Stories from Tar Roads and From Spots

[Pumbaa]

More elephant bulls came across



and another interesting sighting was then a family of ground hornbills



who chased a vulture away.



The ground hornbills tried in a threesome to collective



follow the vulture onto a tree whilst the juvenile one got involved as well.



In the end only two of them followed the vultures and we were happy about





a couple of interesting shots and this wonderful sighting.



However, this road had still a bit more in store as then hyenas appeared on the road



on first sight we only noticed a glimpse of same as they disappeared in the high grass



but luckily two of them came out again although there must have been more.



One of them needed a break



and waited right on the road for the other one

[Pumbaa]

and then continued their walk



whilst now the other one needed a break.



Finally and after we got a couple of shots we let them continue their way and we carried on as well only to stop again for one of the many colourful lilac breasted rollers we came across this year.



We then discovered a juvenile bateleur



circling above us whilst



same came nearer and nearer



and finally landed right in the middle of the road in front of us as same must have discovered



a dead roller on the road



the bateleur did not think twice and grabbed the roller immediately and flew away with same.



Indeed this morning this road was a fantastic drive with so many different and even interesting sightings and on top with only few cars driving same. To our delight and astonishment we noticed that the S30 was not closed, normally one of the first roads that will be closed after heavy rains, and we immediately turned into same and enjoyed the view from a causeway right in the beginning.



On closer inspection we even discovered a three banded plover in the water



and right after the causeway lot of giraffes awaited already us.





to be continued…….

[Mel]

I'm sorry for the dead roller, but I like the series with the juvvie bateleur

Excellent hyena sighting too

[Lisbeth]

I wonder why the ground hornbills are flying after the vulture? maybe in order to chase it away from their tree

Lucky catch of the bateleur.....both for him and for you

Very nice sightings

[Richprins]

Catching up, Pumbaa!

Amazing light on the birds earlier, and a unique leopard sighting and action!

Beautiful birds in flight all over, plus a variety and scenery.

My favourites are the hornbill action and bateleur with roller!

[Pumbaa]

I'm sorry for the dead roller, but I like the series with the juvvie bateleur

Excellent hyena sighting too

Must have been a road kill always sorry to see that

[Pumbaa]

I wonder why the ground hornbills are flying after the vulture? maybe in order to chase it away from their tree

Lucky catch of the bateleur.....both for him and for you

Very nice sightings

No idea about the ground hornbills chasing the vulture away but it was a stunning sighting nevertheless

[Pumbaa]

Catching up, Pumbaa!

Amazing light on the birds earlier, and a unique leopard sighting and action!

Beautiful birds in flight all over, plus a variety and scenery.

My favourites are the hornbill action and bateleur with roller!

Yes, finally we could enjoy that magic light in the morning after all the grey and rainy mornings

[Pumbaa]

They obviously enjoyed the shade of the trees close to the causeway





and we for sure enjoyed their presence as well



and were even allowed to do a couple of close ups



where we detected that one was chewing on something.



We carried on and stopped for red-billed hornbills



and fork-tailed drongos



before we stood again in front of a lovely little pond where lots of impalas were hanging around



and whilst watching and photographing the masses of impalas we noticed a family of ground hornbills





who luckily decided to come closer and so we let them come until they finally disappeared in the thick vegetation behind the impalas.



It was lovely to be part of the herd and amazing was also that lots of either red-billed but also yellow-billed oxpeckers could be photographed as well

[Pumbaa]

and on top with the brilliant sunlight which shone that day.





We heard a couple of other cars passing by some stopped as well but no other people stayed as long as we did as not only the impalas were amazing to watch



but also all the oxpeckers who flew from one impala to another or more of them arrived.



This one got a real treatment and obviously also enjoyed it and some of the oxpeckers obviously ripped fur out as some of them had tufts of hair in its bill.



All the impalas did not bother our presence





and we indeed could have spent once again the whole day at that sighting as there was so much to be seen



and the impalas were so active although it was already late morning but after a while we simply dragged ourselves away





and continued our lovely morning drive only to stop for another brown snake eagle



who did not stay long with us and decided to carry on its flight.



to be continued…..