A cold and very dry road tour to Kgalagadi *

[pooky]

At last the day had arrived

An early start from Cape Town and instead of the day getting warmer it actually
got colder. Max at Springbok was 10 degrees

A coffee break en route to Pof Adder and we were visited by these Spiked heeled Larks -
a lifer





Some Kokerboom in Augrabies



We spent the night at Augrabies and again got an early start for Twee Rivieren. This time the cars
had a thin layer of ice on them with -2 degree temperatures

We set up camp. There were plenty of little birds around the camp. Alot of them were lifers for
us including this sociable weaver



A short driver up the Auob river and we found these cute Gemsbok "twins"



This is a western form of a common fiscal shrike with the white stripe on the front of the head.


To round off the day a small herd of red hartebeest

[pooky]

Before I start with day two here are some pics of birds in and around the camp site. I hope you don't get
bored with the birdie pics.

These whitebowed sparrow weavers were so common in the camp and investigated everything.




The cape glossy starling were also quite plentiful in Twee Rivieren







Lovely little accacia pied barbet came visiting.



and the inevitable drongo - can't go anywhere without them being around.



This reminds me of my school days - oh so long ago where we had plenty of groundscrapper thrushes!!



Also in camp a yellow mongoose



Day 2 Monday 11th June

Last night as the sun set so the cold set in. With many layers of bedding and fleecy pj's
we slept nice and warmly but ones face got icy cold. The gates only open at 7.30am so no
need to get up too early. We crept out at 6.30am to -7 degrees - yes you read correctly - minus
seven. I have never been this cold in South Africa. The water in the kettle was frozen,
a bottle of water left in the car door had ice in it. The pipes were solid. A Defender Landy's diesel
pump and pipes were frozen as were other vehicles as well - even my SO said he had never heard of that.
We were four couples and the one couple's tent never had a fly sheet - they woke to a thin layer of ice
on the roof inside the tent. Ones hands, even with gloves were painfully cold We just could not
get going and only left camp at about 9am when it had warmed up to -2

Just outside camp were a pair of verreaux's eagle owls getting some shut eye.



There was a nasty cold breeze and all the game were trying to catch some sun.
First up a jackal



then a couple of secretary birds looking for food.





The springbok were standing all hunched up.






Further on some wildebeest and springbok were lying down to avoid the wind.



We went along the Nossob river road. There is a detour along this road which isn't in very good
condition. But I suppose there isn't too much that can be done when the ground is all sand
and corrugations are inevitable.

Sociable weaver nests




A little steenbok creeping away


Again the wildebeest and springbok were trying to keep as low as possible out of the icy wind.






Spot the lion -O -O She was walking along the ridge calling all the way. We followed her for a couple of
K's. We wondered if she had cubs she was looking for or was it her pride.



Tea stop at Dikbaardskolk. Cold and windswept.





More to follow tomorrow -

[pooky]

Day 2 continued - with lots of birdie pics especially for Lisbeth :D :D

In the tree above where we were having tea were some little birds flitting around

A chestnutvented tit babbler always with his back to us



and a marico flycatcher (lifer) giving us the eye!!



even a little striped mouse came to look for scraps.



A kori bustard with his aloof air in the river bed





We took the road through the dunes to the Auob river. I can understand now why there aren't more roads through
the dunes - it was extremely quiet, just a few gemsbok and very few birds. The animals seem to stay in the river
courses where there are more waterholes and , I suppose, the grazing is better and sweeter. Just this juv. pale
chanting goshawk was on the red sands.



We stopped at the restored farmhouse which is now a museum.



A cape crow was sitting on top of one of the out buildings and after that a view of the dunes from the
farmhouse.





In the Auob river bed this swallowtailed bee eater was still fluffed out from the cold.



A very majestic gemsbok



A female northern black korhaan (lifer). She has beautiful markings on her feathers.







Not a very good pic but another lifer for us - pygmy falcon



The upright stance of an anteating chat



and back at camp in the dead tree near reception a juv. gabar goshawk peering at us.



One of our neighbours showed us his bumper which a big lion cub had decided was good eating
He actually dragged the cub a short way while it hung on There was much banter about this
cubs preferances for Fortunas as both our vehicles were Fortunas and we were headed in that direction the
next day







Our tented village at Twee Rivieren :D :D

[pooky]

Day 3 12th June Twee Rivieren to Nossob

We were moving today so it was up at 6am - still pitch dark and the temp. was -2 - wow
alot warmer than yesterday But just before the sun came up it was down to
-5 Getting the tents folded and packed away was an absolute mission. They were stiff
and wouldn't fold and our hands were aching with the cold.

Eventually we were hitched up and ready to go. Some of us are forever in hope that it will warm
up enough to justify the shorts



The two vereaux's eagle owls were still in the tree just outside of camp.

This pale chanting goshawk posed beautifully for us.


We stopped right next to this gemsbok for the photo but he wasn't happy and with a snort and head
down - horns pointed straight towards the car he sent us on our way very quickly


Just before Kij Kij we came across a mating pair of lions, but they weren't close so not very
good pics. There was another male close to them but also not good for a photo.




We stopped at Dikbaardskolk for coffee (I think the previous picnic site I mention as Dik...
we actually Kij Kij - not familiar with these names yet )
This kalahari scrub-robin was running around the picnic site - a lifer - very pretty.


and another sociable weaver


redeyed bulbul.



Nossob camp site is very sandy but has some lovely big trees. There are plenty of ground squirrel
and one has to be aware of their holes when walking around at night. The jackal come into camp
at night looking for food. During the nights they would start up a howling competition at some stage.


The Nossob river near the campsite.


A meercat sentry
Look left

Check ahead


then look right

[pooky]

I was about to mention the shorts...
But Africa is not for Sissies it seems! -O

If you got out at Kij Kij, thinking it was Dikbaardskolk, you can consider
yourself lucky that no-one reported you. //\0-- (But maybe it was
Melkvlei which is close'ish to Kij Kij.)

Mating pair of lions - whoop-whoop! But I reckon, even the lions try
to stay warm.

Love your sentry! Meerkats always do it for me.

Thanks Mel - you are absolutely right it was Melkvlei - I am still
confused with all those names. Kij Kij is where the roads branches off
across the dunes

[pooky]

Day 4 13 June Nossob.

A quick trip down Marie se Draai as we had heard there was a lion kill. We found the carcass
but it was clean and no lions. A little bit further on there were four little heads peeping out
from the long grass - cheetah - but not good for photos - just too much grass. Eventually
they got up and walked away from us into the river bed.





We then went back up towards Lijersdraai picnic spot. It was very quiet and still cold with a bit of wind.
At the picnic site there were plenty of mice. All looking for scraps. We tipped some water out on
a cement slab and in a flash a striped mouse came for a drink. ( the toilets here were absolutely disgusting -
we did report it and were told that they knew about it and were trying to fix it)





A fat lizzard - don't know what it is?



On the way home this very agro' little cape cobra rose to the occasion.
Trying to get out of the road.




Then a very angry little fellow





A lanner falcon



and, I think a steppe buzzard - seems to be out of season but I believe some of them do
over winter out here - correct me if I am wrong please!



Back in camp a very sleepy whitefaced owl





and a crimson breasted shrike singing for his supper -O



This I really need help with - Dewi/Mel or anyone else - My thoughts are - western form of sabota lark or
a buffy lark or an african pipet or even a fawn cooured lark



The ground squirrels were having a wonderful game in camp



Another drive down to Marie se draai and these bateared fox were scratching for food.



Doves at the waterhole



and a jackal hoping that a dove will make a mistake and allow himself to be caught.

[Dewi]

Great pics again Pooky. The cobra is a belter.

That's the same type of lizard that we saw a Greater Kestrel eat. I've not quite figured that one out yet.

Fawn-coloured Lark?

Agree with the Steppe.

More please.

[Mel]

You give me too much credit, pooky - I'm a looser on LBJs.

Still, let's discuss that bird (and I never thought I would do this but):
I'm not sure about the fawn-coloured lark. Sorry I can't come up with
the proper term, but looking at the marking mid-wing, it seems longer
than in a FCL. Also, I've yet to find a picture of a FCL that shows no streaks
at the throat. But I'm no sure with your pic. The streaks might be there and
I just can't seem them because the sun obscures them.

Dewi? Back to you again.

[Dewi]

Hi Pooky, Mel & Nam,

Some Fawn-coloured Larks show very little, or extremely fine streaking on the breast. Sabota Lark (Bradfield's race in this area) would show a necklace of buff, heavily streaked, and have a larger, thicker bill. The only other Larks that are this pale underneath show very different field marks not evident on the bird in your pic.

The White-faced Scops-owl is in it's "camouflaged" erect stance with ear tufts extended.

A terribly bad photo, but shows the fine streaks on F-C Lark.



Hope you don't mind Pooky, I've adjusted your pic to try to show the fine breast streaking a little better.

[Mel]

I can do worse than you, Dewi. -O

This is what my fawn-coloured lark from the KTP looks like:



So comparing the marking on the wings, it looks different to both of your pics, Dewi and pooky.

Those LBJs...

But maybe just the stance?

Anyhoo, thanks, Dewi for explaining and showing the comparison!