The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Bushcraft]

Love the malachite

[Dewi]

Even more stunning pics of the herons Pumbaa.

Love the wahlberg's & bushbuck pics as well.

[Flutterby]

The malachite certainly was a poser!

[Richprins]

Sounds busy at the hide!

Never seen much on the S-1, but it is very scenic!

[ExFmem]

Dragonflies The squacco heron is new to me and really lovely - simple colors, but eye catching. What's not to love about the malachite - like little pieces of sparkly jewelry. Wonderful variety of birdlife - could spend an entire day there!

[Pumbaa]

First of all thank you very much Lisbeth, Mel, nan, Bushcraft, Dewi, Flutterby, Richprins and ExFmem for all your lovely comments and secondly for your patience

We have been away for summer holidays in Denmark but now we are back in full swing and will try to once again post two new episodes in a week

[Pumbaa]

In that area of the park it must have rained a bit heavier over night as lots of puddles had to be crossed and we had to pay extreme attention not to overrun one of the many leopard tortoises which now could be seen nearly everywhere.



The woodland kingfisher were again plentiful



and to our surprise we also could capture another juvenile amethyst sunbird who was extreme difficult to photograph as same was so active.



Lots of smaller streams had to be crossed which normally flow into the Sabie but they carried nearly no water but when we crossed one we could be sure to find a lot of birds and so we simply parked and let the birds come.

Unfortunately this brown hooded kingfisher was the only one we found this year during our trip,



one of the many black eyed bulbuls put up a show and entertained us a lot





whilst same tried to locate where this strange click sound came from



and whilst trying to feed on some ripe fruits



same even hung upside down to reach the juiciest fruits.



Finally success! Are you stil there?



Another lark could also be found but

[Pumbaa]

Unfortunately besides birds not much else came across so we took a couple of shots of this road





and also the giraffes were enjoying the rain that day



as well as the many leopard tortoises who started immediately to feed on the just sprouted grass.



The rest of the road was than disappointingly quiet and soon we now returned via the tar road which was also quiet I guess it was due to the rain.

A stop at Nyamundwa was a must and here we soon spotted a pair of saddle billed storks,





a black-winged stilt



and a grey heron who was eying something in the water suspiciously



and as there was still a great amount of water left the hippos shared that precious water.



Whilst observing another Wahlberg in a tree



three rhinos walked steadly closer which was also a fantastic sighting.



to be continued.....

[nan]

welcome back
wow lot of birds, small and big
my prefered ... the Woodland

and the "dirty" road


for continuing

[Lisbeth]

Welcome back, Pumbaa! I hope that you had a rain free Danish holiday

Lovely birdies and also the scenery with and without giraffe

The bulbul is having a heat time