Thick-billed Weaver

I've blogged about the Southern Masked Weavers that are very common visitors to the garden before. Today i was privileged to have a much scarcer visitor, a female Thick-billed Weaver:


Thick-billed weavers are immediately identifiable from their large head and somewhat massive bill and, although they are not uncommon, it is the first time I have seen one in the garden! I'm always very excited to add a new addition to the garden list and hopefully this means the male, a more striking bird is also around!

Speckled Mousebird

On the subject of Mice, i often have mousebird's in the garden. They are super cute and really do look very much like mice, even down to the long scruffy tails - mousebirds do tend to creep around in dense foliage and so are quite difficult to see most of the time. This one is a Speckled Mousebird, we also sometimes get Red Faced Mousebirds ... although i have not seen one since being back in Johannesburg.

House Mouse

Not all garden visitors are welcome. I often see this family of mice foraging outback ... I'm leaving them be in the hope that they will attract some owls! The Spotted Eagle Owls have been very active lately and i hear or see them most evenings.

Cape White-eye - Take 2

Lately i'm obsessed with getting a decent pic of these little guys, so far my efforts have been unspectacular, but improving.

Feeding on my canna:



Perched on the wild rose (big crop):

Cape White-eye

These tiny little birds are super cute and I love watching them flit around the bushes. They are pretty tricky to photograph because they are so small. This is a 50% crop so I have lost a bit of detail. Hopefully I will be able to post a better picture soon.

Spotted Eagle Owl

I am absolutely carzy about owls, so I have been very excited to have spotted two Eagle Owls over the last few days. On Monday one flew directly overhead me when I was out in the garden quite late, and this evening there was a male calling on the roof of the building accross the road. Unfortunately the light was too bad for a decent photograph as you can see below! However I am very excited that they are present and will hopefully have some luck finding their roost over the next few weeks. A little bird has also wispered in my ear that they are aware of a nesting site in the area :-)

Wordless Wednesday - Morning Glory