P.A. Photography PhotoBlog

The Nyala

2011-08-07T13:05:00.000+02:00

The Nyala ( Tragelaphus angasii ). Living in the North Eastern Parts of Southern Africa The Nyala stands at about 100 Cm's tall for the Males and about 90 Cm's tall for the females. Feeding of Grass, Flowers and fruit this Ungulate has a life span of around 13 Years, the picture you see above is of a young Male, as the Male gets older their coat turns a darker brown and their Antlers grow, the female stays a reddish Brown. These Ungulates are often seen at a waters edge.

The Black-collared Barbet

2010-10-03T15:56:00.000+02:00

The Black-collared Barbet ( Lybius torquatus ). A Fairly common resident of Southern Africa, living in Forest, woodland and the Savanna regions, easily tempted to nest in Gardens with a proper nesting log. Standing at a height of around 20 Cm's and weighing in at around 60 Grams, these Bird feed on Fruit and insects.

Normally these Birds Sing in a duet fashion and give a little dance to each other as a kind of greeting ( very cute to watch ). They have a very distinct call, also their markings and colours are very different to the Crested Barbet.

The African Wild Cat

2010-09-19T10:27:00.000+02:00

The African Wild Cat ( Felis silvestris lybica ). Ok now I know what you may be thinking, this is just a Domestic Cat or a Ferrel Cat, well that answer would be wrong this Cat is a Wild Cat and is a Ancestor of the Domestic Cat. This Cat can be found throughout Southern Africa.

This Subspecies is around 130,000 years old. They weigh in at around 6 Kg's and their body length can be up to 75 Cm's excluding the tail. They feed on Mice, Rats, Birds, smaller Mammals and Fruit.

They are solitary animals only coming together during the mating season. For the most part they are a Nocturnal Cat, but can be seen late afternoon, also they like to live on the ground but do climb trees and also sometimes hunt in them.

What do you think ?

2010-09-05T10:09:00.000+02:00

In this post I would like to know which of the shots you would prefer as a Artistic rendition of a Photograph.
As both were done in different software programs one was done in Corel Painter and the other was done in Adobe Photoshop using different methods.

The Wattled Starling

2010-09-05T09:33:00.000+02:00

The Wattled Starling ( Creatophora cinerea ) . Another type of Starling which lives in Southern Africa as mentioned in a previous post there are around 14 different types of these Birds living in Southern Africa. Standing at a height of around 20 Cm's and weighing in at around 80 Grams.

The top picture is of a Bird a little more mature than the one above, they reside throughout Southern Africa. The Wattled Starling's are often seen in flocks eating Insects, Fruit and seeds and can be found in open woodlands, Farmlands and savanna areas.

The Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat

2010-08-22T10:21:00.000+02:00

The Gambian Epauletted Fruit Bat ( Epomophorus gambianus crypturus ). This is one of around 12 different types of Bats which live in Southern Africa. This Bat is very similar to the Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat, however this one is more of a brownish colour including the wings, were as the Wahlberg's is grey in colour.

They have a length of around 15 Cm's and weigh in at around 130 Grams, as the name suggests it loves to eat Fruit including wild figs, the Bat above likes Banana's too, these photo's were taken in the Mpumalanga Province, the bat Breeds in the early Summer with normally only one offspring.

The Rock Monitor

2010-08-15T10:44:00.000+02:00

The Rock Monitor ( Varanus albigularis ). This Reptile is common all over Southern Africa except for the Cape Region . As far has it's size is concerned it is second only to the Water Monitor, in the above photo we have tried to show you the tail as well.

The colouring of the Reptile ranges from brown to beige, their length can range from 90 to 130 cm's and they can often be seen climbing trees to take in the Sun's rays. Their favorite food is Beetles but they also eat anything thats around including Snakes, Rodents, Birds, Millipedes and even others Lizards.

The Rock Monitor has a few tricks up it's sleave to defend it's self including it's claws and teeth, lets not forget the tail and if all else fails they roll over and play dead. These photo's were taken in Mpumalanga.

The Greater Blue-Eared Starling

2010-08-08T11:57:00.000+02:00

The Greater Blue-Eared Starling ( Lamprotornis chalybaeus ). This Starling is one of around 14 different types of Starlings which reside within Southern Africa, Some of which are very hard to tell the difference between. Although very similar to the Cape Glossy Starling, this one has a blue ear patch which can be better seen on the photograph below.

Standing at around 24 Cm's tall and weighing in at around 100 Grams this Bird feeds on Insects, Fruit and small Vertebrates. This particular Starling can be found in the North Eastern parts of Southern Africa. The Cape Glossy Starling has a much wider range covering most of Southern Africa.

These particular photos were taken just outside the Kruger National Park, in the above photo you will notice the eye colour change you get with the reflection of the water. We watched these Starlings for quiet some time having a bath and drinking the water. The photo's were taken in June 2010 during our dry season, so the water was a welcome site for all the Birds in the area.

The White-Crested Helmet Shrike

2010-08-01T17:43:00.000+02:00

The White-crested Helmet Shrike ( Prionops plumatus ). Found mainly in the North Eastern Parts of Southern Africa, this Bird stands at around 22 Cm's tall and weighs in at around 35 Grams. The Bird feeds on Insects and other invertebrates.

The White -Crested Helmet Shrike is a common resident of the Savanna and Woodlands. The most striking feature of this Bird is the Yellow wattles around it's eye. These photographs were taken very close to the Kruger National Park.

The African Piping Hornbill

2010-07-24T10:48:00.000+02:00

The African Piping Hornbill ( Ceratogymna fistulator ). This Bird is found in West Africa example: Uganda feeding on maize and Oil Palm fruit, also flowers. The Bird is found in forests and oil palm plantations they spend their days in the canopy of trees eating fruit.

Within Southern Africa we have around 9 species of Hornbill excluding the Ground Hornbill. This Bird is not one of these because it is found around Uganda, in West Africa. The African Piping Hornbill is like it's cousin the African Pied Hornbill but much larger and with a heaver set bill. Like most Hornbill's while eating they jerk their heads backwards to swallow their food this is due to a short tongue which cannot manipulate their food at the end of their bill.

The African Plated Lizard

2010-07-18T11:56:00.000+02:00

The African Plated Lizard ( Gerrhosaurus major ). This lizard has it's home in Southern Africa. They range from a length of around 30-70Cm's, living on the ground and sleeping and hiding in burrows. This Reptile is omnivorous and eats Crickets, Beetles and caterpillars, they also eat fruit. They are found from Zululand South Africa all the way up to Ethiopia.

These photographs were taken in Mpumalanga very close to the Kruger National Park, this particular Lizard is not a pet nor does it live in a zoo, it is a wild Lizard living in a open garden at a friend of ours bush home, where it lives in a burrow at the base on a tree.

The Green Wood-Hoopoe

2010-07-11T11:41:00.000+02:00

The Green Wood-Hoopoe ( Phoeniculus purpureus ). This Bird is one of 3 Hoopoe's which live in Southern Africa. The other 2 are the " African Hoopoe " and the " Violet Wood-Hoopoe " . The Green Wood Hoopoe is very similar to the Violet Wood-Hoopoe but is smaller in size and has a shorter tail.

Standing at a height of around 35 Cm's and weighing in at around 90 Grams this Bird feeds on Insects, small vertebrates, and invertebrates. The Bird is quiet common in gardens, woodlands and forest edges.

These photo's were taken in Mpumalanga. As you can see the Green Wood-Hoopoe is a very colourful Bird with Violet's and Green's that can be seen when the light shines on it's feathers. The above photos are of a Female, the Male has a longer beak and is more curved than the females.

The Bennett's Woodpecker

2010-07-04T12:18:00.000+02:00

The Bennett's Woodpecker ( Camperthera bennettii ). This is one of around 9 Woodpeckers that makes Southern Africa it's home, these photo's are of a Male notice the red patches on his cheeks the female does not have these.

Standing at a height of around 24 Cm's and weighing in at around 80 Grams, this Woodpecker feeds on Insects (Ants,termites) hidden under the bark of a tree. The Bird is a fairly common resident of woodlands and Savanna, situated in the Northern parts of Southern Africa. Sometimes it can be seen feeding on the ground.

The Karoo Prinia

2010-06-27T13:55:00.000+02:00

The Karoo Prinia ( Prinia maculosa ). This Bird is a resident of the Karoo, the Western and Eastern Cape. Standing at a height of around 14 Cm's and weighing in at around 11 Grams, this little Bird's diet consists of Insects and spiders.

These photographs were taken at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens where there are some 125 species of Birds alone, the area consists of 528 hectares which comprises of protected and cultivated areas, including "Fynbos" found naturally no were else on the Planet. The Gardens also include mountainsides and forests only 36 of the 528 hectares are cultivated.

The Lesser Bushbaby

2010-06-20T13:48:00.000+02:00

The Lesser Bushbaby also known as the South African Galago or the " Nagapie " ( Galago moholi ). This Small mammal is a Nocturnal Mammal and resides at the Northern to Eastern Parts of Southern Africa.Weighing in at around 150 Grams this tiny little and very cute Mammal can make large leaps from tree to tree also from the ground it can leap about 2 Meters or more into a tree.

The Lesser Bushbaby likes to feed on Gum, Grasshoppers, Spiders and Moths here the Lesser Bushbaby is feeding on a mashed Banana it was the only way to make it keep still for a few seconds so we could take a couple of photographs. They do not drink water and their main enemy is the Gaint eagle Owl.

The Kurrichane Thrush

2010-06-06T12:35:00.000+02:00

The Kurrichane Thrush ( Turdus libonyanus ). This Thrush is one of 10 Thrush's including Rock Thrushes which reside in Southern Africa, standing at about 22Cm's tall and weighing in at around 50 - 70 Grams. the Bird is also known as a woodland Thrush. The Bird eats Fruit and small Invertebrates sometimes you can see them steal food from smaller birds.

The Kurrichane Thrush is a common resident in woodlands, parks and gardens. Mainly in the North Eastern parts of Southern Africa.These photos was taken in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.

The Natal Spurfowl

2010-05-30T12:44:00.000+02:00

The Natal Spurfowl ( Pternistis natalensis ). Another Spurfowl found in the Eastern parts of Southern Africa. This bird belongs to the same Family as the previous post, but is vary rarely found in the Cape region standing at a height of around 30 to 38 Cm's and weighing in at around 300 to 650 Grams. Their Diet also consists of seeds, fruit and small invertebrates. This photograph was taken just outside the Kruger National Park.

The Cape Spurfowl

2010-05-30T11:11:00.000+02:00

The Cape Spurfowl ( Pternistis capensis ) This Bird is common to the Southern Cape of South Africa. Ranging from a height of around 40 to 43 Cm's and weighing in at around 650 grams to 1kg. This Bird feeds on seeds, Fruit and small invertebrates. This is but one of around six Spurfowl we have in this Country. It is common around the Karoo, large gardens, lowland fynbos and thickets.

The Vervet Monkey

2010-05-22T15:24:00.000+02:00

The Vervet Monkey ( Cercopithecus aethiops ). This monkey is found all over Southern Africa we took this video footage while inside the Kruger National Park it seemed very cute while holding it's baby. Lots of people find these Monkeys a pest raiding houses, pinching food and harassing people.

Because of the destruction of their natural habitat they don't have much of an option. Standing at a height of around 65 Cm's and weighing in at around 8 Kg's these little Monkeys will just about eat anything they can get their hands on, their natural food consists of wild fruit, Insects, seeds, Birds and eggs. Also their natural enemies include Leopard, lion and Caracal.

The Arrow-marked Babbler

2010-05-22T13:58:00.000+02:00

The Arrow-marked Babbler ( Turdoides jardineii ). This bird is common to the Babbler family found in the North Eastern parts of Southern Africa. Standing at around 25 Cm's tall and weighing in at around 60-80 Grams. The juvenile lacks the white streaks on the breast, their diet consists of Insects and Spiders but are also know to eat fruit and seeds. This photograph was taken within the province of Mpumalanga, inside the Kruger National Park.

The Red Backed Shrike

2010-05-16T16:44:00.000+02:00

The Red-backed Shrike ( Lanius collurio ). This Bird is a migrant to Southern Africa we see them from October to April . This Bird has a height of around 18 Cm's and has a weight of around 25 to 44 Grams.Their diet consists of Insects and Fruit. The bird is common to the savanna and open woodlands.

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher

2010-05-16T13:17:00.000+02:00

The Brown-hooded Kingfisher ( Halcyon albiventris ). One of Many Kingfishers within the Southern African border. This one weighs in at around 50-75 Grams and has a lengh of around 20 Cm’s. Just because it’s called a Kingfisher does not mean it only eats Fish the Bird also eats Insects, Frogs, small snakes and other Birds . This Kingfisher makes it’s home in woodlands, forests and peoples gardens.

These pictures were taken inside the Kruger National Park, there is around 10 different types of Kingfisher which we have locally, three of which leave us for our Winter. This Bird can be found on our Eastern Coastline and Mpumalanga.