"Kyk die Leeus Oom Dewi."

[Mel]

Beauuuutiful! Especially the nyalas and the mongoose. Like the rest as well, though.

[Dewi]

Thanks for your comments Lisbeth, Amoli & Mel.

[Dewi]

We lingered at Red Rocks for a few photos before moving on to the North side of the Shingwedzi River.





A buffalo skull at the side of the track.



And finally reached the low level bridge to cross back over. The scenery here is some of my favourite in the whole park.





We popped up to Tshanga lookout where the vistas are impressive, but alas, the previous visitors had left the picnic area and toilet in a shocking state.





We stopped on the way to camp to chat to one of our favourite Baobab trees.



And entered Bateleur camp to have a relaxing afternoon and let the kids have a run around after being cooped up in the van all morning.



But I've gotten slightly ahead of myself here. As we were checking in at recaption, a movement caught my eye. on one of the trees next to the path through the garden, I saw this.

[Lisbeth]

Great scenery and a beautiful Bennett's woodpecker

[Bushcraft]

Wonderful scenery pics

Bateleur camp, never stayed there

[Dewi]

Thanks for your comments Lis & Bushcraft.

Lis - more of the Bennet's to come.

BC - Go and stay there, it's a fantastic little camp.

[Dewi]

The Bennet's Woodpecker dropped down from the trunk of the tree onto the ground.



He hopped along on the ground searching for grubs to eat.



Inspecting the roots and listening for movement under the bark.



And probing in cracks and crevices.





He was very confiding and was obviously used to people wandering about the garden here.



So ignored me and continued to search for food despite my shetter clicking away like crazy.



He hopped up onto a fallen log and proceeded to search methodically along it's length.



Checking out holes.



Another bout of intense listening.



And an inspection of the larger, darker holes in the hopes for a juicy morsel.



What a fabulous sighting this was for us. We usually only see them fleetingly, high up in trees and just get glimpses as they work their way around the trunks of trees.

[Pumbaa]

The views into the riverbed in that area is always amating, Dewi

Never saw the Shingwedzi so low on that causeway and love your woodpecker shots - Gladly we booked also Bateleur again in February so I do hope to spot and photograph the birdies there too

[Lisbeth]

How lucky you were to find such a confident woodpecker Stupid bird

Lovely photos

[Richprins]

So ignored me and continued to search for food despite my shetter clicking away like crazy.

What was wrong with your "shetter"?



Nice pics again...did that whole route two weeks ago, everything fine!