Today I'm at one of South Africa's birding hotspots - Marievale Bird Sanctuary - to photograph birds and nature. I photograph flowers with a polariser and diffuser / reflector. I watch a hunting black-headed heron and meet Wally, the resident Goliath Heron.

I'm on safari at Ndumo Game Reserve looking for a hero shot of Fever Trees overhanging the dark, crocodile-infested waters of Nyamithi Pan. It's dangerous to get too close to the water's edge and I have to photograph from a distance and with an armed escort. But that is wildlife photography in africa...things never go to plan. and sometimes we have to be creative!

• How To Photograph Small Birds in Flight • I want to show you how to photograph birds by targeting common bird behaviour. I'm using the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens with the Canon 1.4x extender and photographing small birds in flight. Identifying bird behaviour is one of the most powerful techniques to get close to birds for photography. I share my ideas on how to expose for birds in flight, camera settings for bird photography, some of my favourite bird photography tips and tricks.

I'm on the Zaagkuilsdrift road in South Africa looking for action. Join me for some bird photography behind the scenes. I am Scouting the Zaagkuilsdrift Road in South Africa for future trips. The conditions are cloudy with poor light but this doesn't stop me photographing birds in the rain if I can find them! I share some bird photography camera settings for overcast days and also discover some wildlife, sable antelope and other species.

The water level hides at Zibulo offer some of the most accessible opportunities to photograph birds at water level in South Africa. In this week I'll show you where the hides are and some of the techniques and settings I use to photograph birds in flight and at water level using manual mode and the Canon 7 D mark ii and 400mm F2.8 lens.