Trevor's Birding

Olive Thrush, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

1 Comment »1st May, 2012; Category: Non-Australian birds

Olive Thrush, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Late last year during my visit to my daughter who was teaching in Ethiopia I spent quite a few hours exploring the gardens and adjacent small forest of the school campus. During these times was able to get a few nice photos of the birds I saw.

Included in the species seen was the Olive Thrush (Turdus olivaceus) shown in the photos on today’s post. This particular bird was quiet and didn’t seem to mind me focussing on it. Despite the shade of the forest making the light conditions rather poor, I did manage several reasonable shots.

The Olive Thrush of East Africa is found throughout the higher altitudes of the region and is relatively common in forests, wooded areas and park and large gardens with plenty of trees. Its diet consists of spiders, various insects, fruit, worms and snails.

Olive Thrush, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A Peaceful Dove a little out of range

2 Comments »29th April, 2012; Category: Birds on Television

One of our television channels here in South Australia is currently showing reruns of Star Trek Voyager series 2. I have been enjoying seeing this series over again, some of which I had previously missed. The episode I watched this evening (Innocence) featured Tuvok who had crashed-landed a shuttle on a well vegetated moon.

Part way through the episode I turned up the volume. Sure enough, there was the unmistakable call of a Peaceful Dove on the soundtrack. LOL.

The Peaceful Dove is a widespread species in Australia. I had no idea that it colonised a moon in another galaxy.

Peaceful Dove, Cleland Wildlife Park

Baglafecht Weaver, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

No Comments »22nd April, 2012; Category: Non-Australian birds

Baglafecht Weaver (non-breeding) in Addis Ababa

Today I feature photos of the Baglafecht Weaver in Addis Ababa.

I think I have the identification of this bird correct. If any of my readers can enlighten me I’d really appreciate the help because I can’t find all that much information about this species online. Sure – I can find heaps of fine photos of this bird in breeding plumage. At that stage it takes on a bright yellow plumage with a black face mask. Only remnants of those bright colours remain in the non-breeding plumage of the bird shown in today’s photos.

These photos were taken on the campus of Bingham International School in Addis Ababa where my daughter was teaching last year. I also found a number of nests nearby which were clearly made by a weaver.

Baglafecht Weaver (non-breeding) in Addis Ababa

Another Red-billed Firefinch, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

1 Comment »20th April, 2012; Category: Finches, Non-Australian birds

Red-billed Firefinch, Addis Ababa

A few days ago I showed several photos of Red-billed Firefinches taken in the grounds of Bingham Academy in Addis Ababa (click here to view).

I’ve just discovered another lovely photo that I took of this beautiful species, shown above. This species was quite common in the grounds of the school where my daughter was teaching last year so I managed a few good shots. I’m not sure about when they breed but this individual seemed intent on taking this feather with it. I can’t recall if I watched where it went.

Wattled Ibis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

1 Comment »18th April, 2012; Category: Ibises, Non-Australian birds

Wattled Ibis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

One of the interesting birds I saw last December during my stay with my daughter in Addis Ababa was the Wattled Ibis. It was the only species of ibis I saw during my short visit despite the fact that 7 different species can be found in Eastern Africa.

The birds in these photos were taken along the river which flows along one boundary of the school campus where we were staying. Only in the last photo on this page can you easily see the wattle hanging from the throat of the birds. The Wattled Ibis is a bird of the highlands in Ethiopia – usually above 1500 metres – and is quite common. It has also been recorded in nearby Eritrea. While I only saw two birds at a time it is commonly seen in medium sized flocks of 20 – 100.

When feeding it will walk along slowly, prodding the ground for insects, worms, beetles and will take frogs, mice and even small snakes.

Wattled Ibis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia