The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Mel]

Very cute itchy zebra

And I also like your fish eagle in flight

Also the nyalas - even prettier than kudus, I find.

[Dewi]

Another great wahlberg's pic.

Also like the fish eagle & nyalas. Love those antelope.

[Pumbaa]

Bambi is very cute. Nice lion sighting too.

The day cleared up and the sightings got also a bit better

Cute little Bambi and daddy looks like a big guy

It was so amazing to watch the beautiful nyalas

[Pumbaa]

Stunning pics in the overcast conditions again, Pumbaa!

A colleague of mine saw the sable there again on Sunday!

S-30 has the most restful loops, even in busy times!

Okay, then I will try that road again when we are back also for the loops

Very cute itchy zebra

And I also like your fish eagle in flight

Also the nyalas - even prettier than kudus, I find.

I guess it it the size of a Kudu which is impressing buth both of them are beautiful

[Pumbaa]

Another great wahlberg's pic.

Also like the fish eagle & nyalas. Love those antelope.

The fish eagle shot was pure luck

[Pumbaa]

Finally we turned around and also decided to do a drive on the Marula loop but same was today disappointingly quiet. At the causeways we saw a great white egret, hamerkops and wooly-necked storks but all were too far away for decent shots but gladly the marabous today could be found closely to the causeway and once again needless to say that we never saw both rivers with that low water level ever before.



Although it was still early we decided to return to camp to relax a bit, do a bit shopping as we were running out of supplies and therefore start earlier for our afternoon drive and it was heaven to simply sit on our verandah overlooking the Sabie and do nothing just to enjoy life.

After we did our extensive shopping we stopped at one of the benches close to the restaurant to enjoy our just bought ice cream and whilst looking into the beautiful fig tree we got stuck there as there was such a bird activity to observe that we could not but arm our cameras and click happily away for sure after the ice cream had been consumed.

A plum-coloured starling



was eying all the fruits extensively to chose the delicious ones and in fact the ripe ones were much sought-after.



Lots of green pigeons were also around



as well as black-eyed bulbuls and even red faced mouse birds.



Another frantic birder joined us with his camera and pointed all the birds out to us and simultaneously naming them in Afrikaans whilst I replied to him the English names – It was quite funny as he was simply so excited when he found another bird.

The red-faced mousebird did everything to reach the delicious ripe ones



and compared to capturing them in flight throughout the park it was extreme easy to just stand in front of that tree and simply click away.

Meanwhile I brought our purchases into our fridge and put all the other things away inside the bungalow and returned back to the fig tree but Timon could not be found any longer. So I waited quite a while on the bench and after a couple of minutes he returned. The frantic birder wanted to show him something else and they went to the shop as he wanted to show Timon the fruit bats but they were gone and now he got really excited and even furious and asked one of the shop attendant whether she noticed where the fruit bats might have flew. Gladly she pointed out to him where they might have landed and finally they found them but also could photograph a colourful butterfly



and finally also the many fruit bats – I found it simply wonderful when one can be that passionate and even share his passion with all the others. At least he said good-bye and left Timon alone





who then found me on one of the benches near that famous fig tree. We still watched the birds and now even a wattled starling,



a woodpecker,

[Pumbaa]

a yellow fronted canary,



lots of weavers,



and once again a green pigeon could be captured easily



and same was so frantically feeding on one of the ripe fruits that same had not time in disturbing its yummy meal.



Needless to say that we could have stand for the rest of the day in front of that fig tree but as we wanted to pay N’waswitshaka waterhole another visit and even stay there a bit longer we had to leave.

The way to that waterhole was extreme quiet but same was not astonishing as nearly all animals could be seen in the vicinity of this waterhole especially an elephant invasion took place and all elephants in that area could be seen here



and for sure that little calves got from their herd members a special protection





which was simply fantastic to watch. Although we felt a bit for the little ones as still being that small and then all those huge elephant legs close and surrounding one must be frightening for such small creatures.





More and more breeding herds arrived and quenched their thirst





to be continued by the hottest ever experienced day (termperaturewise!).....

[Lisbeth]

The fig tree what a great find, such a variety of bird life Also nice to see the fruit bats Not bad just to stay in camp

The tiny elephant calves are always sure to find protection ....and they are sooo cute
Incredible that they never get trampled

[nan]

love Starlings, Pigeon and Bat
and the tiny "grey one"

[Mel]

Another bird episode Well, almost... if it wasn't for that cute little ellie and the exciting find of the bat

I love those plum-coloured starlings. Would love to see one of those