SANParks.org Forums

Good Morning Jannie

Can you shed any light on the following



It seems that this juvenile Lanner Falcon was eating stones...we thought it was eating insects at first but when I zoomed in the photo it is not an insect at all but something that very much resembles a stone.

Thanks

Morning Caracal,

Indeed it is a juvenile Lanner Falcon - Edelvalk - Falco biarmicus
I have zoomed the picture in and it seems that it does have a stone in the beak, my opinion would be that it is using the stone as nesting material providing the bird decided to build a nest on the calcrete ridges they also can nest in other birds of prey's nests, and ridges. I will however make 100% sure, maybe there is another reason for the behaviour but I will let you know.


Jannie

Great pic Caracal, I was also thinking it might have something to do with nest building?
just wondering if its a juvenile would it be into building nests at that stage?

Good for you KG,
time these guys who seem to think they have to get out the vehicle to get the better pic "pay" more for the privilege.

KG - here's a favourite quote of mine for you :
" All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing " Ok, maybe "evil" is too strong a word here but PLEASE keep on doing the good you are doing and DON'T let stupid lawbreakers get away without having to pay the price for their arrogance !

We have just returned from one of most enjoyable breaks... My daughter of 11yrs spotted the following lizard just north of Nossob and there after another 2 times the rest of the afternoon. We also saw one at Nossob rest camp the morning we departed.

Can someone please identify the lizard... ?

Hi Franco and welcome to the forum!

If you do not post the photo, it's very difficult to ID it

Have a look here!

@FrancoA,

Very warm welcome to the forum. Would you please be so kind to email me the original picture for 100% identification. You can send it to jank@sanparks.org

Regards

Thank you Elsa and Jannie for your input ...the Lanner did seem to be eating the stones though....he gobbled up a few in the time that we watched him....Not sure if a juvenile would be interested in nest building Very strange behaviour indeed.
Hopefully you can find some more info Jannie

I believe that many species of birds are known to swallow stones. The purpose is in aiding digestion of hard items like bone etc through a grinding action. The stones are passed through to the gizzard where they can act a bit like teeth in breaking up the bone. The stones are known as gizzard stones. As a result of their role they will be worn and polished. Once they become too small and digestion becomes difficult they may be passed by the bird and then replaced.

Hope that helps in explaining your picture

@Caracal,

In the first posting you didn’t mention that the Lanner gobbled a few stones beforehand, this does change the situation somewhat and I agree with Astromatt that due to that behaviour the stones the Lanner swallowed were for the digestion of food, Ostriches are very well known to do it as well.

Regards

Thanks Jannie and Astromat for the extra info.....apologies also for my late reply. I did not receive the usual email notification that this thread had been updated.
So now we all know why Lanners eat stones

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Hi Jannie
I found out what lizard it is : it is a Bushveld Lizard, here are 2 links :

http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/lizards/h.lugubris.htm


and a video on You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nYvCM_MLGs

@FrancoA,

Thanks for the answer, it is indeed a sand Lizard, but to ID it 100% can be difficult as there are so many things to look at (Scales , facial scales , length etc etc), it is a juvenile and it is mimicking an "oogpister" to protect itself in its young stage.

I couldn’t answer earlier due to the whole Captured Experience the last 2/3 weeks, but thanks for taking the time to look it up.

Hi KG

We saw this just south of Bedinkt during our visit in May. We thought it was a baby mouse, but I have had some conflicting views on the matter. It appeared to have been flushed out of it's hole by a mole snake.
Please can you help with the id?



Thanks
Gavin

Hi Gavin W,

I'm practicing here for the November 4 x 4 trip! Have just had a quick look through my limited field guides for this species and the closest I could match this to so far is Bushveld Gerbil Tatera leucogaster. I'm not 100% certain that my ID is correct though, so would appreciate if KG could confirm or explain the differences if it is another species.