Burchell’s coucal ( Centropus burchellii )
This near endemic to Southern Africa bird prefers areas with dense vegetation and at least 600 mm of rainfall per year, such as thickets, reed beds, coastal bush, borders between woodland and grassland and land adjacent to wetlands. Now none of these areas describes where we live, we are in the city… so what is this bird doing on the lawn of my neighbours property.???
I’ve told you all I love to sit and watch the birds, but this had me collecting the camera… Nature at it’s best.. just when you think you are understanding it, a curve ball comes your way…
Sure he/she is collecting the snails in the garden and making a feast of them… but he/she shouldn’t be here… or so I thought….
Ok he/she did enjoy the snail… but I ask once again why are they here.?? Later another appeared, sitting higher up…. looking for danger…
and then the reason popped it’s head up for me to capture… a youngster still being fed by the parents… the darker neck is a sign of a juvenile…
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
Just seen Burchell’s Coucal in my garden, Honeydew, heard an usually call, there he was in my tree, flew into the roof and was gone.
It is amazing that they are being seen in the city, they are normally such a shy bird that to here they’re seen in Honeydew is brilliant…
How interesting that they are there. Can you send them my way? I have some snails they can eat. I don’t have it in me to get rid of them myself, but if the birds get them, that’s part of the circle of life.
If I could I would… but then you can capture the snails easier.. box them and send them here…
I so love these Coucals. We have one visiting our garden daily as well. They are gorgeous. Lovely shots bulldog! 🙂
Thank you… being in the city I hardly expected to see them here.. we are not far from Rietvlei Dam reserve where I encounter them often… but to get them in a garden next to a busy orad did astound me…
I am sure it did, but that is nature… astounds us every time. 🙂
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Bravo….mystery solved! Thanks for journaling it 😉
Thank you… one must just keep the eyes open… and nature will explain itself…
true that!
I always feel like in adventure land when I visit your blog. Exciting post . The bird’s plummage is beautiful and a happy disposistion.
Such a nice compliment thank you…
What a treat in solving this mystery! This is a most attractive bird with the coloring and long tail feathers!
Thank you
LOve the photo’s again, Bulldog. You must have lots of patience waiting for just the right shot.
not always patience.. but a dash for the camera to capture what’s happening in front of me…
Just another example of what one can see if they just pay attention. Great finds, Bulldog!
That’s it Frank… keeping your eyes open nature will show you so much
Fabulous photos again. How exciting for you to have this family almost in your backyard. 🙂
I still cannot believe it…
I really, really love your photos – you have a gift!
Thank you Diana.. such a great complement..
Escargot for your fine feathered friend, eh? 😉
and he gets it out the shell so easily…
Good spot!
thank you
What an exciting event! I can totally picture how amped you were to see that baby bird where you’d least expect it. 🙂
Great photos as always!!
I can assure you the youngster was the last thing I expected to see… it is most unusual to find this terribly shy bird out in the open in a garden and then to see the young… beyond my experiences… just shows nature can toss curve balls as well…
OOh what a super capture … these birds are notoriously shy! Laura
Yes Laura.. that is what surprised me the most… to see it catch a snail and then proceed to eat it in the open is not their usual behaviour… I found this most surprising…
Wow, I’ve never managed to get a clear shot of a Burchell’s Coucal but I can confirm that I’ve seen them outside my window at home, just never quite close enough without a good zoom. They truly are magnificent birds.
I have never seen them like this in the city, and then to be breeding here as well is just beyond my experiences…
fantastic 🙂
Thanks
Urban areas are warmer than the country and often have abundant food, this draws all the wildlife into the towns and cities.
No Alex not this bird… they are terribly shy birds and will duck and dive to hide from you… this is quite unusual…