Recent Photos Gallery - November/December 2019

Welcome to the November/December 2019 Recent Photos Gallery! Our guides and tour participants are still dusting off their boots after journeys through South Africa, Brazil, Louisiana, Colombia, Australia, and New Guinea, but they've kindly sent in a wonderful array of images that tell the tale of their travels, such as this gemlike African Pygmy Kingfisher from the South Africa tour by guide Joe Grosel. He and Jesse Fagan report a terrific tour, full of marvelous mammals and birds. Come take a look!

South Africa! Like many of our longer survey tours, this tour's itinerary is structured primarily around species endemic to South Africa and Lesotho. The sugarbirds are endemic to southern Africa, and the tour seeks both Cape Sugarbird (here, on a beautiful Protea bloom) and the more ornate Gurney's Sugarbird. These are the only species in the family Promeropidae. Photo by participant Randy Siebert.

Africa is home to a remarkable radiation of canaries, serins, seedeaters, and allies. This endemic Cape Canary feasted on seeds of composites right at the group's feet! Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Squacco Heron is a bird we see on dozens of Old World tours but may be, sometimes, a species that we don't fully appreciate, as there are so many birds and mammals that gather near water. Randy Siebert's beautiful portrait reminds us that this species merits our appreciation.

Here, guides Joe Grosel and Jesse Fagan confer on the best strategy for the day, as the intrepid crew musters to find yet another great African bird. Photo by participant John Kricher.

One's first Violet-backed Starling is usually accompanied by a gasp, so rich is the violet color of head and upperparts. The group saw this species both at Mkuze Game Reserve and Kruger National Park. Photo by John Kricher.

A most-wanted endemic for everyone in South Africa, Black Harrier persists in a narrow band of habitat in the country's southwest, where it is listed as Vulnerable. This bird with prey was one of three at West Coast Park. Photo by participant John Kricher.

Although a relatively common bird in fynbos habitat, Cape Francolin (or Spurfowl) is restricted to the Western Cape region. Where not hunted, it frequents gardens in small towns and even feeds with domestic chickens in some areas! Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

One of two members of the family Bucorvidae, Southern Ground-Hornbill can be very localized and thus tough to find over its large range. Joe and Jesse report that a family group near Satara Camp in Kruger National Park was a delight to watch. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

One of five endemic (and 14 total) sunbirds for the tour, Southern Double-collared Sunbird was relatively common both in the fynbos and in montane areas. Common or not, any sunbird is a splendid sight. Photo by guide Joe Grosel.

These striking Saddle-billed Storks were seen fishing in a pool near Berg-en-Dal Camp in Kruger. Saddle-billed is placed in genus Ephippiorhynchus, along with the Black-necked Stork of Australasia. This species is often seen in pairs, the female (forward) with golden irides, the larger male with deep brown. Photo by participant Randy Siebert.

Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) is still a relatively common antelope in South Africa, especially in Zululand, and the group found many approachable near Bonamanzi Lodge and also in Mkuze and Kruger. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Even when muddy, a baby African Bush Elephant is a terribly cute creature. This one never strayed far from mom at Berg-en-Dal, Kruger National Park. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Red-billed Oxpecker, one of two living members of the family Buphagidae, chooses some great perches, such as this Southern Giraffe. Photo by participant John Kricher.

Or this Burchell's Zebra, where it was apparently time for a "sweat bath," followed by a sunny nap. Photo by participant John Kricher.

Or this mighty White Rhinoceros at Kruger National Park! Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Although Kruger does not have many South African endemic birds, it is a spectacular place to see many of Africa's great mammals, like this Spotted Hyena. Photo by participant John Kricher.

And this lovely Leopard. Photo by participant Randy Siebert.

This pair of Bat Hawks had a nest near the town of Tzaneen. The female swooped in and landed on the nest as the group watched. This species eats mostly bats but also large insects, swallows, swifts, and nightjars, captured in rapid aerial chases, usually at dusk. Visible here is the incredibly broad gape, suited for swallowing most prey whole. Photo by participant Craig Caldwell.

The range-restricted Black Bustard, or Southern Black Korhaan, was one of the bird species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in the 1758 edition of his Systema Naturae. This species is found only in fynbos and other open areas of southern and southwestern South Africa. The group was thrilled to see a male in display flight near Niewoudville and a female (here) in West Coast Park. Photo by participant Randy Siebert.

The mountainous country of Lesotho is home to many great birds, among them Wattled Crane, Cape Griffon, Drakensberg Siskin, Sicklewing Chat, Bush Blackcap, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Mountain Pipit, Ground Woodpecker, and Drakensberg Prinia. Although the road is tough going, the group used 4x4 vehicles to access the higher elevations. This year, a nesting Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) was an added bonus! Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Surely the most-prized of Lesotho's birds is the handsome Drakensberg Rockjumper, here at Sani Pass, which completed the endemic Chaetopidae family for the group after a wonderful encounter with Cape Rockjumper earlier near Rooiels. Photo by participant John Kricher.

This female Swee Waxbill foraged at close range on grass seeds near Cape Town. This species is found only in southern Africa, north into Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Arguably one of Africa's most beautiful birds, the Crimson-breasted Gonolek got the tour started with a bang at Polokwane Game Reserve. Photo by participant John Kricher.

Everywhere they go, Joe and Jesse seem to make new friends! Photo by participant Randy Siebert.

Blue Crane has a delicate beauty that rivals any other of the world's cranes and is South Africa's national bird, with good reason. This pair shepherding two young chicks (not yet colts) were at Niewoudville in the Karoo, and the group also saw cranes around the pleasant community of Wakkerstroom. Photo by participant John Kricher.

One of the highlights of the South Africa tour is a visit to the Cape Gannet colony, or gannetry, at Lamberts Bay, where at least 4000 nest. In October, the middle of the austral spring, pairs display with ebullience and squabble vigorously with neighboring pairs. Photo by participant John Kricher.

In full breeding regalia, a Southern Red-Bishop (here near Ceres) is a sight to behold. The timing of the South Africa tour in October aligns well with the breeding season for this and other weavers. Photo by guide Jesse Fagan.

Well, this doesn't look a vacation! Wait, what are we pointing at here? A Yellow Rail? Then we must be on the Louisiana: Yellow Rails & Crawfish Tails tour! Here Cory Gregory gets folks lined up on flying rail from a rice combine at Thornwell, Louisiana. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

Here's another angle on the action: as the farmer drives the harvester forward, dozens of rails--Soras, Virginias, Kings, and Yellows (along with American Bitterns)--flush and fly away to avoid the machine. Participants ride on the side and even in the cab. Photo by participant Carla Bregman.

This is a typical view of a Yellow Rail in flight: note the white secondaries, which distinguish Yellow from the larger Sora. Photo by participant Carla Bregman.

Yes, it can be a bit wet and muddy in the rice fields! Photo by Maine Audubon guide Doug Hitchcox.

But the masses of birds gathered in the wet fields to feed on insects, worms, frogs, and fish--including these White-faced (with a few White and Glossy) Ibises--make quite a wildlife spectacle. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

Flashing peace signs, Steve Cardiff (driving the Polaris) and Donna Dittmann pioneered the Yellow Rail Festival in southern Louisiana several years back, after realizing that they were seeing dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of this shy species during the harvest every year. Why not invite everyone to the party? Photo by participant Martha Mickles.

Steve is rather calm about seeing Yellow Rails, but everyone else here looks astonished! Check the bird in flight above the back of the all-terrain vehicle. Photo by Maine Audubon guide Doug Hitchcox.

Even for those who have fond memories of seeing breeding Yellow Rails in Manitoba or North Dakota or Michigan, the Louisiana jamboree offers an opportunity to study the species in the dusky, speckled juvenile plumage, too, sometimes in the open! Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

And Louisiana is also home to some fine birds normally associated with Texas or Florida, such as this dapper Crested Caracara. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

This off-the-hip record shot is of a Golden Eagle that cruised over our second tour group during a picnic lunch at Peveto Woods! This is a rare one in Louisiana and was part of a day-long flight of raptors along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Photo by guide Ned Brinkley.

One of the tour's three birding days is enjoyed in the cool piney woods of Kisatchie National Forest, a few hours' drive north of the coast. Here, the groups all enjoyed good looks at Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman's Sparrow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Barred Owl. Photo by guide Ned Brinkley.

Shy Bachman's Sparrows are most strongly associated with Longleaf Pine savannas, where they are year-round residents in the southern part of the range. This one was most cooperative in the Kisatchie National Forest. Photo by guide Cory Gregory.

And on sunny days, a surprising number of butterflies were evident on the first and third tours, among them this Long-tailed Skipper. Photo by guide Carla Bregman.

A bit mind-blowing for Louisiana was this Northern Wheatear that turned up at DeRidder, not far from the piney woods, where the group stopped for a delicious Mexican lunch (plus vagrant!). Louisiana only has five prior reports of this species. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

We'll stay with Chris and Cory but shift hemispheres twice, from Louisiana to Australia, where we are now on the Australia: Part One tour. Here the group seawatches at Bell's Beach in Victoria. Photo by guide Cory Gregory.

Australia was a bit challenging in 2019, with drought widespread and fire activity well above average. Nevertheless, beautiful scenes, as here in the Outback near Alice, were enjoyed every day. Photo by guide Cory Gregory.

Western Spinebill looks uncannily like the sugarbird we saw earlier in South Africa! In fact, both forage on the nectar of large flowers, rather like giant sunbirds. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

Nowhere on Earth rivals Australia for the ease of studying a great diversity of parrots and allies. This big Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo was a crowd-pleaser, but it had much competition! Photo by guide Cory Gregory.

The fairywrens of Australia. Deep breath. These are some of the world's most beautiful passerines, 12 species in genus Malurus, and grouped with emu-wrens and grasswrens in the Australian wren family, Maluridae. Collective "ahhhhhh"s are audible when one appears. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

Ahhhhhh. Variegated Fairywren. Photo by guide Chris Benesh.

Not all of Australia's birds are show-stoppers in plumage, but virtually all of them are fascinating for first-time visitors. This Western Bowerbird is working on a display site. The Austro-Papuan bowerbirds (20 species in family Ptilonorhynchidae) are remarkable: males build a stick structure on the ground and then decorate it with brightly colored objects to entice a mate. Photo by participant Carla Bregman.

The intriguing family Aegothelidae, the owlet-nightjars, were believed for many years to be close relatives of either owls or nightjars, but recent studies indicate that they are more closely allied to swifts! These birds (perhaps 11 species, according to biochemical studies) hunt insects in twilight hours, much like the similar nightjars. This Australian Owlet-nightjar was happily found on a day-roost! Photo by guide Cory Gregory.