We spent last weekend in Upington finishing off the Barbershop that Boy has opened there… We stayed over at Tshahitsi Lodge, a beautiful place of which I will do a separate post … it is a very relaxing spot with a small dam in the centre…
On Sunday morning I rose before the sun did and went and ensconced myself in a good spot next to the dam hoping for a little reward… Well hidden some birds came too close to photograph as I would have frightened them with movement, but it was nice to get up close. However I did capture a few hundred photos some of which I will share below…
This guy was close…
The new camera certainly allows me to get closer to things….
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
Patience rewarded bulldog. Gorgeous images. I love seeing all the colorful and different birds of Africa. I haven’t found any like that here…..well except for the mourning doves. Great lens you have there for those up close and personal shots. Have a great week ahead 😉
Super shots! Glad you are getting along well with the new camera!
Congratulations on finishing off the barber shop! Does Boy use hot towels on his customers, do you know? I had a haircut the other day and the very best part was during the shampoo, when they placed a hot towel over my forehead and eyes. I fell asleep for a minute 🙂
Your pictures are beautiful, Bulldog. I especially like the one of the moon.
Your bird shots are always wonderful but that moon shot is fabulous! 🙂
Hi Bulldog.
Hope that your new year is off to a great start.
Nice variety of birds.
And – WOW on that daytime moon shot!
Thank you RoSy… all the best to you for 2015
Now the moonshot is the killer. Im wishing I have a camera like yours. And yes, I love your bird shots!
Thank you so much… it is notoften one sees the moom such in clear sky… no dust just pure clean air
Thanks Carol…. this was a special day
I am speechless…. this last one… just totally awesome! (they all are really) 🙂
Thanks Ute
You must use a tripod, how else would those birds not mind a big guy like you rummaging around in the bushes? The tripod must look like kin-folk!
One thing you can’t use for this type work is a tripod… the birds come in from all directions… and sitting still is the name of the game… this is where this type camera over shadows the big lens camera, it is mobile without looking like you’re about to start a war…
Neat.
It looks like you and your new camera are becoming very good friends. That 3rd picture of little bird on the stalk of grass is stunning … and then of course there is the moon. Damn, you were really close! 😉
Thanks Joanne… I’m getting to know the camera… but the zoom is beyond belief
Grazie per aver condiviso queste meraviglie della natura, sono stupende.
Un caro saluto, Patrizia
Thanks Pat
When you live in a place surrounded by all these colourful birds, you just have to have a good camera. Wonderful photos!
You are so right Anneli and this one is good
What a magnificent photo of the moon! Did you capture the photo of the moon in daylight?
Thanks Alex… the moon was taken at about 8 am with a beautiful sun behind me
soooooo – you ever thought about doing a book of birds of South Africa???????? 🙂
Never … we have the world famous Roberts bird book and a few others of which i have copies… they are too good with 947 species of birds found here…. I am trying to get photos of all 947 and now have 403…. my life I think will be too short to get them all… lol… Roberts started in the 1800s and his legacy is kept alive by 4 experts that update all the time for nothing.. all monies raised go to the new books and for bursaries for upcoming experts to study and I’m considered too old to qualify. … but my book (the hard copy not the ebook) will be full of photos I’ve taken….
then I look forward to that being published 🙂
Fabulous photos Rob!
Thank you
I just love the last photo!!! I wish I could do that too!! 😀 ❤
You can… just buy the right camera
No money for 😦
Great bird shots as usual bulldog and OMG that moon shot is amazing – love that new camera!
Diana xo
Thanks Diana… I certainly am in love with the camera
Omygosh moon! Love it!
Thanks Jewels
What fun. The first orange bird is fantastic.
Thanks Maralee
It really looks like you got very close to that moon, bulldog. 🙂 Beautiful bird pics, and well done on the completion of work on the Barbershop.
Thanks Sylvia…
Nice captures! i love the orange one. 🙂
Thanks Laura
You’re welcome! 🙂
Love the first orange bird and the moon best! The detail you’ve captured on the moon is amazing!
Great camera I think
Although I always appreciate seeing the wildlife in your part of the world, but the moon pic stole the show.
I like it too… may be not so much that the birds suffer by it…. lol
I’m just at a loss for words bulldog (of course you know that’s uncommon for me) – magnificence doesn’t quite reach far enough to describe your artistry, but I am truly loving your experimentation with the camera. It not only allows you to get closer to things… it also allows us to get a closer look at many things that we would have never had the opportunity to bring into our vision without your photos and kindness to share them with us. Thank you…
Michael
Wow Michael…. such a nice complement … thank you
So many varieties of our winged friends, Are these all from one trip? Love the moon shot! WOW!
All taken between 6.30 am and 8.00 am on the same day… I kind of enjoyed the moon shot too… Thanks Mrs P.
Wow, those are fabulous captures Bulldog :). Your new camera seems to be agreeing with you.
Thank you… the new camera is just blowing me away…
I just upgraded my camera to a newer model too, and I’m finally getting some time to experiment with it. We’re under a severe cold warning today, and it’s currently -28C. However, that means that the snowy owls have come to visit, and I stood shivering at the side of the road yesterday taking pictures of a beauty sitting on top of a hydro pole. Hopefully he’s there today too :).
The experimenting is the most fun.. at present I take the first shot on Auto and then change settings… the only way to learn as the instruction book is 150 pages long and 90% of it I don’t understand… lol
I love the way you can wander down to a local dam and find such a wonderful variety of birdlife – great to see.
Thanks Brian… we have so much we can see if we just take the time to sit and watch, wanted to say smell the roses, but there are none next to the dam…
Oehoe!!! Ongelooflik. Vroeg opstaan, nog voor die son opkom? Ek like ook van daai deng. Die voëls was die moeite werd. En laaste foto ongelooflik!
Dankie Spokie .. niks beter as die vroeë oggend, veral vir voëls foto’s
I agree with Julie, your pics are absolutely fantastic! Pity in a way for novices like me, that photography is highly technical – cant even understand the instruction book!
Thanks for the complement Keith, but these days most cameras do it all for you… my new camera is very good this way as I like to learn with trial and error… the book is only 150 pages long and I can’t understand 90% of it…. lol…
FANTASTIC!
Thanks Julie