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Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 11:05 am
by RogerFraser
Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:17 pm
by Richprins
Searchin for Doggies successful indeed!
Those wildebeest bulls hang around to guard their territories over the summer months, while the families disperse to enjoy the water and grazing! It is a tough job and many don't survive...

Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:54 pm
by RogerFraser
We were shocked with the poaching , I know they always caught with silencers etc .But to literally be just on the first road outside a big camp like LS was an eye opener .I have to add on the next day we left the park .With the van in tow etc but at the gate there was only one security guard on duty and we were not even searched on exit (especially as I have that innocent look

) .Having found out about the incident I would have expected a bit tighter security ..

Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:24 pm
by RogerFraser
Day 12 Jan 14th Part 3
After seeing this in Blue Tuna's Tr I had to put it in without the Vultures

although its not the best pic .
Not far from the doggies we found this fine fellow on the prowl .
We tried to follow him a bit but he ducked behind the trees soon after we spotted him.
Slightly further on we found this saddle bill.
And then we found this feathered fellow .We realised straight away that it was unusual from anything else we had seen and low and behold I saw an ID by Blue Tuna on his TR as a Dwarf Bittern a few days ago .
Reaching the Tar again we found Lenny crossing the road
We drove across the H10 Bridge and found one of Lennys relatives
And a sunbathing herbivore was floating in the water
On the opposite side two juniors were having a play fight
These feathered fiends were still waiting for it to heat up
We returned to LS to make Lunch and fit the wheel bearing cover to the Van....
Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:06 am
by Bushcraft
Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 8:57 pm
by RogerFraser
Thank you the DB was just a bonus.Glad that BT ID it correctly for me.
Day 12 Jan 14th Part 4
After lunch we tried to repair the van wheel dust cover with the one bought in Komati.We then found that the replacement hub was about 1 mm different in size .It was just too small so sat loose in the hub.So we repacked the bearing used the new dust cover and plenty of duct tape.We decided we use it and would travel to Malelane and asses if we needed to do anything else there.In camp we had a visit from Lenny.
We left later on with the temperature very high we decided to travel the S28 S137 then back to LS H10 bridge and Sunset Dam.
It was still blistering hot and not much was out .We had missed some action sometime earlier it seemed
We found some feathered watchers out in the sun
Went down to Dukes but nothing was stiring.Further down the road a herd of ellies walked across the road and went past the small water hole

and the wondered into the tree line
Getting back onto the tar .We came across this strange scene .A roller had been killed before we got there and was on the road .A Bateleur and Vulture were fighting over the scraps on the road .Then the Bateleur managed to take off with his prize into the nearest tree with the Vulture chasing .
Back at Sunset dam the Hippos were yawning the night in .
We watched our last Sunset in KNP
and left to start preparing for the trip home the next day...
Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 7:35 pm
by Richprins
Interesting that vulture episode, Roger...
Bateleur, Tawny eagles and maybe later hooded vultures are normally first at the scene with roadkill...
This other vulture is unusual in that respect!
Once again, predators/scavengers behaving strangely?
Fascinating pics!

Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 2:42 pm
by Lisbeth
European roller, Magpie shrike. Brown snake-eagle
Nice episode of the battle over a poor roller

Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:28 pm
by RogerFraser
Richprins Thanx for the input .
Pumbaa always enjoy the rollers .
Lisbeth thank you for the help with the ID's during this Tale will be copying Heksie's format and dumping off some older TR's so may need your help again .
Flutterby yes was a different sighting to see.
Day 13 Jan 15th Part 1
We awoke early and packed the van for the last time .Leaving LS on our trip down to Croc Bridge gate.
On the way we found a few early morning feathered watchers.
This fellow was having an early morning bath at Vurhami Dam :
We then came across a massive road block

we were about 1 km from the gate with a van on the back and four lanes of cars blocked the road end to end with not a traffic officer in sight .
After waiting over 20 minutes we finally managed to get a way to drive off road around the melee .
And finally saw the cause of the people acting like idiots ...
We finally got to the gate and had to leave the KNP behind
Stopping in at Malelane we checked our makeshift repairs and found the bearing cool and sealed so decided to continue with the repair.
Finally reaching home we found a wild dog pack that after running around rather wild they settled and began to resemble their distant cousins in KNP ...

Re: Searchin for Doggies in the Hot Summer Sun KNP Jan 2015
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 8:00 pm
by RogerFraser

for commenting and sharing the TR . I have been on both sides of the coin as day visitor and resident ,I personally believe allot of the issues can be overcome with education and enforcement .Certainly don't believe they could ever allow any more visitor numbers . Glad you enjoyed my first TR .I might even copy heksies format and throw a few more batch TR's from years gone past ....
