A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Ceryle rudis
This was an average-sized bird, with a dark, smooth, black body with gentle "scales" covering it. There were some creases of white here and there, but the entire underside was white. This bird was approximately eighteen centimeters wide, and approximately twenty-eight centimeters tall. It had a small, skinny body, with a long, wide head (mostly made up of its humongous bill). When we found this in South Africa, it had just victoriously caught its fish from the sea below.
We found this flying beauty perched on a tree branch, towering over the sea, right after it had flown in and caught its dinner. It was late evening, the sun had set, and there were many of these birds flying around.
Thank you for your response. In your habitat field you state "over the sea" - where did you find the sea in Johannesburg? You also say you were walking past a lake now, please give the name of that lake. The map pin points to the location far away from any water so is obviously wrong. Please read our FAQs http://www.projectnoah.org/faq to ensure you put the correct data in the relevant fields and correct the location on the map. You may add in the Notes section how you came to be in Johannesburg if you wish. If you have problems correcting the map please contact us via the online support chat or using the "contact" link below.
I saw the bird when we were walking past a lake, and it is located in Johannesburg, South Africa, as I put in the location and the description. Please enable my picture. Thanks.
This spotting has been disabled until we get an answer to yesterday's questio regarding the location and how you came to see it.
Your description does not match the location, please explain exactly where you took this photograph and how you came to be there.
Spotted on Aug 31, 2012
Submitted on Mar 19, 2013
