Twice I heard it coming from the forest in front of my deck. A deep rough short growl. Some sort of animal. Maybe bushbuck can growl too, not just bark? I thought.
Both times a pedestrian was walking past at the time, so maybe it was humans weirdly clearing their throats? Dunno. Mystery noise.
Later around sunset, sipping red wine and scanning around with my binocs I spotted a Palm-nut Vulture right on top of a tall Douglas Fir. Yay! I love it when birds sit still. Time to show off my little camera’s zoom.
The Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis is a real Mtunzini special and I hadn’t seen one yet in the seven weeks we’ve been here.
Reading about it on my Roberts Bird Guide app, I suddenly realised that strange call I’d heard this afternoon may have been the vulture!
They say, “Call: Deep grah, ahrrrrr call, also grog-grog-grog notes,” so probably.
Told Jess about the bird, showed her the pics and described it’s call. Bladdy terrible child said:
Ah, like you when you’re clearing your throat.
No supper for her. Oh wait, she’s cooking tonight . .
~~oo0oo~~
Just had another look. Wow great zoom you have on that camera over such a long distance. E.V. is very envious. She had 2 attempts to see it but no luck. Is their appearance seasonal?
Fantastic. On a visit maybe 30 years ago I recall our rellies drove us to the palm grove hoping to spot the Palm Nut Vulture. But no luck on that day. Pretty good image you managed to get.