I recently had the opportunity to join friend and colleague Hannes Rossouw for a morning of bird photography on the Mongena Dam in the Dinokeng Game Reserve. It was an amazing experience, the sun rising beautifully over the calm water while we were drifting silently among the water plants to watch and photograph several kinds of water birds and other wildlife from close quarters. Having Hannes on hand to assist with camera settings and composition tips was of great value to me and the other participants. For anyone with a love for birds and photography this excursion with Hannes is an absolute must – keep an eye on his social media page for the date of the next trip.
Sunrise over the large Mongena Dam
Brown-throated Martin
Barn Swallow
Reed Cormorants
Sunrise over the large Mongena Dam
Sunrise over the large Mongena Dam
African Fish Eagle
Sunrise over the large Mongena Dam
Reed Cormorant
Reed Cormorant
Egyptian Goose
Water Dikkop (or Thick-knee)
African Jacana
African Jacana
African Jacana
Hippopotamus eyeing us with some suspicion from among the reeds
African Jacana
African Swamphen
African Swamphen
Goliath Heron
Sharptooth Catfish mating in the shallows
African Darter and Reed Cormorant
African Darter
Reed Cormorant
African Darter
African Darter
A herd of African Buffaloes coming to drink
African Buffalo
Whiskered Tern in non-breeding plumage
Little Bittern
African Swamphen
White Water Lily (Nymphaea lotus)
Cape Turtle Dove
Pied Kingfisher
Blacksmith Lapwing
Common Moorhen
Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern
Whiskered Tern
Goliath Herons at their nest
African Darter
African Darter
African Darter
Whiskered Tern
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egrets
Cattle Egret
Malachite Kingfisher
White-throated Swallow
DeWetsWild 
You had some fantastic sightings and the photos are glorious too.
Thanks a lot, Carol. A real boon to be coached by Hannes in such beautiful surroundings!
A Little Bittern!
Got everyone on the boat super excited too!
Wow!
That sums it up nicely!
Wat ‘n lekkerte om so rustig op die dam saam met julle te vaar. Sjoe, pragtige foto’s … met daai lens van Hannes kan hy waarskynlik die spreekwoordelike man op die maan ook afneem!
Hannes weet defnitief wat hy doen, en hy is n baie geduldige leermeester!
Pragtige fotos. Mis nogal die sogenaamde bosluisvoëls(White Egret) hier. Hier is so baie beeste en mens sien nie sommer bosluisvoëls nie. Klink ook nie of bosluise ‘n ggroot probleem is nie.
Ek kan my indink dat arme bosluise verkluim daar!
Haha, dis nogal waar. Hier is wel bosluise maar meer in die “warmer” Noorde v Noord Eiland.
My little camera says a shy hello to the large lens Hannes is wielding – and I imagine yours is much the same 🙂 These are glorious photographs and the video is just what I needed on this dark, overcast morning.
Thanks a lot, Anne!
Hannes’ equipment certainly is impressive. I shoot with a modest Canon 600D with a 70-300mm zoomlens. The beauty of this excursion is the fact that the boat floats so silently and close to the subjects that even basic equipment like ours will render great results. And of course few things beat being out in the bush on a beautiful morning.
Absolutely!
Excellent work
Thank you kindly, Sherry!