Tag Archives: woodpecker

Obliging Bird

Forty years ago on my River Drive stoep in Westville, a Narina Trogon landed on just the right branch on the tree straight in front of me.

Same thing again this morning in Mtunzini.

Lovely.

~~oo0oo~~

Today I was happy to spot a Lesser Honeyguide and a Golden-tailed Woodpecker in that tree. And again. And again.

Then I realised it was a mother and daughter!  The Woodpecker was feeding the Honeyguide.

Roberts says the Scaly-throated usually parasitises the Golden-tailed Woodpecker, so that’s probably what it was: A juvenile Scaly-throated. I’ve been hearing both Honeyguides, but more of the Scaly-throated.

~~oo0oo~~

Latest is a pair of Grey Waxbills. Hoping to see their nuptial dance!

– I just got a peek of her scarlet bloomers –

A couple weeks later I got a few blurry shots of a Trogon pair against the harsh light. My lovely little compact zoom Canon sx740hs is not good at focusing where I want it to. My photography got one admiring comment from an envious deskundige, who chirped, “Looks like one of my favorite branches that. I like the way it keeps the bird modest and doesn’t allow full frontal exposure.”

When the male did pose full-frontal, my modest lil Canon decided to focus on a tree trunk, left-edge!

~~oo0oo~~

deskundige – ex-spurt

New Neighbours, Maybe

I heard a tap tap tapping next door. Industriousness can be very irritating, so I bustled out to have a look. My neighbour on the other side is industrious and what a pain. There’s a lawnmower, or a leaf blower, or a high pressure hose going so often it drives me crazy. I haven’t shouted GET A LIFE! over the fence. I’m far too polite.

Turns out this tap tap tapping is a bloke building a new home. He has chosen his site for the best possible fibre wifi access. Progress has been stopped today after his lady friend came to look at the joint. Maybe she didn’t fancy the bathroom tiling or the layout or something? I like it. It’s east-facing, gets the morning sun, and is protected from our prevailing wind and rain from the SW.

~~oo0oo~~

If he abandons it a Crested Barbet may move in. He’s been prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-ing in the yellow-flowered Cassia tree next to the pole.

– Golden-tailed Woodpecker – Crested Barbet – thanks wikipedia

Later I saw him doing some interior work – and spitting out the sawdust:

Hopefully they’ll be good neighbours once they stop making a racket.

~~oo0oo~~