Chicks and a new SO on the catwalk (Oct 2013)*

[Mel]

Mum was rather alert and agile:



And before we knew it she gave chase to a springbok we hadn’t even seen.





And returned with a midday snack for her offspring:

[Mel]

Back then I hadn’t know just how special the both cheetah sightings were for us. Well, they were anyway, but what makes it even better is the fact that both cheetahladies are old acquaintances of us: Back in the days when Gus Mills was still running the cheetah research project in the Kgalagadi, they both had worn collars. Out of a hunch I had compared spots of the single lady with old pix and found out that I had seen Lisette again.

The other we always thought to be a lady called Gertie because some fellow traveller had told us on a previous trip that it was her. Yet, I compared her to Elena – and WOW, it was Elena!

Obviously, I feel very privileged that the both came back to say hello.

[Mel]

The place started to crowd again, as it is with the big cats… So once again, we decided to leave the scene. We could always go back later to check how they were doing.

On our way back more chicks – a family of Verreaux’s eagle owls with a real chick!

[Mel]

We checked back on Lisette and she was still underneath the same tree as before, so we headed on towards the camp. Arriving at Kielie we were greeted by the friendly face of Jacques who had been kind enough to keep unit 4 for us. He also got a new pet for Kielie: a black-headed heron has taken up residence at the waterhole there. So, on top of the barn owl there is another regular there.

[Mel]

After a much needed break – it was 2.30 pm by now, we headed out again at 5 pm to see how the cheetahs were coping.

The family of 4 was lying low and the rolling cans were everywhere. Hence we deemed it nicer to sit with a single cheetah and returned to Lisette which had been a splendid idea, as the catwalk got in full swing:









She crossed the road and disappeared into the dunes and with that we disappeared back into the camp.

[Mel]

08/10/2013 Kieliekrankie

Much to BC's dismay we only left the camp at 8.45 am with the intention to find us the cheetahs again. Our minds were set on the family of four,
but Lisette interfered with that:





She was sniffing funny stuff on the ground which resulted in some flehmen, although it doesn't look as expressive as in other big cats.

Obviously she had just come down the dunes as there was not another car in sight, so we settled to stay with her for a while.
Spots asked if he should drive up a bit to get close-up photos, but I declined as we were quite close already and I didn't want
to stress her out with moving the car around. Wise decision, as Lisette decided it would be a good idea to flop down in the shade
right next to our car.




True, Lisette, we have indeed met earlier.

Video by Spots

When she had enough, she moved back into the dunes again and we were headed south.

En route a pygmy falcon that I couldn't resist:



We then found Elena and her cubs again... Far off in the shade underneath a tree. So we headed on until Houmoed,
but things were rather on the quiet side. So, back again to the cheetahs, but they still hadn't moved. As we had
seen springbok lambs close by, we settled for the show to happen. But the springboks noticed the cheetahs and
shepherd their youngsters far around the potential danger. And after seeing this...



... we realized that the cats weren't starved either and it might be a VERY long wait for some action. Hence, we
got on our way to the camp.

However, we took a little detour a bit north of the turn off to the camp and found this one still stapled to his nest:



The wildebeests were causing lots of dust in the dry riverbed:



And this LBJ



(Some sort of lark? Will have to make an effort, but right now not enough time for it, as it takes me aaaaages to get this one done. )

Back in the camp a lanner came to drink. Quite a regular as well over the days we stayed in KK,
but as the waterhole is far off, there is not much point in posting pix more often.



We didn't go out anymore that day. After all our loyalty to this camp, we thought it more than fair that we get something spectacular
at the waterhole. People had seen brownie, caracal, honey badger, leopard, lions, cheetah and what have you. Surely, we deserved
one of those as well? Nope, we had jackals, ostriches, gemsbok, steenbok - and also only when it was too dark to take
photos. The barn owl, however, kept us entertained that evening.

[Duke]

Lisette and Elena Glad they alive and well

Nice Pygmy falcon.

We had two martials in the area in August building a nest - could be their chick

[Mel]

09/10/2013 Kieliekrankie

Today we decided on doing the triangle tour from Kielie to Twee to Kij Kij and back again via the dune road and we even managed to start the tour rather early: We left the camp at 7.00 am. I think, that must have been the earliest time ever.

First up was the odd one out:

[Mel]

Then we came across another chick nursery:




Anybody wanting to play with me?

[Mel]

A bit further on a tawny chick that was being harassed by some drongo chicks caught my eye:







Unfortunately in the riverbed and therefore against the sun…