And then the rain set in or at dusk the bush comes alive

[Lisbeth]

Wow! What a show of lovely birds

I have never seen a grey-headed kingfisher

[Sprocky]

Awesome stuff, Pumbaa!!

Great Dog sighting and wonderful bird pics!!

[Lisbeth]

I forgot to mention the dogs! I love the portrait

[Flutterby]

Very wet doggies!

Lovely pics of the birds.

[Richprins]

Wet animals all round!

What a successful drive, Pumbaa!

The nice thing about this area is that one gets different pics because of the mountain backdrops.

[Mel]

Excellent photos again! Not only of your wonderful doggie sighting but all the bird photos too

[Pumbaa]

Thanks so much nan, Lisbeth, Sprocky, Flutterby, Richprins and Mel,

for your amazing comments - We definitely could not complain about the sightings we had especially at the beginning of that trip

[Pumbaa]

Last year we only met few of them but this year we saw quite a lot of fork tailed drongos



and we stopped for red-billed hornbills plus a burchell's starling who wanted to be captured as well.



The rhino only said a quick hello and then disappeared again behind the bush



we came across some yellow eyed canaries who unfortunately they stayed too far away but the woodland kingfisher was sitting close enough for some pictures.



For sure the impalas could not be missed as well as their usual hitchhikers who were eyed suspiciously



and most of the impalas patiently let the birds do their work





and we even were allowed to take some close ups as well - either without



or with bird.

[Pumbaa]

Some were still resting



we also saw lots of little boys,



met the big boss,



witnessed motherly love



and simply watched how they enjoyed life - We never can pass a group of impalas without stopping and at least taking a few shots as especially in such a large group there is always something happening and we never get bored of them.



On the other side of the Mlambane we discovered then another pack of wild dogs but unfortunately they stayed too far away for some nice shots but at least we saw more doggies that day



and although we stopped around the next corner as from there the view into the riverbed was perfect we could not find them again so we had to be satisfied with our feathered friends who gladly appeared again plentiful - We saw white fronted bee eaters,



two vultures on a stone,



another grey headed kingfisher,



a lilac breasted roller



plus mother and child.



The dependable water holes which were frequented by a lot of different animals the previous days were for sure after that heavy rain earlier in the morning deserted and although we wanted to stop at Gardenia hide we resigned as we noticed that same was only a mud hole and unfortunately the rain had not impact in that area at least that day.

We had to drive quite long until we saw something else but meanwhile we drove on the S25 along the Crocodile river and a bit far away we soon spotted in a tree an osprey who soon took its heels



and then we stopped for a longer break at one of our favourite spots on that road - a larger loop or better to say the only larger loop where you nearly can drive down to the river and we then started to scan the area and noticed at first stage some beautiful flowers.



to be continued......

[Lisbeth]

Lovely impalas and birds