From Berg to bush in March 2015 part three - Kruger NP*

[Tina]

19.03.2015 Berg-En-Dal to Lower Sabie continued

we left the hide and still on the S 119 we saw some buffalos

[Tina]

it was hot and very quiet on the S 25. We saw a toko



martial eagle

[Tina]

a kudu bull



another buffalo

[Tina]

white-fronted bee-eater



and while we were stopped watching a juvenile african fish eagle

[Tina]

a breeding herd of ellies showed up, confusing the ducks



disturbing the eagle



and forcing us to move on



although they were very relaxed we did not want to be surrounded by ellies.

[Tina]

the last sighting on the S 25 was this bird. Could it be a juvenile martial?

[Tina]

thank you Alf, Harry, BJ, RP, nan, Flutterby, Mel and puppy

I think that it is the same road (R38?), BJ

thanks for confirming the id RP

nan, Mel and puppy, here is another picture of the bird (sorry about the leaves)



I don’t think that this is a fish eagle looking at the legs and the beak.This bird does not have a white tail with the broad brown terminal bar (rather barred) either and I don’t see an eye stripe.

[Tina]

19.03.2015 continued

While we were still on the S 25 we had the first drops of rain. We made a comfort stop at Croc Bridge when heavier rainfall set in but (un)fortunately it only lasted for about an hour



On the way to Lower Sabie on the H 4-2 we saw a very wet roller

[Tina]

about 50 leopard tortoises



and even the vervets had a drink

[Tina]

we stopped at Lower Sabie bridge as I so much wanted to see the otters but we had no luck. We saw a pied wagtail though