Nemo and Dory in Seattle Aquarium

Nemo and Dory in Seattle Aquarium
Originally uploaded by Aamir Yunus

Colors of Africa

Colors of Africa
Originally uploaded by hvhe1

Those of you that have followed our escapades through South Africa in 2007, know that Rollers are a bit of a sensitive subject for Hans and me. On that trip we drove ourselves (unlike on this trip) and with every Roller I saw - and they are a plague according to Hans - I wanted to stop and take pictures of these flying color palettes. In the end Hans was so fed up with Rollers that at even an attempt to say "Ro........." he hit the gas pedal. :-) In the end we agreed that I was only allowed to stop when the bird had prey - which they fortunately often have..

It wasn't much different this year. The birds form such a temptation, I just can't resist them. So when the first Ro....... came within view, Hans surrendered... a few times. But strangely, this year the birds seemed quite skittish and often flew away pretty fast. Hmm.... But every time I looked suspiciously to the back of the car where Hans and tracker Phillemon were seated, they looked completely baby-faced. Until I caught them! Every time a Roller was seen, I immediately ducked behind the camera, while at the same time Hans and Phillemon started waving their arms in unison, resembling two giant phoenixes.. with grins from ear to ear like two middle-aged rascals…
In the end I gave in…. :-)

Uploaded by hvhe1 on 3 Jan 09, 9.29AM PDT.