Southern Hemisphere Birds In Spring

September Garden Birds In Durban

Started our new week off watching the lesser striped swallows arrive signaling their return, in-sync with start of summer these aerodynamic birds never cease to amaze!

Checking nests they built a season or more ago in a protected area under the roof, does it need repairs or is it good to go?
4403-Lesser striped swallow.png
_{Lesser-striped swallows}
Sitting on a branch taking a short rest these birds are inter African migrant, many believe they may travel much further, perhaps they follow the insects higher north after collecting in large groups to roost elsewhere during our winter months.

Lesser striped swallows only occurs during the breeding season down south, they are able to catch insects on the move seldom sitting for long.

Fork tail is sleek, flight is swift, not often you find them sitting, this was a good day for photography they appeared content...

Dark-capped bulbul is constantly around the home, always letting his friends know he is in the area calling out, even when eating.

_{Dark-capped bulbul}
Very vocal early at sun-up and sun-down normally perching high for a great view!

In the last week I have noticed an abundance of barbet's the black-collared I had previously shown are still very much in the area, a couple of crested barbet briefly visited which I was not prepared enough to photograph, I hope to see this visitor again, another never seen in my garden.

_{Black-collared barbet}

Then we had a baby now to try identify this little one, other than it has vice like beak that showed me it could take care of itself.

Fluttering around below the tree it appeared to be in trouble, giving Woody the dog stern warning not to go near I scooped him up to check if he possibly needed assistance in a drop of water.... what was I thinking?

With so many barbet around I originally thought this may be a barbet, on taking a closer look at the markings I do believe this is the Thick-billed weaver, I may be mistaken however the thick-billed weavers are also resident in the region.

Thick-billed weaver bird with the white flashes on the wings and white forehead which would make it a young male.

_{Possibly thick-billed weaver}

My absolute highlight of the week was walking around my own garden once again, which I do many trips daily, taking breaks from the computer and giving Woody a walk while I am able to photograph whatever catches the eye!

African little sparrowhawk, I have only ever seen in the garden once previously so this was a delight to see them here again, so much bush has been removed for development!

A bird that prey's on other smaller birds in flight or on the ground, will raid nests as well.

_{Little sparrowhawk}

The Little Sparrowhawk is known in Afrikaans as Kleinsperwer.

The Little Sparrowhawk has a height of 23 cms and weighs around 75 gms. The head is coloured grey while the bill is coloured grey. The Accipiter minullus has a brown coloured throat, yellow legs and a black, grey coloured back. The eyes are yellow.

Take note of the bird's main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size of the bird. Colours of a bird's body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts Birds using some other word ... for example brown, black.

Thanks to Hive account@melinda010100 hosting #featheredfriday - These birds were all seen during walks each day, shout out to Hive account@tattoodjay for #wednesdaywalk