SATURDAY CRITTER - Malawian birds and Lizard

Over the next 4 days I continue our boat trip and after feeding the Fish Eagles, (see yesterday’ post), the boatman took us to swim and snorkel from enormous rocks.  I also climbed onto another island and these are the shots taken from there.  Look out for the tree growing from rocks.  Below is the Hammerkop and the other birds are Cormorant and a Dove.  There was  also several Skink Lizard on the island.

Just had to show you this happy pair, still trying to entice Fish Eagles to come and grab the small fish.

I hope you enjoyed the critters I found around these waters and island.

I am linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS.

Thanks for visiting and also many thanks for those who leave comments.

WEEKEND REFLECTION - The Lake of Stars, Malawi

If you are following my previous posts, you will know my family and myself were on a boat, feeding Fish Eagles and later snorkeled off an island however in this post we are returning from that trip just as the light is fading.  Lake Malawi is known as "The Lake of Stars" and it was the most wonderful natural spectacle to witness.

I hope you liked seeing “The Lake of Stars”.

I am linking this post with WEEKEND REFLECTIONS.

Thanks for visiting and also many thanks for those who leave comments.

GOOD FENCES - Malawi

Once again you will have to think “out of the box” for these fences in Malawi as many are far away on the land and seen from the boat and I count the boats as being fenced in!  Of course the fish are fenced in by water! These birds below are Reed Cormorants and Hammerkop.

As we passed these men were fishing with very long lines and you will see that better on the video as well as me trying to photograph the fish beneath the water while we were snorkeling.

My daughter, Judith relaxing.

You probably will be able to see the coastline better on the video.

CLICK HERE if the video does not appear below.

I hope you enjoyed this part of Malawi. I thought it was very beautiful.

I am linking this post with GOOD FENCES.

Thanks for visiting and also many thanks for those who leave comments.

An Island in Lake Malawi

Over the next 4 days I continue our trip on the small boat and after feeding the Fish Eagles, (see yesterday’ post), the boatman took us to swim and snorkel from enormous rocks off an island.  I also climbed onto another island and these are the shots taken from there.  Look out for the tree growing from rocks. There is also a video at the end and you will see what my son in law was doing while I was exploring.

CLICK HERE if the video does not appear below.

I hope you enjoyed this part of Malawi. I thought it was very beautiful and we had a very relaxing time at this spot.

Thanks for visiting and also many thanks for those who leave comments.

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY - African Fish Eagle Video

This  post is mainly to show you the VIDEO at the end and give you a little information about the African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer which is 63–73 cm; 2–3.8 kg; and wingspan 1.9 m.  All were photographed from a moving small boat!

Adult. unmistakable; white head, breast and tail contrast with black and chestnut wings, back and underparts.  CLICK HERE to see a previous video and  photos of an adult.

CLICK HERE to see video and photos of a sub adult Fish Eagle.

Female larger and more extensively white on breast than male. Juvenile is a motley looking brown-and-white streaked bird that is easily misidentified.

The head is mostly white, streaked with brown, with a dark eye stripe; tail is distinctive – longer than ad's, white with a broad, dark brown terminal bar. Gradually neatens with age, taking 4–5 years to acquire ad. plumage. Facial mask may lead to confusion with Western Osprey, but is much larger, with broader wings, and white tail with dark terminal bar. Voice: Ringing ‘kyow-kow-kow' with head thrown back, given from perches or in flight; male's call is higher pitched. 

Pairs live year-round in territories on large rivers, lakes, estuaries and lagoons. Preys mainly on fish, but also scavenges at carcasses, robs nestlings from heronries, catches ducks and other birds, and steals fish and other prey from storks, pelicans and other water birds.

CLICK HERE if the video does not appear below.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these magnificent birds of prey.

Thank you for visiting and also to those who leave comments.

Malawian Children

After my post yesterday regarding the terrible flooding in Malawi, I thought I would show you some children that I encountered while staying at Montfort Cottages and I do hope they all survived the flooding.  My grandson Daniel even joined in with the dancing at one point much to their delight.

This little band of boys came one evening to play for us.  They stayed about half an hour and although their singing is not wonderful, they did their best. On the video at the end, look carefully at what bits and pieces they have made their drum kit from.

As you know from previous posts from Montfort Cottages, I took an early morning walk along this road and I came upon this little group of girls.  I took a very short video of them singing which I showed them afterwards and your should have heard all the giggles.

This half built house was overlooking Lake Malawi and had monkeys climbing all over it which I showed you on a previous post. 

 I don't think I showed you the B & W shot I took.

This is a peep of Lake Malawi through the large rocks just beside the half built house.

These are even larger rocks where the Baboons play and in the trees is where I found the Fish Eagles which I showed you last Tuesday.  More about them in tomorrow's post.

I wonder what he is thinking as we look at each other.

CLICK HERE if the video does not appear.

Many thanks for visiting today and also to those who leave comments.