flamingoes and cape teal.

Look forward to seeing more from you soon.

Barcud

Hi again. I have gone through my pics and think these are also worth posting for your enjoyment. On the road from Langebaan down to the SAN Parks gate I regularly see African Black Korhaan. This is a the mate of the male shown earlier in the post.

Seen from the See Berg hide this flock of birds, not quite sure what they are.

Another shot of the Greater Flamingos in the early morning.

This to give an idea of the number of birds that were in front of the See Berg hide last Saturday. I understand from other birders that April is a good time to visit when the birds will be in their breeding plumage.

Here is another shot of the Pied Crow.


Enjoy

How elegant the flamingos are!

Thank you Touareg, they are all lovely pics

Which is the best place to stay for a couple of nights going to the WCNP?