25/04/2020 A change from lock-down photos and a return to South Africa

These are photos that I did not publish previously as they were not particularly good, but I needed a change from the garden!!

Natal spurfowl or Natal francolin (Pternistis natalensis)...

As above, not a good shot but it helped with ID.

Red-crested korhaan or Red-crested bustard (Lophotis ruficrista).

Saddle-billed stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis).

Southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)...

As above.

Yellow-billed storks (Mycteria ibis).

A family of Bateleur eagles (Terathopius ecaudatus). Looks like this pair successfully raised two young.

As above.

Emerald-spotted wood dove (Turtur chalcospilos).  The only record I got of having seen one!

Namaqua dove (Oena capensis) male.

Red-headed weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) female.  Sadly I did not get to see the male which truly does have a redhead.

Steppe buzzard (Buteo vulpinus).

See also my Photodiary 

Joining up with 

Wild Bird Wednesday

I'd Rather B Birdin

and 

My Corner of the World

All photos from the garden.....

Lockdown is continuing until 11 May so these birds may have a lot of photos taken of them by then...

Mrs Blackbird takes a bath...

Common blackbird (Turdus merula).

As above...

As above...

That feels better.

Mr Blackbird as well, they must have a date, lucky them...

Buzz off Mr Sparrow I got here first...

Cold feet...

No, not really so bad...

Splish splash...

Right now where are we going?

Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto).

European greenfinch  (Chloris chloris)...

As above...

As above...

Eurasian magpie or common magpie (Pica pica).

See also my Photodiary 

Joining up with 

Wild Bird Wednesday

I'd Rather B Birdin

and 

My Corner of the World

Not much change, still in lock-down and all birds in the garden.

Common blackbird (Turdus merula)....

As above - yum yum lunchtime...

As above.

Great tit (Parus major).

Common Wood Pigeons (Columba palumbus)...

A little too big to fit in the bath!!

Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), male.

Common Magpie (Pica pica).

Little owl (Athene noctua) - in hiding 🦉

See also my Photodiary 

Joining up with 

Wild Bird Wednesday

I'd Rather B Birdin

and 

My Corner of the World

Due to total lock down in France all photos are from the garden this week.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula)...

As above, generally, we do not see the robin from the end of March until winter starts when it returns,  this may well be the last photos of it for some time...

As above.

Great tit (Parus major).

Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) and Eurasian magpie (Pica pica). Thankfully I seldom see the magpies, but over the last few days, they have made their presence known 😒...

As above with some House sparrows (Passer domesticus).

House sparrow female....

House sparrow male.

Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus); I am sure it is trying hard to have a conversation with a very silent stone boy...

As above...

As above.

Common chaffinch, male (Fringilla coelebs). Someone should tell him not to try and speak with his mouth full!!

Of course, no blog with birds at home would not be complete without a sighting of the Little owl (Athene noctua).

See also my Photodiary 

Joining up with 

Wild Bird Wednesday

I'd Rather B Birdin

and 

My Corner of the World