Typical...

I always remember on my school report card my photography teacher (yes, you really can do an A level in photography!) saying "Neil should always have his camera with him", and so it proved today.

Walking into work this morning and I came across one of the local Otters, merrily playing around in the river, coming as close as a few feet away as I stood watching it.  Then a little bit further along the river, a sudden splash and a Kingfisher rose out of the water carrying a small fish and promptly flew along and landed in a tree a few yards away.  I'm sure that wildlife know when you haven't got your camera with you, and needless to say, with it being quite a dull morning, this was the case today!!

We are going to the Zoo...

I am not always the greatest fan of zoos, too often animals are kept in enclosures which are too small for them and the animals just look very unhappy. A family day out at Banham Zoo in Norfolk was quite refreshing and enjoyable and a few photographs taken.

This was one of a family of 5 Snow Leopards they have there. These guys are the holy grail of big cats but require a trip to the high peaks of the Himalayas to see them and only then if you are extremely lucky. Maybe one day......

In a few weeks time, I will hopefully watching Bald Eagles in British Columbia, but this bird was a nice model for the time being.

 

 

Prairie Dogs, like Meerkats are always popular and always on the lookout...

 

 

Messing about in the river

Spent a delightful half an hour in the company of one of the local Otters on my way home from work.  This is one of four cubs born last year and have become something of local celebrities with at two becoming remarkably confiding, even playing around in the river by the mill in the centre of Thetford at lunchtimes.

Blending in...

The female Nightjar seen and photographed at close range on a nest found a few days ago in Thetford Forest, and several other Nightjars showed well around the area at dusk and Stone Curlews calling nearby.

2 Hobbies present around a probable nest site and showed well and a Turtle Dove heard purring here too, the latter being my first of the year showing how scarce they have become.

Farewell Africa

Very little seen during the morning whilst sorting the car out at the Sunbird Mountain Retreat, but 1 African Paradise Flycatcher and an African Dusky Flycatcher seen a couple of times.

A very brief stop at the Zandvei Estuary on the way to the airport showed several Avocet and a few Greater Flamingos of any note.

A walk in the garden

A pleasant stroll around Kirstenbosch Gardens before the rain started produced many Sunbirds with Orange-breasted, Lesser Double-collared and Malachite seen.

Orange-breasted Sunbird

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Malachite Sunbird

Several Cape Sugarbirds present and also gave superb close views.

Cape Sugarbird

Several Cape Canaries and a few Olive Thrushes also present with Black Sparrowhawk and Black Saw-wing overhead.

Cape Canary

Olive Thrush

1 Spotted Eagle Owl located roosting and watched at close range seemingly unbothered by the many tourists trying to photograph it.

Spotted Eagle Owl

Thank Betty...

Many Jackass Penguins in the colony at Betty's Bay in the afternoon showing at very close range and also several Bank, Cape, White-breasted and Crested Cormorants on the rocks.

Jackass Penguin