A Flutter with a Few Firsts
- Flutterby
- Posts: 43944
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:28 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Gauteng, South Africa
- Contact:
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Dewi - There were bee-eaters too, but we were there to work, so couldn't spend all my time taking pics!Dewi wrote:Great start Flutt's with excitement on the roads, construction teams busy and a mini meet with some Wildies.
You even got some birds too.
You definitely made the right decision Sprocks!!Sprocky wrote:Great start Flutters!!!
I was going to join you guys until I saw the weather forecast. Judging from your pics, I think I made the right call.
Waiting for more....
I felt like a real survivor after that drama!! -OToko wrote: Well done, surviver
It got quieter after that!! -OBushcraft wrote:Wow Flutts , hectic start , but great work
I also didn't want to get in a car with myself after that! -O The Brat was very quiet in the back, but my dad said I'd done a sterling job!Lisbeth wrote:Remember that I'll never get into a car with you on a mud road Poor Flutty Better to read it than to do it
So was I, and it was freezing cold!! -OMel wrote:Phew, I'm profusely sweating after this adventure.
I was keeping an eye on you in my rearview mirror...you were also hopping and bopping and I seem to remember a few near-pirouettes!!Penga Ndlovu wrote:The muddy road was great fun and the fun got even bigger when I decided that it would be a good idea to let Fluts and co drive in-between LVB and me.
LVB set his sights of what was happening in front of him and like a true race horse saw nothing else and we had all the fun watching Fluts and co hopping and bopping from the one side of the road to the other.
In the gully. Out the gully and then finally that great pirouette which I rated a 9.2.
Tx STF! -Osteamtrainfan wrote:What an exciting start to a T.T. .
My my F.B. no one can call you a "stick in the mud."
Well done on getting out if that quagmire .
Your sunbird pics are stunning.
I think PN was mean - I should have got full marks!!Amoli wrote:Wow... I agree with Mel, that got me very nervous...
at least you got a 9.2 from PN
Great to see how the work was done, and a nice pic of the 'werkas' -O -O
Lovely sunbird
Stop nagging!Bush Brat wrote:Come on Mom, you lagging behind!!
- Flutterby
- Posts: 43944
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:28 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Gauteng, South Africa
- Contact:
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Sun. April 21, 2013
Waterval Boven – Tamboti
We woke at 3.15am to a very starry sky – thank goodness the rain was gone! We showered, packed and were on the road by 4am. Just after leaving Waterval Boven you drive through the Waterval Boven Tunnel where it is customary to toot you horn, so we went along with tradition and gave a couple of toots! -O This was the fifth time we were doing this road in 3 days but at least there were no trucks this time! We made it to Nelspruit in good time and took the ring road to White River. A sign to White River would have been nice but we soon found the right road and were hoping to get to Numbi Gate and be at the front of the queue. We took the first turn-off to Numbi and found ourselves on a road that had more potholes than road!!! I kept my eyes on the road and my dad kept a look-out for the turn-off to Numbi…after a long time we were in Hazyview! How did we miss the sign?? Anyway, it was pointless to turn back so we headed to Phabeni, where we were now last in the queue!! We arrived just after 6am but only got into the park after 6.30! While waiting in the queue we spoke to one of the guys handing out forms and found out that the Numbi Gate sign had been taken down during the strikes and never put back up again! How long ago was that strike??
Oh well, we were finally in the park, so all was forgotten. We turned onto the S3 and found our first animal…impala!
Our second sighting…..ellies!! I should have changed my lens but was too lazy!
Next up, a fluffy tawny.
This Hamerkop was very busy collecting nesting material.
Before cutting across to the S1 on the S4 we also saw buffalo, Whitecrested Helmet-shrikes and some mongooses. Where the S4 meets the S1, there was an impala carcass in the road and from the little that was left we were sure it was the remains of a wild dog kill. The S1 produced zebra, giraffe and some more ellies playing in the road. Oops…sorry Brat – this pic is almost the same as yours!
A Dark Chanting Goshawk?
We made a quick stop at Skuks, and then got onto the H1-2. This water monitor was sunning itself on the low-level bridge….
…while this Pied Kingfisher looked on.
A Southern White-crowned Shrike.
Who’s this hiding in the grass? -O
We popped in at Leeupan because we’d been told of a sighting that I knew Lis would love!!
Waterval Boven – Tamboti
We woke at 3.15am to a very starry sky – thank goodness the rain was gone! We showered, packed and were on the road by 4am. Just after leaving Waterval Boven you drive through the Waterval Boven Tunnel where it is customary to toot you horn, so we went along with tradition and gave a couple of toots! -O This was the fifth time we were doing this road in 3 days but at least there were no trucks this time! We made it to Nelspruit in good time and took the ring road to White River. A sign to White River would have been nice but we soon found the right road and were hoping to get to Numbi Gate and be at the front of the queue. We took the first turn-off to Numbi and found ourselves on a road that had more potholes than road!!! I kept my eyes on the road and my dad kept a look-out for the turn-off to Numbi…after a long time we were in Hazyview! How did we miss the sign?? Anyway, it was pointless to turn back so we headed to Phabeni, where we were now last in the queue!! We arrived just after 6am but only got into the park after 6.30! While waiting in the queue we spoke to one of the guys handing out forms and found out that the Numbi Gate sign had been taken down during the strikes and never put back up again! How long ago was that strike??
Oh well, we were finally in the park, so all was forgotten. We turned onto the S3 and found our first animal…impala!
Our second sighting…..ellies!! I should have changed my lens but was too lazy!
Next up, a fluffy tawny.
This Hamerkop was very busy collecting nesting material.
Before cutting across to the S1 on the S4 we also saw buffalo, Whitecrested Helmet-shrikes and some mongooses. Where the S4 meets the S1, there was an impala carcass in the road and from the little that was left we were sure it was the remains of a wild dog kill. The S1 produced zebra, giraffe and some more ellies playing in the road. Oops…sorry Brat – this pic is almost the same as yours!
A Dark Chanting Goshawk?
We made a quick stop at Skuks, and then got onto the H1-2. This water monitor was sunning itself on the low-level bridge….
…while this Pied Kingfisher looked on.
A Southern White-crowned Shrike.
Who’s this hiding in the grass? -O
We popped in at Leeupan because we’d been told of a sighting that I knew Lis would love!!
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Caught up also here, Flutterby,
great school projects you do have
Love also the little ellie and the monitor
great school projects you do have
Love also the little ellie and the monitor
PuMbAa
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
Please visit our website: www.photomaniacs.de
- Amoli
- Posts: 6032
- Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:30 am
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Kempton Park
- Contact:
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Wonderful how all troubles are left at the entrance gates to a park... -O -O
Lovely pics. Love your Tawny pic and the monitor is super
and the Tartar Shrike (Kremetart Laksman) -O -O
Lovely pics. Love your Tawny pic and the monitor is super
and the Tartar Shrike (Kremetart Laksman) -O -O
Pretoriuskop
Satara
Shingwedzi
20-30 Dec 2014
Satara
Shingwedzi
20-30 Dec 2014
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Cracking photos Flutt's.
Love the shrike & eagle.
Love the shrike & eagle.
Dewi
What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on? (H D Thoreau)
What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on? (H D Thoreau)
-
- Posts: 3252
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:17 pm
- Contact:
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Fantastic photos FB.
When it comes to missing a turn off or being delayed when travelling I am a firm believer that for some reason you were not meant to be in the place you would have been. Hope you get what I mean.
Great TT so far - look forward to more but between you and BB I am struggling to keep up.
When it comes to missing a turn off or being delayed when travelling I am a firm believer that for some reason you were not meant to be in the place you would have been. Hope you get what I mean.
Great TT so far - look forward to more but between you and BB I am struggling to keep up.
Faith is the bird that feels the light while the dawn is still dark. Author unknown.
- Sprocky
- Posts: 7110
- Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:29 pm
- Country: South Africa
- Location: Grietjie Private Reserve
- Contact:
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Flutters, love your Pied Kingfisher shot!!
Sometimes it’s not until you don’t see what you want to see, that you truly open your eyes.
- Penga Ndlovu
- Posts: 2400
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:38 pm
- Country: Bush area
- Location: Grietjie Nature Reserve, Phalaborwa
- Contact:
Re: A Flutter with a Few Firsts
Love the first ellie shot Fluts.
"Longing for the bush is a luxury many have.
Living in the bush is a luxury that only a few have"
Living in the bush is a luxury that only a few have"