Joyride with the Bateleurs *

[Pumbaa]

The male dog which was in desperate love with one of the females so far did not let her up and followed her permanently and when she lay down he did the same. As soon as she stood up he did the same and when she walked away he followed her always accompanied by his remarkable squeaking.





The sun also found its way through the clouds and so the light illuminating this sighting was brilliant and we more and more felt home in the bush.





Surprisingly the doggies did not felt in any way disturbed by the many cars and the rush which was meanwhile predominating around them. Sporadically one of the dogs lay so close to the road that I was already afraid that maybe one of the cars might run over its paws but they even did not twitch although the tires of the cars nearly touched them.



As we meanwhile already stayed 1 1/2 half hours with them and most of them started to keep permanently hidden behind bushes or in the high grass we were about to say bye bye to them when a safari vehicle drove by and asked us politely whether they can block our view for only one minute we for sure had no problems with that and all the passengers thanked us enthusiastically and only after half a minute they already left. This only is also to show that there are also polite and very well sticking to the rules JJ in the park!





Also for us it was time to leave as otherwise we would not make it any further into the park and we still wanted to drive our beloved Biyamiti loop and also a couple of other smaller loops in that area and so we waived to the painted ones a final farewell and left them with heavy hearts.





After an extensive and well needed break at Afsaal with a yummy ice cream we carried on and gladly the S113 was open again and so we could travel along one of our favourite roads in that area although already knowing that the crossing at Biyamiti weir was still closed but driving the S23 twice was indeed no problem for us.

Besides a beautiful Burchell’s coucal which always kept hidden in a thick bush - the loop was quiet but we were able to spot our very first elephant bull during that trip which was in a not quite good mood and blocked the road quite a while until he was willing to let us pass.



A lone dagga boy was happy to have a muddy and wet spot to rest



and even a rhino mom plus calf could be spotted - Although the calf was permanently hiding itself behind bush but mom's curled tail was indeed a compensation of not getting in calf on picture



as well as the ever present naughty banana birds but who could pass them without taking a picture as they can sometimes be so comical.



A pity was that this loop was over so fast but due to the closure of Biyamiti weir we had the honour in driving the same road back enjoying the views over the still partly strong flowing Biyamiti. To drive back to the tar road you had to cross one of the many causeways in the park and this year most of these causeways were still slightly under water and consequently on nearly each causeway or low water bridge with running water we could spot in the entire park at least one hamerkop and so it was here



plus a couple of three banded plovers were running around in the hope for the catch of the day.



to be continued with more fluff balls........

[Pumbaa]

Meanwhile it was early afternoon but we still had not enough and decided to give the Mlambane loop also a chance but before we could turn into same we had to stop on the bridge on the tar road where you can spot into the Mlambane riverbed itself as there was a huge buffalo herd spread all over.



Lots of them were resting in the water and others were grazing and although this was not our first buffalo herd we ever saw it is always again a magnificent spectacle to spot so many of them so close together



and I even can promise you more of those spectacles later in this trip report. Lilac breasted rollers, kudus, European bee eaters as well as lots of magpie shrikes accompanied us nearly the whole drive back to Berg en Dal.



Whereas we enjoyed the ride on the Mlambane loop with again stunning views into the river we had to stop because of an impala herd out of which most members were resting under a shady tree



and in a bed of flowers.



Their obligatory feathered attendants were not far





and allowed us once again some nice shots.



After we also rested a bit together with them it was time for us to carry on but in fact we did not travel far until a horde of vervets forced us to stop again.



On our way back we also enjoyed the presence of a sunbathing terrapin,



saw our very first black-bellied bustard of the trip and could not get enough from the many wattled plovers.



After this already very exciting and successful first morning drive in the camp we relaxed a bit on our verandah and whilst we were already busy in packing everything back into the car for our afternoon drive we realised another never seen bird (No. 4 during that trip) which was busy in feeding a juvenile in the tree close to our bungalow – a black headed oriole!



Although it was a bit tricky to at least get one decent picture as the birds were moving permanently and to juggle with the heavy lens from right to left was another thing. Needles to say that we chose Matjulu waterhole for our afternoon drive where we so much hoped to find our bee eaters as well as swallow friends again and gladly they decided to entertain us once again.





Both species could be spotted once again plentiful and all were busy in catching a lot of insects for dinner.



The sunbird also arrived and landed on the very same flower as yesterday but same was once again gone before Timon had the camera handy – There were once again so many birdies to be watched that you could not have your eyes everywhere but this one was so cute and fluffy and so patient that we had to press the button - a spotted flycatcher - also a new tick for us



Only one full day in the park and already five new ticks – we were already curious to know what still might come next featherwise. Time for an excessive photo shooting with some white fronted bee eaters – especially this trio was so cute.



Another pin tailed whydah still without the long tail feathers so I guess it was a younger respectively not yet breeding male entertained us by landing on one blade of grass which immediately fell down on the ground with the bird on it and I already thought that this whydah might be stupid as he was miscalculating his weight on the grass so wrong



but whilst observing this behaviour more and more I noticed that I was stupid and the bird was clever as so he was able to pick up the seeds of the grass easily!



That’s why I love to watch all kind of animals so much as you can learn so much from their behaviour much more than you can ever get from reading books about them.

The bee eaters once again landed close by and offered another crazy dust bath.



Pity was that it was meanwhile time to return to camp as otherwise we might be too late so we had no alternative than to say good bye to all our feathered friends there but another one of them crossed our pass on our way back in camp – One of the many hamerkops we spotted this year in the park – Sigh!



The braai tasted even better than the evening before and we still sat a while on our verandah and enjoyed the quiet evening until we were far too tired to even keep our eyes any longer open.

to be continued with some bellies in the morning light......

[Richprins]

Excellent pics, pumbaa! Difficult to get the oriole!

Wild dog, in fact most of the canids and hyenas, are not particularly bothered by cars if they are in "resting" mode..the cats seem to be far more aware of a safe distance, generally, in my experience? They may seem to be unconcerned but still clearly display awareness. Thoughts?

[Pumbaa]

Monday, 10. February, 2013 – Berg en Dal – Crocodile Bridge

The only disadvantage today was that we had to leave Berg end Dal camp and that meant for us that from now on the clock will be ticking faster and faster with every minute we will spend inside the park. So after the packing orgy had been done we decided to leave the Matjulu loop with heavy hearts behind and chose to drive roads which we normally do not drive, especially because of lion pins on the S114 which could be found on the sighting board during the previous days.

Well, the whole drive on the tar road until we reached the turn off into the S114 we saw nothing, nada, niete, nil, not even a bird so we were a bit disappointed as we thought with new roads we might broaden our horizons but I guess it was simply too dark and the bush was too thick but not too thick for this large giraffe



and somehow our instinct was not that wrong this morning as the next sighting was already a traffic jam and behind all the cars I could spot a majestic animal -



finally the sighting boards were right and we found the lions, as it were actually two huge brothers. Would that not be nice if this works also for leopards and other animals you are looking for?



We searched for a comfortable area and gladly the two brothers decided to stay in an open area where also in February no annoying grass or thick vegetation is blocking the view and on top there was indeed space for enough cars, as the lions were visible extreme good from nearly each point on the road.



Actually both must have been on the walk but whilst we arrived at that sighting the one lay already down and the other one did not really know what to do, as he looked a bit grumpy to all the vehicles around them.



Both of them had extreme full bellies and had a quite impressive size



although one of them (the more grumpier) had a large abscess on his left elbow which did not look that nice.



Whilst the morning drive vehicle of Sanparks arrived he stared to the vehicle with a “if looks could kill look” he definitely did not like this huge vehicle and as he was about to walk away I already though he might stalk the vehicle





but he decided against this and instead hid himself behind a smaller bush and was now nearly out of sight for nearly each and everyone.





But his big brother was still visible and in the beginning we was still eagerly watching the come and go of the cars close to them, however, as it is with cats the longer this lasts the heavier his eyes got





However, he also never forgot to check the whereabouts of his brother and his brother was still staring at the Sanparks vehicle. The other cars did not bother him at all but this car he hated.



After a couple of minutes also this staring got boring or he simply realized that this monster truck will not come closer and he started the day dream modus.





From time to time now the sun came up from behind and soon this lovely sighting was covered into golden light as long as the clouds did not hide the sun. Who could ask for more: Lions that close, hot, black and strong coffee in one hand, camera on bean bag and with the fingers of the other hand you simply had to press the button and than even the golden hour – Sigh!



Oh and even our beloved birdies where around and a large group of Crowned plovers was foraging close to our car and also allowed a couple of close shots.



to be continued........

[Amoli]

Loved your instalment of the lions and narration..

Your birdie pics are super

[Pumbaa]

Once the lions were settled and the rush of cars died down not much happened on the lion front, as we all know when lions sleep then they do it more than 20 hours a day.





The only movement we got to see was the obligatory cat roll – from left to right and vice versa and in the middle belly up.





From time to time even the tail was tipping but not much happened further and so many of the cars already drove off and so it also here it quietened down.





We still loved to watch them although not much happened but as our next destination was not that far we stayed a bit longer with them and even realized a simultaneous cat roll of the two majestic males.



As we were surrounded by a couple of smaller bushes from time to time we even got visited by our feathered friends and to photograph birds from a parking position when they even come closer voluntarily is for sure much easier than to stop for them, position the camera in the right way and when you are ready you only got the shot of an empty branch. This Southern White Crowned shrike positioned himself so attractively that Timon had no other choice than to capture him.



We nearly spent already 1 ½ hour with the lion brothers and for us it was already from the beginning only a question of how long will they stand the stop and go and the fuss of all the cars but this time we gladly caught some very patient lions but finally because of the traffic or because of the upcoming heat the one brother stood up and joined his other one farer away behind a bush





and this was the signal for us to leave them and let them live their lion life and to discover something new but this was for sure already a great start into the morning.



First stop was then at Gardenia hide as we have been there only once but what you could see from the hide was simply a huge puddle and the thick bush which was indeed lovely



but only very few birds but you definitely could rely on the crocodiles nearly everywhere in connection with water and after the recent floods in particular.



Lots of black-smith and three-banded plovers were searching for their breakfast. We stayed a while with them and simply enjoyed the quietness as we were the only people at the hide.



A bit further down the road we had another magical moment as another rhino mom together with her nearly full grown “calf” crossed our path and gave us time to relish their peaceful presence and allowed us some nice close ups.





Unmistakably a baby boy!



The rest of the drive was extreme quiet and we only had to stop for a herd of zebras which was crossing the street in front of us.



to be continued with mini me's and more feathered friends.......

[Pumbaa]

Needless to say that we again visited Renosterpan but the doggies were roaming around somewhere else today. After a short visit at Afsaal we decided to drive the whole way to Crocodile Bridge via our beloved Biyamiti loop, the S114 and finally via the S26 but what to say obviously someone thought that the majestic lion and rhino sightings utilized our budget already for that day as we only saw very little but to be in the bush was already gift enough.

But it was worth to stop for a stunning tawny although the light was bad much better light predominated at this little pond along the way with lots of water lilies



and whilst Timon captured this fluffy little friend which I guess is a tawny flanked prinia which is also a new tick for us (No. 6).



The ever present fork-trailed drongos invited us enthusiastically to stop and shoot which Timon did



and then whilst I was again fallen a bit asleep as it was getting hotter and hotter and not much was to be seen in the thick vegetation a family of white rhinos suddenly popped us of the dense bushes – This time we had the honour in meeting mom and dad and another calf and I really love it when they stay together.

This was the Big daddy



and introducing mom as well – The remarkable drooping ear made it easy for us to identify them again only a couple of days later.



Unfortunately they allowed further shots only from the back whilst galloping in slow trot away and then they disappeared far too soon again between the dense bushes and where no longer to be seen.

After another quiet hour drive we finally reached the Bume causeway – the road to Mpondo dam was as already expected unfortunately closed – and when it comes to water on a hot day like today the usual suspects could be found.

This colourful lilac-breasted roller was worth to stop for



and as obligatory where a causeway was overflown by water the hamerkop was not far



and on a small stone in the water an even smaller tortoise was adoring the sun together with its hijacker in form of a dragon fly



We decided to carry on via the H5 and to stay a bit at Gesanftombi but before we arrived there we simply had to stop for a muddy mini-me





When we finally arrived at the dam it was already early afternoon and originally we planned to be there much earlier but who cares when thinking back to all the stunning sightings we had already that day. Lots of cars were watching an elephant taking a bath in a dam which I never had seen that full and another ellie was collecting some marulas from the grass.

When the bathing ellie realized that same hastened out of the water and chased the smaller ellie away and tried himself to get also marulas by putting his head against the trunk and pushing the tree



Needless to say that it works and the just fallen marulas found soon more than a willingly consumer.

In order to at least spend two hours in camp we headed forward but as usual lots of zebra, impala and wildebeests herds plus giraffes and rhinos delayed us further.

We were then rewarded with bungalow No. 11 in Crocodile Bridge (I had requested for No. 10 – 12) as we do here like the bush view more than the river view. A lovely surprise was that same was newly refurbished in the bathroom, sleeping room and the kitchen area without taking away to much of the old charm and even a microwave could be found in the kitchen. Whilst sitting on the verandah and sighing with a hot coffee in hand about being back in our favourite camp visitors arrived at the fence – it was a warthog mom with her piglets – and after trotting away out of sight we finally found her in front of our bungalow with her family.

Timon soon joined them by imitating their eating behaviour with his camera in hand and snapped away.



The only disadvantage was the garden hose in the fore- and the fence in the background but needless to say that we were honour by their visit.



As it was already a bit too late and we wanted not to drive that far we only visited the Southern part of the S28 but it was a more than quiet afternoon with the obligatory zebras



and wildebeests with lots of little ones around. Furthermore we were entertained by a large group of giraffes in the best evening light





even the waterbucks appeared on the scene as well



and needless to say that Timon also had to stop for this lovely posing red-backed shrike.



Back in camp I had to buy some bread and strolled to the shop and nearly stumbled across another warthog mom with her piglets – So there must be more than only one whole in the fence - Nevertheless I really love such visitors as long as they do not raid inside the camp like the vervets or baboons do. Btw the vervets were also there but as all residents took relevant precautions and due to the renovations the fridges meanwhile got a safety grid they had to content themselves with the marulas from the marula tree in front of bungalow No.9.

Today we were extreme tired from the much driving and after another delicious braai it was time for the bed and gladly with the newly renovated roofs also the bats had gone and it was a peaceful sleep.

to be continued with a misty morning and a couple of different birdies........

[Pumbaa]

Tuesday, 11th February, 2013 – Crocodile Bridge

I was already so much looking forward to drive the S28 today as this is still one of our favourite roads in the park and can offer between nothing and magnificent sightings nearly everything and you never know what to expect. Well today a phenomenon called dense mist happened and so it was hard to look more than 50 meter into the bush and everything farer away stayed invisible for us. Nevertheless the animals obviously loved such weather and we were blessed with some amazing sightings, especially this still very tired rhino.



There is indeed nothing wrong with our camera it was simply extreme misty and for sure large and tall animals such giraffes simply could not be overlooked.



They were busy in doing what they do the whole day: feeding – I simply love that! and for sure raised my mood extremely with such an early daily giraffe fix.



Due to the prevailing humidity in the air these many orb web spider webs were that morning extreme good visible and Timon stopped nearly for each and every spider web in order to get the best possible shot of same.



The ever present wildebeest in that area were also present although we only could identify the one close to us as everything farer away was non-existing for us that morning.



Better not to know what we might have missed this blurred morning.



Funny was that the golden orb web spiders were exceptionally easy to spot that morning – This is for you, Anne-Marie, and they could nearly be found everywhere in the park so in total they must have been millions, altogether.



Lots of barn swallows were still cuddled together on a dead tree, zebras and even a Jacobin cuckoo came into sight although its colours and the picture itself came out not that good because of the mist.



Even an elephant appeared although I must say that this was a scary moment for us as we did not know whether there might be more hidden in the mist but the picture which came out is one of those we wanted to have under all circumstances maybe compared with the silhouette of a giraffe and a sunset in the background. Sigh!



It was calm and you could already guess that early that this might become an extreme hot day after the mist had cleared up. The birdies also did not let us down today although this nicely posing red-billed hornbill did not like the mist that much



whereas this lovely tawny flanked prinia was already busy in catching something to eat.



From time to time the further we drove North the fog was already gone completely and the sun came up and then everything was dense again and we even felt the humidity in the air. Maybe this picture of a lone marabou demonstrates best what I wanted to describe.



Although the Nhlanganzwani dam is destroyed now for a couple of years we always pay a visit there it is a nice drive and normally a lot is to be seen and especially our beloved birds did not let us down here and so it was today – Magpie shrikes occur always more than plentiful in the area and are easiest to be photographed here as they are not that shy and allow one enough time to stop the car, position the camera and snap away



they even sit still after Timon snapped away a couple of times.



Gladly for us was that the mist now had gone completely and the sun enlighten everything in a lovely light and so we could watch a bit farer away in the bush and soon discovered that majestic martial eagle in a tree which was a bit far away.



We are always impressed by the size of this stunning raptor and felt honoured that same allowed us some nice shots. Funny is that we each year in nearly the same bush do find arrow-marked babblers and today same was a bit puffed up.



Meanwhile we strolled along the S137 which we declared from this year on the best road in the entire park to spot lots of different species of birds. We always had on that road sightings of most of the “common” birds such as this in the “feed me” mood European roller





but also great raptor sightings for example the gymnogene last year and kori bustards have regularly been seen here by us and we were already curious what might come across today featherwise. Many red-backed shrikes, male and female, were around as well this small birdie



And what to say first we met our very first Kruger black shouldered kite having its breakfast although a bit far away we were thrilled



and then we also enjoyed the noisy grey louries in exactly the same dead leadwood tree where we last year observed the gymnogene with its kill.



Whilst Timon was busy in taking pictures I scanned the nearby bushes for other animals and got hooked and nearly screamed “owl” and was so excited as this owl was already since long long time on my wish list – a pearl-spotted owlet!



to be continued......

[Dewi]

Stunning bird pics Pumbaa & Timon.

Love the Owlet one.

The "small birdie" looks like a Sabota Lark and the second Tawny-Flanked Prinia pic is possibly a Rattling Cisticola?

[Pumbaa]

Far too soon Timon forget about the grey louries and after I explained to him where to spot the owlet which was a bit tricky as same is so small and kept a bit hidden in a thick bush he snapped away picture after picture.



As owl lovers we were amazed to finally found that beauty and on top same also allowed us to make a new tick on our bird list.



It was stunning to realize the false eyes on the back of its head whilst turning its head and the owlet was gladly so relaxed about our presence that Timon was in heaven whilst pressing the button and with that sighting my day was already made. Needless to say that whenever passing the bush during the next days I checked this bush for “my” Owlet but same could not be spotted again. Far too soon for our liking same finally flew away but left behind two very happy persons



and so we could forgive the only blurred picture we got of a redbilled firefinch playing with a feather under a bush only meters away from our “owl” bush.

Only a couple of meters further down the road we met another warthog - This road is also a hot spot for them as we always met them there - Obviously they wanted to say "Hi" to Pumbaa!



The only disadvantage is that in that area the grass is normally extreme high but not too high in order to miss this little cutie.

[



At Duke’s waterhole not much activity besides a lot of white-backed vultures and only whilst downloading the pictures that evening I noticed why Timon stopped to take a picture of a strange looking “bark” – he spotted a European nightjar! resting on a branch.



Pity was that he only took this single picture because he was sure same might came out blurred – WoW besides the “misty” weather already three new ticks today! and although common we could not pass this beautiful Mrs. red-backed shrike without taking a picture.



Lots of giraffes could be spotted now surrounded by the dense bush



and finally on the H4-2 the obligatory elephant crossing orgy started as they were coming suddenly from nearly everywhere one after the other.



Gladly they are all behaved when coming across elephants at that busy road and so it was today



although they also had a number of calves between them.



Some herds were walking down to the river and others



were already on their way backed after taking a morning shower and started to raid the thick bushes near the road.



to be continued with some scary creatures.....