Birders love to find rare birds; few things match the excitement
of coming across something completely unexpected.
But the obsession with rarities can result in population
changes in more common birds being overlooked. Breeding
bird surveys in Europe, Asia and North America show
that many bird populations are in flux, but what do we
know about the status of common birds in South Africa?
Photographer, author and
naturalist Hugh Chittenden is
one of southern Africa’s most
respected field biologists. His
canny observations and acute
attention to bird behaviour have
brought to light a wealth of
insights into hitherto unknown
courting, nesting and feeding
activities. But it is his patience
while wielding a camera that
reflects his approach reminiscent
of the old-school naturalists,
who waited and waited for
their ‘moment’ with birds. It’s an
unhurried approach that these
days is all too often disregarded.
Here he shares some of his
favourite images with us.
Observations over the summer of 2023 at the same
Eastern Cape forest-edge nest site as previously
reported in African Birdlife reveal two successful
Narina Trogon broods, together with further insights
into the species’ breeding behaviour.
Antarctic Tern|Bar-tailed Godwit|Black Harrier|Eurasian Blackcape|Falco falcons|Grey Plover|House Martin|Hugh Chittenden|Jonathan Rolland|landbirds|Leach’s Storm Petrel|Michelle Vrettos|migration|migratory|Northern Wheatear|Pectoral Sandpiper|Peter Ryan|Phil Hockey|Pterodroma petrels|Ruddy Turnstone|Sanderling|seabirds|Trevor Hardaker|Whimbrel|White Stork
Circus pygargus|Hugh Chittenden|Michael Henshall|Montagu’s Harrier
drongo|fledgling|host|Hugh Chittenden|parasite
African Palm Swift|Carp’s Tit|Chestnut Weaver|chicks|Chobe National Park|Familiar Chat|Grey Cuckooshrike|Hugh Chittenden|Joe Ubbink|Laurel Osborne|Louise Victor|Lourens Botha|nesting|nestlings|nests|Rene Nielsen|Rock Martin|Southern Ground-Hornbill|Tim Osborne|Western Barn Owl|White-eared Barbet