Gallery

Birds and wild places photographed by Christo Swart on trips around South Africa, from the forests of KwaZulu-Natal to Pafuri in the far north of the Kruger.

Palm-nut Vulture taking off from a sandbank, wings spread, with breaking waves behind — Palm-nut VultureMtunzini

Rudd's Apalis perched at the top of a feathery-leaved tree against a deep blue sky — Rudd's ApalisSt Lucia

Spotted Ground Thrush standing on the leaf litter of the forest floor, photographed at ground level — Spotted Ground ThrushSt Lucia

Brown Scrub-Robin facing the camera on the forest floor, photographed at ground level — Brown Scrub-RobinSt Lucia

Marico Sunbird with iridescent green head clinging to a flowering aloe stem — Marico SunbirdZaagkuilsdrift

Lilac-breasted Roller perched on a bare branch, showing its lilac breast and turquoise wings — Lilac-breasted RollerPafuri, Kruger

Yellow-billed Kite banking overhead with its tail fanned against a pale sky — Yellow-billed KitePafuri, Kruger

White-faced Whistling Duck in flight across a soft green background — White-faced Whistling DuckPafuri, Kruger

Three-banded Plover standing on a sandy riverbank — Three-banded PloverPafuri, Kruger

Meves's Starling with its long glossy tail perched on a thin stem — Meves's StarlingPafuri, Kruger

African Hawk-Eagle soaring overhead, showing its pale barred underwings — African Hawk-EaglePafuri, Kruger

Black-and-white close-up of the deep folds in an elephant's skin — Pafuri, Kruger

Black-headed Heron perched on top of a bare tree above green bush — Black-headed HeronZaagkuilsdrift

Little Egret wading in a flooded dirt track, reflected in the water — Little EgretZaagkuilsdrift

Fulvous Whistling Duck in flight over the bushveld under a cloudy sky — Fulvous Whistling DuckZaagkuilsdrift

White-browed Robin-Chat with orange breast and bold white eyebrow standing on a red termite mound — White-browed Robin-ChatPafuri, Kruger

Little Bee-eater looking straight up from a thorny branch against a soft green background — Little Bee-eaterPafuri, Kruger

Yellow-billed Kite flying straight towards the camera with wings fully spread against a pale sky — Yellow-billed KitePafuri, Kruger

Woodland Kingfisher with red bill and turquoise wings perched on a bare branch — Woodland KingfisherPafuri, Kruger

African Wood Owl perched on a curved branch at night, looking at the camera — African Wood OwlPafuri, Kruger

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl with pink eyelids looking back over its shoulder from a large tree — Verreaux's Eagle-OwlPafuri, Kruger

Diederik Cuckoo in flight, wings raised, against a soft blurred rock face — Diederik CuckooPafuri, Kruger

Great Spotted Cuckoo with a grey crest perched on a fence post above barbed wire — Great Spotted CuckooZaagkuilsdrift

Barred Wren-Warbler with a finely barred chest perched in a thorny acacia — Barred Wren-WarblerZaagkuilsdrift

Amur Falcon perched on top of a dead branch above the bushveld — Amur FalconZaagkuilsdrift

Striped Pipit standing on warm sandy ground, looking up — Striped PipitWalter Sisulu Botanical Garden

Verreaux's Eagle gliding across a clear blue sky, wings outstretched — Verreaux's EagleWalter Sisulu Botanical Garden

Great Crested Grebe swimming on calm blue water with golden reeds blurred behind — Great Crested GrebeMidrand

Half-collared Kingfisher perched on a bare branch against a dark green forest background — Half-collared KingfisherKwaZulu-Natal

Orange Ground Thrush foraging among leaves on the forest floor at Benvie Gardens — Orange Ground ThrushBenvie Gardens

Woodward's Batis perched on a thin branch — Woodward's BatisKwaZulu-Natal

Rufous-bellied Heron standing at the edge of reeds in soft light — Rufous-bellied HeronKwaZulu-Natal

African Pygmy Goose swimming between water lilies near Cape Vidal — African Pygmy GooseNear Cape Vidal

Southern Banded Snake Eagle perched on a dead branch against blue sky — Southern Banded Snake EagleKwaZulu-Natal

Southern Banded Snake Eagle perched on top of a tree — Southern Banded Snake EagleKwaZulu-Natal

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