My 2014 Kruger Highlights

[nan]

again

what sightings you had

[Lisbeth]

I bet that it's the same spots.........you only change the tree from time to time

[harrys]

Those are beautiful Leopards Heksie and great kiekies to go with the sighting

[puppy]

Fourteen leopard sightings in fifteens days is phenomenal.

[Richprins]

Good Grief, Heksie!


How do you know that first one is a male?

Get well soon...

[Bushcraft]

When are you guys leaving Durban?

We leave on Thursday, but stop at Jozini Dam and in KNP on Saturday morning You could always stop at Skukuza on your way to LS as we are there on the 12th, but timing may be an issue as you may klap it on the way down and we may still be out on our morning drive if things are busy

Whatsapp when in the park

[Flutterby]

Wow, you were lucky with the spots on that trip!

[Heksie]

Good morning guys

THings are starting to get a bit hectic in our household, with packing and trying to finish a TR which I think is a bit pushing it...

THank you guys for your replies and as promised, some birdies...

PS. RP what is hanging under the tail of that first leopard? Boobies?

[Heksie]

Episode 21 Predators of the sky

When I started coming to Kruger, like most new visitors, I would not look twice if there was a bird in the vicinity when we would look at animals. But if we saw a big raptor that could easily be bigger than duiker, then we would sit awestruck of its pure size and beauty. Now being a regular visitor and have started to go search for birds as well, has made spotting a raptor even more special. Here is some of my highlights of raptors that I’ve seen the last year in KNP.

March 2014
Seeing a Gymnogene is a highlight on its own, this is my favourite raptor to spot in KNP, and I only get to see them during March and April, I just can’t seem to spot them any other time of the year… Now this sighting was a new one for me as it seemed that the raptor was hugging the tree… Can somebody tell me about this type of behaviour…





Dec 2014
African Goshawk (I think)


The following was a very upsetting sighting for me, we came from Lower Sabie and everybody was parked in some kind of traffic jam, as we trundled forward I saw a snake coming from the bushes on my side of the road and as I grabbed my camera a bloody bird swooped from out of nowhere and gone was my poor slithering snake… I failed to get the action on camera and was only able to take a kiekie of the poor unfortunate snake hanging in the tree ready to be served as breakfast…



We were very lucky during this trip to find one Gymnogene, it was really a great birding trip this summer…



A Brown-snake Eagle


Amur Falcons on the S29





Juvenile Martial Eagle



And my raptor sighting of the year was mating Bateleurs on the H3…





March 2015
I was lucky enough to spot a fish eagle having a brekkie whilst the cricket was going on, and unfortunately I missed playing for the fun team… WHOOPS…





To be continued…

[puppy]

So glad you enjoyed the birds, Heksie - Best part of any trip.