Having been investigating the contents of the feeding tray, this Southern Boubou perched on the edge of the bird bath. Given their propensity for skulking about in the undergrowth, it was a treat to see it so clearly out in the open.
Note the loose feather under its wing. Unfortunately the bird bath wasn’t very full, it being a day when we had no water in our taps, and so it had to bend far down to drink from the water.
It must have been thirsty, for it repeated this action several times. In between drinks it would remain perched on the edge and look around carefully before bending down for another one. Then it flew up to perch on a branch behind the bird bath, where it posed in the sun for a minute or two.
The loose feather is still clearly evident.
Something Over Tea 
Nice photos of this handsome bird. He was lucky he didn’t have to share.
Are you given warning before the water is cut off?
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We receive water every second day under the current drought conditions. While there is usually a trickle on alternate days, we occasionally experience no water in our taps. This will all change once we eventually get rain – at least we like to believe it will 🙂
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I certainly hope so!
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Lovely photos, Anne.
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Thank you, Pete. I felt privileged being able to get them.
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I hoped he thanked you for his drink with a song!
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No such luck. There is a pair of them in the garden, so they do sing to each other now and then.
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Lovely little chap. With a great name too!
✨🙏🕉🌱🌿🌳🌻💚🕊☯🐉✨
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Thank you!
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So nice to get a skunked out in the open. Good pictures of it.
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Thank you, Lisa.
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Nice to see it out in the open and good of you to share water when it is such a scarce and intermittent resource.
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Filling the bird baths is a priority once the water supply is turned on 🙂
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Such a handsome bird! But, oh my, your water situation.
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These are lovely birds to watch. As for the water … it is amazing how one can get used to such a situation. Be assured, when we get to enjoy a soaking rain you will know all about the wonder of it 🙂 🙂 🙂
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We do adapt to difficult situations, but I sure do hope the rain comes soon.
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Thank you, Laurie. We keep hoping too 🙂
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At first glance I thought it looked like our Robin. Are they rationing your water due to the weather Anne?
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We haven’t had proper rain here for six years now and our dams are dry. We receive water from the Orange River via the Fish River, but this is not enough to service the whole town every day. The municipality thus shuts the water off every second day to allow the reservoirs to fill.
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OK, I understand now. We have had water rationing in the past as to watering the grass mostly, so people watered according to odd and even numbers for their home address. They might have had to impose that rule (which comes with a fine for disobeying it by the way) had we not had all the rain.
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