Diedrick’s Cuckoo (juvenile) & Amethyst Sunbird by Paul Bartho.

The following is a series of excellent photos taken by Frank Kihn in LeDomaine.

As you will see the Diedrick’s Cuckoo juvenile is being fed by a female Southern Red Bishop. In one photo the cuckoo’s eye’s are closed as it is being fed. Frank asked if that was a sign of pure bliss.

Diedrick’s Cuckoo fed by Southern Red Bishop female – in Le Domaine – Photo by Frank Kihn

Diedrick’s Cuckoo fed by Southern Red Bishop female – in Le Domaine – Photo by Frank Kihn

Diedrick’s Cuckoo fed by Southern Red Bishop female – in Le Domaine – Photo by Frank Kihn

Diedrick’s Cuckoo fed by Southern Red Bishop female – in Le Domaine – Photo by Frank Kihn

The other photo below is of an Amethyst Sunbird chick which was found straying on the road in LeDomaine. Its nest had fallen out of the tree. Some residents returned it to its nest and put the nest up against the tree trunk and informed us.

On investigation, Sally and I noticed that the little bird was covered in ants. Painstakingly the ants were removed from its body. The nest too was infested in ants so Sally retrieved one of her woolly sox and sewed it on to a nearby Aloe. The chick was placed inside and happily cheeped away until the parents returned to feed it. Five days later we presume it left the nest.