European Bee-eater

I'm always happy to add a new species to my garden bird list, so i was very happy to snap this European Bee-eater flying over the other day:


That brings my garden list to 44! I have also been hearing the very distictive call of the Red Chested Cuckoo around, but i will resist the urge to add it to the list until i actually see it :)

Rose-Ringed Parakeet

I mentioned in my garden bird list that I have seen Rose-Ringed Parakeets in the garden. These birds are not indigenous to South Africa, but there are extensive colonies of these escapees living and breeding in Johannesburg - I understand they have been present since the 1980's! I have never managed to get a good picture of one here though and usually see them flying over. Last week however I found a young bird with a badly broken wing in the Garden.


Although initially panicked the bird soon settled down on my balcony and even ate the fruit provided. I have taken the little one to FreeMe rehabilitation centre and the vet seems to think the prognosis is good ...

Ovambo Sparrowhawk in Emmarentia?

This morning while slowly waking up with a cup of coffee on my balcony I observed a medium sized raptor with a kill fly over my garden in the direction of the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. I was beyond excited as the only raptors I have previously seen from my garden are Spotted Eagle Owls and Yellow billed Kites. Luckily I had my camera close by for a few snaps. I initially thought it might be a Gabar Goshawk but on closer inspection of the photographs it is almost certainly an Ovambo Sparrowhawk with what looks like a Red-faced mousebird in its talons. I guess this is not completely unexpected as Ovambo Sparrowhawks are regularly sighted in Golden Harvest, which is about 10km from where i stay and have occasionally been spotted in Delta Park - still it is fantastic to have these spectacular birds right on my doorstep and i will be keeping a close eye on the sky for the next few weeks. Here are the rest of the photographs:

Red-faced Mousebird

Hi have blogged previously about the Speckled Mousebirds that are ubiquitous around Johannesburg and mentioned that although Red-faced mousebirds also occur here I had not see one since returning from Dublin - so i was very excited to glimpse this guy in the Mulberry tree next door this morning:


The Speckled Mousebirds are still around too:

Wordless Wednesday - Grey Lourie Fly By