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See it helps to not have a clue what you are looking at because then you take a photo and post it on this forum for somebody else to ID!!

I have a couple of others of the Little Sparrowhawk, but that was just probably the best one for ID. It was a bit far for a decent photo with the camera I have, but fairly close to Lake Panic.

Maxwell, your signature IS in colour......I think the problem is, ......the code you have chosen is "black". Try one of the other ones on the colour palette and you may have more luck!

Is it?

Maxwell, I have PM'ed you. I think that this is the colour you were wanting. Hope it works!

Can one of the experts confirm this as a pearlbreasted Swallow (planesberg, Feb) or am I totally off track? I did not see any white rump when in flight, typical of a house martin. Any other possibilities?

Smple if you know what it is.... So what is it? Taken in Kruger in August. My best guess is some sort of flycatcher?

Well you could consider Grey-rumped but I think you have got it right. Grey-rumped has longer tail streamers that come well past the wing tips although this chap looks immature so they may not have grown yet.

And your second bird looks like either a Spotted Flycatcher or Dusky Flycatcher. . A picture showing the crown would help. As Spotted should not be normally around in August I go for Dusky.

Good morning everybody. I hope you all had a good weekend.

Over this weekend, I captured the following in my gardedn and have a couple of questions.
The first 2 I have IDed as a male and female Lesser Collared Sunbird, however, none of my books mention the apparent yellow marking on the male - am I wrong with my ID or is this an odd one?





The following is hopefully a Cape Weaver.



I was also so happy to see my first "static" Malachite Kingfisher at Intaka Island, now if only I can keep the camera as static to get an in-focus shot it would be great.

Correct with the ID's

The yellow tufts on either side of the breast band occur in the males in full breeding plumage.

Correct. Lesser Double-collared is also known as Southern Double-collared as there are more 'splits' than in a piece of rotten wood. Most of em sport the yellow pectoral patch but beware accidental pollen smears too.
Good luck with the Malachite photograph, One day one WILL sit still long enough with no branches or shadows in the way etc., and your focus and exposure will be just right and the battery charged.

Scottm,I also think it might be a Young Pearl-breasted Swallow one can already see some blueish feathers on the back.They are in Pilaansberg.
The second bird looks as if it can be a small little chap .It also looks a bit darker than the Spotted, and the streaking on the breast is ill-defined which also points to Dusky.

Hi there Ladybirder..

I agree with your ID's

Just to add to the Dusky Flycatcher ID, August is normally not the best time for Spotted Flycatchers in Kruger.. They usually start arriving here from Oct-Nov.

Thanks Dotman

Sorry DotDan for the Dotman, but thanks !

LMFGA@Dotman!

Lots of new names for you lately, hey DotDaan, BobbeDaan, Dotman?

Keep up with this, and I promise you I will take your Karoo Wors to the KNP this weekend and feed it to the hyenas