The Big Cat Diary and a Couple of Lifers

[Pumbaa]

wow nice serie of Birds... Orange Breasted Bush Shrike, Scimitar Bill, Stork and Heron

As already said despite the drought we were happy with out bird sightings around Satara

[Pumbaa]

Lovely male lion pics.

We was quite relaxed and posed nicely

[Pumbaa]

Lovely bird shots

Down here we have tiny scorpions, but I have not seen them very often

A very "big horned" impala

I never saw one of the garden scorpions we should have here

[Pumbaa]

Nice to see the lion again. Love the scimtarbill!

Me too - I was so happy about the shot of the scimitarbill

[Pumbaa]

Catching up, Pumbaa!

Never seen a scimitar bill, what a pretty bird!

Those impala look very skinny...it must really be bad when they look like that...

It was - Also the waterbucks in that area did look skinny

[Pumbaa]

Then it was bee eater time and we also spotted the little bee eaters which are from all the bee eaters my favourite, I guess it is because they are so small and cute,



really like a small fluff ball.





Gladly we were able to so far could capture that different species of the bee eaters as prior to that trip I already thought that due to the severe drought we might did not see any.



Finally we spotted another red-backed shrike



the rest was then quiet but we were already extreme happy with all the birds we saw and could capture during the drive. After a short but very much needed break at N’wanetsi picnic spot we turned around and drove back via the S41. On one of the causeways where you have to cross to the Gudzani which is normally full of water we stopped and we only noticed a mud puddle left which was indeed extreme sad to see.



On our way to the picnic spot we already crossed that streams but saw nothing there and now each and every animal in the vicinity of that mud puddle arrived such as wildebeests, waterbucks, impalas, kudus and the ever present guinea fowls running around between their legs



and all of them were trying to get at least some drops of the extreme precious water in that area.





The kudus were a bit skittish

[Pumbaa]

but it was fantastic to spot them altogether and even the baby impalas got their share. Whilst watching into the other direction I noticed some bones of which once must have been a handsome waterbuck male – So once again in Nature it proofed that life and dead is so close together.



We also paid a short visit to Gudzani dam but you might be right when you already guessed that same was bone dry as well – In fact it was quite hard to notice all the normally ever present carrying water dams and streams that empty and also the many other causeways we had to cross whilst carrying on steadily east were totally empty. At least we met some giraffes on the way to quench their thirst at Gudzani East one of the waterholes in that area which was gladly still operational.



A tawny eagle had already landed and was about to drink whilst a group of zebras was about to arrive as well.



The tawny strictly stayed on its side whilst the zebras were drinking from the other side. We stayed quite a while and enjoyed the activity around that waterhole.



On our way further down we met a steenbok couple and he was obviously in the mood to even say “Hi!” to us.



For me it is always a pleasure to photograph this little antelope especially with that huge ears compared to the rest of the antelope.

Suddenly the vegetation changed and part of that road was covered by high but already extreme dry grass although it was awesome to see something different compared to only sand and stones and also a high amount of game could be seen such as waterbucks,



and a large group of wildebeests, and also the vegetation changed again back into the predominantly known dry sand covered with stones ground



at least part of the bushes in the background were still green.



The wildebeests were obviously in a hurry and nearly did not have any time to stand still for a shot so we also carried on but we were overall happy that despite the severe drought in that area to see still that much animals.

The two waterbucks youngsters were also a more than lovely sighting.



to be continued....

[Lisbeth]

The drought is really scary

The little bee-eater is sooo pretty

[nan]

always interesting to stay a little bit around a waterhole
love the fluffy too

[Richprins]

Very nice pics and thoughts, Pumbaa!

Good to see that Gudzane windmill operating...it is very nice and one can get close to the water with some shade under bushes, if I recall?