A Bird a Day in June: Day 6 – Yellow-billed Black Kite

Day 6 of a series illustrating some of the fantastic birds we see here on Lake Victoria and across Tanzania. Many of these are seen in our garden like this regular visitor.

Yellow-billed Black Kite

Yellow-billed Black Kite

Catch up on  other days

• Day 1: Black-headed Gonolek
• Day 2: Green-winged Pytilia
• Day 3: Purple Grenadier
• Day 4: Eastern Grey Plantain Eater
• Day 5: Spotted Morning Thrush
• Day 6: Yellow-billed Black Kite
• Day 7: African Paradise Flycatcher
• Day 8: Variable Sunbird
• Day 9: White-browed Robin Chat
• Day 10: Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu
• Day 11: Grey-capped Warbler
• Day 12: Hadada Ibis
• Day 13: Red-chested Sunbird

Gonolek

We have many interesting and striking birds visit our garden, but perhaps the most striking of them all is a recent arrival on our compound. This bird – the Black-Headed Gonolek is about the size of a UK blackbird but with the most vivid red breast. There are a pair of birds here and other than their striking plumage they are extremely vocal with an array of calls.

http://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Laniarius-erythrogaster

Damson & Ash

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The past two days I have been putting a second coat of stain on the decking area. Mum so ably having provided the first coat when she was here.

First the Summer Damson for the balustrade, trellis and path. It’s amazing how the colours fade overtime and this was particularly noticeable as I painted the trellis – the algae green showing up brightly against the damson purple which gradually replaced it.

 

Day two has been spent re painting the deck itself, along with the gate and fence in Ash Black – removing all traces of blue.

I am particularly proud of the balustrade and the trellis as this was all my work 11 years ago. My most major piece of DIY to date.

I put the path down in 2003 with the help of my dad along. Eleven years ago the deck was mostly constructed by Geoff with my help.

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Many a late Spring and Summer gas been spent on the Deck, although the British weather has often curtailed us.

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Painting ’till we’re Black and Blue

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The deck always was blue but weathering had toned it down. So on reflection and having seen the brightness of the newly painted blue deck we have decided to lose the blue.