liewwk Nature Photography Blog
some of Overseas birding, outing, tour
it is a family I first photograph in South Africa
1. Cape Batis, 海角蓬背鹟, 南非噴背鶲, Batis capensis, ムナグロセワタビタキ
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1. Cape Batis, 海角蓬背鹟, 南非噴背鶲, Batis capensis, ムナグロセワタビタキ
update 202512
This tiny, adorable bird gave us one of the most memorable moments of the tour. After a long and patient chase, it finally came close and low just for a brief moment — offering us the best view of the entire trip!
这是一只非常小巧可爱的鸟，还记得在长时间追寻后，它终于靠近并飞得很低，就那短短的一瞬间，给了我们这次行程中最精彩的一次观鸟体验！
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1. Hylocitrea, 林啸鹟, 橙脇嘯鶇, Hylocitrea bonensis, Hylocitrea bonensis, Kancilan Buah
The hylocitrea, also known as the yellow-flanked whistler or olive-flanked whistler, is a species of bird that is endemic to montane forests on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It is monotypic within the genus Hylocitrea, and has traditionally been considered a member of the family Pachycephalidae, but recent genetic evidence suggests it should be placed in a monotypic subfamily of the family Bombycillidae, or even its own family, Hylocitreidae. A 2019 study found it to be a sister group to a clade containing the hypocolius (Hypocoliidae) and the extinct Hawaiian honeyeaters (Mohoidae), with the clade containing all three being a sister group to the silky-flycatchers (Ptiliogonatidae). The divergences forming these families occurred in the early Miocene, about 20-23 million years ago.
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update 202511
Our main target at Lore Lindu turned out to be not as tough as we expected. We managed to see it twice, and both sightings were not high up in the canopy. Unfortunately, the lighting wasn’t ideal, making the photos appear a bit dull—but still a great bird to observe!
我们此行来到罗瑞林都的主要目标鸟，其实比其他稀有鸟种容易一些。我们总共观测到两次，而且都没有在很高的树冠上。只是光线不太理想，导致照片看起来有点暗淡。但能见到这只鸟，依然非常令人兴奋！
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Sulawesi, Indonesia: Bird Photography | 苏拉威西: 鸟摄 | liewwk Nature 53 [update 20251107]
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another new bird family
1. Northern Cassowary, 单垂鹤鸵, 單垂鶴鴕, Casuarius unappendiculatus, パプアヒクイドリ, Kasuari Gelambir-tunggal
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1. Northern Cassowary, 单垂鹤鸵, 單垂鶴鴕, Casuarius unappendiculatus, パプアヒクイドリ, Kasuari Gelambir-tunggal
update 202508
It’s a huge bird with a brightly colored head. I missed it during my last trip, but this time I finally got to see two—moving around almost like pets, even with names! Really happy to finally see this massive and beautiful bird.
这是一只体型很大的鸟，头部颜色非常鲜艳。上次旅行错过了，这次终于看到两只，它们像宠物一样四处走动，还有名字！很高兴终于见到这只又大又漂亮的鸟。
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What a magnificent stork! It was a truly stunning sight to behold.
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1. Hamerkop, 锤头鹳, 錘頭鸛, Scopus umbretta, シュモクドリ
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1. Hamerkop, 锤头鹳, 錘頭鸛, Scopus umbretta, シュモクドリ
A squat, brown, ibis-like bird with a bushy-crested “hammer-head”; often found near wetlands or rivers. In flight, it has distinctively deep wingbeats and may occasionally soar very high, when the long neck separates it from raptors. It struts about in wetlands foraging for frogs, fish, and insects. It needs nearby large trees for building its giant (1.5-m-across) stick nest. Calls include a high-pitched “nyip” in flight and a distinctive, rollicking call ending in a purring rattle “kyik-kyik-kyik-kyik-kyik kyik-keeek-kreeeeek”. [ebird]
一种矮胖的棕色鸟类，外形像鹮，头顶有一丛浓密的羽冠，像“锤头”；经常在湿地或河流附近发现。飞行时，它有独特的、强有力的振翅，偶尔也会翱翔到很高的高度，这时它细长的脖子使其与猛禽区分开来。它在湿地中昂首阔步，觅食青蛙、鱼类和昆虫。它需要附近的大树来建造其巨大的（直径1.5米）树枝巢。叫声包括飞行时发出高亢的“nyip”声，以及一种独特的、欢快的叫声，最后以咕噜声结束：“kyik-kyik-kyik-kyik-kyik kyik-keeek-kreeeeek”。
update 202502
This bird is generally brown and has a peculiarly shaped head. It’s quite strangely featured, yet surprisingly common, found in both urban and forested environments.
这种鸟通体呈棕色，头部形状奇特。它的外貌相当怪异，但却出人意料地常见，在城市和森林环境中都能找到。
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1. Green Woodhoopoe, 绿林戴胜, 綠林戴勝, Phoeniculus purpureus, ミドリモリヤツガシラ
2. Abyssinian Scimitar-bill, 小弯嘴戴胜, 小彎嘴林戴勝, Rhinopomastus minor, キバシカマハシ
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1. Green Woodhoopoe, 绿林戴胜, 綠林戴勝, Phoeniculus purpureus, ミドリモリヤツガシラ
An elongated, metallic-green-black bird with red feet and a long, decurved, red-orange bill. Juveniles have dark bills but are often in the company of adults. It flies heavily, with the long floppy, white-tipped tail dangling behind. Pairs and groups of up to 14 birds are highly social, occupying savanna, woodland, riverine forest, and gardens, where they nest and roost in natural cavities. Clambers in trees, probing bark and crevices for insects and small vertebrates. They communicate using a strong cackling chatter that sounds maniacal. The almost identical Grant’s and Violet woodhoopoes (with which it sometimes hybridizes) differ from Green Woodhoopoe only by having a coppery-purple (not glossy greenish) metallic sheen. [EBird]
一种体型细长、具有金属绿色至黑色光泽的鸟类，红色的脚搭配长而下弯的红橙色嘴喙。幼鸟的嘴喙较暗，但常与成鸟一起活动。飞行时姿态沉重，长而松散的白色尾端在身后摆动。
通常成对或最多 14 只的小群活动，极具社交性，栖息于稀树草原、林地、河畔森林和花园，并在天然洞穴中筑巢和栖息。它们擅长攀爬树木，在树皮和缝隙间寻找昆虫及小型脊椎动物。叫声响亮刺耳，类似疯狂的咯咯笑声。
与绿林犀鸟几乎相似的格兰特氏林犀鸟和紫林犀鸟（有时与之杂交）唯一的区别在于，它们的金属光泽呈铜紫色，而非光亮的绿色。
update 202512
It was raining and nearly the end of the day. Just as we were getting ready to head back, I spotted a group of birds with curved bills feeding in a tree right in front of us. I shouted, “Woodhoopoe!”
Everyone was thrilled to see this stunning species up close!
下雨了，天也快黑了，正准备回程的时候，我看到一群弯嘴的鸟在我们前面的树上觅食，我大喊：“林戴胜！”
大家都为这美丽的鸟种感到特别开心！
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update 202502
One of my most sought-after birds, I only spotted it twice in 17 days. Excited to see it up close and even feeding—such a brilliantly colorful bird!
这是我最想见到的鸟之一，在 17 天内只看到过两次。能在不远处观赏到它并目睹其觅食，真是令人兴奋，这么一只色彩斑斓的鸟！
2. Abyssinian Scimitar-bill, 小弯嘴戴胜, 小彎嘴林戴勝, Rhinopomastus minor, キバシカマハシ
update 202602
A bird that’s hard to miss — large in size, moving in small groups, with a long, curved orange bill. Such a strange-looking bird, but I absolutely love seeing it.
一只很难错过的鸟，体型大，常成小群活动，拥有又长又弯的橙色鸟喙。外形真的很奇特，但我非常喜欢看到它。
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1. Secretarybird, 蛇鹫, 蛇鷲, Sagittarius serpentarius, ヘビクイワシ
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1. Secretarybird, 蛇鹫, 蛇鷲, Sagittarius serpentarius, ヘビクイワシ
A distinctive, tall, long-legged, crane-like raptor with unique quill-like plumes on its head and bright-red facial skin. In flight, the dark edge to the hind wing, diamond-shaped tail, and long spatulate tail feathers make it unmistakable. It prefers open rangeland and savanna, where it strides about hunting for reptiles, small mammals, and insects, which it bludgeons with its powerful legs. [Ebird]
一种独特的、高大、长腿的类似鹤的猛禽，头上有独特的羽毛状饰羽，面部皮肤鲜红。在飞行时，其后翼的黑色边缘、菱形尾巴和长长的匙状尾羽使其极具辨识度。它偏好开阔的牧场和稀树草原，迈着大步四处行走，捕猎爬行动物、小型哺乳动物和昆虫，并用强有力的双腿将猎物击晕。
update 202512
This is one of those birds that always managed to avoid our group — even some of our best birding friends missed it. But after three trips to Africa, we finally had an amazing moment with this special species. It came close and walked slowly right in front of us!
这是一种总是躲过我们好朋友镜头的鸟。前三次来非洲都没遇上，终于这次遇到了！
这只特别的鸟走得很慢，离我们非常近，就在眼前出现，太精彩了！
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update 202502
A remarkable bird that resembles a crane or stork with long legs but has more of a raptor-like appearance. It’s one of my main targets—I’ve had a few sightings but haven’t captured great photos yet. However, I’m sure I’ll dedicate more time to this bird on my future trips to Africa.
一种独特的鸟类，外形类似鹤或鹳，拥有修长的双腿，但更像猛禽。这是我主要的目标之一，虽然曾经遇见过几次，但照片效果不太理想。不过，我相信在未来的非洲之行中，我会花更多时间关注这种鸟。
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1. Southern Crested Guineafowl, 南冠珠鸡, 南冠珠雞, Guttera edouardi
2. Vulturine Guineafowl, 鹫珠鸡, 鷲珠雞, Acryllium vulturinum, フサホロホロチョウ
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1. Southern Crested Guineafowl, 南冠珠鸡, 南冠珠雞, Guttera edouardi
A large-bodied, small-headed, black gamebird perfectly lined with rows of hundreds of bluish-white spots. It has a ridiculous-looking plumed “toupee” above the naked face, which features an ivory-colored bill and a blood-red eye. The facial skin color varies geographically, and can be mostly blue-gray with small patches of red and white, or predominantly blue-gray with a large white patch on the back of the neck. A broad band around the base of the neck is unspotted black. It prefers forest and thickets, where it forages on the ground for berries, seeds, and other plant matter. The similar Helmeted Guineafowl differs by its lack of feathered crest and its having a bone-like casque on top of the head instead. The alarm call is a series of rattling, agitated notes that speed up and slow down; similar to the call of Helmeted Guineafowl, but with a tinnier quality. [Ebird]
As we were nearing our hotel on a cloudy day, a large group of birds suddenly appeared by the roadside. Wow, what a stunning sight!
当我们快到酒店时，天空乌云密布，一大群鸟儿突然出现在路边。哇，真是太美了！
2. Vulturine Guineafowl, 鹫珠鸡, 鷲珠雞, Acryllium vulturinum, フサホロホロチョウ
update 202601
Another bird that is very common in Samburu—we see it almost every day. Look a bit closer, and it actually looks a little scary too, especially with that bald head.
这是在桑布鲁很常见的另一种鸟，几乎每天都能看到。仔细一看，其实还有点吓人，特别是那颗光秃秃的头。
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101. Flap Neck Chameleon, 喷点变色龙, 噴點變色龍, Chamaeleo dilepis
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101. Flap Neck Chameleon, 喷点变色龙, 噴點變色龍, Chamaeleo dilepis
update 202502
I never expected to see this adorable creature in South Africa—I thought I’d only encounter it in Madagascar on my next visit. But what a lucky sight! This tiny chameleon was crossing the road so slowly that everyone had to wait for it to make its way before we could continue our journey. define top 5 sight of 2025
我从没想到会在南非看到这只可爱的生物——原以为只有下次去马达加斯加时才会遇见它。但真是幸运的一幕！这只小小的变色龙慢吞吞地穿过马路，所有人都停下来等它通过后才继续我们的旅程。
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1. Zebra, 斑马, 斑馬, Equus quagga
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1. Zebra, 斑马, 斑馬, Equus quagga
The plains zebra occurs in six regional races, each with its own stripe pattern. All are distinct from the two other zebra species: the larger Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) of northern Kenya, and smaller mountain zebra (Equus equus) of southwest Africa.
Plains zebras are highly sociable: dominant stallions preside over harems of females and young, which may coalesce into much larger herds. especially during migration, and often associate with wildebeest and other grazers. Zebra crop grass using flexible lips and powerful incisors, and open up grassland habitat for other species.
Their pattern has long puzzled scientists: it may function as camouflage, as an insect deterrent or to dazzle pursuing predators such as lions; perhaps all three. [https://www.expertafrica.com/wildlife/zebra/africa]
update 202501
It’s common, but such an adorable creature—I never get tired of seeing it over and over again.
它很常见，但却是如此可爱的生物，无论看多少次都不会腻。
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Very cute creatures, commonly found in African regions, are neither rare nor shy.
非常可爱的生物，常见于非洲地区，既不稀有也不害羞。
1. Meerkats, 狐獴, Suricata suricatta
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1. Meerkats, 狐獴, Suricata suricatta
update 202501
Occasionally spotted in open grasslands, they are often seen in groups and appear very curious about humans.
偶尔在开阔的草原上被发现，它们常常成群出现，并对人类表现出极大的好奇心。会站上来看我们。
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