Crunchy Meat Pie and other culinary delights!

[Flutterby]

I hope BC is reading here and starts wearing shoes in the park!

[Lisbeth]

Yes, just think about all the poor KNP scorpions that will die

[Polentswa]

Day 3 Tuesday 11 November : Maroela. Afternoon drive.

Back at Maroela, a flock of Retz's Helmetshrikes came through the camp. We've only seen this bird once before so I was pleased to get some pictures.

GREAT report and sightings BT ...Especially this interesting bird the uncommon Retz's Helmet Shrike which plays host to an even much rarer bird the Thick Billed Cuckoo...Next time you find the Retz in summer months keep a watch for the Cuckoo..I have seen less than 5 Thick Billed Cuckoos in my life and 2 have been in close proximity to a flock of Retz ..actually you can look for the cuckoo all year as many Thick Billed overwinter and in fact all mine were seen in July months over the years (Nottens in Sabi Sands, Pafuri Fever Tree forest etc) All the other cuckoos apart from the odd 'lost' Klaas are gone in July

[BluTuna]

A very beautiful scorpion Awesome wildlife in the kitchen again

The broad, flattened antennae make your locust a Lamarckiana species.

And finally you found a Mantis that is easy to identify: Omomantis zebrata Cool design on the wings

Sightings don't stop when we enter the camps!

As ever, your identification skills leave me in awe! Thank you!

[BluTuna]

Not a visitor i would like to step on

A very good reason to carry a torch; I got zapped by a Scorpion a couple of years ago when I neglected to shine a light on my tent when I unzipped it!

[BluTuna]

superb Scorpion and Mantid in green and yellow

Thanks Nan!

[BluTuna]

Charming....

The scorpion Whisperer...


You are not allowed to tease the animals!

It helps if you use a UV torch!

Why not? I tease you all the time

[BluTuna]

How big was the scorpion? I found one in my wardrobe room yesterday, but it was tiny, so I left it where it was....without telling my husband

I guess the Scorpion was around 10-12 cm long, you can get an idea from the diameter of the broom handle.

The overall size of the Scorpion doesn't doesn't mean anything, the thickness of the tail does! The thicker the tail, the more potent the venom.

[BluTuna]

Stunning scorpion shots, BluTuna

Besides that I so far only saw one single one you must attract them somehow and all the other creepy crawlers as well - Great shots

As I said above, it helps to use a UV torch - the shine like they have a light inside them!

[BluTuna]

I hope BC is reading here and starts wearing shoes in the park!

I only wear sandals, but I use a torch!