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Don't worry we'll find them all in challenges

Especially the specials that we haven't seen before
Enjoy the trip Defnitely going to be warmer than the -8 degrees you had this morning.

Sorry if this is a dumb question Johan, but must the answers for challenge #24 be sent back to you, or will you be gone already by next Wednesday?

Ahhhh! No, anne-marie! You are one of our faithful participants and the new format is too much to handle!

Tell you what: Do just the ID bit and I'll score you excluding the twist in the tail!

There is no such thing as a "dumb question", hilda...

I'm only starting my Venda trip on Saturday after the results are due, so you don't have to worry about waiting three weeks for the answers!

Thanks Johan.

The close-ups theme of challenge #23 of 2012 seems to have gone down well with everyone!
Returning an average score of 83.5% you ‘mites are now getting Minora-sharp!

I see some old hands are not showing up anymore… I hate losing participants although they may have legitimate reasons like anne-marie who has a language barrier to contend with!

Can you believe it! We have had 60 ‘mites in total participating at one time or another!

When I get back I’ll get a drive going to entice back the lost ‘mites!

The results are as follows:
We had 17 ‘mites taking part.
One ‘mite scored 6;
two ‘mites scored 7;
seven ‘mites scored 8;
four scored 9;
and three ‘mites got all the answers right.

Thanks again to those 'mites who so diligently add explanatory notes with their IDs.



#1 – Diderick Cuckoo, juvenile [17] . No problems here



#2 – Greater Kestrel [10] . Ladybirder points out the salient features: Buffy appearance, fine black streaks on head and neck , yellow cere and blue-black bill , pale round eye.



#3 – Yellow-billed Kite [15] . No real issues here. It is the only raptor in our region with an all-yellow bill.



#4 – Brown-hooded Kingfisher [17] . Nobody had difficulties with this bird.



#5 – Sombre Greenbul [17] . Although every ‘mite got this one right many of you said that it was a difficult ID to make (especially if you do not know the bird). The “white” eye is a clincher.



#6 – Black-backed Puffback [17] . It has featured in a couple of challenges now… It is time for it to go into the archives…



#7 – Scaly-throated Honeyguide [15] . The two incorrect IDs were correct on the family.



#8 – Pale flycatcher [4] . adrianp expanded on his ID: I considered two family groups, the chats (female stone and familiar chat) and the flycatchers. Female stone chat would have a more rufous belly (not buff), and familiar chat tends to have a less hunched disposition, less pronounced rictal bristles (stiff, hair-like modified contour feathers that occur in a row and project from each side of the corners of the mouth), and usually has an overall rufous wash. Of the flycatchers, I eliminated dusky and spotted on the basis of a lack of streaking on the head and breast and ashy, on the basis of overall colour (not grey) and lack of white around the eye. The flycatcher eye is quite round, where as the chat has a more teardrop shape. It’s quite hard to pin down some of those giss impressions!

Answers to the twists:

Q #1 – Humans can eat most of the food items that the birds in this week's challenge live on, without ill effect. One food item, however, holds zero nutritional value for humans, but will not harm you if eaten. Only one bird is capable of extracting value from this food item. What is the food item.

Beeswax [15] . hilda wrote: The main constituent of honeycomb is beeswax, which is considered to have no nutrients that can be utilized by people and therefore no caloric value. Eating lots of beeswax may not be good for your digestion as it can't be broken down in your intestines.

Q #2 – Which of the featured birds is a juvenile?
Except for one ‘mite you all had the cuckoo.

Thank you Johan

Will have to look more carefully at these birds

I will try my best to get my ID's done and sent in by Saturday night. If I don't make it, I'll have to sit out this specific challenge as I'm heading to the Wild Coast from Sunday onwards. I have lots to do before then and its a difficult one...
If mine is not in by then, please forgive me, but I won't disappear...

Did you get wafers with it?

Hi Johan,
Not lost just temporarily mislaid!
Summer [such as it is], is always a really busy time but I really enjoy the challenges and will make time for them somehow. Sorry I've missed a couple!

Enjoy the trip Johan. Hope it is a succesfull one.
To the other mites' stepping into your place while youare having fun. . .Have mercy

Thank you for the answers to #23 Johan. At least I know where my problem lies.

ditto

What??? you mean I can't run 8 out of focus pictures of juvenile pipits

8.7/10! Now that was a first for me
Thank you for your kindness Johan.
Adrianp: if you put in all those out of focus pipits you'll be greeted by the sound of silence on the forum