Stories from Tar Roads and From Spots

[Pumbaa]

Meanwhile we again stood in front of Sunset dam where the light now was more than lovely also compared to all the previous grey and rainy days and we noticed lots of crocodiles,



weavers,



black smith plovers



and Egyptian goose.



Whilst looking around I also noticed a trumpeter hornbill in flight indeed a bird we do not see often in the park and we decided to follow same but we never got hold of same but instead detected a bulbul,



weavers,



European rollers



and even more weavers.



At the Lower Sabie causeway we noted again quite a couple of green backed herons and one of them was in hunting mode.



The water in the Sabie river was still high but dropped already drastically compared to the previous day





and we still could not get enough from the different poses of the green backed herons

[Pumbaa]

which obviously had a congress on the rocks at that causeway that day.



From there we noticed a couple of white faced ducks in flight



and now two hamerkops joined the green backed herons in their congress.





It was lovely that now with the lower water level far more especially water birds could be seen.



Now also pied kingfishers appeared on the scene and posed nicely for us





lots of crocodiles were also sunbathing on the sand islands but today we were more interested in the pied kingfishers.



The African fish eagle pair allowed an audience as well although one of them stayed far in the distance whilst the other one could be captured in flight and landed in a tree on the other side of the river.



We could have stayed far longer on the causeway but it was close to gate closing time so we had to leave and we again enjoyed another nice braai today with nearly no wind and consequently falling leaves and we sat long outside on our verandah finally happy that we were able to drive a couple of favourite roads which were still closed the previous days.

Tuesday, 18. February 2021 – Lower Sabie - Skukuza

Explored roads: H4-1 – H10 – S128 – S30 – H12 – H1-2 – H4-1 – H1-1 – S66 – H1-1 – S65 – S1 – S42 – H11 - 4-1

Today was again moving day and after we had packed everything together we enjoyed the fantastic sunrise from the Lower Sabie causeway



it was so awesome as today also no wind was blowing and it looked like a beautiful warm summer day finally.



Soon we turned into the S128 and we were greeted by a burchell’s coucal



to be continued…….

[Mel]

Nice shot of the waiting heron

The hamerkop is a funny looking bird. Even though they do occur in the KTP as well and even though I have seen some previously, they never had the feathers on the back of their heads as pronounced as the one in your episode here.

The fish eagle is also very

[Richprins]

A varied installment, Pumbaa!

I love the croc in the greenery!

And the birdies and of course the sunrise!

We differ in our love of a "warm" summer's day...

[Pumbaa]

Nice shot of the waiting heron

The hamerkop is a funny looking bird. Even though they do occur in the KTP as well and even though I have seen some previously, they never had the feathers on the back of their heads as pronounced as the one in your episode here.

The fish eagle is also very

Thanks Can watch the hamerkops always for hours as well as the herons and for sure the fish eagles

[Pumbaa]

A varied installment, Pumbaa!

I love the croc in the greenery!

And the birdies and of course the sunrise!

We differ in our love of a "warm" summer's day...

At least a lot of birdies were around but must say we loved our stay at LS and for us North European all days with more than 25 degrees are far too hot but we were so happy about the sunshine finally

[Pumbaa]

and a brown snake eagle in the best morning light.



We observed this raptor quite a while but then it was time for same to take off.





It took not long until we then noticed a secretary bird on top of a small thorn tree



which was indeed a strange location for that bird as we so far only discovered same on the ground. This road turned finally into a raptor alley as we then came across a Wahlberg eagle





and another burchell’s coucal relatively in the open



and same posed like mad as normally this bird soon is disappearing in the thickest bush after same had been discovered.



An elephant bull crossed our path as well



and we again stopped for lots of European bee eaters



who were a delight to photograph as same posed so nicely



before they also finally took off.



Then we saw a single car which parked a bit reckless right in the middle of the road and with the overgrown vegetation around and the narrow road no other car could go past so we first checked where the passengers were looking at and got more than big eyes as there was an impressive leopard male on a dead tree close to where we parked with a warthog kill.



His tummy was already extreme full – The remains of the warthog looked as if he already served himself a lot from same



and in the beginning he still was busy with feeding but after a while he also started to look around as he must have noted our presence.

[Pumbaa]

We meanwhile overtook the other car and from the place where we now parked the view onto the leopard on the tree was far better and even closer





and we were so happy again about such a fantastic and exclusive sighting.



The leopard struggled a bit in standing comfortable on the narrow branches



especially after he grabbed the kill but both turning around with the kill in his mouth was not possible



so he first turned himself around whilst in the meantime also the remains of the warthogs’ leg fell down



and afterwards he picked up again the kill or better to say the carcass





and made his way slowly at least for us as audience





down from the tree.



Unfortunately after he landed on the ground nothing could be seen any longer from the spotted beauty but we were extreme thankful for this short 15 minutes which we could spend with same.



Besides all the fantastic bird sightings we had there today and with that magnificent spotted cat this road although already driven often with only few mentionable sightings today same proved that also previous quiet roads can do differently!

Not far from the leopard we then discovered a saddle billed stork on top of a dead tree



and with that beautiful morning light simply amazing.



to be continued……

[Lisbeth]

Brilliant leopard sighting, although he had chosen the wrong tree Easier going up than down

[Pumbaa]

Brilliant leopard sighting, although he had chosen the wrong tree Easier going up than down

At least it was a fantastic time we spent with him