When small Streams turn into Rivers

[Pumbaa]

I adore malachite kingfishers

A leopard from behind is better than no leopard

Quite a few years ago, we stayed in Franschhoek and every day at 17:00 arrived a flock of hahdedas to the small dam that we had in front of the bungalow.... and the cacophony started

Definitely right and we met this one around 13.30 o'clock

[Pumbaa]

The Kingfishers

Definitely a Leopard even from behind

We have so many Hadedas here (and noisy ) one tends to forget they are a treat for others

I am sure there are much more birds that are treats for us but a regular guest in your gardens

[Pumbaa]

Nice morning, Pumbaa!

Exquisite malachite shots!

Ja, hadedas are a curse all over the country!

And cats on the way to PK!

Yes, cats and we were lucky and also the sun was shining that day

[Pumbaa]

A hyena crossed the street like a flash and disappeared in the dense vegetation without a picture but we then paid a visit to Shitlave dam which is indeed another nice dam and not so overcrowded like other dams in the park. Well after the many rain normally a visit to such dams can be in vain but waterbirds are normally always there and so it was this afternoon with a three banded plover



really close



and a bit farer away a wooly necked stork was willing to pose



and after a while even impalas arrived to quench their thirst.



Finally we reach around 16.15 o’clock camp and got the key to hut No. 127 which was located close to the swimming pool. Whilst I was busy in doing the check in Timon discovered a red winged starling,



a woodland kingfisher,



another red-winged starling





and a black eyed bulbul.

After we moved into the bungalow we made ourselves comfortable on the verandah and Timon even was in the mood for a dip in the pool, however, after a while thunder could be heard but luckily the thunderstorm was still farer away. So we lit the braai and had a nice dinner, however, the lamp on the verandah had been installed completely wrong as in the darkness the kitchen area was completely without light so pitch dark and also the table and chairs were not good illuminated. Luckily we do always have an additional light with us so at least we saw what we ate and I could even put the rest of our salad back into the fridge with help of the lamp as the fridge was positioned in a pitch dark area. Soon we fell into the bed as this was indeed a long drive and an exciting day.

Sunday, 12. February 2023 Pretoriuskop

Explored roads: H1-1 – S66 – H4-1 – H12 – H4-1 – H1-1 – H11 – S1 – H11 – H1-1

During the night the thunderstorm arrived and it once again rained torrentially indeed not very promising at least when the alarm clock rang it was luckily dry so we enjoyed a first coffee and when it was time to leave we left the gate. Funny was that after the masses of rain during the night today the loop roads were open although they were still closed yesterday evening nevertheless we left them out in the morning and drove again straight to Shitlave where we spotted a green shank



who took an extensive bath as if not enough water came from above already.



A three banded plover was still hanging around



and also a black smith plover presented itself from extreme close



until we again switched over to the green shank.

[Pumbaa]

To the left hand side the dam was overflowing cheerfully and there a fish eagle had positioned itself



in maybe catching some fish.



It was in fact quiet when it comes to cars and also the H1-1 is a long road to drive and in the beginning same was also completely quiet at least we spotted a nicely posing fork tailed drongo



and then it once again started to rain so the first elephant with a set of nice tusks this morning had to cross a wet road already.



A large group of zebras was not afraid of the rain



and so we could take a couple of shots as they simply posed so nice for us.



The S66 leading to Transport dam was yesterday still closed but today open so we decided to pay a visit to the dam but must say it was a more than adventurous drive as parts of the road were washed out and 3 or 4 small streams still had to be crossed. Luckily we had a 4x4 and drove extreme slow when we had to cross a wash out or a stream as with a normal sedan car this road was not drivable.

Unfortunately a constant rain meanwhile was falling and the view was not that good



at least the obligatory black smith plover and a white faced duck were hanging around and on top in the distance we also spotted a grey heron.



Despite the rain also a couple of waterbucks with a lot of little ones arrived at the dam.





to be continued………..

[Lisbeth]

It must have been boring for those who are not interested in birds

[Pumbaa]

It must have been boring for those who are not interested in birds

During the rain unfortunately not much else to be seen, however, we are always happy about all the different birdies we found

[Pumbaa]

After a while we returned sliding to the tar road and noted astonished that the S65 had been opened friskily, same was closed yesterday the water was still flowing down that road and same was a single mud pile. Despite same was open we did not drove it as we doubted that the N’waswitshaka was crossable.

It was still raining when we stopped for a large buffalo herd





it is always incredible when seeing those massive animals so gently interacting.





We spotted a lot of buffaloes although most of them was still lying on the ground and from some you only could see the horns in the high and wet grass.



For sure we stayed with them for a while although the rain was a bit annoying with the windows wide open.



The bridge at DeLa Porte was nearly flooded by the river there at least the broken road could still be driven and finally we reached Skukuza where a short break was needed and whilst the rain got less the water was still flowing like under a shower from the roofs there. Luckily for the rest of the day the rain stopped besides a couple of raindrops or a bit of fine rain here and there so we decided to give the H4-1 another try, well in fact no wide choice when it comes to open roads.

We soon met a really majestic kudu bull in the dense vegetation



and stopped for a juvenile African hawk eagle



who sat on a dead tree to dry its feathers but same indeed looked like a picture of misery.

[Pumbaa]

We came across a grey lourie



and one burchell’s coucal



followed by another one.



Passengers in a car told us that we just missed a leopard who crossed the road – Indeed better not telling something like that and bad luck today for us. The Sabie river was still flowing strongly but close to the banks some areas were sheltered and here we today noticed a lot of white egrets



out of which one caught a fish



and was swallowing same whilst



a couple of others looked longingly to the one with the fish who meanwhile had been eaten.



We made a nice stop at a group of impalas and their fur was still wet



and on top we also enjoyed the masses of oxpeckers around them today even with juvenile ones.



Luckily same presented itself the way we wanted them





and finally could capture them together.



to be continued………………..

[Richprins]

A couple of long episodes, Pumbaa!

I'm so glad you got to Pretoriuskop, my favourite camp!

Would you go back?

I've never seen the green face on the egrets like that!

What a rainy day, once again with remarkable wet bird views!