The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Pumbaa]

I love the white-faced ducks and the cuckoos

Great pic of the white-crowned lapwing in the pea soup. It's a pity they are so small because they are very pretty.

Finally at lot of birdies could be found that day

[Pumbaa]

All sorts again, Pumbaa!

I like the dikkop shot...nice cammo as you say!

That lion looks very old...

And a yucky green dam!

The following day they pumped water from the river into the dam

[Pumbaa]

Finally one of the African spoonbills came a bit closer



before we paid also the Lower Sabie causeway a quick visit and in one of the dead trees prior to the causeway we noticed a juvenile martial eagle,



at the causeway itself a lot of crocodiles could be seen here as well



and in the distance on a rock we again detected the fish eagle couple we often see there.



Even a smaller herd of elephants was feeding on the frech green reeds on an island in the river especially this mom and her youngster had to be captured



and to our joy one of our beloved red bishops landed close to where we stood before we already noticed quite a few in the distance.



Meanwhile it was then also time to check in and so we did and we moved into bungalow No. 86 and first thing I did was to brew a coffee as I had to catch up on the missed one earlier that morning and after we finally had moved in we simply enjoyed a nice rest in the shade as it was once again such a hot day but as always Timon was unable to sit still the minute the first birds arrived and in the shade of the large trees a lot of red collared barbets were more than willing to pose.





Luckily there appeared so many of them that we always had a lot of them around



and on top also a crested barbet was more than willing in sitting still for a couple of pictures.

[Pumbaa]

After I paid a short visit to the shop in buying a couple of needed things we again left for our afternoon drive although it still was unbearably hot so we expected a more than quiet drive. At least at the Lower Sabie causeway we were happy in finding a white beasted cormorant as well as a reed cormorant



sharing a branch and after we also got from each specie separate shots



we carried on and in the distance we again detected our fish eagle couple.



We decided to drive the S29/S128 loop but due to the heat as well as the high grass we expected not that much. Luckily the birds did not let us down as there are many bushes along these roads.



The red-backed shrikes were again plentiful and we even found a couple of very hidden kudus



and only nearly at the end of the S128 we followed quite a while a lone black backed jackal before we could overtake same and now same even laid down so we at least got a couple of front shots



before same was on the move again.



At least we stopped for a troop of baboons



and on the causeway now also one of the many pied kingfishers was around.



Back in camp we then lit the fire and enjoyed another excellent braai and although I was extreme tired I once again had difficulties in fell asleep as we had a bat in our room and same was extreme noisy.

Tuesday, 13. February 2024 – Lower Sabie

Explored roads: H4-1 – S82 – H4-2 – S130 – S137 – S28 – H4-2 – S28 – S137 – S130 – H4-2 – H4-1

Finally I somehow managed to fell a sleep and luckily for the rest of our trip I could sleep like a baby. Anyway after the obligatory first monring coffee we left camp with gate opening time and turned right into the S82 but that early morning it was a very quiet road at least an impressive elephant bull was hanging around and to our luck he was only interested in breakfast.





The sunrise that morning was one of those picture book ones and one of those which only can occur in Kruger.





to be continued with one of the best waterhole sightings we ever had...................

[Bushcraft]

Catching up again Pumbaa

You guys always seem to have amazing luck with wild dogs Great pics of them also

[Lisbeth]

I love the barbets, both the crested and the black-collared ones Great pics of all the birds

[Richprins]

Nice stuff, Pumbaa!

Never knew there were two cormorant types!

The jackal looks hot!

Sorry about the bats, they seem to be a problem there...


And Timon had a barbet day!

[nan]

Never knew there were two cormorant types!

even more... min. 5

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

There are quite a lot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The International Ornithological Congress (IOC) recognizes these 42 species of cormorants and shags which are distributed among seven genera. One species, spectacled cormorant (formerly called Pallas's cormorant), is extinct.

Are shags the same as cormorants?
Identifying Cormorants and Shags - Arran Birding
Cormorants are altogether bigger. Cormorants have a bigger, more triangular head, a flatter forehead and more massive bill, giving an angular almost wedge shaped look to the head. There is a white gular (throat) patch and the green eye is set within bare skin. Shags are significantly smaller, shorter and more slender.

This list is presented according to the IOC taxonomic sequence and can also be sorted alphabetically by common name and binomial.

Pygmy cormorant
Reed cormorant
Crowned cormorant
Little cormorant
Little pied cormorant
Red-legged cormorant
Brandt's cormorant
Red-faced cormorant
Pelagic cormorant
Spectacled cormorant
Bank cormorant
Socotra cormorant
Pitt shag
Spotted shag
Black-faced cormorant
Australian pied cormorant
Little black cormorant
Indian cormorant
Cape cormorant
Japanese cormorant
White-breasted cormorant
Great cormorant
European shag
Flightless cormorant
Neotropic cormorant
Double-crested cormorant
Rock shag
Guanay cormorant
Bounty shag
New Zealand king shag
Chatham Islands shag
Otago shag
Foveaux shag
Auckland shag
Campbell shag
Imperial shag
South Georgia shag
Crozet shag
Antarctic shag
Kerguelen shag
Heard Island shag
Macquarie shag