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Birder and bird photographer based in South Africa. Founder of The Birding Life. Marketing Manager at Birding Ecotours. Let’s plan your next birding trip.

06/10/2026

You may wonder why I am so passionate about KwaZulu Natal birding... well, it’s not difficult when you get to see species like this five minutes from your house!

The Fan-tailed Grassbird, with its oversized tail, is on many birders’ wishlists. They can be tricky to photograph, so it’s always exciting when one shows well and actually gives you the chance to get a few photos.

A few other special birds found in the area include Buff-spotted and Red-chested Flufftail, Striped Pipit and Shelley’s Francolin. Not a bad selection to have close to home!

I recently wrote an article highlighting seven of the best places for a Durban birding day trip:
https://www.birdingecotours.com/7-best-day-trip-birding-spots-in-kwazulu-natal/

If you are looking to do some birding around Durban or KwaZulu Natal, get in touch. It would be fantastic to help you see some of the amazing birds this part of South Africa has to offer. Drop me an email [email protected]

22/09/2026

Nice to find a Fan-tailed Grassbird on my local patch!

I managed to connect with a pair just five minutes from my house this morning. Always great to squeeze in a bit of birding before work!

18/09/2026

A nice find at one of my local birding spots close to home this week.

This stunning Cinnamon-breasted Bunting was feeding among the rocks on a hillside. Always great to find birds like this so close to home!

29/01/2026

Over December, I had the opportunity to loan a Canon RF 100–500mm lens, which I paired with my Canon R7, and I was genuinely blown away by the results.

This Malachite Kingfisher was perched just a few metres from the road at Tala Private Game Reserve as we drove past. As much as I’d like to take the credit, having this Canon combination in hand made it far easier to achieve consistently sharp images.

Like most photographers, I do some post processing on my images, but editing cannot turn a bad photo into a good one. What impressed me most was how strong the images were straight out of the camera, with very little editing needed.

For bird photographers considering an upgrade, this camera and lens pairing is a fantastic option. Even in low light, with some noise reduction applied in post processing, the images remained sharp and detailed.

If you’re looking to join a bird photography trip in KwaZulu Natal, or elsewhere in South Africa, I’d be happy to help you plan an experience focused on getting great images. You can send me a DM or email [email protected]

04/01/2026

You never know what special moments await when you spend time in nature.

A few weeks ago, we spent the morning birding at the wonderful Tala Game Reserve. While driving, we noticed something low down in a small tree. At first it was hard to make out what we were looking at, but when we stopped and took a closer look, we realised it was a Black-winged Kite perched on a nest.

We switched off the engine and took time to soak in the moment. What stood out was how low the nest was positioned, much lower than expected. The sighting became even more special when its partner flew in, carrying additional nesting material.

Moments like this are a reminder of just how rewarding time in nature can be, especially under African skies.

Canon R7 with 100-500mm RF lens

01/01/2026

This was a lovely way to start the new year.

The Little Rush Warbler (Bradypterus baboecala) is a species that, like many warblers, is heard far more often than it is seen.

When I arrived at the grass farm this morning, two individuals were calling from bracken growing alongside a reed bed. I spent about 30 minutes listening as they called, and every few minutes they briefly showed themselves. What I found especially interesting was that the pair did not only call, but often accompanied this with a distinct whirring of their wings.

While some birders might not find half an hour with a pair of warblers all that exciting, this was a very special encounter for me. It gave me the chance not only to photograph them, but also to learn a little more about their behaviour.

From a photography point of view, the Canon R7 with a 100–500mm RF lens made it possible to capture images of the pair among the reeds, even when they only appeared for a few seconds at a time.

26/12/2025

A slow late afternoon boat cruise on the Shire River. Malawi is one of my favourite experiences I have ever had the privilege to enjoy. 🇲🇼

The guides at Mvuu Camp know exactly how to position guests to get incredible photographic opportunities of the species encountered along the way.

This was one of many Malachite Kingfishers we saw along the riverbanks. The boat was carefully positioned, the engine switched off, and we slowly drifted closer. Moments later, we were just a few metres from this stunning bird.

Experiences like this stay with you long after the camera is packed away.

Canon R7 with 100-500mm RF lens

21/12/2025

Many people have a love hate relationship with larks.

They love seeing them, but hate having to identify them.

Luckily, this species of lark calls often and makes things a little easier. The Rufous-naped Lark’s call is a common sound in the right habitat. The way we remember its call is that it sounds like it is saying “same to you."

So be careful what you tell this bird when you encounter it, because no matter what you say, its reply will always be “same to you.”

Canon R7 with 100-500mm RF lens

20/12/2025

A special sighting on the way out of Tala Private Game Reserve today.

I spent nearly half an hour watching a Grey Crowned Crane walking just a few metres away from a Blue Crane. Moments like this stay with you.

Birds have a way of uniting us across man-made borders. The Blue Crane is the national bird of South Africa, while the Grey Crowned Crane is the national bird of Uganda.

Sadly, the Grey Crowned Crane is globally endangered. Encounters like this remind us why conserving these species, and the places they depend on, matters so much.

Canon R7 with 100-500mm RF lens

Tala Private Game Reserve

19/12/2025

What's for dinner?

As we sort out the Dinner plans are coming together as the weekend begins, while this Little Bee-eater enjoys a late afternoon snack.

It clearly never learned to chew with its mouth closed 😂

📸 Canon R7 with 100-500mm RF lens

Address

Umlaas Road
Camperdown
3740

Website

http://www.birdingecotours.com/

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