Sandeep Thoppil posted a photo:
We had a long weekend for the President's day of Botswana; chosen location of a 2 day's out was to the rural Limpopo valley. Limpopo is a small little river running close through the South East Border of Botswana. If you drive this place is roughly 450km from Gaborone towards Palapye and then turning right towards Sherwood and then to Martin's drift border post. Unlike the usual terrain of Botswana, this place is full of big trees and a wonderful collection of birds and animals. This spider was found in its own web world very close to the river.
We stayed in Kwa Nokeng, a small resort over the banks of Limpopo River. The place is so nice with few Chalets and Luxury Tents, all with a wonderful deck overlooking to the river. In the night a hippo came out of the river to eat in our lawn, yelling out the whole night and drinking water from the swimming pool. This was a bit scary for my wife, but I had a nice time snoring the whole night competing with the hippos.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Black-winged Stilt [Himantopus himantopus] a large [35 to 39 cm] black and white wading bird with long orange-red legs and a straight black bill. It has black on the back of the neck, a white collar and a red iris. Immature birds are grey instead of black and have a markedly sandy hue on the wings, with light feather fringes appearing as a whitish line in flight.Both sexes are similar, and the plumage does not change during the year. Black-winged Stilts give a repeated high-pitched barking call. They prefer freshwater and saltwater marshes, mudflats, and the shallow edges of lakes and rivers, feeding mainly on aquatic insects, but will also take molluscs and crustaceans. The breeding season of the Black-winged Stilt is highly variable, but is normally between August and December. As with other activities, nesting takes place in small colonies; within these, the mated pairs strongly defend their individual territories. The nest may be anything from a simple shallow scrape on the ground to a mound of vegetation placed in or near the water. Both sexes incubate the three to four eggs, which hatch after about 25 days. Both adults care for the young.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Great Egret, also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret. Great Egret is a large bird with all-white plumage that can reach one meter in height and weigh up to 950 g. It is thus only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Heron. Apart from size, the Great Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back. Males and females are identical in appearance; juveniles look like non-breeding adults.It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, ibises and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight. The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, spearing fish, frogs or insects with its long, sharp bill. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim. It is a common species, usually easily seen.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Black-winged Stilt [Himantopus himantopus] a large [35 to 39 cm] black and white wading bird with long orange-red legs and a straight black bill. It has black on the back of the neck, a white collar and a red iris. Immature birds are grey instead of black and have a markedly sandy hue on the wings, with light feather fringes appearing as a whitish line in flight.Both sexes are similar, and the plumage does not change during the year. Black-winged Stilts give a repeated high-pitched barking call. They prefer freshwater and saltwater marshes, mudflats, and the shallow edges of lakes and rivers, feeding mainly on aquatic insects, but will also take molluscs and crustaceans. The breeding season of the Black-winged Stilt is highly variable, but is normally between August and December. As with other activities, nesting takes place in small colonies; within these, the mated pairs strongly defend their individual territories. The nest may be anything from a simple shallow scrape on the ground to a mound of vegetation placed in or near the water. Both sexes incubate the three to four eggs, which hatch after about 25 days. Both adults care for the young.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Black Egret or Heron [Egretta ardesiaca] also known as the Black Egret, is an African heron. It is a medium-sized (42.5–66 cm in height), black-plumaged heron with yellow legs and feet. It is found south of the Sahara Desert, including Madagascar, and prefers shallow open waters, such as the edges of freshwater lakes and ponds. It may also be found in marshes, river edges, rice fields, and seasonally flooded grasslands. In coastal areas, it may be found feeding along tidal rivers and creeks, alkaline lakes, and tidal flats. Its breeding range is between Senegal and Sudan and to the south. The Black Heron has an interesting hunting method called canopy feeding — it uses its wings like an umbrella, and uses the shade it creates to attract fish. Some Black Herons feed solitarily, while others feed in groups of up to 50 individuals, Black Heron feeds by day but especially prefers the time around sunset. It roosts communally at night, and coastal flocks roost at high tide. The primary food of the Black Heron is small fish, but it will also eat aquatic insects and crustaceans.The nest of the Black Heron is constructed of twigs placed over water in trees, bushes, and reed beds, forming a solid structure The eggs are dark blue and the clutch is two to four eggs.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Black-winged Stilt [Himantopus himantopus] a large [35 to 39 cm] black and white wading bird with long orange-red legs and a straight black bill. It has black on the back of the neck, a white collar and a red iris. Immature birds are grey instead of black and have a markedly sandy hue on the wings, with light feather fringes appearing as a whitish line in flight.Both sexes are similar, and the plumage does not change during the year. Black-winged Stilts give a repeated high-pitched barking call. They prefer freshwater and saltwater marshes, mudflats, and the shallow edges of lakes and rivers, feeding mainly on aquatic insects, but will also take molluscs and crustaceans. The breeding season of the Black-winged Stilt is highly variable, but is normally between August and December. As with other activities, nesting takes place in small colonies; within these, the mated pairs strongly defend their individual territories. The nest may be anything from a simple shallow scrape on the ground to a mound of vegetation placed in or near the water. Both sexes incubate the three to four eggs, which hatch after about 25 days. Both adults care for the young.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Black Egret or Heron [Egretta ardesiaca] also known as the Black Egret, is an African heron. It is a medium-sized (42.5–66 cm in height), black-plumaged heron with yellow legs and feet. It is found south of the Sahara Desert, including Madagascar, and prefers shallow open waters, such as the edges of freshwater lakes and ponds. It may also be found in marshes, river edges, rice fields, and seasonally flooded grasslands. In coastal areas, it may be found feeding along tidal rivers and creeks, alkaline lakes, and tidal flats. Its breeding range is between Senegal and Sudan and to the south. The Black Heron has an interesting hunting method called canopy feeding — it uses its wings like an umbrella, and uses the shade it creates to attract fish. Some Black Herons feed solitarily, while others feed in groups of up to 50 individuals, Black Heron feeds by day but especially prefers the time around sunset. It roosts communally at night, and coastal flocks roost at high tide. The primary food of the Black Heron is small fish, but it will also eat aquatic insects and crustaceans.The nest of the Black Heron is constructed of twigs placed over water in trees, bushes, and reed beds, forming a solid structure The eggs are dark blue and the clutch is two to four eggs.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a wading bird in the ibis family Threskiornithidae.This is the most widespread ibis species, breeding in scattered sites in warm regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Atlantic and Caribbean region of the Americas. It is thought to have originated in the Old World and spread naturally from Africa to northern South America in the 19th century. This species is migratory; most European birds winter in Africa south. It is also gregarious when feeding in marshy wetlands; it predates on fish, frogs and other water creatures, as well as occasionally on insects. This species is 55-65 cm long with an 88-105 cm wingspan. Breeding adults have reddish-brown bodies and shiny bottle-green wings. Non-breeders and juveniles have duller bodies. This species has a brownish bill, dark facial skin bordered above and below in blue-gray (non-breeding) to cobalt blue (breeding), and red-brown legs. Unlike herons, ibises fly with necks outstretched, and often flocks fly in lines.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis is a native to Africa and Asia, an opportunistic feeder, and will follow large animals or machines to catch insects they stir up. It also is attracted by smoke from a large fire. Egrets come from long distances to catch insects trying to escape the fire. Feeds on Grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, flies, frogs, and moths. Size: 46-56 cm (18-22 in) Wingspan: 88-96 cm (35-38 in) Weight: 270-512 g (9.53-18.07 ounces) Medium-sized all-white heron. Sturdy yellow bill. Dark legs and feet. Swollen throat. Rather short, thick neck for a heron. Sits in hunched posture. Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: White overall, with long, Buffy reddish feathers on crown, chest, and back. Legs yellow-green, eyes dark yellow. In brief high breeding condition, bill, legs, and eyes bright red; lores purple-pink. Nonbreeding (Definitive) Plumage: Feathers all white; shorter orangish plumes on head, chest, and back. Legs dark green, appearing black. Bill, lores, and eyes yellow
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is the best known of the guinea fowl bird it breeds in Africa, mainly south of the Sahara, and has been widely introduced into the West Indies and southern France. It breeds in warm, fairly dry, and open habitats with scattered shrubs and trees such as savannah or farmland. The nest is a well-hidden, generally unlined scrape and a clutch is normally 6-12 eggs, which the female incubates for 26-28 days. Guinea fowl are great runners, and can walk 10 km and more in a day. They make loud harsh calls when disturbed. Their diet consists of a variety of animal and plant food; seeds, fruits, greens, snails, spiders, worms and insects, frogs, lizards, small snakes and small mammals.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is the best known of the guinea fowl bird it breeds in Africa, mainly south of the Sahara, and has been widely introduced into the West Indies and southern France. It breeds in warm, fairly dry, and open habitats with scattered shrubs and trees such as savannah or farmland. The nest is a well-hidden, generally unlined scrape and a clutch is normally 6-12 eggs, which the female incubates for 26-28 days. Guinea fowl are great runners, and can walk 10 km and more in a day. They make loud harsh calls when disturbed. Their diet consists of a variety of animal and plant food; seeds, fruits, greens, snails, spiders, worms and insects, frogs, lizards, small snakes and small mammals.
Columbus GV Team posted a photo:
Columbus GV Team posted a photo:
Columbus GV Team posted a photo:
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Great Egret, also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret. Great Egret is a large bird with all-white plumage that can reach one meter in height and weigh up to 950 g. It is thus only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Heron. Apart from size, the Great Egret can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet, though the bill may become darker and the lower legs lighter in the breeding season. In breeding plumage, delicate ornamental feathers are borne on the back. Males and females are identical in appearance; juveniles look like non-breeding adults.It has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes, ibises and spoonbills, which extend their necks in flight. The Great Egret feeds in shallow water or drier habitats, spearing fish, frogs or insects with its long, sharp bill. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim. It is a common species, usually easily seen.
Layzeboy © Photography Nature & Wildlife posted a photo:
Purple Swamp hen (Porphyrio porphyrio), also known as the African Purple Swamp hen, Purple Moorhen, Purple Gallinule or Purple Coot, is a large bird in the family Rallidae (rails). The Purple Swamp hen prefers wet areas with high rainfall, swamps, lake edges, and damp pastures. The male has an elaborate courtship display, holding waterweeds in his bill and bowing to the female with loud chuckles. Mating pairs nest in a large pad of interwoven reeds or a mass of floating debris above the water level in wetland areas. Multiple females lay in one nest and share incubation duties. Each bird lays 3 to 6 pale yellow to reddish-brown eggs that are blotched or spotted. Each nesting site can may contain up to 12 eggs. Incubation lasts 24 days. They sometimes will feed on invertebrates as well and may steal eggs from nests and also eat ducklings and small fish. They will often use one foot to bring food to their mouth rather than eat it on the ground
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