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