Dog Day Afternoons.

[PJL]

Great photos Dewi
I particularly like the ones of the skimmers... really good shots

It's been far too long since I was last in Chobe, but it remains one of the best places I've visited for sheer amount of wildlife

[Dewi]

Thanks PJL.

I'll agree with you on the amount of wildlife there. A fabulous place to visit.

[Dewi]

As mentioned in the first post about our boat trip, we noticed an amorous water monitor on the shoreline.



He had scented a female nearby and started to climb up towards her in the hope of wooing her over to be his mate.



She seemed to be nonplussed at his approach and continued to lay in the sunshine, enjoying the last heat of the day.



She was not so enamoured by his approach and moved away through the rocks.



And trying to hide under overhanging branches.



From the size difference between them, we thought that he was being slightly over optimistic here, but our hero kept on his path to glory.



Scenting continuously with his forked tongue, trying to pick up any signals that the female may have left.



His head was continually jerking from side to side as he tasted his way forward.



His sharp claws acting like grappling hooks on the rocks.



Slowly edging forwards in the hopes of passing his genes on to the next generation of monitors.

[Lisbeth]

The skin looks a pattern of pearls

Do they or do they not

[nan]

Monitors work a bit like Lions... less grinning... or more bluish

[Richprins]

Getting a bit bored now with the monitors, but crisp pics!

I hope you weren't expecting much 'action' once "Romeo and Juliet" made contact? They lie together for a day!

[Flutterby]

Great pics. Did he find her?

[Dewi]

Thanks for your comments Lis, Nan, RP & Flutt's.

The skin looks a pattern of pearls

Do they or do they not

Yes Lis, they do look like pearls.

... less grinning...

Nan - I'll let you be the judge of that once I've finished with the monitors.

Getting a bit bored now with the monitors, but crisp pics!

I hope you weren't expecting much 'action' once "Romeo and Juliet" made contact? They lie together for a day!

RP - Start yawning now.....

Great pics. Did he find her?

Flutt's - Oh, he found her all right. But theres a twist to this tale.

[Dewi]

Our hero continued to test the scent left by the female.



But to no avail as she was heading for the hills and was not interested in his advances. Leaving him to continue tasting where she had been just moments before.







He seemed to pause for a moment, deciding his next course of action.



His mind was set, he would continue to persue the female and set off again with purpose.



We moved on at this point, wondering what the outcome would be?......

A little further along, a pied kingfisher was on the hunt for fish.



We waited for it to drop down into the water.



But maybe it had already fed, as it just sat motionless the whole time.



So on we motored. Taking in the riverine scenery and keeping a sharp eye out for wildlife.

[Mel]

WOW, that was one great monitor sighting As ugly as they might be, I have a soft spot for them
Wonderful kingfisher too, even though it was not in the mood to grant you with diving photos.