Malcolm Sutton Photography

Malcolm Sutton Photography Amateur photographer specialising in birds in action.

Preparing for Christmas...
12/11/2025

Preparing for Christmas...

Waiting for the vet to open. The mother Vervet Monkey seemed to know where to take her infant - but, sadly, it looked ...
29/01/2025

Waiting for the vet to open. The mother Vervet Monkey seemed to know where to take her infant - but, sadly, it looked like it was too late (for the infant).

A majestic Crowned Eagle flying over our house a short while ago.
15/01/2025

A majestic Crowned Eagle flying over our house a short while ago.

WEDNESDAY 31 JULY Gonarezhou NP: Chitove CampTemp: high 28, low 15Once again very overcast and cool until our brunch at ...
06/01/2025

WEDNESDAY 31 JULY
Gonarezhou NP: Chitove Camp
Temp: high 28, low 15
Once again very overcast and cool until our brunch at 11. Sue cooked sweetcorn fritters to go with eggs, bacon, tomato mush, brown bush bread toast. A feast. The men went to the causeway to collect water. During this time the park staff came to collect the ash from our fire. The ranger said they had seen, but not close by, Wild Dogs.
When the ranger saw the men at the causeway, he asked how they can leave the women in the camp to drink beer when the men went to collect water and wash clothes! The situation of the camp is great - lovely just to sit and watch what comes down to drink – no need to go out.

TUESDAY 30 JULY 2024 Gonarezhou NP: Chitove CampTemp: high 32, low 15 Today was very overcast with a cold wind to start,...
06/01/2025

TUESDAY 30 JULY 2024
Gonarezhou NP: Chitove Camp
Temp: high 32, low 15
Today was very overcast with a cold wind to start, but by 11 the sun came out.
Gonarezhou means the place of the elephant and even if we have not seen large herds of elephant, we have seen enough elephant droppings on our drives to confirm that there are many around. The elephants still carry a resentment for vehicles and move away quickly. We were warned not to approach an elephant but rather to allow them to move into the bush. The elephants were hunted during the Mozambique bush wars and can become hostile.
Today we travel to Chitove, 37 km away. When we were packed up, Malcolm and I went to the causeway, crossed and had our usual bush breakfast of a piece of fruit, small fruit juice, bowl of cereal, yoghurt, nuts and rooibos tea. A group of 5 Safari vehicles crossed while we were there. I took a video of T+S crossing.
We did not go the shortest way to Chitove as the causeways were either too deep or not recommended – we took a causeway about 3 km further down river from our camp. It was an easy sand crossing. At the crossing were 2 male Ground Hornbills. Our camp situation is spectacular, right on a bank above a large pool of the river. There are hippo and large crocs in the water below – the bank is steep enough for them not to be able to reach us. The camp is the same as Directors, no services except collecting the ash. There is a long drop, but no water, so back to the causeway to collect washing and shower water. This camp does not have big shady trees as we had at Directors, so it may be a little hot in summer. Our fireplace is right on the front of the bank of the river looking onto a wide-open riverbed with no trees, bush or grass. In the late afternoon we watched elephant, zebra and waterbuck come to drink. What a situation - and we have it all to ourselves.
SO SPECIAL

Some sad news.For two weeks I have been watching a breeding pair of Hadada Ibis raise two chicks. Yesterday morning, the...
03/01/2025

Some sad news.
For two weeks I have been watching a breeding pair of Hadada Ibis raise two chicks. Yesterday morning, the chicks were left unattended for at least 40 minutes before one of the adults returned and fed both (as shown). They all looked well, and I stopped watching them. In the afternoon, Kate found one chick on the ground, with what looked like a broken neck. An adult was perched near the nest, calling loudly and repeatedly. About 5 starlings were around the nest. By the time that I reached a good viewpoint, the nest was empty, the starlings were gone but one adult Hadada was still perched nearby calling repeatedly. We searched around but could not find any sign of the other chick, so either it was taken by a predator, or it had also fallen out of the nest earlier, and someone had picked it up.
Possible scenario: Both adults left the chicks in the nest whilst they went to feed, so that they could keep up with providing food for the chicks’ ever-increasing appetites. During their absence a predator attacked the chicks, making off with one of them. Either by trying to avoid the predator or getting pushed in the struggle, the other chick fell out of the nest and broke its neck when it hit the ground. One of the adults returned during the attack and perched on a nearby branch calling in distress for its mate and/or chicks. The starlings were alerted by the commotion and tried to mob the predator but to no avail.
Possible predators in this area that could easily attack chicks in the nest include Crowned Eagles, African Harrier Hawks, Yellow-billed Kites, Vervet Monkeys, Genets and Green Mambas.

The photograph portrays the grace and elegance of two juvenile Lesser Flamingos landing in the shallow waters of the Mak...
31/12/2024

The photograph portrays the grace and elegance of two juvenile Lesser Flamingos landing in the shallow waters of the Makadikadi Basin, Botswana. The first pink feathers of adulthood are displayed in the axilla ("armpit") of the bird. Their graceful figures create a striking contrast against the serene backdrop of the water’s surface.
The image was taken in the Nata Bird Sanctuary, a haven for diverse bird species and wildlife, during a month-long expedition my life-partner and I undertook exploring the wilderness of Botswana and north-east South Africa. For four days in June 2019, we immersed ourselves in the sanctuary, braving early mornings and late afternoons in pursuit of photographing the vibrant wildlife in the soft, golden light. It was during one of these magical moments that I managed to capture this scene.
Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) are listed as “Near Threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and are of scientific interest due to their unique adaptations and ecological significance. These iconic birds thrive in extreme environments, such as highly alkaline lakes, displaying remarkable physiological resilience. Studying their adaptations to such harsh conditions provides valuable insights into avian physiology and evolutionary biology.
Additionally, Lesser Flamingos are bioindicators of the health of their habitats. Their populations are sensitive to changes in water quality, pollution, and food availability. Monitoring their numbers and behaviours offers crucial data for assessing the environmental health of wetlands and lakes.
Furthermore, these flamingos exhibit complex social behaviours, including synchronized group feeding and breeding rituals. Understanding these dynamics contributes to our understanding of avian communication and social structures.
Lastly, their role as a keystone species in aquatic ecosystems makes them vital for maintaining ecological balance.

The image depicts the majestic descent of a juvenile Martial Eagle, displaying both grace and power as it comes into lan...
27/12/2024

The image depicts the majestic descent of a juvenile Martial Eagle, displaying both grace and power as it comes into land. This moment of elegance was captured at the end of May 2019, at the Bedinkt Waterhole, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana, during a month-long expedition through Botswana and north-east South Africa.
Earlier in the morning we had watched from a distance as the young eagle tried, unsuccessfully, to prey on a ground squirrel. The eagle would swoop in from a perch in a tree, but the squirrel was scarpering for its hole long before the hunter came near.
Martial Eagles (Polemaetus bellicosus) are top predators and play a vital role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems by controlling populations of small mammals and birds. Classified as 'Endangered’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List these eagles face threats such as habitat loss, persecution, and collisions with power lines.

Spur-winged Goose flying along the Runde River.
07/12/2024

Spur-winged Goose flying along the Runde River.

Some of the giraffe that came down to the Runde river to drink.
07/12/2024

Some of the giraffe that came down to the Runde river to drink.

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