St Lucia Wetland Park (now iSimangaliso Wetland Park)

St Lucia Wetland Park

St Lucia Wetland Park or now known as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, is a wonder and wildlife paradise. It is South Africa’s very first UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and the third largest protected area in the region. Located in KwaZulu Natal, the wetland park covers 328,000 hectares of stunning scenery … Read more

Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer)

Marabou Stork

It is a large, morbid-looking stork, with a huge pointed bill, bare, seemingly burned, pink head and neck. This bird flies seamlessly as it searches for food, displaying its conspicuous white belly. As opportunistic feeders, they are often seen near carrions, and kills of terrestrial predators, patiently waiting to grab some scraps. … Read more

Southern Carmine Bee-eater (Merops nubicoides)

Carmine Bee-eater

It is a large, slender, striking bee-eater, with carmine pink and teal blue plumage, black facial mask, black bill, and long-pointed tail. Large groups often aggregate in recently-burned bushes, catching flying insects. These birds are colonial breeders, burrowing holes into sandbanks. Their call is characterized by more rasping “trik-trik-tirk” notes than their … Read more

Flappet Lark (Mirafra rufocinnamomea)

Flappet Lark

It is a small, stubby lark, with a barred head, short bill, and scalloped tips on its wing feathers, producing a scaly appearance on its back. Pairs can often be seen in open woodlands, grassy savannas, drainage lines, and clearings, running slyly while catching insects in shrubs and grass tufts. The adult … Read more

African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp)

Pied Wagtail

It is black-and-white wagtail occurring in Africa, sporting distinct white wing panels and eyebrow and a distinct black patch on the throat. Pairs or family groups can be found in a broad range of habitats, even those altered by human activities. It runs on the ground as it pursues prey while its … Read more

Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Ostrich

It is the largest extant bird species, conspicuous due to its long neck and powerful legs. Males sport a black-and-white plumage, while females have a paler gray-brown tone. Small flocks occur in lightly-wooded county habitats, roaming several kilometers each day. While they are flightless, their wings are not useless as they use … Read more