Joyride with the Bateleurs *

[Pumbaa]

Finally we reached Sunset dam and the obligatory hippos there were again plentiful and extreme noisy.



Only from far we spotted the beautiful yellow-billed storks and some crocodiles where we stood with the car we watched a great number of wattled plovers and to our frustration no more birds could be found. Another disappointment was that with affright we realized how green the water was already and it looked much more than a pea soup than a dam and all the water birds had green bills and green legs. I think it will only be a question of time until this precious little gem might be closed.





After a short visit to Lower Sabie we headed forward again only to be stopped on the low water bridge and attracted by a large number, it must have been around 20 or more, of huge crocodiles who swam excitedly around. Furthermore it stank unbearable where we parked so we guessed that there might be trapped a rotten hippo cadaver under the bridge and that might explain also the agitation of the crocodiles as they normally do only lie around immobile.



Due to cheetah pins we noticed during our short break at Lower Sabie’s sighting board we decided to take the S29 and soon spotted another new tick for us – a buffalo weaver.



Unfortunately here the grass was so high that it was impossible to spot anything which might be smaller than a giraffe or an elephant. So we drove on and soon Timon discovered something catlike running in front of our car but still too far away. I tried to identify via binoculars what was running away from us but with the shaking car it was not 100 % clear but the shape of the animal and the black earmarks made be thought of a younger cheetah but to our dislike same disappeared after it ran quite a while in front of our car into the high grass and vanished. Although we waited a bit at the point where we thought the animal vanished but today we drove away empty-handed as not a single movement of the grass could be realized.

Needless to say that we turned into the Muntshe loop which we only discovered during our last year’s stay but fell in love immediately with the area here and enjoyed the landscape we were travelling through a bit more than the sightings as they were a bit sparse today and we only met a lone elephant bull and a Kori Bustard both too far away for pictures but the Carmine bee eaters were willing to pose.



The stroll back via the tar road was also quiet – I think it is simply the time of the day – but I spotted a family of ground hornbills close to the road and they are for sure always worth to stop for.



Last year we discovered this bird nearly daily but this year this sighting was for a long time the only one we had but gladly in the far North we got later during that trip the honour in meeting them nearly daily.





For that normally busy area in the park we met only very few cars and it was indeed an enjoyable ride with more sightings of hundreds of Carmine bee eaters



and a nice posing elephant.



Back on the causeway close to camp we allowed us enough time for the hurly-burly in the water which the crocodiles made.



Some of them had some hijackers,



others crawled closer and looked like prehistoric monsters which they definitely are



and others came so close that we nearly got scared, especially when only known to us as sunbathing and unflexible reptiles and not as these feed horny beasts with always a smile their faces – At least their big mouth is looking as if they were smiling.



Maybe not one of the most beautiful beasts on the world but for sure one of the most fascinating ones.

Meanwhile it was already getting afternoon and we simply had to carry on and after another short stop at Lower Sabie to do some shopping we enjoyed our ice cream on the deck with the awesome view.

We decided to drive back via the same roads we travelled earlier this morning but gladly without any mist as meanwhile the sun was again shining brightly and it was getting hotter and hotter and another elephant herd just came back from bathing and was blocking the road in front of us.



A brown snake eagle and a couple of amur falcons came also across but both were too far in the distance. As always warthogs and magpie shrike accompanied us further on our way back to camp but I simply had to capture this giraffe surrounded by so much beautiful green and an even beautifuller sky .



We spotted an elephant with collar



and found in the shade of a tree a group of male kudus.





to be continued......

[Pumbaa]

I always find one male kudu already extreme majestic but four of them are indeed very impressive. All of them were a bit shy and very alert.



Compared to early morning were we could only watch a couple of meters into the bush now we admire the beauty of that area and its residents in form of large zebra, impala and wildebeest herds and in between we also could spot an isolated white stork





and also a quite impressive day dreaming rhino.



We decided to stay in camp for the rest of the afternoon and simply enjoyed life on our verandah and had an early braai and sighed that our stay in our favourite camp was already over but we were also looking very much forward to Biyamiti as last year we had to cancel our stay there due to the flood and the non existing low water bridge crossing the Biyamiti on the S25. This year everything has been fixed in time for our stay there at least it looked so......

Wednesday, 12th February 2013 – Crocodile Bridge - Biyamiti

Today was again moving day and moreover it was a rainy day – Yesterday we had the thick mist and today rain showers on one of our favourite roads – Indeed not a very promising start into the day. Needless to say that it was still extreme dark when we left the gate and everything was wet, the grass, the roads and of course all the animals, especially the raptors such as this yellow billed kite looked as if they would prefer to be somewhere else that morning



whereas this cute arrow-marked babbler puffed up its feathers to keep a bit warmer.



We again decided to ride via the S28 as the alternative tar road is far too thick to spot anything but besides some wildebeests and impalas grazing together not much else came across. A movement caught my eye and I told Timon to stop for this black coucal



as this is a bird which is not coming across that often.

Meanwhile it got a bit brighter and even the sun dared to show itself between the dark rain showers and so the black-backed jackal which we met on the way to Nhlanganzwani dam presented itself in beautiful light.



Same watched us suspiciously and nearly was running the whole way until the dam in front of our car but same wanted in no case running into the high and totally wet grass on the roadside.



Finally it had no other choice and so we had no longer a bad conscience in chasing the jackal. Another miserable looking raptor came into sight and same looked to ask if we might have a hairdryer to speed up the procedure of the feather drying a bit



same might also become handy for this second yellow billed kite we already saw.





The whole morning it was more than disappointingly quiet and also the small road leading to Duke’s waterhole changed nothing besides a lot of vultures hanging around in the dead leadwood trees



and also a Sanpark vehicle parked right at the waterhole itself – One day later we realized that on the sign board on which is marked what has been seen on the morning walk it showed lions and buffalo kill so we only counted one and one together – Pity that the grass was so high in that area as otherwise we might have seen them as the vultures were indeed not that far away from the road. Well maybe it was not our day today at Duke’s but one day I know the day will come.......maybe this paradise whydah wanted to compensate the quietness a bit for us but unfortunately the light was still extreme bad.



Then it came down heavily and the slight rain turned immediately into torrential rainfall and even the close by zebras looked more than miserable



with already muddy feet, bellies and hanging ears from which the rain also came down.



We decided to stay with them until the rain might get a bit lighter as the road turned in no way into a small river and we would not see anything anyway else. Whilst watching the close-by zebras we also realized in the background a couple of impalas and giraffes but due to the heavy rainfall we indeed could not see far as we also had to close the windows not to soak anything else inside the car.



From time to time Timon dared to take a picture of the not very happy looking zebras but same were so funny to watch because they looked so wretched with their hanging ears and on the other hand we already got a bit concerned about our stay at Biyamiti this evening as at this stage nobody knew how long and strong the rain might last and which roads might be closed after such a strong rain shower and also with all the prevailing wetness in the park.



Gladly the luck was with us that day as after half an hour the rain stopped abruptly as same started and even the sun came out and started to dry up everything and this was even the last rain we experienced during our whole stay in the park.



to be continued........

[Dewi]

Amazing photos Pumbaa, especially the Black Coucal.

The raptors are dark phased Wahlberg's Eagles with the other being a pale phased bird. Stunning pics of them looking bedraggled.

The Zebra look a bit miserable and cold. Love the Kudu pics.

[Pumbaa]

Once more thanks so much Sprocky, Dewi, harrys, Toko, nan, Flutterby, Bushcraft, Just@Nature and pooky for your ongoing surrport and compliments here

Dewi - Thanks for the corrected id's - Brown raptors are a bit tricky for me

The black coucal was a special sighting for us and same gladly allowed a couple of shots - The rest of the wet bunch did indeed look a bit miserable and we also had to laugh when we spotted them -O

[Pumbaa]

With the detaching heavy rain the animals one after the other showed up again and we soon spotted our first elephant bull for that day and also realized that the S82 was already closed. Sunset dam was still that green as yesterday but a bit more birds could be seen and they even appeared extreme close where we parked with our car. A highlight for us for this green back heron, as we did not know at that stage that this bird will cross our paths a lot more during this holiday as all the previous holidays counted together.



The small and agile three banded plover was around



and even a pair of Egyptian goose could be seen



as well as one of these always busy running around wood sandpipers



and even a common sandpiper showed also up.



Time for a short break at Lower Sabie to stretch the legs a bit and nearly already back in the car to once again give the S29 and the Muntshe loop another try but before we could even cross the Lower Sabie causeway we got entertained by a troop of baboons converted into a road block as most of them where sitting right on the tar road and others drank from a large puddle close by.



Some of them even made it clear that this is for real a no entry road.



Unfortunately today it was even quieter as the previous day and on the S29 only an extreme wet elephant came across which obviously had the time of his life with the many huge puddles nearly to be found everywhere.



According to the road closures after the January flood and today’s heavy rain we had not much options in our decision which road to take and although the Muntshe loop might be quiet it is still a very atmospheric road which made me goose bumps all over only when travelling on it. Maybe the following picture can explain a bit better what I mean!



The only animals which came across today on the S122 were elephant bulls, huge lone bulls which wanted obviously no longer to be alone and wanted to say “Hi” to us. This chap was tremendous and I suddenly did not feel that good any longer!



as he came closer and closer and the road was far too small to turn the car around so we had to drive backwards and pray that he might decide to turn into the veld sooner or later – I hoped for a sooner decision.......



Finally he started to get insecure and after some typical elephant gestures he trotted off and gladly for us unblocked the road.



But not soon the next elephant occurred a bit farer away from the road and he played gardener as he was more than busy in pinching the trees.



He not only broke once nearly a whole bush out of the tree – We watched this at least three times always followed by an extreme loud cracking and then he started to rip of the bark and munched luckily away on same.



Lots of grey headed shrikes accompanied us back to the Lower Sabie causeway and now we also could stop for the meanwhile no longer hectically in the water floating crocodiles – Same now could be found extreme relaxed on the small sandbanks in the river with obviously heavily stuffed bellies.



The nasty smell was also gone and obviously all of them – it must have been more than twenty – had an excessive feast last night.



Life can be so good!

We enjoyed another short break at Lower Sabie with the obligatory icecream in hand and still had enough time to stroll in snail’s pace to Biyamiti. We stopped for watching the many elephant herds all around in that area



and stopped also for the many barn swallows out of which at least one of them was willing to pose.



Although the day started with heavy rain now everything was back to normal at least in the African bush and the sun was baking from above and it got hotter and hotter with each kilometre we drove. We drove back via the S28 now from above and suddenly Timon braked abruptly and we still could see the head of a very alert and angry looking lioness. Unfortunately the grass and bushes in that area were extreme high and although we tried from different angles to at least get a single shot we had to drive away empty handed – At least we could see another lion and I think she ducked into the grass because she might have had some cubs hidden somewhere.

Finally she reminded us how a lion looked but we were confident that we will have later during the holiday enough time to watch more of them.......

Animalwise it was quiet today which was maybe caused by the strange weather but also traffic-wise is was quiet so we enjoyed our drive even more. A beautiful juvenile martial eagle is always worth to stop for



and then we must have disturbed a giraffe which was about to drink but obviously decided against it and stuck instead its tongue out.



to be continued...

[Pumbaa]

White backed vultures were resting in trees



and at Gesanftombi we could admire on the left side a multitasking buffalo who was feeding whilst taking a bath and after chasing away more than thousands flies around his body whilst standing up he started to quench his thirst whilst still feeding.



A resting fish eagle could also be spotted from far away and after the heavy rain earlier that day the dam was now overflowing in cascades and offered the view onto a couple of waterfalls



obviously the view was so fascinating to me that I unfortunately forgot to take a picture – On one hand I was so sure that maybe the Gesanftombi pride might come across and hang around here but with that much water around I have to wait until the next year. Nevertheless we paid a short visit at the dam to enjoy also the view from the other side but beforehand a group of waterbucks wanted to cross the road in front of us and needless to say that we soon got hooked of them



A lone wildebeest which was resting under a tree close to the road also joined the waterbucks and soon a cheerful munching started.



We allowed us another short break at Crocodile Bridge camp and whilst I was visiting the shop Timon discovered one of these colourful agamas on one trunk.



Meanwhile it was early afternoon and it was hot so we did not expect to see that much but some of the usual suspects did not let us down. Lots of warthogs with muddy and wet piglets came running,



one of the many noisy woodies could finally be captured – Trrp-trrrrrrrrr – There will still much more of them about to come later



and the obligatory impalas could not be passed without taking at least one picture.



In Timons’s case it were soon a couple more but



who could not resist in stopping for them.





Finally after a drought of two years we were again turning into the hilly S139 and after a short stop for the majestic sentinel in from of a martial eagle right at the beginning of that road



we enjoyed the cliffy descents and drive-ups and gladly compared to other roads in the park this road had not suffered under the recent floods. The welcome was as usual a very warm one and we were rewarded this time with bungalow No. 8 in which we never stayed before but which immediately turned into our favourite one. No. 4 + 5 in which we already stayed do have the same facilities but the view from this one was simply breathtaking which might also have caused due to the recent floods but indeed the look into the now nearly empty Biyamiti riverbed compared to other riverbeds was in fact not that disastrous as expected.

Whilst carrying our stuff in the bungalow I realized that we had some pets on our verandah ceiling – one bat was taking a nap and a huge swallow nest could also be found as well as between the bedroom window and the ceiling.



I easily pushed the table and chairs a bit further away from the danger zone not to receive an unwanted surprise in our coffee or wine.......Furthermore I filled up the bird bath whilst Timon was busy in carrying chairs to the braai area which was located a bit farther away from our bungalow but closer to the riverbed. As we had enough from driving we decided to stay in camp for the rest of the day and simply enjoy the view and the come and going in the camp itself.

The first who was coming a bit closer and tasted the bird bath was a naughty vervet monkey - more were also around but gladly did not dare to come closer, a lot of hageda ibises and a lone wooly-necked stork could be spotted in the riverbed and then I saw a movement on one of these strange looking flowers – another sunbird – but same disappeared already before Timon was right at the fence. Lots of yellow-billed hornbills could be observed on the grass and we even captured a red one in a close bush.



We sat nearly motionless in the braai area and simply sighed from time to time as life was so wonderful at this very special place although the time was already ticking down far too fast. The family of bushbucks – 4 females with a cute little one - which is to be found inside the camp dared to come closer and started to feed on some close by large blades of grass.



The benefit of No. 8 was that the area from the bungalow to riverbed was wider and more open whereas we also like the dense trees of the other bungalows but today the birds and bucks were easier spotted from where we just sat. Isn’t that a cutie? Nearly all ears.



Whilst watching the bushbucks a large troop of baboons were chased away by one employee and gladly they did run away immediately. Fortunately the bushbucks were not disturbed by them and allowed us some more shots.



Timon snapped happily away and also lit the braai so that maybe today it will not be that late until we will have finished our braai.



After the bushbucks disappeared he moved with the camera back to the fence and finally got a shot although not a that good one from a scarlet-chested sunbird – Another new tick for us!



With this feeling of success the braai even tasted much better and with no neighbours in the close by bungalows we even had an extreme quiet evening and slept with windows open as it was not that hot and so due to the non existing noise of the air condition we slept like locks this night.

to be continued........

[Pumbaa]

Biyamiti

Love the bat pic

The 5 sleeper units with the best view (NGC5V) in order are 7, 6, 9, 2 and 1, with 11 to 15 having no view and the 4 sleeper units (NCO2+2V), 8, 5, 4 and 3, with 10 having no view, so you got the best of the "4" sleeper units

I always try for 6 and 7

The camp itself and then it's bungalows is already worth a sigh but to get No. 8 was the cream on top - Needless to say that I will try to get that one again whenever being back

Stunning shots Pumbaa, specially the bat!

I love it when they share the verandah with you and stay outside of the accommodation -O

[Pumbaa]

Wednesday, 13th February, 2013 – Biyamiti

As always when staying in Biyamiti the S25 is our first choice as we already had the most lion sightings in the entire park on that road but well not today......It was as if all the cats disappeared and avoided to be captured on picture by us but at least we got to meet this cute chap.



He first did not realized from which direction the engine noise came and so he turned permanently around and trumpeted in the wrong direction. His mom and aunt had already crossed the road and were only interested in feeding instead of paying any notice in our car but he simply was so curious what we were that he permanently tested all his available threaten signs into our direction.



Still the fluff on the head but already acting as a full grown bull – This was simply too cute and finally he gave in and immediately followed mom and aunt.



There were many lovely ponds to be found at this road and especially were small streams have to be crossed the water was still overflowing strongly but gladly everything could be done in a small sedan car as well. In one of these ponds we spotted a pair of white-faced ducks very well hidden but I cannot remember having the honour in seeing these ducks so close.



More elephant herds were on their way down for a morning bath into the Crocodile river and we came across a member of them with strange formed tusks.



The rest of the drive on that road was extreme quiet that early morning but close to the Hippo Pools the obligatory zebras could not be missed



as well as the wildebeests were close by



and then it was also time to wave to a smiling Daniel as he was about to cross our path with his bicycle. Once again and for the final time at least this year we drove again the S28 but same was even more quieter than the previous days although the weather was gladly far better today and it started with each day to get warmer and warmer from now on. A lovely sighting was a beautiful but still very wet Burchall’s coucal with it just caught breakfast.



What a beautiful bird especially with the berry-coloured eye from so close.



Another regular bird to be seen on that road is the magpie shrike and we found one which was observing suspiciously it's just caught green breakfast



but same must have finally tasted yummy as after same has been eaten it was time for a content looking pose.



On the road to Duke’s waterhole a warthog showed up – must have been the same as yesterday!



and also still a lot of white-backed vultures were to be found where we saw them already yesterday but their number decreased already but some of them allowed us some nice shots.







Also the European rollers were in the mood for catching breakfast and for posing afterwards for a nice picture



or for more – as it is once again not easy to chose the best pictures as they are all so nice fluffy cuties.



A Beautiful saddle-billed stork lady just landed right next to our car – Last year we were a bit disappointed to only spot so few of them but this year we gladly met a lot of them. Although at that stage we did not know so.



A safari vehicle with a nice lady also stopped for the stork and thanked us enthusiastically for making them aware of that “great” sighting as she said. We always find it fantastic when also other vehicles and on top these safari ones do stop and even stay a bit longer also for birds and not only for cats.

to be continued.......

[Pumbaa]

A short visit to Sunset dam revealed the obviously same green backed heron we already saw yesterday there and same was even to be found in the same bush.



The hippos were grunting, the crocodiles to be found on the shore far away as well as the yellow-billed storks – It was simply a peaceful atmosphere.



Nature was calling and after a short break once again at Lower Sabie we for a final time hit the Mlondozi road as well as the Muntshe loop to say already good bye for this year. Before we once again admired the now full and lazy lying around crocodiles -



It seemed as if they even did not move a single centimetre, as most of them could be watched in the same position as yesterday.



All in all it was another quiet drive but nevertheless we enjoyed same a lot as we still could not get enough from the lush vegetation and also traffic-wise was not much to be found.

Another Burchall’s coucal made us stop again and I cannot imagine ever having seen so many of them during the previous trips although we had there also rainy days and wet vegetation.



Meanwhile strolling on the Muntshe loop a quite impressive, very old and extreme muddy buffalo allowed us to pass – I guess this old chap can already tell quite some thrilling stories which he already experienced in his life.



Yesterday it was elephant bull time on that road and today it time for the lone dagga boys as soon after the first one another one crossed the street.



Then I wanted under all circumstance do have a picture of the entire Muntshe mountain as this little hill is a magical place for me – I wanted to have cotton ball clouds, the green grass and even an animal on it and at least this wish came true as there was a buffalo walking into the frame once I conducted Timon where to stop and position the car best so that all my requirements could be fulfilled.



This is how I have the Muntshe hill now in my memories whenever staying far away from same.

The rest of our drive back was even quieter than the morning drive but it does not matter as we were so far happy with all the sightings we had that day already – We decided to stroll back via the tar road and take then the H5 plus S25 to plan longer stops at the many causeways on that road but for that ellie bum we simply had to stop.



We turned into the H5 and soon were caught in a traffic jam caused by a male bateleur in a tree extreme close to the road, as all passengers in the cars wanted to have a picture.



Everyone looked from below up and snapped away and the bateleur himself looked from high above in nearly each car which came by. This was already the second traffic jam caused by a bird! After a while, however, the bateleur obviously got bored and took off



and with the disappearance of the bateleur the traffic jam cleared away immediately. Meanwhile it was late midday and again hot and not that many cars on the roads so that we could continue in snail’s pace without getting disturbed by an impatient driver. We found some very well camouflaged kudus in the dense bush. It was a male with its beautiful harem



but pity was that in that area of the park they are always so skittish and shy and did not dare to leave the protective bushes.



The causeway over the Bume is always a lovely place to relax and although not much to be admired today it is always so peaceful there. Whilst we were about to leave we discovered a tiny terrapin taking a sunbath on a small rock in the river.



Unfortunately on this picture the terrapin is looking much larger as originally being as same had only the size of a small coin!

Finally it was time for an excessive stay at the Biyamiti causeway which besides the camp and the weir itself is a main reason for us why to book this camp and roam in this area so copiously. At noon at least trafficwise is was quiet so we could block the causeway with the car where we wanted and start to observe our feathered friends which were due to the warm but windy weather and the still strongly flowing Biyamiti plentiful, especially the pied kingfishers started their fishing show and entertained us a lot.





to be continued with more birds and even a couple of new ticks.......

[Pumbaa]

We also could spot two hamerkops but same kept hidden nearly the whole time under the bridge and lots of swallows were also buzzing around our car and under the bridge like torpedos.



Finally the hunt of the male pied kingfisher was successful and same presented a far too large fish compared to its size.





But to swallow such a large prey is the easiest task for a bird and with only a couple of hits of the fish with his strong bill onto a branch same fitted somehow and slowly slid into its bill and disappeared until only a small piece of the back fin of the fish was still visible.





For the time it looked as if this huge lunch must have been enough for the rest of the day. After taking a drink from the river some water drops looked as if same were floating in the air



and after the thirst was quenched it started the grooming of its plumage and ended in shaking the entire body which looked a bit more like a wet dog than a wet bird.



Time to puff up and maybe time for a little midday nap as well. Only from far in the far away trees we also saw a giant kingfisher but same unfortunately did not come closer. We could have watched our pied friends nearly for the rest of the day but we also were a bit tired from the whole day in the



car and decided to take a short break in camp, also to stretch the legs a bit and to come back during our afternoon drive to this bird oasis.



Although leaving that causeway might not mean that birding was over, as in fact the contrary was fact as more soon whilst having made ourselves comfortable with the chairs again at the braai area three new ticks could be done! The first visitor was this grey headed sparrow



whilst the scarlet chested sunbird gladly paid another visit



and another fluffy African flycatcher said "hi" as well.



Then at least one of the most wanted to be seen birds appeared – a speckled mousebird!



Pity was that same kept the whole time nearly hidden in the bush but at least we could spot the head and part of its upper part of the body - Aren’t they look a bit like a cockatoo?



Finally the last bird whilst staying in camp was a white-bellied sunbird - At least when Timon took this shot everything fitted together - he was ready with the camera and the bird stayed long enough and posed away.



to be continued.....