Page 15 of 19
Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2022 2:53 pm
by Pumbaa
What luck with the birds you had too, Bushcraft
and even impalas
Again incredible leopard luck and on top lions too - Interesting wild dog and vulture sequence too

Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2022 6:00 pm
by Richprins
Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:26 pm
by Bushcraft
Lisbeth wrote: ↑Thu Apr 14, 2022 6:49 pm
It is a blessing that the Cow likes birds, if not we would be without
The purple-crested-turaco would be bad to have missed

Also the Little Bee-eater is a nice one!
I like birds of prey and I'm slowly getting into the rest

but correct, there would be minimal bird pics without the Cow

Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:27 pm
by Bushcraft
Pumbaa wrote: ↑Fri Apr 15, 2022 2:53 pm
What luck with the birds you had too, Bushcraft
and even impalas
Again incredible leopard luck and on top lions too - Interesting wild dog and vulture sequence too
The Cow has the bird luck Pumbaa

Yes and impala

Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:32 pm
by Bushcraft
Research RP, not all luck
The wild dog/vulture story was funny to watch, we have seen it before

Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:35 pm
by Bushcraft
1st October Skukuza
We woke to drizzle on and off, so ended up leaving camp a little later than normal and decided to do the H1-2/H12/H4-1 loop that we had tried to complete the previous evening.
Our first sighting for the morning was a wet sleepy hyena close to camp and then a Bateleur trying to dry out.

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The Sand River produced some lions far off in the riverbed and then the occupant of a stopped car pointed out spots in a tree which got the excitement going, however it was almost impossible to get a view, so some proof pics of the spots was eventually all we got.

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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:37 pm
by Bushcraft
Around 1km down the H12 from the H1-2 we spotted some cars and then the reason why appeared.

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The dogs were lying in numerous bundles, some fairly close to the road and some deeper into the bush, so we had no idea how many dogs there were.
I found a spot, switched off and waited for the odd movement from the dogs.
There were a few vultures hanging around, so the dogs must have killed something earlier, however each time a vulture landed on the ground a few of the junior dogs would do a semi charge but backed out each time the vulture stood its ground.

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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:38 pm
by Bushcraft
The vulture dog interaction was amusing, so we just parked off and had a cooldrink and snacks next to the road.
The adult dogs were out for the count and ignoring the vultures, but the junior dogs all jumped up each time a vulture moved, and the excitement caused the juniors to interact with each other also.

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Eventually the vultures left, and all the dogs went to sleep so we headed for camp for breakfast.
We were back in camp earlier than normal, so we had plenty of time to do our own thing. The Cow settled in with a book, Bushpig retreated inside with schoolwork and Albert and I went to explore the new train restaurant, the lower area of the camping section and the selection of GC6 chalets, which are looking a little tired now.
We stocked up on some items from the shop later and as we were leaving to Biyamiti the next morning for our last night I defrosted our camp freezer, dried it out and then stuffed it with everybody’s dirty clothes.
The weather also improved a little throughout the day and at least the rain had moved off, so we decided to duck out at around 3pm and the plan was to go back to where we had left the sleeping dogs on the H12 with the hope of getting their late afternoon “greeting ritual”, but our departure got delayed by the Cow as she charged off after a Turaco.

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The lioness was still having a snooze in the Sand River and then we were stopped by 2 birds having a major boxing match in the road.

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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:40 pm
by Bushcraft

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As we approached the wild dog section of the H12 our enthusiasm grew but there were no signs of the dogs, so we took an educated guess that they would move on up the H1-2, therefore backtracked to head up the H1-2 towards Tshokwane.
We instantly came across a semi awake hyena, then another, and then more walking.

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As we approached the first dip in the road an adult wild dog popped up in the middle of the road. He looked stressed out and frantic.
“He’s lost the others, we on the right track, let’s check further up the road quickly”
Two corners later the juniors of the pack that were lagging behind came into view.

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Every time 1 or a few of the juniors tried to get closer to the adults, one of the adults dropped back and charged at them (coming in at top of the pic below). The adults that we could see further up the road were clearly on a hunting mission, so this looked like discipline, the juniors had to stay back.

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Re: Browns in Kruger September 2021
Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 12:41 pm
by Bushcraft