South Africa – Forgotten Fields

12 October 201912 October 2019 | Forgotten Fields

A Cape Skimmer in the Reeds, 11 October 2019. Copyright 2019 Forgotten Fields. All rights reserved.

Whilst photographing the Southern Red Bishops yesterday, this Cape Skimmer (Orthetrum julia capensis) was my companion.

Image | 6 October 20196 October 2019 | Forgotten Fields

An African Stonechat, 05 October 2019. Copyright 2019 Forgotten Fields. All rights reserved.

Also taken Friday, an African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus). This is the male of the species which I often mistake for the Cape Batis (Batis capensis) female, which it resembles at a glance. I made the error again on Friday, not recalling that I had photographed the bird in the field opposite earlier this year!

Image | 6 October 20196 October 2019 | Forgotten Fields

The First of the Swallows, 05 October 2019. Copyright 2019 Forgotten Fields. All rights reserved.

Taken Friday, a Greater Striped Swallow (Cecropis cucullata), usually the first of the swallow species to return to South Africa in spring (September to November). Extraordinarily fleet in the air, they are near impossible to photograph!