Today we have another batch of photos from reader Ralph Burgess, whose photos I’ve posted twice before (see here for the links). They were taken in Kruger National Park from September to December of last year 2019 (the first batch of that series was here). The IDs are his, and are indented.
Marico sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis):
Martial eagle (Polemaetu bellicosus):
Red-crested korhaan (Lophotis ruficrista):
Reed cormorant (Microcarbo africanus):
Rufous-naped lark (Mirafra africana):
Southern ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri):
Southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus):
Southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas):
Nice set!
Ralph, what equipment do you use to capture these awesome images?
Wow, marvellous pix! Is that colorful bird really an eagle?
Wow, excellent photos Ralph. Thanks for sharing!
Some great photos there! Thanks!!
Beautiful! What kind of carcass does that eagle have?
Monitor lizard, my guess.
Rock Monitor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_monitor#/media/File:White-throated_Monitor_(Varanus_albigularis)_(5984080381).jpg
Interested in the carcass too. Why do some birds, very few I think, have such magnificent eyelashes. That hornbill could advertise eye cosmetics. Gorgeous,of course the “funny red stuff” :•) would have to be concealed.
Was wondering that too. Kind of looks like a decapitated lizard but not at all sure. It looks so flat.
Flat was my first thought, too. Did the boid just suck the guts out of the poor critter?
I tried a limited search to try working that out. I couldn’t find a decent photo to say one way or another but my initial thinking was perhaps a species agama or maybe a monitor lizard. Perhaps someone with knowledge of the Kruger herpetofauna might chime in.
Yeah, I thought the same thing too about the hornbill!
@Ralph – Wonderful photos. Thanks.
Well done Ralph. The korhaan is certainly sharp tongued.
Stunning photos! Thank you so much!
My, but that hornbill has quite the come-hither look.
Funny, I thought it was one of utter disdain and contempt, but then I’m not good at deciding human facial expressions, no reason to think I’d understand aves any better.
Excellent expressive pictures, thanks!
Stunning! (Wow, those eye lashes!)
Wow! Those eagles are scary.
Wonderful stuff!
Beautiful set of photos. Does that Martial eagle have a dead lizard? It looks skinned- very odd.