Pel’s Fishing Owl
This brings me to the fifth owl species I saw on the trip. I had a choice of three camps for the birding weekend. One was eliminated quite quickly as it is not my favourite camp. The coin toss was between Olifants and Mopani, and when it landed on Olifants, I knew there was a chance that we would see the Pel’s Fishing Owl. We found them just after sunrise on the Saturday morning. There were two of them. We saw one fly into the trees, and then they started a conversation. To hear these incredible birds calling to each other was one of those goose bump moments. We could barely see one, but to hear them was almost more special as I’ve never heard the Pel’s call before. Our driver decided to drive back to the S90 as he thought we may see them from the other side of the trees. He was right. It was not the best sighting, but you could just see the face and eyes of the one owl.
We stopped for coffee and rusks and everyone was excited about the sighting. After our coffee break, we decided to look for them one more time. We found them. I did not get photos of this encounter, but it was incredible. They were still calling, and then both of them flew from one tree to another, and then to a third tree and out of sight. I saw a Pel’s for the first time in 2019, and it flew off. So I know it has a big wingspan. But it impressed me again. They are so much bigger than what they look sitting down. And that haunting call is just so cool. It will be one of the special memories I will cherish forever.
Parrot
Brown-headed Parrots can be such clowns, as this one in Letaba shows. Their colouring provides the perfect camouflage, and even if you hear them calling, they can be quite difficult to pinpoint.
Next up: Q is for …..