We got up early on August 10, 2012, and decided to bird in the Hansa Hotel's courtyard area before breakfast. This Southern Masked-Weaver (Ploceus velatus) was one of the species that we saw. The female, shown here, has a reddish-colored iris, a pinkish-brown colored bill, and upperparts that are a dull greenish-yellow. This bird's breast is yellow and the belly is gray. A newly woven nest (constructed of palm, reed, or grass) is on her left. There were two breeding colonies at the hotel. This particular one had about fifteen nests (new and old). A male will build a nest, but, if it is not accepted by a female, he will break it down and rebuild. Females do not relay in the same nest but choose a new green nest (in the same or in a new colony). Temperatures were in the upper 60's on this cloudy morning.