On a trip to South Africa in 2008, one of our stops included several days at a wonderful safari lodge in the North West. Needless to say, the abundant animal life had my camera (including a 300mm lens) at my side and I constantly snapped anything that moved…no matter how big…or how small.
I live in Florida, where birds are a common part of the landscape. I discovered this province quite similar in flora and the number of unique birds. I’m not a bird expert (they are simply fun to watch), but took photos of many I saw and then attempted to properly identify them. While I have a book of Bushveld birds and a list of birds our guide rattled off during our trips in the bush, the task has left a few photos without proper identification. It didn’t help that I went through my notes at the end of the day with a Springbok (drink made with layers of kahlua, peppermint liquor, and Amarula cream) or a sweet Jerepico aperitif (loved it, but can’t find it in the US). If you recognize a bird, or find one I’ve mislabeled, please let me know.
![The Lilac-breasted Roller.](https://sandyparks.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/lilac-breastedroller-copy.jpg?w=418)
![Not wishing to have the pretty ones take center stage a Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill moved into the picture.](https://sandyparks.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/s-yellow-billedhornbill-copy.jpg?w=630)
![The vulture. Big, ugly, and a necessary scavenger. I can’t tell from its position and this photo what type. African White-backed or maybe Hooded Vulture?](https://sandyparks.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/africanwhite-backedvulture1.jpg?w=497)
![Starlings are found around the world, but this one certainly had a beautiful blue. Burchell’s Starling.](https://sandyparks.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/burchellsstarling.jpg?w=630)
These were some nests I encountered.
These two photos show a remarkable collection of giant nests from a bird I can’t identify. Someday I’ll have to contact the lodge where we stayed and ask, as they have it posted in their website gallery from a bunch of photos I left behind after our visit.
![Nest2](https://sandyparks.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/nest2.jpg?w=630)
![A larger angle showing the entire tree and multiple nests.](https://sandyparks.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/nest1.jpg?w=418)
I think hubby found my photo taking a bit amusing and snapped this photo with his pocket-sized digital.
Amazing birds. Thank you for sharing.