Mark Dumbleton
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Mark Dumbleton
Wilderness Photography

AFRICAN BIRDLIFE

In Southern Africa alone, we are blessed with over 970 different bird species, and chasing them with a camera is very challenging but very rewarding. I have photographed many different areas across Southern Africa, but I have also ventured up into Kenya. My top 3 birding spots are the Okavango River, the Chobe River and then Marievale Bird Sanctuary close to my home in Gauteng.

African Fish Eagle

African Fish Eagle

Along the Okavango River, African Fish Eagle are plentiful. Here, an adult comes down close to the waters surface to catch prey. Okavango River, Botswana

African Jacana

African Jacana

An African Jacana walks on a Lily in search of food in the southern region of the Greater Kruger area. Malelane, Mpumulanga, South Africa

African Skimmer at Last Light

African Skimmer at Last Light

The setting sun rim lights an African Skimmer hunting for food in golden colours of dusk. Okavango River, Botswana

Ballerina

Ballerina

A Cattle Egret in breeding plumage comes in to land at a breeding colony, usually found in big trees. LC Sports Ground, Pretoria, South Africa

Bathing Bulbul

Bathing Bulbul

A Dark-capped Bulbul bathes in shallow water as the morning sunlight illuminates the birds fully stretched wing just before taking off. Zimanga Private Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Bearded Vulture Fight

Bearded Vulture Fight

An adult and juvenile Bearded Vulture engage in a small fight over remains of scraps and bone. At Giants Castle in the Drakensberg Mountains they have constructed a wonderful hide from where to view these magnificent raptors at close quarters, and always provide fantastic opportunities for the wildlife photographer. Giants Castle Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Cape Shoveler in Flight

Cape Shoveler in Flight

A male Cape Shoveler in flight passing the purpose built bird-watching hide in the Marievale wetland as the first golden rays of sunlight illuminates the scene. Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Gauteng, South Africa

Cape Turtle Dove

Cape Turtle Dove

Numerous waterholes in the Kgalagadi are flocked to by millions of Doves each day, drinking precious water ensuring survival in such an arid climate. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

The very pretty Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove comes down to the drinking edge at Zimanga, lit beautifully by early morning sunlight. Zimanga Private Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Female Pied Kingfisher

Female Pied Kingfisher

A female Pied Kingfisher takes to the air in search of food, in a different area to which she was hunting before. Distant mountains create a beautiful out of focus background, together with the blue sky creating the two-toned effect. Pilanesberg Nature Reserve, North-West Province, South Africa

Golden Morning Approach

Golden Morning Approach

A juvenile White-backed Vulture approaches an old Elephant carcass on a golden morning in hopes of scavenging some scraps. Mara Triangle, Masai Mara, Kenya

Grey Kestrel

Grey Kestrel

The small, compact Grey Kestrel flies towards a frequented perch with a small mouse in it's talons. I was incredibly lucky to have captured this bird in flight with prey in talons, and together with a slowish shutterspeed, the wing blur created quite a nice effect showing motion. The Masai Mara is home to many raptors, but this surely is one of my favourite photographs of all raptors captured in the area. Mara Triangle, Masai Mara, Kenya

Hunting Lanner Falcon

Hunting Lanner Falcon

During the late sunlight hours at the Polentswa waterhole in the Kgalagadi, this Lanner Falcon attempts to hunt the huge amount of Doves that frequent this water source. Here, the bird comes in to land on the barren Earth after an unsuccessful attempt at a meal. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Jackal Buzzard

Jackal Buzzard

An adult Jackal Buzzard comes in to land near a rocky ledge in the Drakensberg mountains, at the Lammergeier Vulture Hide, built to conserve the dwindling numbers of the Bearded Vulture population.

Landing Cape Vulture

Landing Cape Vulture

A Cape Vulture comes in to land during a late summers morning, high up in the Drakensberg Mountains at Giants Castle. Giants Castle Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Landing Verreauxs' Eagle

Landing Verreauxs' Eagle

A Juvenile Verreauxs' Eagle displays an impressive wing spread as it lands on a rocky ledge in the Drakensberg. Giants Castle Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Lilac-breasted Roller

Lilac-breasted Roller

Beautiful afternoon sunlight faintly illuminates the landscape in golden hues, back-lighting a beautifully posed Lilac-breasted Roller stretching before take off. Mara Triangle, Masai Mara, Kenya

Malachite

Malachite

Perched on a small twig, an adult Malachite Kingfisher scans the water for prey below in the still waters as the golden light of morning compliments the scene with a golden tinge. Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Gauteng, South Africa

Mara Pied Kingfisher

Mara Pied Kingfisher

The Masai Mara is not only about the Great Migration and all it's predators. Birdlife abounds in the reserve, and on this occasion a hovering Pied Kingfisher looks for prey in a shallow pool. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Ostrich Silhouette

Ostrich Silhouette

The morning sun rises over the highveld to the east, silhouetting and Ostrich as it feeds in the cool, misty air. A small flock of birds fly past, completing the photograph. Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa

Owl At Twilight

Owl At Twilight

Twilight in the sky creates a soft blue hue in the background, complimenting the adult Spotted Eagle Owl perched high up in a tree. Klipriver Farmlands, Gauteng, South Africa

Pink-throated Twinspot

Pink-throated Twinspot

An adult, male Pink-throated Twinspot comes to the drinking edge at the Bhejane Bird Hide to quench a thirst in the heat of the afternoon. Zimanga Private Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Red-crested Korhaan

Red-crested Korhaan

The golden light of dawn shines onto a male Red-crested Korhaan as he goes about his territorial calling and looking for a mate. A low angle helped diffuse the foliage in front of the bird. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Rising Malachite Kingfisher

Rising Malachite Kingfisher

Spending years in a bird hide, waiting for that perfect moment when opportunity, skill and luck meet, resulted in a moment I am very proud of. I have tried to capture a "natural (non-baited)" photograph of a Malachite Kingfisher rising out of the water for many years, and finally my patience and dedication paid of with this image. A special moment in time in my photographic journey. Marievale Bird Sanctuary, Gauteng, South Africa

Serene Moment with an Eagle

Serene Moment with an Eagle

Early morning sunlight radiates from the East, settling onto a true serene African scene, the iconic African Fish Eagle perched upon a dead tree welcoming the warmth of the rising summer sun. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Southern Carmine Bee-Eater

Southern Carmine Bee-Eater

Bee-Eaters abound along the banks of the Okavango River during the breeding months. Upwards of over a few hundred nest in colonies along the steep river banks, keeping out of reach of most dangers. Here a beautiful specimen searches for food to bring back to its young. Okavango River, Botswana

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

A Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill preys on termites emerging from their normally rather large nests. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Spotted Thick-knee

Spotted Thick-knee

Most commonly seen at night, the Spotted Thick-knee searches the ground for insects. I photographed this bird on my stomach, crawling through the dirt to obtain a perfect eye-level perspective, using a hand-held spotlight for illumination. Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa

Swallow-tailed Bee-Eater

Swallow-tailed Bee-Eater

An adult Swallow-tailed Bee-Eater comes in to land after an unsuccessful hunt for insects. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Urban Spotted Eagle Owl

Urban Spotted Eagle Owl

I photographed this Spotted Eagle Owl in a complex I lived at in Johannesburg, using a torch to illuminate the bird from the side and using distant house lights adding to the dark background. These owls nested in our complex every summer. Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Vulture and Raven

Vulture and Raven

White-necked Ravens are very pesky birds to Raptors. Here, one tries to attack a Juvenile Bearded Vulture in mid-air. Giants Castle Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Vulture in Golden Light

Vulture in Golden Light

Early morning sunlight warms the scene, illuminating an incoming Cape Vulture with an impressive wing display. Giants Castle Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

Woodland Display

Woodland Display

An adult Woodland Kingfisher displays to another adult swiftly approaching. Zimanga Private Nature Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

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Previous Next
African Fish Eagle
African Jacana
African Skimmer at Last Light
Ballerina
Bathing Bulbul
Bearded Vulture Fight
Cape Shoveler in Flight
Cape Turtle Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Female Pied Kingfisher
Golden Morning Approach
Grey Kestrel
Hunting Lanner Falcon
Jackal Buzzard
Landing Cape Vulture
Landing Verreauxs' Eagle
Lilac-breasted Roller
Malachite
Mara Pied Kingfisher
Ostrich Silhouette
Owl At Twilight
Pink-throated Twinspot
Red-crested Korhaan
Rising Malachite Kingfisher
Serene Moment with an Eagle
Southern Carmine Bee-Eater
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Spotted Thick-knee
Swallow-tailed Bee-Eater
Urban Spotted Eagle Owl
Vulture and Raven
Vulture in Golden Light
Woodland Display

ALL CONTENT © COPYRIGHT 2018 MARK DUMBLETON PHOTOGRAPHY.