I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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Pumbaa
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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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Obviously today it was burchell’s coucal day as we found another one

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and finally we turned into the H10 which is always feeling as if you drive in the middle of nowhere due to the few cars there it looks like that tar road is a more than a nice alternative to the much more frequented H4-1 along the Sabie.

We then stopped for more kudus

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and for Mr. steenbokkie who was willing to pose

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although Mrs. steenbokkie could not be discovered.

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Then between a couple of highlights we spotted that day the first highlight was the sightings of a grey raptor a bit in the distance but with a look through the binoculars we discovered a Montague’s harrier. We so far only spotted that raptor once during our many trips to Kruger and for sure we very excited in having found finally another one.

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Same was feeding on a kill whilst sitting on a tree trunk and had permanently a bite whilst looking around far too soon the breakfast was done and same took off and flew away.

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The Nkumbe view point was then the second highlight of the day as already said we so far stopped there only once and I really forgot how breathtaking that view is. A couple of people found also the way to visit that view point and so the view point was good filled and we soon got into conversation with a lot of people. Some told us about rhinos down there who we soon detected close to a group of ostriches,

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however, on a closer view, if ever possible, the rhinos turned into black ones which was then the third highlight of that day as we also saw only twice black rhinos in Kruger.

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A huge buffalo herd could also be seen as well as wildebeests, zebras, impalas and a group of white storks all very far away but nevertheless clearly visible.

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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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A group of German speaking people arrived and is so wonderful to hear a familiar language especially compared to last year where we were at that stage obviously the only foreigners in the park also with that group we chatted a bit and whilst doing so also an elephant bull could be seen.

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We could have spent the rest of the day at that view point but it was still a long way to drive so we finally dragged ourselves away and continued but we did not come far as soon on the roadside where it is still was steep a group of giraffes had to be photographed

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and also Mr. Zorro a bit far away could be seen as well as another European roller with kill.

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Another advantage of such unexpected detours was the fact that we could stop at Orpen dam and spent time there. It was not much around but the hide was empty so we had same all to ourselves and simply enjoyed the silence and the view.

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After a while we left again as it meanwhile got again hot in the sun and normally we wanted to drive the H1-2 into the direction of Skukuza but behind a small bridge into the other direction a traffic jam had built up so we had to check out what was up there. We queued into the traffic jam and at first stage we only noticed a couple of hooded vultures sitting close to the roadside

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that sighting is already a nice one but then Timon spotted a head of Mr. lion as well after he lifted same.

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The grass was again high at that spot and soon the lion returned into sleeping mode so we again concentrated onto the hooded vultures

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but moment where there are vultures there must also be a kill

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and it indeed did not take that long until the lion stood up and walked to a very well hidden giraffe kill

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which we had all to himself.

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to be continued………………


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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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A lovely episode, Pumbaa!

Ja, that Nkumbe view is amazing, and what luck to see black rhino! ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

They do look different without the horns... O-/

And vultures leading to a lion! X#X

This is turning into quite an adventure for the day! 0()


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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

Post by Lisbeth »

What a lot of different sightings ^Q^

Black rhinos look even funnier without horns than the white ones ;-)

Montague’s harrier no less :shock: \O

As always other great bird pictures O/\

Lion with a kill and some guests ;-)

0()


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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

Post by RogerFraser »

^Q^ Wow not one but two Black rhinos .

Lucky to spot anything in that long grass \O


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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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Richprins wrote: Sun Oct 02, 2022 5:55 pm A lovely episode, Pumbaa!

Ja, that Nkumbe view is amazing, and what luck to see black rhino! ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

They do look different without the horns... O-/

And vultures leading to a lion! X#X

This is turning into quite an adventure for the day! 0()
That day was indeed very special and one of the best during that trip \O


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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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Lisbeth wrote: Sun Oct 02, 2022 7:03 pm What a lot of different sightings ^Q^

Black rhinos look even funnier without horns than the white ones ;-)

Montague’s harrier no less :shock: \O

As always other great bird pictures O/\

Lion with a kill and some guests ;-)

0()
It was so exciting to discover the black rhinos and this even only minutes before we watched the montague's :yes:


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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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RogerFraser wrote: Sun Oct 02, 2022 9:06 pm ^Q^ Wow not one but two Black rhinos .

Lucky to spot anything in that long grass \O
The lion was lying in a ditch so when we did not look up we never would have noticed him O**


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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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At least we never saw another lion whilst standing at that sighting.

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We soon took a couple of shots whilst the lion was feeding on the giraffe,

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however, his belly was already extreme huge and the kill already quite extensive caved so we suppose he were not that hungry anymore

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as on top he looked more around whilst lying at the kill than feeding on same.

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After we got quite a lot of shots and the traffic got more we left so that others could take our place nevertheless always a nice surprise to stumble across such sightings. Next stop was then at Leeupan also a favourite of ours as there is normally always something to be seen as the pan is always nicely filled during the time we are in the park and so it was today.

Carwise it was quiet and only one other car parked at the pan so we again enjoyed the silence especially after the hustle and bustle at the lion sighting. We first decided to park at the right side of the pan and soon we noticed a buffalo enjoying his spa treatment

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and knobbilled ducks on the dead tree in the pan.

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Lateron also another buffalo joined his buddy and finally both went out of the water and laid down together in the shade.

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Obviously we did everything right as at the spot where we parked we now realized a moorhen

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also a water bird we in fact see not that often when in Kruger and also not that close.

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A dabchick swam by as well

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and also a jacana appeared on the scene really close to where we stood

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simply love their “alien” feet

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luckily same stayed long enough for a lot of shots

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Re: I've got a feeling of a hot summer in Kruger

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but then my attention wandered to a strange looking duck which I never saw before and as I always have my bird book handy which had to be consulted immediately Timon also detected the duck and already fired away but the duck was no duck but Mrs. Pygmy goose who was playing with a waterlily

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for sure that was then already our fourth highlight of the day

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and after we already noticed Mr. Pygmy goose in the background same finally also came closer and so Timon’s camera again started to glow.

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As already said those unexpected detours due to road closures brought us already great luck last year with our sightings but obviously today we had the same luck.

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For sure we stayed with the goose couple until they were visible and far too soon for our liking both disappeared somewhere in the vegetation in the pan

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so time for us to change the position as we already from far noticed a large group of white faced ducks as well as knobbilled ducks and now we could move closer to them to get also from them a couple of shots.

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Also this group of ducks decided to hang around close to the shore where we parked and they in fact did not feel bothered by us.

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For a final time we then changed our position at the pan to the far left side but besides a grey heron a bit too far away we saw nothing and so after a very successful stay here we left Leeupan and drove straight to Skukuza. Meanwhile it was already midday and besides a couple of giraffes and sunbathing crocodiles already in the Sand river it was quiet.

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After a short break at Skukuza camp we tested our beloved S65 but unfortunately we nearly saw nothing on that road so we then drove straight to Lake Panic in order to kill time before we could check in. The hide was extreme full but we found a place to sit and soon noticed pied kingfishers

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and soon one caught a fish out of which the fish was extreme big for such a small bird.

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to be continued……………………


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