The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Pumbaa]

What a lovely spot there at Sweni, Pumbaa!

The mud looks quite yucky for the birds...

And well done on your first ellie there!

Love the jacana and never seen crakes in a bush!

I found it also strange to found them in a bush

[Pumbaa]

OH - MY - WORD.... Lovely sightings all around, but the birds excel. Exquisite.

And more feathered friends to come

[Pumbaa]

Most of the time we had the hide all to ourselves only two couples shared the hide with us some longer and some only for a short while so we enjoyed again the silence and for sure the many birds we finally discovered for example this pied kingfisher with such a mini fish



but where are one pied kingfisher there are often more.



Luckily it was one of the very few days during that trip where it was overcast consequently we escaped the 40 degrees and “only” had 35 degrees during the hotest part of the day. We discovered a bit in a distance a green pigeon



and for sure took from time to time more shots from one of the fish eagles.



To our joy even a male paradise flycatcher was willing to pay a visit but same only landed far away always on one of those overhanging branches at least Timon was able to capture same from time to time



as these birds tend to never sit still.



The goslings of the Egyptian goose family were now collective tired,



the goliath heron was still scanning the water,



also a couple of very noisy grey louries arrived



and they got more and even noisier



Now even the African jacana dads with their offspring could be seen far closer

[Pumbaa]

and also more Egyptian goose arrived as well as knob-billed and white faced ducks.



When we finally returned to our car we noticed that we spent 2 2/2 hour in the hide so much could be seen there and we never had a dull moment the time simply spun away.



Our plan was to return via the S41 and finally the S100 back to Satara but as often someone else had other plans for us......We stopped again on our beloved causeways along that road and detected a reed cormorant,



and more black crakes





when a couple in a car stopped us and told us very excitedly something about a lion kill with a lot of vultures around only a couple of kilometers from here. Well the couple of kilos turned finally out to be more than 20 kilometers and as often when we were informed about such sightings we took our time and do not head like mad into the direction of the mentioned sighting. First we paid a final visit to Gudzani dam and we even had enough time to stop and photograph the many carmine bee eaters who appeared in masses on branches along the roadside.





Finally we noticed a couple of parked cars and looked a bit around, the grass was extreme high here and at first sight no lions could be seen but there was active air traffic



whilst already a lot of different vultures landed on branches or bushes close to that kill.



Finally one of the male lions showed up in total we have been told about four of them and to the left on the ground you can see the kill which was much sought-after.



Well the lion only turned around and laid down again to guard the kill but for us everything that goes with it was far more interesting than the lions. Lots of marabou storks were around as well either on the ground



or on branches on the lookout.



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

[Richprins]

What a birding day, Pumbaa!

Great pics of the jacana especially!

Love green pigeons, and yes those flycatchers don't sit still!

You are right about kilometres and directions!

Glad it was a bit cooler!

[Lisbeth]

What a lovely spot for birds

That's one funny-looking jacana

I am trying out winter in SA, but the mornings are cold. Anyway better than 40° and I can always get into bed if It is too cold I am missing the birds though Maybe once I get into the Park there will be more of them