Pale Chanting Goshawk and Greater Kestrel

[Jay]

I spent some time in Namibia and South Africa this last spring. Tons of raptors... saw many species of buteo and eagles, some lanners, peregrines, and a ton of greater kestrels. As well as a handful of the African "goshawk" species.

Unfortunatly I did not get many pictures. The guys I was with had no interest in birds. I shot these when it was my turn to drive.

Melierax canorus
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0630.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0629.jpg

Falco rupicoloides
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0615.jpg

[borderhawk]

Too cool!!!! Thanks for posting!

[rembrandt]

thanx for the pixclapp

[kimmerar]

Thanks for the pics Jay. Our kestrels are so pretty. What about pics of herps??

[Jay]

Kim here are a few herp pictures. The trip was meant as more of an off road trip with expedition style driving, so I did not get to play with as much wildlife as I normally would have liked. Nor would I have played with many of the snakes over there...

Home for 2 weeks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0533.jpg

The few herp shots I got... can anyone give me species names? I know my herps of New England, but was totally lost over there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0732.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0711.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0710.jpg

[kimmerar]

Cool - I would have been dying to get out and look. I know the last one is an agama lizard of some type - it's been along time for me and maybe the 2nd one too. That first one is definately not a monitor species!! I'm sure there is others that know more than me.

The snakes are the fun part - come on:D!!!

[rembrandt]

Kim here are a few herp pictures. The trip was meant as more of an off road trip with expedition style driving, so I did not get to play with as much wildlife as I normally would have liked. Nor would I have played with many of the snakes over there...

Home for 2 weeks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0533.jpg

The few herp shots I got... can anyone give me species names? I know my herps of New England, but was totally lost over there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0732.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0711.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/hazardpaintball2/100_0710.jpg

wow very nice pix

[Dirthawking]

The first one is a baby gecko. Does not get a whole lot bigger. I can not remember the species name for the life of me, but I do know it is related to the fan foot gecko.

[Lee Slikkers]

I think I need a 4x4 yota like that one...sweet pics & trip! Love the Pale Chanting.

[everetkhorton]

Great camping set-up. Thanks for posting!

[wyodjm]

Hello Jay:

The last photo looks like a sexually mature, male orange-throated flat lizard (Platysaurus monotropis). There are about 12-15 species of Platysaurus ranging in East and South Africa, and I think Madagascar also. They belong to the Cordylidae family of lizards. Perhaps 4 genera represented in the family.

Very cool lizards. There were a few monotropis brought in to the U.S. for the herpetocultural trade in the 1980's, but I don't know of anyone working with them here now. I think the Dallas zoo had some years ago.

Anyway, that's my guess. Beautiful lizards. They are also known locally as spiny-tailed lizards although they shouldn't be confused with the genus Ctenosaura or Uromastyx. These are also commonly known as spiny-tails. I used to be a rather serious collector of both Ctenosaurs and Uromastyx.

Best,

Dan McCarron
Rock Springs, Wyoming

[Jay]

Dan,

Thanks for the great reply. Very good info. Thanks.

Jay

[GONEHAWKN]

i like the off the ground sleeping arrangements. keeps ya from being dinner i guess.............

[lupine]

Thanks for posting. Gorgeous pictures--birds, herps AND the cool rig!

[buzzard]

im not sure if this chat is still active...but my names romario andi live in south africa and im flying a jackal buzzard...i must say its quite odd to see people interested in creatures that run in my garden especialy the geckos.......im just interested in where you visited in south africa?if you dont mind me asking.