During week 1 I saw and heard 33 species.

Black SparrowhawkI also added three new species to my “Garden List” – first an Egyptian Goose and  while I was in a meeting I looked up just in time to see a Black-headed Heron fly past. The most exciting new addition to my Garden List that week had to be a pair of Black Sparrowhawks. They were far away and the light was not great, but I was ecstatic about this sighting!  Black Sparrowhawk

On a damp morning I heard the frog-like calls of European Bee-eaters. I looked out of the window and saw a few in a tree in a neighbour’s garden.  European Bee_eater European Bee_eater

The Grey Go-away birds have become quite tame, and sometimes eats the apple from my hand. As a result they also allow be to get quite close to take some photos with the macro lens.Grey Go_away bird Grey Go_away bird

Red_eyed doveDoves and pigeons are some of the most regular visitors to my balcony.

I hear the Red-eyed dove every day, but more often than not it just flies past or calls out of sight. The Speckled Pigeon is a daily visitor.

Speckled Pigeon

Some mornings I can count more than 30 Laughing doves on my balcony. They are often taken for granted, but they are just so pretty.

Laughing dove Laughing dove

The Cape Robin Chat is everyone’s favourite bird. Cape Sparrows also visit daily.

Cape Robin Chat Cape Sparrow

The Speckled Mouse Birds are some of the more entertaining birds that visit my balcony. They are like little acrobats always hanging about.

Speckled mouse bird  Speckled mouse bird

They are also quite happy to share, and it is nothing strange to see 3-5 eating apples at the same time.Speckled mouse bird

Black-collared BarbetThe Black-collared Barbet was not always a regular visitor, but all of a sudden he would visit a couple of times a week. And on the days when I did not see him, I could always hear them call their duet call from a tree nearby. The light for this photo was just perfect.Black-collared Barbet

I also took the opportunity to play with the macro lens. I found a couple of spiders.

Jumping spider Crab spiderFlower ChainChain Fly

Read here about my sightings during week 2 of lock-down.

Scroll to top