Who needs a published field guide to Southern Africa's birds and animals when you have Elizabeth and James? Their ability to both spot and identify the region's birds and animals is uncanny. They can tell the difference between a bushbuck and a duiker from a flash of red through the undergrowth.
Not only can they correctly identify critter, they do so using their full names. We don't see just lizards, we see blue-tailed skinks, Birchell zebras or Hartmans when I was unaware they came in several flavours and are schooled in the difference between vervet and samango monkeys.
They are particularly impressive with birds including identifying their calls. Blue waxbills, grey go-away birds and white fronted bee eaters are spotted, identified and pointed out - often, however, in loud, excited voices that cause a flutter of wings as the subject flees!
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