Very interesting sighting !!
The weavers don't seem to harass the Gymnogene a lot. They look powerless. I think one single Drongo would have been more efficient to defend the nest, punching the Gymnogene's head with the bill and chasing it away !
From Floods and Surprises in River beds
- Richprins
- Committee Member
- Posts: 75838
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
- Location: NELSPRUIT
- Contact:
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
How astounding, Pumbaa!
Unique footage!
But no flamingo?
Seriously, stunning Sunset Dam!
Unique footage!
But no flamingo?
Seriously, stunning Sunset Dam!
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
- Mel
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 28224
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:31 pm
- Country: Germany
- Location: Föhr
- Contact:
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
What a unique harrier sighting!!!
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain amount of things. Right now I'm so far behind that I'll never die.
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
We first were not aware that it was a harrier hawk but after closer inspection we were thrilledKlipspringer wrote: ↑Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:00 pm Wow! Harrier-Hawk raiding a weaver’s nest is a very special sight
It definitely was but besides another man in a car and we nobody seemed to be interested in that sighting
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
They indeed were powerless but at least their nest most of the time withstood the attacks of the harrier hawk
No flamingoes Sunset dam is always worth for a stop or even more
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
Birdingwise we definitely could not complain that day
This raptor is not a regular sighting for us so whenever same comes across we are happy
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
Whilst the gymnogene started to feed appreciatively on the chick. After the raptor had finished more or less its meal same tried on and on to get more chicks out of the huge nest whilst all the weavers now started to dive-bomb the gymnogene
but as the nest withstood the attacks of the raptor same now tried its luck from the other side but with less luck or same finally lost the interest but we were happy to have captured and watched the whole spectacle. Now we even noticed the sandpiper on the shore
and noticed far away in the shade of the bushes close to the dam a lot of dozing water dikkops whilst the buffalo weavers continued in feeding their chicks and they even started already with the repair of the nest
and the African harrier hawk flew finally away
but it was still so much to be seen for example the famous silver surfer was again busy in abusing the hippos as surf board
and for sure the view is always amazing there
and far away a crocodile as well as a yellow billed stork were resting peacefully side by side.
We meanwhile stayed already far too long at the dam and we finally dragged ourselves away and made it slowly back to camp whilst we drove two roads which we left so far behind as we never had great luck on same, the S82 and the S130 and so it was today but I guess it was due to the heat – At least we noted more mud-caked warthogs
with their piglets
and then again long time nothing but at one of the causeways on the S108 we spotted a couple of impalas
quenching their thirst from a puddle.
but as the nest withstood the attacks of the raptor same now tried its luck from the other side but with less luck or same finally lost the interest but we were happy to have captured and watched the whole spectacle. Now we even noticed the sandpiper on the shore
and noticed far away in the shade of the bushes close to the dam a lot of dozing water dikkops whilst the buffalo weavers continued in feeding their chicks and they even started already with the repair of the nest
and the African harrier hawk flew finally away
but it was still so much to be seen for example the famous silver surfer was again busy in abusing the hippos as surf board
and for sure the view is always amazing there
and far away a crocodile as well as a yellow billed stork were resting peacefully side by side.
We meanwhile stayed already far too long at the dam and we finally dragged ourselves away and made it slowly back to camp whilst we drove two roads which we left so far behind as we never had great luck on same, the S82 and the S130 and so it was today but I guess it was due to the heat – At least we noted more mud-caked warthogs
with their piglets
and then again long time nothing but at one of the causeways on the S108 we spotted a couple of impalas
quenching their thirst from a puddle.
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
Normally we wanted to pay Mpondo dam a visit but as we already stayed so long at Sunset dam because of the gymnogene sighting we skipped our intention as it was already early afternoon. Another must stop is then again on the Biyamiti causeway where today quite a lot of European bee eaters were around
busy with catching bees and from time to time they even were successful.
In the distance we noticed a great gathering of different vultures close to the Crocodile River
they even were flying around
or taking a bath.
Unfortunately they were far away and the air was already flickering because of the heat so we returned again to the European bee eaters who gladly always landed on a branch close by to where we stood.
Luckily we nearly had the bridge all to ourselves so we could stay quite long there and enjoyed the appearance of a group of vervet monkeys
and nearly all of them started to feed on the reeds in the river bed
which was lovely to watch
and obviously same tasted extreme yummy.
to be continued.....
busy with catching bees and from time to time they even were successful.
In the distance we noticed a great gathering of different vultures close to the Crocodile River
they even were flying around
or taking a bath.
Unfortunately they were far away and the air was already flickering because of the heat so we returned again to the European bee eaters who gladly always landed on a branch close by to where we stood.
Luckily we nearly had the bridge all to ourselves so we could stay quite long there and enjoyed the appearance of a group of vervet monkeys
and nearly all of them started to feed on the reeds in the river bed
which was lovely to watch
and obviously same tasted extreme yummy.
to be continued.....
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
- Richprins
- Committee Member
- Posts: 75838
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 3:52 pm
- Location: NELSPRUIT
- Contact:
Re: From Floods and Surprises in River beds
You two have a great eye for detail, Pumbaa!
Amazing the circle of life going on there at Sunset.
And interesting the monkey eating the reeds!
(They are called Blouaap, or Blue Monkey in Afrikaans! )
Amazing the circle of life going on there at Sunset.
And interesting the monkey eating the reeds!
(They are called Blouaap, or Blue Monkey in Afrikaans! )
Last edited by Richprins on Thu Jul 25, 2019 8:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596