The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Flutterby]

What a lot of lovely birds!

[Alf]

Stunning Sable

[Richprins]

How nice, Pumbaa!

I know that spot, and one can sit there for hours in the shade!

Oh, birds are plentiful in drought, especially near greenery and water...all sorts are coming in to Nelspruit now, for example!

Rare peeping Kori sound1

And sable!

[Lisbeth]

Fabulous bird photos, Pumbaa......or rather Timon

A beautiful sable

No ice cream lately

[Pumbaa]

what a serie of birds
love the Kori a bit "in the wind"

then Sable

It was very windy in that area and I also love that windy shot

What a lot of lovely birds!

For sure we had a great time in photographing and watching them

Stunning Sable

Besides the jackal at the kill and the cheetahs that was another Highlight and we were over the moon

[Pumbaa]

How nice, Pumbaa!

I know that spot, and one can sit there for hours in the shade!

Oh, birds are plentiful in drought, especially near greenery and water...all sorts are coming in to Nelspruit now, for example!

Rare peeping Kori sound1

And sable!

I was fascinated by that kori sound and that shady spot is so amazing

Fabulous bird photos, Pumbaa......or rather Timon

A beautiful sable

No ice cream lately

The ice cream followed at Nkulu and Timon is saying thanks a lot

[Pumbaa]

He then started to walk parallel to the road and obviously wanted to cross the street and I therefore asked Timon to stop to look what his intentions were and in fact when Timon stopped the car the sable male crossed in slow motion the road in front of as if he wanted to self-display.



when Timon stopped the car the sable male crossed in slow motion the road in front of as if he wanted to self-display





but we still had enough time for some quick shots until after a very last look he disappeared between the bushes out of sight.



We did obviously everything right that day as otherwise we did not see the sable at the right place just the minute we arrived at that place and so we could not complain although one day I also want to see a whole herd but in fact our day was made and it was more than worth to drive the detour via the S30 that day.

We meanwhile reached the end of the S30 but gladly could still drive a couple of loops leading closer to the river and whilst observing a great white egret we also noticed that the Sabie’s water level was extreme low and partly only flowing as runlet.



In the very last loop a cute bushbuck male was not that shy as they normally are and so we could photograph same excessively



as well as one of the many waterbucks which were about to quench their thirst in the river.



Meanwhile the day turned into one of the hotter ones so consequently we were extreme happy with our sightings we had so far that day and we decided to drive slowly back to camp via the H4-1 which is in fact not one of our favourites due to the traffic but the ride along the river would be the best option in view of the drought and that hot day.

We did not visit Nkuhlu picnic spot for years and so we stopped their a bit longer and with an ice cream in hand life was simply a bit more wonderful as if was already anyway. After a lovely break we carried on and came across a tawny eagle in a tree who already panted due to the heat,



we spotted hippos, elephants

[Pumbaa]

and kudus feeding on something which was meanwhile nearly out of reach



until we were caught in a traffic jam and although we looked everywhere and after we also asked the people in the other cars where to look we did not see nothing although most of the other people were seeing a leopard. We checked the marked place a couple of times first Timon and then I too but after we both did not see any leopard at the marked area and after on top now also two impalas were walking in their peace of mind through the marked area we in fact believed that there was in fact no leopard to be seen. This was one of those fake sightings and that is also a reason why I am not a fan of that road too many cars and nearly unable to pass and when finally at a sightings nothing to be seen – Maybe there had been a leopard earlier that day but when we were there there was in fact no leopard so we did not stay that long and drive off and besides a giraffe who walked down to the river to have drink



we did not see anything else until we reached again sunset dam where we again spotted the same suspects as already earlier that day but now we could also capture a lapwing plover



and one of the many crocodiles



and now even a yellow-billed stork was close enough to take a couple of shots.



The crocodiles looked sometimes a bit scary



whereas the African jacana



and the black-winged stilt simply looked beautiful.



After another short break at Lower Sabie we drove via the same roads back but due to the heat it was more than quiet and we only captured a pair of wooly necked storks



until we were back in camp after a whole day on the road and due to the sightings we had that day, the still prevailing heat and the fact that our hours at Crocodile Bridge were nearly again counted we stayed the rest for the afternoon and evening in camp to simply enjoy the view from our verandah and after such a satisfying day and an early braai we nearly fall in bed like logs and slept like babies.

to be continued.....

[nan]

shy baby Ellie
and still Sable

and again lot of different and nice birds

[harrys]

What a wonderful Sable sighting and a cute little Ellie