Flavour of the Month - Feb 2013: S56-Shingwedzi/Babalala

[Richprins]

We decided to drive the Mphongolo road again from the opposite direction.
More views of the river.




Black Storks.


And a Fish Eagle.

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
17h17 hours ago

14:44
Leopard stationary on the ground and a kill in the tree
S56, 50m W of the H1-7 N entrance
Near Shingwedzi
Vis 5/5
Tinged by CdB

[Richprins]

From a 2014 Kesheshe report:

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 6&start=30

While having the coffee we pack the cameras and sort out the flask for our morning drive. We also look at the map and decide our route and were we want to stop for breakfast (does not always work out).

Unless we are planning a long drive breakfast is cereal or rusks with enough snacks, water, juice etc to keep us going just in case.

We also as this is the first morning rearrange the van to suit our needs and get the reference books into an accessible place. We had the Ipad with Robertson's but for some reason did not use it much on this trip.

We do not do queuing at the gate so let the rush go and depart through the gate about 5 mins after opening. Today we departed out the front gate and planned to drive S56.





Shoots not great could not get any closer otherwise they would have gone bye-bye. Also struggled in the low light to get high enough shutter speed as a did not what to push ISO to much or EV. Need to continue to practice.

[Richprins]

From a 2013 flying cheetah story:

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... &start=170

On my way back down to Shingwedzi I took oneof my favourite roads in the North, the S56 (Mphongolo Road). This offered me marvellous views on the river who also had more water than usual during November. to my delight a Saddle-billed Stork used the opportunity to do some fishing






And then I saw my first and last Grysbok of this trip. It was a skittish lady who was not willing to pose for me and who gave me a hard time to get away with these pics at last. These were the only moments when a fair part of the little body could be seen






Before entering the tar road agin I spotted this colourful bird which in my opinion should be a Green-winged Pytilia (please correct me if I'm wrong):

[Richprins]

By Pumbaa in 2014:

Last year the S56 Mphongolo loop was still closed due to the flood but gladly same was this year open again, graded and in an excellent condition at least apart from the very last stretch but is was in fact not much from that road left to be graded and the sand and the equipment was still waiting on the road side for the workers from their weekend’s break. Lots of noisy baboons could be seen sitting in a fig tree or either on the ground already,



a fluffy female weaver popped out of a bush



and so did also a cute squirrel.



It was lovely that during our last hours in the park the sun was shining today brightly from the sky compared to the last two dull and partly rainy days. Sporadic elephant bulls appeared gladly for us they were only interested in feeding than in anything else.



We also enjoyed the views on one of our favourite roads in the park and gladly most of the ancient and beautiful trees along the riverbed of the Mphongolo survived last year’s flood. Another nice sighting was two crested barbets who was flying always down to the ground feeding on something strange looking something.



I simply love that cute pose





and it was indeed a pleasure to watch and photograph them on the ground as there no annoying branch, leave or grass was hiding these beautiful birds.



We spend quite a while watching them always flying from bush to the ground again and we had a fantastic time



and as always when watching birdies exactly on the bush on the other side of the road two Jacobin cuckoos appeared but they were in fact a bit tricky to capture.



In fact also the crested barbets stayed on the ground and Timon pressed and pressed the button



so it was another hard decision for me which pictures to choose as it was in fact one of the best crested barbet sightings we ever had so far.



Finally we had to carry on but again more white winged widow birds simply could not be overlooked on that magic road



and even some hidden views could be seen as well – It was an amazing ride although we are still waiting for some incredible sightings on that road but the views as well as the birdlife is always more than worth.

https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 0&start=70

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
20h20 hours ago

11:56
Leopards mating
S56, 3km from the H1-7 S entrance
Near Shingwedzi
Tinged by Rian Boshoff

[Flutterby]

Amazing pics!

[Richprins]

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
17h17 hours ago

07:10
2 Leopards on the move
S56, 4km from H1-7 S entrance
Near Shngwedzi
Vis 3/5
Tinged by Sheldon

[Alf]

We have missed these 2 leopards but had our own leopard sighting for over an hour close to Sirheni