BLACK-HEADED HERON, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   This heron is unmistakeable as a Black-headed Heron because of the black top of its head and black hind neck contrasting with its white throat.

   The Black-headed Heron is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 339.

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BREEDING MALE LONG-TAILED WIDOWBIRD, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   This breeding male Long-tailed Widowbird is unmistakeable with its very long tail, black overall color, blue bill and bright red shoulder patch bordered with buff.

   The Long-tailed Widowbird is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 338.

HOTTENTOT TEAL, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this duck as a Hottentot Teal by its blue bill, dark crown, buffy face and dark smudges extending from near the ear down the neck.

   The Hottentot Teal is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 337.



RED-KNOBBED COOT, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

  We can ID this large rail as a Red-knobbed Coot by its  all black color and large white frontal shield with a red knob on top of it.

   The Red-knobbed Coot is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 336.

COMMON GALLINULE, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   The Common Gallinule, which use to be called the Common Morhen, is the same species we see in Southern Florida.

CAPE TURTLE DOVE, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   Even though we can see only the back of this dove, we can ID it as a Cape Turtle Dove by its size (it was larger than the Laughing Gull of the previous post), white tip on the tail and black collar on back of neck.

   The Cape Turtle Dove is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 335. 

LAUGHING DOVE, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this dove as a Laughing Dove by its size (it is smaller than a Cape Turtle-Dove which was near it), lack of a black collar on back of neck and pinkish-gray-bluish  body.

   The Laughing Dove is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 334.