Africa Wild

We were in Kruger for the long weekend

Two nights in Orpen and one night in Biyamiti. We went via the Taita Falcon site but were sad to find out that the Taita has not been there for over 2 weeks

It is mating season so hopefully just looking for a mate.

We had some wonderful sightings of fish eating birds and saw some at work as they caught their meal.

Saddle Bill Stock and Hamerkop


Pied Kingfisher


Goliath Heron


Giant Kingfisher


Malachite Kingfisher


The Call of The Fish Eagle

We got to the first Orpen gate at about 1.35PM and our first sighting was a Black Chected Snake Eagle between the two gates



At reception, while the driver checked us in, a white bellied sunbird and Red billed hornbill welcomed me





Gates close at 5.30 PM in June but we managed to get in a short drive

Steenbok

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14 Warthogs Never seen that many together before



Grey Hornbill



Black Shouldered Kite



The driver was experimenting again. He had the 1.4 extender set permanently on the 500 lens for this trip, thus making it a 700 lens. Problem was when the bird was close to the road



Red Crested Korhaan



Crested Francolin

There was a lion close to the Orpen Waterhole. We did not get to see him but heard him at regular intervals throughout the night - just love it. Our neighbours to the right were a sweet couple and to to the left we had a rowdy lot. The noise was getting to irritate me and I told Duke I am going to tell them to tone it down.

His reply, "Go ahead if you want to be sworn at."

Just as I was deciding whether to do something about it the sweet lady from the right went to tell them to be considerate and not be so loud. She was told to take a hike but in more colourful language. The sweet gentleman then told them that they are a very sad lot and he was also told to take a hike. Very sad but it did get them to keep quiet.

The next morning we were first out at 6.00 AM. Our plan was to be out for the whole day. We were going to take the H7 and then the S36/S33 in the hope of finding Sables. Take a break at Tshokwane and then take the S35/S37 to Sweni Hide where we would have our packed lunch. Then return to Orpen via the S100/H7.

One of the few times that we did not get a predator on the H7 on an early morning drive from Orpen/Tamboti. It was a chilly morning at 3 Celsius. The birdies were all fluffed up catching the early rays of the sun

Crested Barbet


Swainson's Francolin


Burchell's Coucal


Martial Eagle


Also got this large herd of buffalo raising dust




Lugmag Dam


Giraffe on the H1-3


On the bridge on the 2 km section of the S35 our first fisherbird, a male saddle billed stock

The SBS just wanted to get to the water on the other side of the bridge









Ready for action



A Hamerkop studying the technique of the SBS





Not the biggest catch for the day





Maybe the next fisherbird will do much better than the SBS

We now on the S35 Lindanda Road. It is years since we did this road. We make the customary stop at the Wolhuter Memorial and then proceed on to the S37 Trichardt Road.

Dark Chanting Goshawk, dont think it is a Gabar???





Toko



We at the Sweni Hide and settle down for a long break and lunch, fish anyone

Fish Eagle'



Common Moorhen





Two of each - Yellow Billed Stock and Croc





Zebra



Fisher Bird standing motionless, ready to strike

WoW Sharifa,

despite the cold and winter time I did not expect that still so many birds could be seen in Kruger

Really loved the crested barbets with the puffed up feathers and the saddle billed stork - Some awesome pictures here

Pumbaa wrote:WoW Sharifa,

despite the cold and winter time I did not expect that still so many birds could be seen in Kruger

Really loved the crested barbets with the puffed up feathers and the saddle billed stork - Some awesome pictures here

More feathered Fisher birds coming up Pumbaa

Egyptian Geese



Giant Kingfisher



Brown Hooded Kingfisher



Goliath is not happy with Yellow Bill as the reflection of the Yellow One seems to be affecting Goliath



So Goliath goes to Yellow One and tells him where to stand - at the back







Goliath now flies to a different fishing spot





and Yellow One is right back where he started



Suddenly Splat

Goliath was happy with his new fishing spot and we could sense that something was about to happen



Splat



Gotcha



Goliath then walked towards the hide Duke got the close ups while I concentrated on getting more of the scene in







Lots of captions come to mind for the below pic but this is a family forum

"Just cannot trust a Yellow Billed Stcock to cover your back"









TBC

Goliath continued walking towards us







and the fish was been positined for eating as Goliath walked



Goliath walked right pass a croc and they just ignored each other. Seems Golaiths and Crocs signed a treaty long ago that they will just stay our of each others way.





and then the fish was on the tip of the bill



We were ready for the flip and the toss