The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Pumbaa]

What an interesting example of the lioness overcoming a terrible injury, Pumbaa!

I like the oasis!

Are you sure that is Girivana waterhole at the end? From an unusual angle, perhaps?

I am 100 % sure Maybe because of the drought same is looking different - We took the shots from the parking area not from the one under the fig tree - The other one

[nan]

At last a little bit less blood
but still so interesting sighting

Love the Purple Roller, and the oasis, like said RP


I recognize too Girivana, I always park this side of the waterhole (never under the three)

[Richprins]

Aha!

[Flutterby]

Lots of lovely birdies.

[Pumbaa]

Someone has even taken up a place inside the kill

Nice birdies and zebbies, especialy the lil'ones

I guess that was the reason why all the cubs were so dirty

[Pumbaa]

At last a little bit less blood
but still so interesting sighting

Love the Purple Roller, and the oasis, like said RP


I recognize too Girivana, I always park this side of the waterhole (never under the three)

From that Point there is a far better over view into all sides

[Pumbaa]

Lots of lovely birdies.

In fact - More still to come

[Pumbaa]

Suddenly also hyaenas appeared on the scene.



We had a very relaxing time in watching all the animals at the waterhole the buffaloes and zebras



and even more hyaenas on the move



and the thirst had to be quenched as well.



We enjoyed our still hot coffee there and after same had been drunk we carried on and came across white backed vultures,



a magpie shrike and another group of zebras.



Close to the crossing with the S36 Timon noticed a movement and stopped the car to check a bit more carefully what he discovered and in fact a honey badger was running around hectically searching for something juicy to feed on.



Normally the grass is far too high to discover a honey badger and with only great luck you can see one crossing the road and disappear in the high grass on the other side as well but now I was happy that at least once we could observe this animal





without any disturbing grass hiding same away. Same did not bother about our presence and soon another car joined us to follow the little fellow who still carried on running around and it was definitely not easy to capture same properly.



Finally same found something and started to chew on same which same held in its claws which looked extreme sharp and long.

[Pumbaa]

We were happy to tick also that animal of from our list as we in fact did not see that clearly honey badgers in the park and not only in the camps.





After also following same a bit into the S36 we then turned around and spotted a group of ground hornbills on the ground a bit farer away which seemed to be the same group we already saw the day we arrived at Satara as it was nearly in the same area. Along the tar road we came across crowned plovers



and a cute steenbokkie who tried to hide under a bush.



Finally we turned into the S39 which is always our must drive when leaving Satara for the next camp and stopped for giraffes



and nice views on one of the many loops into the Timbavati river which still had some puddles filled with water left and the trees around this riverbed still looked lovely green which indeed was a difference compared to the wasteland around Satara. We could spot impala and wildebeests in the river who came to drink from the remaining puddle.



A couple of beautiful kudus allowed us to photograph them





and two cute blue waxbills in a farer away bush stayed as long on same until we got a couple of shots from them.



Another lovely sighting was this verreaux’s giant eagle owl in a tree with its ear tufts spinning around in the wind. Unfortunately far too soon same spread its wings and flew away.



The road was a bit quiet today but we still could see more steenbokkies, a spotted flycatcher,



a lark, grey hornbills, tawny flanked prinias until we reached the Timbavati picnic spot which is always a more than lovely stop to stretch the legs a bit.

to be continued.....

[nan]

indeed nice serie of birds.... specialy the blue ones

and Honey Badger
lot of chance... in Kruger