The Heat is on and the Lions as well

[Lisbeth]

The three tenors on the rock are special, are they bronze mannekins?

They are Finch Larks.
I think Chestnut Backed.

Pumbaa - More nice sightings

Do you mean sparrow larks?

[Lisbeth]

Good to have you back, Pumbaa!

What a nice drive and the cherry on top was to find air conditioning at Biyamiti, which is nice in itself, but even better with A/C

I love The Three Tenors. From the left: Luciano Pavarotti - José Carreras - Plácido Domingo

[Flutterby]

Lovely birds.

[Dzombo]

The three tenors on the rock are special, are they bronze mannekins?

They are Finch Larks.
I think Chestnut Backed.

Pumbaa - More nice sightings

Do you mean sparrow larks?

Yes, Sparrow Larks

[Pumbaa]

Phew, Pumbaa, I was worried I would not get my Sunday evening fix from you!

What a variety of sightings, always something new!

The three tenors on the rock are special, are they bronze mannekins?

Love the Gezantombi shots!

And interesting small things around Biyamiti, great dragonfly pic!

Happy you got aircon, a lovely present!

Gesanftombi is always worth for a stop at least when there is water in the dam

[Pumbaa]

The three tenors on the rock are special, are they bronze mannekins?

They are Finch Larks.
I think Chestnut Backed.

Pumbaa - More nice sightings

The three tenors on the rock are special, are they bronze mannekins?

They are Finch Larks.
I think Chestnut Backed.

Pumbaa - More nice sightings

Do you mean sparrow larks?

Yes, Sparrow Larks

Thanks for the id and more to follow asap

[Pumbaa]

Good to have you back, Pumbaa!

What a nice drive and the cherry on top was to find air conditioning at Biyamiti, which is nice in itself, but even better with A/C

I love The Three Tenors. From the left: Luciano Pavarotti - José Carreras - Plácido Domingo

It would have worked with the fans as well - At least we so survived the previous years there but with the extreme heat is was a bit more comfortable in the evening - Thanks for giving names to the three tenors

[Pumbaa]

Lovely birds.

Thanks Flutterby

[Pumbaa]

After our short excursion to the hide we returned back to the bench close to the fence near our bungalow and we followed an African hawk eagle in flight whilst suddenly this “little” chap stood at least for me far too close to where we sat



luckily he was in a good mood and after checking us out extensively and curiously he continued his walk



but after a while he turned around



and strolled back now a bit farer away from the fence and started to feed on a bush in the middle of the riverbed



and also the waterbucks gathered together and finally disappeared on the other side of the river in the bushes.



We only left camp again around 17.00 o’clock for only a short late afternoon drive and along the dense S139 I spotted out of the glimpse of my eye a duicker who was willing to pose for a couple of shots instead of dashing away.



Soon we then stood again on the bridge across the Biyamiti and here we noticed masses of white fronted bee eaters who were sitting on small branches and roots in front of their holes in the sand.



They made quite a nice spectacle when it comes to the noise and there was also a very busy come and go



and for sure we also got the typical shot of sitting white fronted bee eaters on a branch but this was the first time we saw that many of them sitting together.



It was still extreme hot and so we was a more or less quiet drive but at the causeway crossing the Bume we noticed again one of the three buffaloes we already saw there earlier that day



whilst his buddy still had a little nap.



Meanwhile it got late so we turned around and after we again spent a bit time with the white fronted bee eaters we turned into the private road leading to camp where we stopped for a woodpecker

[Pumbaa]

and for a black stork in the riverbed.



Back in camp we had another fantastic braai and simply enjoyed the air condition in our room but before we could retire we had to release a small scorpion we suddenly saw running on the floors in our room. We somehow managed to get the scorpion outside and finally fall into our beds.

Sunday, 11. February 2024 – Biyamiti

Explored roads: S139 – S25 – S27 – H4-2 – S28 – S137 – S130 – H4-2 – H10 – H4-1 – S83 – H4-2 – H5 – S108 – S25 – S139

After we switched the alarm clock off I soon noticed that we had no electricity, damn again no coffee I soon thought, so we started with our morning routine but luckily after a while and still right in time the camp generator started and I could brew coffee.

First it was a quiet drive and only whilst standing on the bridge across the Biyamiti we noted a couple of waterbucks



and at the Bume causeway we realized that the black stork was still there now joined by a grey heron and a black smith plover,



again we found a duicker who was not that shy



and on top we came across a great number of feeding giraffes



and we stayed quite a while with them and were happy that we were allowed to take some close ups.





Birdingwise we were greeted that early morning by a crested barbet,



hidden grey louries



and around the next corner a lone hyena walked into our direction.



Suddenly a great number of white back vultures were hanging around in dead trees



joined by marabou storks



and we noticed that we now were standing at the spot where we yesterday saw the lions and also today already a couple of cars were standing on the roadside but we could not discover any lions but instead........

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