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Yesterday was a day of adventure in the garden!
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First of all, hearing a terrible raucous in the garden (I knew it was the Fiscal Shrike – Lanius collaris), but it sounded like someone was being murdered! Upon closer investigation, I found her feeding her fledgling, and obviously she was not doing it fast enough, because the screeching coming from that little throat could have woken the dead! As I was focusing, she flew off, but the little chap was quite unperturbed at my presence and apart from giving me a quick glance, loudly carried on insisting upon being fed.
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Mommy was up and down all day trying to keep up with its voracious appetite! Mom causes havoc in the garden, nothing is safe from her prying eyes and excellent hunting skills, other fledglings in a nest being her favourite. It’s heart-breaking to see her pluck a baby from some bird’s nest with frantic parents unable to do a thing. After killing it, she will then spike the hapless little thing on one of the thorns of the Acacia tree, using it as her larder, often returning to feed her baby. But in her favour, she does have a beautiful song when she takes the time in between hunting.
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A total cutie-pie!
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Next on the list was that I spotted a new visitor to my garden, a Whitewinged Widow (Euplectes albonatatus) sitting in the Buddleiea salvifolia (Butterfly bush) right at the opposite side of my pond, checking out the accommodation. He was accompanied by two Weaver-like looking little birds, females, I presume, as they kept close to him wherever he went. Maybe I’ll be lucky and they’ll decide to move in!
.Endemic to South Africa and the only widow in the region to have white on the primary coverts, it breeds in damp, grassy areas. When not breeding, flocks frequent grassland and thornveld. It’s call is a nasal “zeh-zeh-zeh” and a repetitive “witz-witz-witz”.
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In the middle of photographing the Widow, I became aware of a strange bird sound, definitely nothing that lives here! Great was my surprise when I eventually found the source high up in the Acacia tree, an Indian Ringneck Parrot. He blended in so well with the green, it took some time for me to find him. I rushed inside for some seeds, hoping to coax him out of the tree, but besides giving me the once over, he didn't seem much interested and after crawling around in the tree like a well-seasoned acrobat, he tucked his head under his wing and promptly went to sleep. He spent about an hour in the garden, then took off across the wall and disappeared into the distance.
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.My research shows that Indian Ringnecks are native to Asia and Africa and can be seen in forests or arid environments. It’s not uncommon to see them thrive in urban areas as well. Apparently they are often seen in rural areas feeding from bird feeders or relaxing in parks, but this was my first time. Further research shows that they are uncommon in South Africa with small populations established in Durban and at Sodwana Bay in Natal. So I've come to the conclusion that it must have escaped from somebody's aviary nearby.
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The Rose-Ringed Parakeet or Indian Ringneck is classified as a smaller parrot known as a parakeet. These birds have a hooked beak, a long tail, and are smaller in size compared to most parrots. These parrots are about 16 inches in length and they have a stealthy appearance that sets them apart from most other exotic birds.
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Every day in the garden brings something new, one learns so much, we get introduced to great colour and foliage and we
stumble upon brilliant ideas that can completely change the way we think. Gardens are
essentially an artistic reflection of ourselves, our lives and our
lifestyles. Like all art, our gardens are subjective.
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As somebody once said, "I hope you enjoy the garden, and if you don’t then that’s your fault”.
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