From Floods and Surprises in River beds

[Richprins]

What a majestic kudu view, Pumbaa!

And variety of birds!

I like the cammo pigeons!

[Alf]

A klipkudu

Just love it when the heavens open up and it starts to rain while you in the bush

[Mel]

Simply astonishing again

I like those hippo ears a lot. Quite an interesting capture.
And since the topic is "ears" here with me, I also think that the oxpecker cleaning up the kudu's ear
with the kudu look quite enjoying it, is a super shot

[Bushcraft]

Wow, a brilliant gymnogene raider sighting

Vervet snacking on reeds

Verreaux owls seem to love parking off in the Biyamiti area

That weir malachite local gives us the slip often

[Klipspringer]

Then we stopped at one of the view points and there we first spotted a huge fig tree and after a more precise examination we spotted either on top or on branches in the tree a larger group of green pigeons



who were in fact extreme well camouflaged and we only concentrated us on the one sitting on top as same was the best visible one

That's a lovely capture. It's a Large-leaved Rock Fig

[Pumbaa]

Lovely colours in all your pics!

So far the weather was quite okay but believe me there is more rain on the way

Great Martial eagle and the green pigeons are very pretty

To me it seems that the dikops always have a sleepy look

Cute squirrel

A very proud looking big kudu bull

Totally right the dikkops always look extreme sleepy

What a majestic kudu view, Pumbaa!

And variety of birds!

I like the cammo pigeons!

Indeed a majestic kudu - He was a beauty

A klipkudu

Just love it when the heavens open up and it starts to rain while you in the bush

I always love the rain as long as it stops one day

[Pumbaa]

Simply astonishing again

I like those hippo ears a lot. Quite an interesting capture.
And since the topic is "ears" here with me, I also think that the oxpecker cleaning up the kudu's ear
with the kudu look quite enjoying it, is a super shot

At least it were only the ears visible from the hippo not much else

Wow, a brilliant gymnogene raider sighting

Vervet snacking on reeds

Verreaux owls seem to love parking off in the Biyamiti area

That weir malachite local gives us the slip often

Totally right we do often spot verreaux's in that area

Then we stopped at one of the view points and there we first spotted a huge fig tree and after a more precise examination we spotted either on top or on branches in the tree a larger group of green pigeons



who were in fact extreme well camouflaged and we only concentrated us on the one sitting on top as same was the best visible one

That's a lovely capture. It's a Large-leaved Rock Fig

Always love such tree and the pigeons are in fact not that easy to spot in same

[Pumbaa]

and finally could also capture the beautiful view into the Biyamiti riverbed which was indeed very dense.



Finally we carried on and met a pale Wahlberg,



another francolin on top of a branch



and although it drizzled from time to time now even the sun came out and it got brighter and brighter. To our luck a lovely duiker stopped long enough



for a couple of shots until same dashed away.



A bustle on the ground made us stop again and now we were happy to capture



a relative large group of dwarf mongoose



who were still very wet and very well hidden because of the high grass but at least a couple of shots came out satisfactorily.



Unfortunately it got then disappointingly quiet and we saw really nothing until we already reached Skukuza camp for a short break we did not stay long and headed forward to the S65 but also this road was today extreme quiet also not many cars came along. At least the drive away from the tar road is always lovely and we stopped for lots of magpies,



a number of sandy tortoises



and a major kudu bull and after it also drizzled from time to time it got again a bit brighter.



Next stop was then at Lake Panic which was quite full when we arrived, however, the number of allowed cars was not yet reached so we carried on and squashed between the many people and found a seat and started to look around.

First bird which leaped to our eyes was a nicely positioned green backed heron

[Pumbaa]

for sure the many water lilies needed attention too,



many masked weavers were around as well as always busy in refurbishing their nests



and extreme close an African jacana was around guarding three eggs which were lovelessly lying around and only visible on the second view as same were extreme good camouflaged. We never noticed such eggs ever before so we were very happy to finally discover some.



A great number of green backed herons were around as well but also these birds can hide behind leaves and bushes very well.



The obligatory view shot is also always a must – sigh -



and after we changed seats because people left the hide we could now photograph extreme close the malachite kingfisher who



landed only 1 meter away from the hide on some grass and even was successful in fishing.



The masked weaver instead was only interested in nesting material



whilst the malachite continued the fishing and now even presented a larger fish -



whilst the water splashed around with the fish still in its bill





and whilst the malachite was away for more fish the weaver appeared again for more reeds.



to be continued…..

[Mel]

Quite a big fish for such a small bird

Love those cute mongoose