SANParks.org Forums

Just testing.
Primaries good, Both have white tails. Only Antarctic keeps red bill when not breeding!
The latter is quite obvious. How did I do?

Thanx for the id!

Did this query just get overlooked or are these doomed to remaind mystery birdies?

I saw it but steered clear of it waiting for an expert.
Go on then. You are right on both counts (probably!)

Did you consider male non-breeding/transitional red bishop.

The eye stripe seems to extend far back, and I get a hint of red comming through among the black streaks. I am a bit concerned that the tail may be too long for a bishop, that may be the angle. I wouldn't exclude, it especially if you saw the bird in the cape, where the bishops have an "inverted" breeding season compared to the summer rainfall parts.

on the rock martin.

I recently visited Intaka island in Cape Town and came across some bird that I would like and ID or confirmation on:

This little one was flitting amongst the reeds so not a very good photo. It appears to have a very short tail, but that might just be the angle of the photo.



Would this be a female southern red bishop and a transitional male?





Is this a Yellow bishop with the yellow eye stripe?



and these 2 I would be guessing a some sort of weaver.



This particular bird was seen in KNP this weekend near Lake Panic and my first thought was an African Cuckoo, but again I am really not sure where to even start looking.



A juv Lanner Falcon??



I only have a very old Ian Sinclair's field guide with photos that are not great and a Sasol guide, so am a bit limited in identifying the different birds based on eye, beak or leg colour or juvenilles, so thanks for all your help.

Blimey! You don't do it by halves do you?
In reverse order:=
European Hobby.
Little Sparrowhawk. the white-spotted tail is diagnostic.
Pass on the "Weavers"!
Bishop. Transitional Red male. Not at all confident on the 'female' . It is more like a Whydah with that red bill.
African Reed Warbler for the little chap in the reeds.

Hard to reply as the photos are not visible in this window!

Wow Maxwell, well that would be about 5 firsts for me (it is easy to get firsts when you are new to birding)!

Thanks so much for taking the trouble to ID these for me.

Glad to help but before you get too excited those 'female' bishops may be Quelea.

Thanks, Maxwell and adrianp, for you help with my 'mystery' birdies

Rookie, I think your 'some sort of weavers' are actually Cape canaries, a juvenile (or possibly a female) on the left and an adult on the right.

If I have managed to get the "experts" guessing, then I don't feel so bad!

I did admit that I have no idea as to where to even start looking...at least I am starting to be able to differentiate between the seed eaters and others....

We all have to start somewhere don't we.

As you say, we all started somewhere. (I can confess to a smile at the "Cuckoo" though!)

You can help me now. How the heck do I get my "signature" to come out in colour?

I would rather ask and appear stupid (and give you all a giggle), than never ask and stay stupid!

Now, as far as I remember, you go your signature, then I would suggest removing the colour brackets currently in your signature and then highlight the sentence and select your colour again.

Now that is easy, colourful things I can deal with, but these LBJs are quite another story!

I managed to ID a brown headed parrot and a purple crested Loerie all by myself!

It took me forever to see my first little sparrowhawk and European hobby. I have yet to get a decent picture of either of them!!

[quote= I have yet to get a decent picture of either of them!![/quote]
I'm still trying too. Got some passable ones but the top one still eludes me.

AND I still can't get my signatiure to come in colour either!!