Our May meeting was a Members’ Night. The first presenter was Bob Goodale. Bob and Lynette had recently returned from a trip to Botswana and Bob brought along a number of photographs taken during that trip. These covered a wide range of Africa’s wildlife and included shots of birds, iconic mammals, reptiles and a few insects. Bob stated that their visit came during a drought-breaking wet period and that conditions were not the best for photography. However, he was still able to capture a wonderful portfolio of wildlife shots, of which anyone would be proud. He started off with several shots of a beautiful bird, the Carmine Bee-eater—one of several types of Bee-eater found in Africa. Other birds included Double-banded Dotterel, Vultures, European Bee-eater, Grey-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Double-banded Partridges, White-necked Stork, Saddlebill Storks, Franklins (with chicks), Snipe, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Ground Hornbill, Secretary Bird, Whydahs, Egyptian Geese, a Spur-winged Goose and a Maribu Stork. Another photo showed a Cory Bustard (the world’s largest bustard) being attacked by a Lapwing. Bob’s photos of Raptors included a Pygmy Kestrel, Tawny Eagle, a Fish Eagle eating a mongoose, a Harrier eating a squirrel and an African Peregrine Falcon. There were many wetland birds such as the Black Heron, Darters, Azure Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Little Bittern, Jacana, Water Thick-knee and the Goliath Heron. Photos of mammals included zebras, wildebeest, kudu, giraffes, impala, elephants, Water Buck, Bush Buck, hippos and lions, as well as baboons, Banded Mongoose, Vermid Monkey, Dwarf Mongoose and Jackal. Reptile species Bob photographed included the Nile Crocodile and a Water Monitor and he also showed us some photos of butterflies and a dung beetle. The presentation also included photos of the tour vehicles, safari camps, the Okavango Delta from the air and Victoria Falls. Bob recommended the tour (a Coates Travel one) as a great experience and told us that the service was first class. Judging by the wide range of fauna and grand scenery shown in the photos I’m sure Botswana was added to a few members’ bucket lists—if it wasn’t already on them.

To round off the meeting, Colin Prickett showed a selection of photographs taken over the past couple of months. He started off with a series of bird photos that included Purple Swamp Hen, Black-faced Woodswallow, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Sanderlings feeding at the beach at Secret Harbour (right), Regent Parrots,  Little Black Cormorant, Darter Chicks on nests, a rare shot of two Pied Oystercatchers together with three Sooty Oystercatchers (at Point Peron, where there were actually four of each on a small secluded beach) (above)

and some Ruddy Turnstones, also at Point Peron. Colin also showed a series of insect photos; some taken in his garden, including an Elephant Weevil, a Vine Hawk Moth Caterpillar (as big as a little finger), a Black and White Tiger Moth and a Cluster Caterpillar. He also showed some other insects, including a very nice Bee Fly found at Paganoni Reserve and a Robber Fly photographed at Goodale Sanctuary. Colin then presented a series of photos of autumn-flowering orchids that showed the Leafless Orchid, Common Bunny Orchid and the Hare Orchid. He finished off with shots of a Garden Orb Weaver, Golden Orb Weaver and Bird-dropping Spiders.

Colin Prickett