The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Pumbaa]

A lovely morning, Pumbaa!

Lots of very interesting sightings...never seen a Wahlberg's with a kill!

Wonder what kind of woodpecker that is?

And the butterflies are exquisite, more macro photography from Timon!

Lake Panic is filled partly by pumps.

Although it was a quiet it was a lovely morning Looks for me like a female cardinal woodpecker

[Pumbaa]

So many wonderful sightings - ground hornbills are always a treat, the Wahlberg w/ mongoose, tho' it tugs at one's heart, is a great find - well done, even the monitor pic shows its very cool tongue , but of course my favorite would be the Citrus Swallowtail (I think) butterfly - exquisite pic.

There were so many of that sort of butterfly at that spot

[Pumbaa]

To our joy even a squacco heron landed soon after we had arrived, a water bird who is not a regular sighting for us.



From time to time we looked up into the dead tree and the yellow billed kites stayed the whole time there we spent in the hide. It must have been in fact extreme hot in the sun.



It was also nice to notice an African jacana with at least one chick although it could have been more but they are always so very well camouflaged.



The most interesting sighting for us were the breeding weavers as we often saw them so far refurbishing their nests during our trips but we rarely saw them breeding so far so the chriping was quite loud whenever the different parents arrived with quite a nice variety of treats.



Sometimes whenever the little ones had been fed the parents simply needed a rest before the search for food could again



some presented something green and hairy



and we also had the pleasure in photographing the hippos in the distance



as well as the squacco as same stayed quite a long time around.



For sure we had such a fun in watching as well as photographing the weavers as they nearly collected everything



most of the time something green and thick.



After a while even a malachite kingfisher was willing to appear but same was really not easy to spot in the dry bush



but as patience will be rewarded same finally even landed closer and stayed long enough for a couple of shots.

[Pumbaa]

As soon as the malachite kingfisher left the weavers again appeared



with more and even different delicacies



and now a smaller crocodile swam by,



a green backed heron could now also be photographed



whilst another one still stayed a bit hidden in some of the thick bushes.



Luckily our colourful feathered friend appeared again on the scene after same stayed away a while



and the weavers still tirelessly brought more food for the little ones.





We still were fascinated by the masses of weavers and the different food they organized



but that permanent feeding made them also thirsty and they took their time in quenching their thirst as well



and to our joy now even one of the pied kingfishers we noted flying around already landed in the thick and dry bush, however, same was nearly invisible and only easily seen when same moved.





to be continued.....................................

[Lisbeth]

Great shot of the pied kingfisher and who does not love the Malachite Kingfishers

Apart from Botswana, Lake Panic is the only place where I have seen squacco herons and there were two or three, if I don't error

Lots of different delicious snacks for those little weavers

[Richprins]

A lovely visit there, Pumbaa, with a bird frenzy!

Some truly excellent photographs!

And the weaver behaviour is well-reported!

[Pumbaa]

Great shot of the pied kingfisher and who does not love the Malachite Kingfishers

Apart from Botswana, Lake Panic is the only place where I have seen squacco herons and there were two or three, if I don't error

Lots of different delicious snacks for those little weavers

We had the feeling that the squaccos do prefer the more dryer weather in Kruger during our rainy trips we never saw one but when it was hot and extreme dry then we always see some - We had also luck in seeing one on the Lower Sabie causeway a couple of years ago

[Pumbaa]

A lovely visit there, Pumbaa, with a bird frenzy!

Some truly excellent photographs!

And the weaver behaviour is well-reported!

A visit to Lake Panic never disappoints

[Pumbaa]

For sure we could not take our eyes from the hard-working weavers still busy in feeding the little ones





and besides the many yellow feathers now also something red appeared – a red bishop



from time to time also the malachite still could be seen flying around



and finally we also captured one of the many dragonflies we discovered there.



Whilst it got quiet weaverwise now even a tawny flanked prinia wanted to be photographed





and meanwhile also one of the many hippos who lingered around a bit farer away from the hide swam now a bit closer



joining one of the terrapins as well as the grey heron.



In the distance where at our arrival the elephant drank now waterbucks arrived and once again the tiny jacana chick could be seen clearly. After we now spent over two hours at the hide we left same



and still on the road from the hide to the tar road we came across a group of nyalas



in the shade under large trees which is always a joy to watch.



Back in camp we had lunch at the Cattle Baron restaurant before we returned into our meanwhile very well airconditioned bungalow and today we were far too lazy to go for an afternoon drive so we skipped same also in view of our long drive we will have tomorrow to Satara so Timon went for a dip in the pool whilst I enjoyed the view from our verandah with a cold one. Funny was that Timon had the pool all to himself whilst the pool for the children close to the main pool was occupied by a troop of baboons so he finally had company. We had an early night as meanwhile we in fact suffered a bit under the still prevailing heat so at least by night with the air condition it was bearable.

[Pumbaa]

Friday, 16th February 2024 – Skukuza – Satara

Explored roads: H11 - H4-1 – H1-2 – S83 – H1-2 – H1-3 – S86 – H1-4 – H7 – S12 – S40 – H7 – H1-4

After we packed everything together and had the first morning coffee on our verandah and despite the long distance we had to drive today we decided to drive the H11 at least until the crossing with the S1 a bit as on previous trips we always had luck there with leopards also having in mind the high traffic along that road in the early morning. Nevertheless we were greeted by giraffes,



stopped for a fantastic sunrise,



detected a Wahlberg eagle on a dead tree,



found another brown snake eagle



and to our joy even the duiker stayed long enough visible for a couple of shots.



At the crossing with the S1 the obligatory hyena clan was hanging around there and most of them were still far too lazy for a single movement



at least nearly.



We turned around with unfortunately no leopard sighting and after a very short body break at Skukuza we met on the Sabie river causeway another malachite kingfisher,



noted red faced mousebirds a bit farer away as well as one of the lighter tawny eagles



before this impressive elephant bull popped out of the dense vegetation along the road.



At the Sand river causeway we stopped shortly for a very well hidden green backed heron,



noted a bateleur in flight



as well as a juvenile.



to be continued.............................