Some more mystery birds from Eritrea

[mitzimaybe]

You could be forgiven for thinking it was a bird-watching holiday! All I can say is, if you like birdwatching, you'll like Eritrea. Mostly rubbish photos. I've managed to identify some other birds but haven't got these yet... I'm really enjoying the process but it takes ever such a long time!

Comments

[idahoswede]

What size lens were you shooting with? I'm thinking about buying a 500mm zoom for my Kenya trip, but don't know if it will be large enough for wildlife.

[mitzimaybe]

As it wasn't supposed to be a birding / wildlife holiday, I just had an all-purpose 18-200 zoom. As you can see, the quality at maximum zoom (used for virtually all the bird shots) is very poor. When I went to see the polar bears I took a 400mm but it was too big! (The bears were close.) If I'd known I was going to take so many bird shots, I would probably have taken the 400mm to Eritrea

[idahoswede]

Thanks for the advice. I went ahead and ordered the 500mm. Fortunately, I have two Nikons and will keep the 500mm on the D3100 and then a 200 on the D70 and I can swap back and forth.

[mitzimaybe]

Good luck and hope to see some brilliant photos when you get back! I would advise practising with both cameras and lenses as much as possible before you go, so when you get there you aren't having to think "which button does what" or turning the zoom the wrong way etc. because timing can be critical and the more familiar you are with the equipment (so you don't even have to think about it) the more likely you are to get a good shot.

[pondhopper]

The last two could be some sort of Loriculus. Not sure which one, though.
The first one has a very finch-like beak...

The second one is a Namaqua Dove.
:)

[pondhopper]

Hi Mitzi
I think your birds are: African Silverbill, Namaqua Dove, probably White-rumped Seedeater (+ an unidentified sunbird), and Meyer's Parrot. I recommend you get the excellent book 'Birds of the Horn of Africa' by Redman, Stevenson and Fanshaw, which covers Eritrea.
The best of luck with your future birding

Tom Jenner (birdingsudan.blogspot.com)

p.s. I saw your request for help with these birds on Mark Mallalieu's blog on birding in South Sudan.

[mitzimaybe]

Hi Tom, thank you so much for taking the trouble to visit my journal and reply. I'm so impressed you can suggest something for the LBJs (little brown jobs). I had just about got to Meyer's Parrot but I'm grateful for the confirmation.

I'm just about to post a few more pics (I think these will be the last ones) with my tentative identifications. If it's not too much trouble, I'd love it if you could correct any you think I've got wrong.

The trip I went on wasn't supposed to be for birding, so I was caught somewhat unawares by seeing & photographing so many unfamiliar species.

[mitzimaybe]

I got the last bird (on my Dreamwidth journal comments) and Tom has given the answer below, too.

I'm still very impressed by your bird identification skills!