Being a novice birder, it is impossible to tell what many of the birds are that I have observed over the past year. Now that I have started making a list - trying to recognise them from a bird book - it is clear that there are many more than I originally imagined, and that I don't know ANYTHING about birds! Below are some of the birds that I am sure are around here most of the time, and some that are here less often, and some that I only think are here, because I am not sure of what I saw! Of course there are also some that I have not even added to the list, because I just cannot even guess to what species they belong. In addition there will be those that I have assigned a name to, but is it the correct name? Not to mention that there are many geese (for example) but which species?? What triggered my interest? A pair of Avocets visited us and swooped over the water, circling a few times while surveying me and some campers, before landing nearby. They stayed at the water during the summer, and they are the most amazing and striking flying things I have seen in a long time. Maybe an experienced birder will be able to help with this list. Just stay at Laura's Place to enjoy the scenery and wildlife, and help expand my knowledge of the beautiful feathered beings! Later on some photos of my garden residents can be put on the page. I am looking forward to that day! Preliminary List of Birds @ Laura's Place This list is in no particular order except for my feeling of appropriateness, and groupings may be totally inappropriate. Great White Heron / Groot Wit Reier Grey Heron / Grys Reier Goliath Heron / Reuse Reier Cattle Egret / Veereier Coot or Moorhen / Bleshoender Avocet / Bontelsie Seagull / Seemeeu Wild goose / Wilde gans Wild duck / Wilde eend Spoonbill / Lepelaar Cormorant / Duiker Stork / Ooievaar Flamingo / Flamink Hadeda / Hadeda Ibis / Ibis Secretary Bird / Sekretarisvoël Owl / Uil Night Owl / Naguiltjie Black Eagle / Arend Hawk / Valk Fish Eagle / Visarend Peregrine Falcon / Swerfvalk Crow / Kraai Guinea Fowl / Tarentaal Quail / Kwartel Francolin / Patrys Hoopoe / Hoephoep Crowned Plover / Kroonkiewiet Woodpecker / Houtkapper Thick knee / Dikkop Korhaan / Korhaan Lapwing / Bont kiewiet Wood hoopoe / Kakelaar Wagtail / Kwikkie Sparrow / Mossie Starling or Blackbird / Spreeu Mynah / Mynah Rock pigeon / Kransbosduif Weaver or Widowbird / Flap Finches / Vinke Swallow / Swaeltjie Turtledove / Tortelduif Mousebird / Muisvoël Common Fiscal / Fiskaallaksman Sparrow Weaver / Koringvoël of Koringmossie Sugarbird / Suikervoël Sunbird / Suikerbekkie Hummingbird / Heuningbekkie Please feel free to comment on any or all of these birds, their names and/or name translations. I will give credit here to everybody who helps me. 3 May 2011 |