FEMALE AFRICAN STONECHAT, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this bird as a female African Stonechat by its small size, brown above and on head, chestnut-buff below, white rump and white wing patches.

FEMALE WHITE-WINGED WIDOWBIRD, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this bird as a female White-winged Widowbird by its heavy streaking above, underparts whitish with fine streaking and short tail.

   The White-winged Widowbird is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 346.

RUFF, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this sandpiper as a Ruff by its scaly looking upperparts, orange legs and orange base of the bill.

   The Ruff is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 345.

PIED AVOCET, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

    We can ID these waders as Pied Avocets by their black and white pattern, very long and thin upturned bill and long blue legs (see second photo).
   The Pied Avocet is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 344.

GREATER FLAMINGOS, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID these flamingos as Greater Flamingos by their large size and large pink bill with black tip, which is diagnostic.  Also the Greater Flamingo has much more white and much less pink than the Lesser Flamingo.

   The Greater Flamingo is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 343.

GREATER STRIPED SWALLOW IN FLIGHT, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this swallow as a Greater Striped Swallow by its relatively short (compared to some other swallows) forked tail, pale underparts (stripes are not noticeable as they would be on a Lesser Striped Swallow) and two tone underwing pattern (pale and dark).

   The Greater Striped Swallow is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 342.

YELLOW-BILLED DUCK, MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this duck as a Yellow-billed Duck by its yellow bill with a black wedge shaped patch on top and its mottled brown pattern.

   The Yellow-billed Duck is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 341.