Patience … You either got it or you ain’t…

I suffer badly from Impatience, I hate to wait, I don’t want things to run a slow course, when something is to happen it must happen….. NOW….

This is how I feel about my camera.. It left America, went to Europe and then found its way here. Here it has taken as long to clear customs as it took to wend its way from America. That, unfortunately, is what we refer to here as “Africa time.”

Now it must make its way 66 kilometres to our nearest Post Office in Pretoria and then, when they feel the need, they will let my daughter know it is ready for collection….

She will then collect it for me and put it on a courier to where we are at present…. I think my poor daughter is already sick of receiving phone calls from Dad asking if it’s there yet…

Anyway, while we wait, here are a few photos I reworked from a while back and somehow happier with them this time.. They are of our Giant Kingfisher… enjoy while we wait…

Sorry… I apologise… But I just have to do this…

A few more Flamingo photos that appeal to my liking… and just to add interest a quote by C. JoyBell C.

Reflections…. “The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.”

If you could only see in the mirror what I see….

Why is what we see in a mirror, not how others see us ?? Should we even care ?? I love the reflections these birds make, but not always what I see in the mirror……

 

I was returning from work today and spotted these on a lake in the middle of a housing area… sneaked on in and took some photos… will be posting more of these when time allows…

Amur Falcon.. Rietvlei Dam..

Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis)

The Amur Falcon, previously known as Eastern Red-footed Falcon, is a small raptor of the falcon family. It breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China, wintering in Southern Africa. This bird is far from home…

The birds diet consists mainly of insects, such as termites.

Males are characteristically dark sooty colour (grey), the chestnut on the vent should prevent miss identification with the Gabar Goshawk. Also there may be some superficial resemblance to Sooty Falcon and Grey Kestrel, but those two species both have yellow feet and cere. Separating male Amur and Red-footed Falcons is best done by the white under-wing coverts on Amur Falcon, whereas the under-wing of male Red-footed Falcons is uniformly grey.

Females may offer a bit more confusion with a wider range of falcons as they have a typical falcon head pattern. The grey on the top of the head should quickly rule out confusion with Red-footed Falcons. The female has barring on the lower belly. Red cere and feet this rules out all other falcons.

These photos are of a Male Amur Falcon…

Yellow Weaver.. the Master Builder

Yellow Weaver (ploceus subaureus).

This little master builder will congregate with his fellow men and build nests near each other, hoping to attract a female of the specie. It does look quite hilarious when a female shows up, with all these men now competing against each other for her attention..

The Yellow weaver can only be found along the East coast of South Africa, I’m not sure how far north it is found but probably up into Mozambique..

It is a smallish bird only 17cm. long … feeds on flying insects that it captures on the wing… and like other weavers it does enjoy a bit of nectar from flowers…

The weaver family is known for their intricately built nests… woven material that is collected from all sources with a hanging entrance… very neat and strong..