Birds and bushbabies

Our waterhole is a magnet for a variety of larger birds that are often associated with water:  we see various storks, herons and Egyptian geese there on a regular basis.  During the last few weeks we have heard fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) calling frequently in the vicinity but they have always been in flight.  We were therefore pleased to see one perched in a tree near the waterhole on 23^rd September and to be able to photograph it.  This one is a juvenile (as indicated by the black streaking on the chest, the poorly developed rufous belly colouration) and the lack of yellow in the cere, the coloured plate just above the beak) and we wonder whether the calls we have heard came from a breeding pair of adults.  As their name suggests, fish eagles catch and eat fish, and so are generally found along rivers or close to large dams, but they also take any other small animals and birds that they can.  .

One of the smaller birds we see and hear often is the long-billed crombec (Sylvietta rufescens).  They are insect eaters and feed by searching for prey along the branches of trees and amongst the leaves, darting about and making themselves difficult to photograph.  One pair recently spent some time in the tree outside the office and provided good photo opportunities.  The distinctive feature of the crombecs is the very short tail.

By way of a progress report, the bushbabies that spend their days in the office veranda roof are still there, five in all, and have provided some excellent viewing for us and for guests.