Flavour of the Month - Dec 2012: S39 Timbavati Rd & Picnic Spot

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
17h17 hours ago

12:30
2 Leopards stationary in tree
S39, 4,4km from S40
Near Satara
Vis 5/5
Tinged by Wiaan & Noena

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

Lots of mating leopard over the last couple of months!

[harrys]

I hope we will be so lucky when we get there

[Lisbeth]

Lovely pics

[Richprins]

From Pumbaa in 2015:

A couple of giraffe were feeding



and then this road developed into a birding road today as we came across of a group of black winged lapwings, another lifer for us and needless to say that it took once again quite a while



until we could carry on as Timon was again in the photographic heaven and snapped one shot after the other.





More birds could be spotted such as the common arrow marked babblers



or the ever present European rollers



and finally we could enjoy the first views into the nearly dry Timbavati riverbed.



Today it was a more than a quiet road at least on the first leg but the bush was green and lush and so we had a bit of a jungle feeling with all the bush noises around and then a shadow on the ground turned into a beautiful and impressive saddle-billed stork in flight



and we even discovered three rhinos munching happily away and a bit later also a group of ground hornbills joined them but all of them were indeed a bit far away.

https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic. ... &start=100

[Richprins]

and also same started from time to time its unmistakably call - When it was throwing its head high whilst calling it always looked as if the head had been pulled out of the rest of the eagle due to the fitful movements.



Finally the eagle took off and did not return but we in fact got our shots and enjoyed its breathtaking calls, however, between the calls I already noticed a strange noise which sounded like a clunk, clunk clunk. We checked this out and got a huge fright as under the bush were the eagle sat down in the riverbed one of the largest crocodiles we ever saw came into our viewing angle and same had a terrapin in its huge mouth and was trying to crack the tortoiseshell



by steadily throwing the terrapin up in its mouth. I felt immediately sorry for the terrapin but for sure that it nature



although it is strange that this was the second time during that trip that we realized such a behaviour.



It looked as if the terrapin might escape the deadly jaw but the crocodile never gave up and tried it several times to bite into the terrapin.



Gladly no other car arrived as in fact that this sighting was only viewable from the spot where we stood and we also did not know the outcome as we had to carry on as there was still a long way to travel but for sure another incredible sighting could be marked on that road.



Whilst carrying on we always had breathtaking views into the riverbed and in the distance we saw a vulture sitting or guarding the remains of a poor kudu bull.



At one of the causeway we had to cross we stopped again as there a lot of different dragon flies could be admired.



Not that they were shimmering in all colours of the rainbow this one looked as if it was owning an oversized denture with it was smiling with a big grin into the camera!



The obligatory red ones could be seen as well



and we for sure had once again a great time in observing all these beauties

[Richprins]

and not for the first time today on that road we noticed a shadow above us and could capture a vulture in flight.



A cute spotted flycatcher had to be photographed as well



and nearly at the end of the road there is a small road leading through mopane bushes which got more and more here to a hidden view point in the riverbed. Gladly this road was open as after several closures during our previous visits due to flooding we could enjoy this stunning view now again.



I already thought that this road to this view point might be closed forever and so you can imagine how happy we was that we could pay today a visit there as moreover two buffalo boys were looking interested into our direction



but we also did hear human conversation echoing in the riverbed which chased finally the buffaloes further away only to lie down in a puddle a bit hidden behind a bush. We waited only to realize that some armed rangers were patrolling the riverbed waiving to us when they came into sight and so we could carry extreme calmed down on.

The typical rough and red stony Olifants vegetation now took over nearly completely and we already thought of a short leg stretch on the bridge across the Olifants already but that had to be postponed a bit as we came across a giraffe carcass on which a couple of different vultures were enthroning.



We noticed white backed and white headed vultures



and whilst we parked the car and observed the scene we were astonished that there were in fact no smell but we did not realize that the wind was not blowing at that point but suddenly it breezed up and we for sure then had the pleasure in taking a sample



but we braved the smell and could take a couple of outstanding close ups





as I cannot remember having ever got to see these raptors so close and clear.

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
2h2 hours ago

09:43
9 Wild dogs and 3 Hyenna lying down close to each other next to the road
S39, 2Km N of Leeubron on Timbavati road
5/5
Tinged by Marè

[Richprins]

Kruger Sightings
‏Verified account @LatestKruger
20m20 minutes ago

07:42
1 leopard on the move
S39, 5km W of Timbavati lookout
Near Satara
Tinged by JB78