And then the rain set in or at dusk the bush comes alive

[Richprins]

More magic, Pumbaa!

Very interesting the detail about the rain and the water increasing in the veld...like we are there!

[Flutterby]

Stunning pics of the rhinos!

Always lovely to see rain!

[Lisbeth]

You sure had a great rhino experience at Berg'n Dal

You always get your part of rain in February

[Pumbaa]

a Grey and a Black Rhino
love the three with different level of mud

and a Green Pigeon (made me a long time to see the first one)
Bee-Eater with a Bee
love the Fish Eagle
and lot of water

for sharing

Green pigeon took us also long until we saw our very first one but from then on we normally do get to see them more often

[Pumbaa]

More magic, Pumbaa!

Very interesting the detail about the rain and the water increasing in the veld...like we are there!

For us it was one of the fascinating facts during this trip the water incresing the veld as we have never experienced that ever before

[Pumbaa]

Stunning pics of the rhinos!

Always lovely to see rain!

But that rain until that point was harmless

[Pumbaa]

You sure had a great rhino experience at Berg'n Dal

You always get your part of rain in February

Yes it is rainy season but this year although it rained partly extreme heavily we got to see the sun as well on the same day

[Pumbaa]

The mud puddles at Matjulu waterhole definitely filled up and even the waterhole was filled up at least slightly with water – In fact this was good to see and even better to see was that when we arrived at the crossing with the S110 two wild dogs were hanging around and we was the only car there.



One had an urgent need



and the other was sniffing around.



Then a second car arrived and the dogs disappeared in the bushes – They might have arisen later somewhere else again but we carried on as now car after car arrived and so we turned into the S110 only to meet again some more wild dogs which were looking for the other two.



We drove a bit backwards to at least get a couple of action shots and another car must have met them along the way and turned around to pursue them.



They were running and we tried to keep up with them whilst driving still backwards and partly took some shots and we even discovered that one was wearing a collar



and at that stage we were extreme happy that we finally decided to pay Matjulu another visit as otherwise we would have missed them



and for us far too soon they again disappeared in the bushes and we decided to continue our way and not turn around as meanwhile a pile of cars was following the dogs.



Meanwhile it also started to clear up and the grey clouds got brighter and we also got to see more and more birds – We came across a golden breasted bunting,



grey hornbills,



European bee eaters,

[Pumbaa]

Southern black tits and for sure



we stopped for a fish eagle on top of a tree



and whilst Timon was photographing the fish eagle I noticed a grey headed kingfisher who just landed on a bush and we moved a bit forward and gladly the kingfisher stayed and allowed us



to take a couple of shots.



After we took enough pictures and the bird flew away we returned to the fish eagle who still sat on the tree top



and even started to answer its mate who we heard already calling from the other side of the river bed.



Only meters ahead we already noticed another car stopping and after we approached we were informed that we just have missed a leopard who had crossed the road and disappeared in the bushes – this slogan followed us during that trip and we heard same quite often. Although we still looked a bit around we did not notice anything catlike and so we moved forward but as the bridge across the Matjulu was close we even checked from that bridge whether the leopard was from there visible but we had no luck.

We again checked the larger puddle on the other side of the bridge and noticed today a black stork there,



photographed an African spoonbill

[/URL]

and also noticed a hamerkop and grey heron in the vicinity and although not much water was left also after the recent heavy rain the puddle was highly coveted.



Along our further way we then met a Wahlberg eagle



followed by another surprise for us as we then spotted a bird we already wanted to see again as we only saw same once or twice during our first visits to Kruger – a trumpeter hornbill.



At first stage same was sitting close by on a tree but then flew away and so we got only shots from a bit far away.

to be continued....

[nan]

and now Wild Dogs
I can heard the Fish Eagle
magnificent Kingfisher and Trumpeter Hornbill... and very nice serie of birds.... again