A cat or a lifer a day keep the doctor away

[Lisbeth]

Lovely birdies and brilliant bateleurs

The glossy starling is a Burchell's starling, I think.

[Richprins]

Birdie paradise there, Pumbaa!

Astounding bateleur shots, and I particularly like the flying waxbill!

[Pumbaa]

Those bateleurs are just beautiful

We were also impressed by that sighting

[Pumbaa]

Lovely birdies and brilliant bateleurs

The glossy starling is a Burchell's starling, I think.

Totally right About the id of the burchell's starling

[Pumbaa]

Birdie paradise there, Pumbaa!

Astounding bateleur shots, and I particularly like the flying waxbill!

All these birdies made already our day

[Pumbaa]

It was still extraordinary quiet that we even took pictures of a nicely posing but very vocal swaison’s francolin



and far too soon we stood already in front of Duke’s waterhole which was full but we even saw same already fuller but luckily we got a lovely shot from a pin tailed whydah as we often see that bird only far away,



a three banded plover was searching for something nice



and another vulture and Wahlberg eagle shared also here one of the many dead trees,



a white crowned shrike was in a cheeky mode, also a rarer bird for us



but therefore the yellow billed hornbills are always plentiful.



Otherwise it was also here extreme quiet but nevertheless we always love to park there and simply enjoy the morning. Not far along the S130 there is when it rained enough a larger pond on the left hand side and so it was this year and here I must say that this pond was definitely extreme full and a couple of impalas were thirsty and dared to come a bit closer but far too soon ran away.



We spotted a movable island with a resting terrapin on same



and than the culprit appeared who chased the impalas away as there were loud branches cracking already to be heard prior to Mr. elephant's
arrival.





Another very impressive bull and the pair of tusks looked also not that bad



and he came closer and closer and the water attracted same like a magnet



after he ripped out a lot of grass, feeded on same



and then he started to quench his thirst.

[Pumbaa]

Although he was impressive, he was a very relaxed and peaceful buddy and after he did his thing we walked straight away and was no longer to be seen



and with his disappearance we also left this lovely place and not far on the tar road now we met one of his buddies, now a very muddy one.



Besides a martial eagle unfortunately not much else was willing to show up



and therefore it did not take long until we reached the Lower Sabie causeway on which a stop is also always a must for us. We looked around and discovered a grey heron on a rock inspecting its wings,



an extreme close weaver



and to our joy a red bishop also could be seen not far away



as well as a masked weaver busy with the nest building.



The red bishops were indeed plentiful this year and always easily to be found in the long reeds



and always willing to be photographed.



Whilst we turned around we detected another black shouldered kite in a close by tree



and drove straight to sunset dam which is always a more than wonderful stop although we paid there already so many visits the first one during a trip is always something very special and we are always looking forward to it and it took not that long until we spotted a juvenile black crowned night heron in the nearly dry bush close to the parking area.





The adult one could be seen on the other side of the bush but unfortunately it was unable to reach same with our camera at least the juvenile one although very well camouflaged was to our delight extreme close.



to be continued…….

[harrys]

Lots of beautiful birdies and a great tusker

[Alf]

Very nice tusker and a variety of birds

[Klipspringer]

Again lots of beautiful bird captures

This heron is doing the cormorant spread wing posture

The ellie bull is also an attractive chap