Getting our Ellie Fix (March 2016)

[Richprins]

Didn't know there were zebra in Addo!

Great studies, Mello!

[ExFmem]

Eye catching opening there, Mel. Impressive pic

You certainly had great lighting for the first series of ellie pics, and took full advantage - great photos. (New camera?) Gotta smile at the baby - CUTENESS FACTOR ....10!

Nice dung beetle pics as well - everything in focus, incl. TWO moving insects and their mobile home. (Did you use the new macro lens?)

My favorite birds were hard to choose, as you had so many really nice pics, but the Speckled Mousebird, Bokmakierie, Greater...Sunbird, and Blk.-shouldered Kite were real winners. Love the red eyes on the Kite - wonder why that is? Will have to look it up.

Your pics of the attacking crows against the jackal buzzard are quite impressive! Three fast-moving subjects, all in focus!

But as far as CUTENESS FACTOR, that fuzzy wuzzy zebra colt wins by a nose (and that's saying a lot versus an ellie).

More please

[Mel]

Well, now you know, RP

Thanks for your encouraging words, ExFmem. I don't have a new camera, but I seem to get along with the Addo light quite nicely
And yes, the dung beetles were done with my new Tamron that allows macro shots as well. But still a steep learning curve here. I'm nowhere
near the quality you manage to produce. (And I also don't think I'll get down on my belly in the KTP to get closer to the insects... I'm not very
fond of creepy crawlies doing Mel inspection )

[Mel]

Since this is an ellie fix travel tale it's time to add them again inbetween

This one is the protagonist of page one who passed us on Ngulube Loop on the first afternoon drive:



This chap was marching down south when we were on our way back to the camp. I just couldn't pass on the the light... But he was also quite close,
hence only a head shot.

[Mel]

Also on Ngulube Loop, but a day later. There were three boys who were determined to stretch as high as they possibly could to get to the top leaves.



If you look closely, you might see the other two behind the bush this one is chewing at... Or maybe you don't because Addo ellies manage to disappear
rather quickly right next to you.

[Mel]

Yet another day later on Ngulube Loop, this boy offered us the opportunity to study an eating elephant at very close proximity











I'm still totally stunned at the fact how placid the Addo ellies are. This one was right next to us but didn't seem to be disturbed by it at all.
Must make sure to remember to keep a safe distance from the ellies when we're in Kruger next year.

[Mel]

More ellies to come some other day... still got sightings from the Windmill, Fourways, Harpoor and some other places.

[Lisbeth]

Orange ellie, stretching ellie, eating ellie.... They are all ♫ just marvelous, too marvelous for words ♫

The eating one has a nice pair of tusks

[Mel]

Thank you, Lis

I really loved watching them for a change to what you would see in the KTP

[Richprins]

Do they also push trees over, Mello?