The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Pumbaa]

A lovely morning, Pumbaa!

Lots of very interesting sightings...never seen a Wahlberg's with a kill!

Wonder what kind of woodpecker that is?

And the butterflies are exquisite, more macro photography from Timon!

Lake Panic is filled partly by pumps.

Although it was a quiet it was a lovely morning Looks for me like a female cardinal woodpecker

[Pumbaa]

So many wonderful sightings - ground hornbills are always a treat, the Wahlberg w/ mongoose, tho' it tugs at one's heart, is a great find - well done, even the monitor pic shows its very cool tongue , but of course my favorite would be the Citrus Swallowtail (I think) butterfly - exquisite pic.

There were so many of that sort of butterfly at that spot

[Pumbaa]

To our joy even a squacco heron landed soon after we had arrived, a water bird who is not a regular sighting for us.



From time to time we looked up into the dead tree and the yellow billed kites stayed the whole time there we spent in the hide. It must have been in fact extreme hot in the sun.



It was also nice to notice an African jacana with at least one chick although it could have been more but they are always so very well camouflaged.



The most interesting sighting for us were the breeding weavers as we often saw them so far refurbishing their nests during our trips but we rarely saw them breeding so far so the chriping was quite loud whenever the different parents arrived with quite a nice variety of treats.



Sometimes whenever the little ones had been fed the parents simply needed a rest before the search for food could again



some presented something green and hairy



and we also had the pleasure in photographing the hippos in the distance



as well as the squacco as same stayed quite a long time around.



For sure we had such a fun in watching as well as photographing the weavers as they nearly collected everything



most of the time something green and thick.



After a while even a malachite kingfisher was willing to appear but same was really not easy to spot in the dry bush



but as patience will be rewarded same finally even landed closer and stayed long enough for a couple of shots.

[Pumbaa]

As soon as the malachite kingfisher left the weavers again appeared



with more and even different delicacies



and now a smaller crocodile swam by,



a green backed heron could now also be photographed



whilst another one still stayed a bit hidden in some of the thick bushes.



Luckily our colourful feathered friend appeared again on the scene after same stayed away a while



and the weavers still tirelessly brought more food for the little ones.





We still were fascinated by the masses of weavers and the different food they organized



but that permanent feeding made them also thirsty and they took their time in quenching their thirst as well



and to our joy now even one of the pied kingfishers we noted flying around already landed in the thick and dry bush, however, same was nearly invisible and only easily seen when same moved.





to be continued.....................................