The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Pumbaa]

wow Woodpecker, Snake-Eagle, lovely Zebra and Steenbok, lot of Giraffes
Jackal chewing what he likes

and the little Pumbaa

Although it was so dry there we saw that much animals

[Pumbaa]

Love the jackal pics.

We had luck with the jackals around Satara

[Pumbaa]

Nice jackals

The lions look as if they have been feasting. I presume that the dark shadows on the faces is blood

It looks so and they looked all so very well fed

[Pumbaa]

Nice, Pumbaa! Interesting the jackal even making a kill!

Dzombo is doing a flavour about the H6, ironically!


viewtopic.php?f=263&t=7170

At least a small kill - More about the H6 still to come and then I will post a couple of shots under that topic - Thanks for the link

[Pumbaa]

What lovely sightings and pics!

The jackal and hyena posed nicely for you and the piglets are so cute!

Yes, I was also happy to get those shots as jackal, hyaena and for sure warthogs are between so many my favourites

[Pumbaa]

and paid Sonop a visit and on the short way to the waterhole we spotted a lone hyaena hiding behind some grass which astonishingly grew in that area quite high but was meanwhile also dried up.



It was then no surprise that at Sonop itself it was rush hour again when it comes to animals



and after Timon parked the car to offer us the best viewing possibilities we looked carefully around and discovered a large group of white backed vultures on the ground on one side of the waterhole



and another poor two hippos even inside the waterhole.

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A lone but quite impressive waterbuck male then arrived at the drinking spot as well



and joined the zebras which also could be seen here and they all quenched together their thirst.







The hippos had been visited by yellow-billed oxpeckers which we so far only saw farer North in the park but for sure same were a lovely surprise in the central area as well.



We again spent quite a while at that waterhole and watched the frequent come and go carefully and on top we were the only car there during that time of the day.

[Pumbaa]

After we got our shots we turned around and met once again the hyaena who was meanwhile joined by another one and they were also about to leave.





We wanted to return via the S100 back to camp to maybe find again such a birding spot / bush we had the honour in admiring already earlier in the morning there but first we had to drive again the S41 which was nearly totally quiet besides this fish eagle,



a vulture in flight and a curious looking grey hornbill.



In fact we had again luck as we spotted once again a lot of different birds whilst parking in front of a bush. Needless to say that our cameras started to glow again and Timon captured within only a short period of time a cute tawny flanked prinia,



and a group of wood hoopoes. To our delight we spotted again a Paradise flycatcher female but in the beginning she was in fact not in the mood to be photographed and we had to be satisfied with shots from the woodhoopoes and





we were again happy to spot another scimitar bill although it was still difficult to capture same as same was in permanent movement and due to the dark colour had no contours.



Finally Mrs. paradise flycatcher caught a bee and presented same excitedly to us.



We heard a woodpecker and soon followed its pecking and finally discovered same



to be continued.....

[Lisbeth]

Lovely bird shots

[Richprins]

Gorgeous pics again, Pumbaa!

I like the oxpecker, nice sighting!

Even the zebras look a bit skinny!

[nan]

the Hippos

and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers
and all the other birds

again superb episode