Africa Wild

Mel wrote:Your photos are getting better and better by the trip, methinks! And looking at the outer conditions that were (once again ) not favourable,
I really applaude you for the Quality of your Pictures! Always great to look at them.

Thanks so much Mel

Alf wrote:What a busy waterhole

We saw no animals there during our April/May weekend

On our previous trips we did see nothing there, always - But this year same was very popular

Dewi wrote:Great lion & ellie pics Pumbaa.

I've still not caught up with woodlands kingfishers, but did get my first ever carmine bee-eaters this year. Love your pics of them both.

We always see so many of them even during the drought

Richprins wrote:Dewi, those f-ing kingfishers scream all day and most of the short night...ghastly things, and you are missing nothing!

But me, Richprins - It is the call of the Kruger for me

Lisbeth wrote: They are lovely especially if you do not have to live with them all the time

Totally right, Lis

Flutterby wrote:I love the variety of your pics Pumbaa!

Flutterby but the animal made it easy for us as we saw so many of them

We also held our breath as he walked by extreme close to where we parked and we were prepared to drove backwards but he was not at all interested in us he simply wanted to drink and he even behaved between all the other cows as well



but now also the little calves got a special protection as well.



It was such a wonderful time we just had spent there that we already decided that this was by far not our last visit here. On our way to Lake Panic we spotted a gymnogene in flight and a bateleur in a far away tree so unfortunately no decent shots of these beautiful raptors.

Finally we arrived at Lake Panic and gladly there was still space for our car and the limitation of cars was not yet exceeded but when we arrived in the hide same was packed with people but everybody squeezed a bit together and soon we found a space and started to look around. We saw a green-backed heron, a pied wagtail



and for sure a pied kingfisher and



beautiful and in all colours shimmering dragonflies.







Finally I also discovered my very first Lake Panic squacco heron – This was already the third squacco heron sighting at three different places in Kruger this year so I was extreme happy



that I finally also knew now the secret of the Lake Panic squacco as same partly could be captured extreme close.



Although must say that the water level also here was shockingly low and maybe this was also the reason why we could spot that much as the hiding places for the birds under the thick bushes was not available. A beautiful black crake was busy in hiking from one lily pad to the other



and also a large group of white faced ducks could neither be overseen nor overheard

whilst they were busy in taking an extensive bath.



A couple of more people arrived whilst other left the hide and although there was a constant restlessness the birds and other animals did not bother and occurred plentiful, especially we were fascinated still by the squaccos and there were in fact more than one at the hide,





love that strange hairdo.







We could not turn our cameras that quick as the birds walked by not that we missed anything especially the black crakes



or more squacco moments



and now also the African jacana presented itself beautifully.



A flock of red-billed firefinches landed in the shade and although the light was not that good we could take a shot of him and her.



to be continued.....

Beautiful dragonflies and you sure were lucky with the squaccos on this trip

The last pic of the black crake is great Also the firefinches are very pretty.

All in all very nice sightings at Lake Panic Hide I just love the place, especially when there are few people around

Like Lis, I also like your dragonflies - great photos!

The squacco is my favourite though, I just love the "hair-do"

Great shots of the squacco heron Pumbaa.

But the dragonflies are sublime.

I was lucky enough to be able to visit this hide out of hours with a member of staff, so it was very quiet until normal opening hours. I loved it there.

Joh, that ellie is HUGE! Normally they have to lift their heads a lot higher to drink from a reservoir!

Nice dragonflies!

wow super Squacco Heron
and Dragonflies

loce too the Elies