I live in Pretoria, South Africa
Feel free to contact me regarding blog content, photos etc by commenting on any specific post
I live in Pretoria, South Africa
Feel free to contact me regarding blog content, photos etc by commenting on any specific post
Mostly Birding 
Hi Don..I would love going on your trips…How do I qualify or apply?
Hi Karin
Unfortunately I don’t arrange group trips but if you let me know what trips you have in mind I can possibly point you in the right direction.
Hello Don.
I am looking to get in touch with Douglas or Francis .
We are looking to trip with them.
Could you forward there details
Thanking you Tristan
Tristan, The contact details I have are :
Gary Douglas
Tel +263 7 72283067
email dfsafaris@gmail.com
Good luck!
Hi Don,
I’m from Latest Sightings, and we love doing April Fools jokes in our community (https://facebook.com/latestsightingskruger/photos/a.220668441336826.57476.213356965401307/1462365510500440/?type=3)
I want to do one that uses your elephant photo.
Can I use your image?
Happy to share with you the photo once it is done.
Not sure which image you are referring to but you may use it as long as my copyright is acknowledged
Cheers
Thanks! Will do!
Can we make the copyright a bit smaller?
On Instagram it won’t fit.
That’s fine
Hi Don I am working on a poster on deforestation for Gorongosa National Park. You have a photo of charcoal taken in the area. I am happy to credit you and send a draft for you to look at. Would you mind if I use the photo.
Lesley you may use it with pleasure – it was concerning to see the charcoal being produced from those prime forests
Don
Hi Don, just read your blog mentioning Sir Percy Fitzpatrick’s Lookout – I think you will be delighted to know that Addo Tourism received funding from the Sarah Baartman Dustrict Municipality and we have just completed a complete refurb of the place. Would love to show you when you are in the Addo area again. We will be introducing the new look Lookout to all on the 5th of April.
Hi Salome, that is wonderful news- thanks so much for letting me know!
We will definitely pay a visit when we next head to Addo
Hello Don
I have birded since youth and now, in retirement, have taken up photographing birds. Not as good as yours but practise will help. I very much enjoy your blogs – have just read your Namaqualand trip as I’m thinking of doing one in 2023.
Thanks very much
Kathie
Hi Kathie, glad you enjoy the blogs and thanks for letting me know!
I did it the other way around – started photography in my youth and only took up birding in my 40’s (which is now a long time ago!)
Bird photography has been an absolute joy in retirement – good luck with your efforts
Regards
Don
I have really struggled with photigraphy lessons – doing course now with DPC photography – not really helpful – do you know people eho help with burd photography??
Sent from my iPhone
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I don’t have any particular contacts for photography lessons but can say that I learnt by field experience and reading photography magazines. Nowadays there is so much advice available on the internet – google “bird photography tips” and you will find a lot of advice. But it’s a bit overwhelming at first.
I don’t know what camera you have but I use a Sony “bridge camera” which is somewhere between a “proper” DSLR and a “Point and shoot”
I try and keep it simple by using standard settings as much as possible. so I keep it in Aperture mode and on the maximum aperture setting which on my camera is f2.4. The only adjustments I make are (1) the ISO setting which I set at around 400 and increase if the light is not good or the subject is in shade and (2) the Exposure Compensation up or down depending on whether the subject is bright or dark/backlit or not. White balance can be left on Auto mode.
Hope this makes some sense
Hi Don – I live in the USA (previously from Pretoria). You posted a picture of the Boer Memorial on Spioenkop with the names of Burghers who fell at Spioenkop listed. Would it be possible to receive a higher resolution picture (jpg) via email from you? I’m desperately looking for my Great Grandfather who we believe died on Spioenkop (24 Jan 1900). Much appreciated if you can let me know. Thanks Charl
Hi Charl – I have had a look at the original and can send you a higher resolution copy with pleasure, just forward your email address to don.reid@mweb.co.za
I see there is a C Potgieter listed under Carolina. Regards, Don
I have your address and will forward the image
Any recommendations for someone, or an outfit, I can connect with for a birding tour of Kruger NP? I’ll be arriving in Johanessburg from the US next week. I’d also be interested in exploring the Pololwane area. My birding experience is largely restricted to the US.
I have not had personal experience of a birding guide in Kruger area but I know of a company that specialises in bird guiding there – have a look at naturetravelkruger.com – hope you have a great tour – I’m sure you will find it special, and pretty hot at this time of year!
Hi Don…enjoyed your post on cormorants at Wilderness. I’m just getting into birding and one thing that I’ve been struggling with is telling a crowned cormorant and reed cormorant apart. They seem extremely similar…apparently one has a slightly longer tail and the crowned cormorant has a slightly more pronounced crown…but when looking at birds myself and consulting pictures online, I don’t see a difference. Any tips? It seems a bit of a sketchy shortcut to just assume one of these birds must be crowned if it’s on the coast and reed if it’s inland.
Hi Alex
An interesting comment – unfortunately I don’t have any tips other than the ones you have mentioned. When a renowned expert such as Faansie Peacock mentions in his excellent app called Firefinch that it’s “difficult to tell from Reed Cormorant. They are usually separated by habitat (marine vs freshwater) but may occur close together at e.g. estuaries” then that’s probably the best advice you will get