Spring birding

It is spring time in southern Africa! With the rains our dry lowveld part of Swaziland has turned green. There are some spectacular flowering trees in vivid red, purple and orange and even some colorful wildflowers. One flower, in particular, is a bright orange puff ball. In the last few days we have seen quite a few new birds. A new bird always makes me happy and I am learning to find joy in simple pleasures. We have found a bird-productive loop to walk taking us past homesteads of people we know, pastures, and kraals. There are always baby chicks, but lately new born calves and kids. Below is a list of birds seen since my last listing at the end of July.

White-face duck

Spotted Thick-knee

Crowned Lapwing

Black-shouldered Kite

Namaqua Dove

Lesser Striped Swallow

Crowned Hornbill

African Hoopoe

White-eared Barbet

Forked-tailed Drongo

Groundscraper Thrush

White-browned Robin-Chat

Violet-backed Starling

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Amethyst Sunbird

White-bellied Sunbird

Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Marico Sunbird

House Sparrow

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Southern Masked-Weaver

Southern Red Bishop

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Pin-tailed Whydah

African Firefinch

Common Waxbill

African Paradise Flycather

Cape Glossy Starling

Chinspot Batis

Southern Black Flycather

Kurrichane Thursh

Diderick Cuckoo

Red-billed Oxpecker