Stories from Tar Roads and From Spots

[Pumbaa]

Next we stopped for another woodland kingfisher



sitting on a branch in the light rain although same obviously got bored whilst posing for us and



same detected from somewhere a small stick and started to play with same.



Lots of giraffes could be seen



as well as white fronted bee eaters



and unfortunately this was it already of what we saw as the causeways either close to Red Rocks or the one leading to the upper part of the S52 were not crossable and so a short break at Tshanga look out came quite handy and so we simply had to drive back via the same road we came from. The rain still got a bit heavier and at least a larger group of wildebeests



just appeared from the bushes and now walked through all the larger puddles which meanwhile could be seen nearly everywhere.



At least they dared to come closer and after the disappointingly quiet morning we now got something to photograph



obviously they were extreme curious as we must have been the first car they saw that morning.



We also detected a group of hadeahs in a tree



trying to dry their feathers.



until we already reached again Shingwedzi camp and as it was still far too early to return to camp and the S50 was the only other gravel road which was open we drove a bit along that one and here we found another brown eagle in a tree



and a couple of white storks on the ground nearly hidden by the high grass. Due to the rain and wetness of the grass the vegetation looked far greener as it already looked that year.



A nicely posing crested barbet

[Pumbaa]

came across



as well as a very wet juvenile bateleur.



The grey heron we noticed next at least did not bother the water coming from above



nor did the crocodile which could be seen on one of the extreme rare sand island in the strong flowing river.



Birdingwise this stretch of the S50 along the river is always a fantastic birding spot and today we discovered a family of ground hornbills



there with a juvenile who collected something from the ground



only to hand same onto more than happily further to another ground hornbill.



On a quiet day like today this indeed was a more than fantastic sighting.



We meanwhile already turned around and now we stopped for another white winged widowbird



who far too soon decided to carry on.



Soon the highlight of the day followed in form of a nicely posing grey headed kingfisher



a kingfisher we do not see that often in the park but funny was that our very first one we saw a couple of years ago was nearly at the same spot.



As this beautiful little bird had all the time in the world and was not willing to leave its spot



Timon had lot of time to take shot after shot.



to be continued……..

[Lisbeth]

It is probably the same grey-headed kingfisher as last time, as there are so few of them

You sure got lots of rain last year

[Pumbaa]

It is probably the same grey-headed kingfisher as last time, as there are so few of them

You sure got lots of rain last year

It did not think so about the grey headed kingfisher but I love the idea Yes, rain we had enough last year

[Pumbaa]

It was meanwhile late morning respectively early afternoon and as it was still a bit too early to return back to camp so we decided for a short side trip to the confluence normally also a fantastic birding spot and soon we already noticed this extreme well camouflaged



feathered friend.



Soon we also discovered another crested barbet



as well as red billed hornbills and another nice sighting was also that the rain meanwhile stopped.



As already hoped by us a couple of whited fronted bee eaters were also present



and more too willing to pose for our cameras.



We hung around at this short stretch of the road quite long and simply enjoyed the rest of our last full day in the park which was more or less spoilt by the rain



but we were still extreme happy to simply made it this year to our beloved park as it looked not good for a couple of months. On our way back to camp lots of red billed queleas



also could be captured



before we finally returned and had soon a more than nice lunch at the restaurant and meanwhile also the causeway could be noticed slightly already after the water of the river must have dropped heavily already despite the light rain we had that day. As during the afternoon the rain again got more and due to the fact that most of the roads were closed we decided to stay in camp and enjoyed the last hours in our bungalow with reading.

Monday, 01. March 2021 – Shingwedzi – Punda Maria Gate

Explored roads: H1-7 – H13-1 – H13-2

Today we had to drive straight through to Johannesburg as we needed at that stage still a PCR covid test to return back to Germany and so we decided that we will spend our last night in a hotel close to the airport and so we also decided that we will only stop for something very special and omit all gravel roads.

Luckily that morning it was dry and it looked as if this will be even a sunny day and later we noted that anyway all gravel roads in the far North were closed so we were not tempted in any way…..First stop was then on the Shingwedzi highwater bridge enjoying the first daylight



and we so far did not see the Shingwedzi flowing that strong very often.



The one and only gravel road which was open that day was surprisingly the S135 so it looked as if the Shingwedzi causeway close to camp was again passable. Not far from the bridge we noticed a movement right on the road and to our luck we discovered two side striped jackals



and they fortunately stayed on the road whilst following them and even from time to time they checked us out.



We already saw during a previous trip years ago side striped jackals at nearly the same spot.



It was great to then spot during our last hours in the park a raptor we already missed this year – a black shouldered kite and also another brown eagle

[Pumbaa]

and in the distance we noticed four silhouettes of something on the road and whilst we cautiously came closer the silhouettes materialized into four lions who we nevertheless somehow roused and in the beginning they left the road



and walked along the roadside in the high grass.



They indeed looked not that happy about our presence



and stared at us whilst we drove backwards.



At least they did no ran away straight, however, one of them was a bit shy and stayed the whole time we spent with them in a safety distance in the grass



whilst the others were more than willing to pose for us.



They were huge and in the beginning we thought that there was also a female between them but after a closer inspection during the sighting we detected that all of them were males.



All of them were impressive



and whilst one of them already returned back to the road,



the other two still were checking out the situation



whilst the shy one completely stayed in the background.



We already followed them for a small distance



as such wonderful lion sighting we did not want to miss and although we still had the long distance to cover that day



they allowed us to spend time with them.





to be continued………..

[Lisbeth]

The one in the last pics does look like a female. Most likely very young and will grow a mane later.

Nice to see side-striped jackals

As always some nice birdies

[nan]

It was meanwhile late morning respectively early afternoon and as it was still a bit too early to return back to camp so we decided for a short side trip to the confluence normally also a fantastic birding spot and soon we already noticed this extreme well camouflaged


feathered friend.

I think it's a Dusky Lark ... not so common... well done

what do you think ?

[Richprins]

Lots of lovely sightings, Pumbaa!

Plenty birdies, and I like the kingfisher!

The Shingwedzi sunrise is spectacular.

And what luck the SS Jackals!

And lions so far north!

Nearing the end...

[Pumbaa]

First of all please note that this raptor is indeed a wahlberg