Extended KTP Trip oct 2013

[Toko]

You invited the bees to relax with you?

Very good, if visitors motivate the bees to leave the toilet

[Lisbeth]

The lion definitely does not like the wind
Lovely bird pics

[Kesheshe]

Day 7 - 9th October (Continued)

We got up from our nap around 3pm. I cannot say we felt refreshed as it was extremely hot in the unit and we actually did not get much rest. We first had a cold shower and long glasses of cool drink with ice before departing on our afternoon drive.

I wanted to go north but SO wanted to go south and see if she could get the lions in good afternoon light. Guess who one?

Our first sighting of the afternoon:

Bateleur

Juvenile Bateleurs have longer tail and wing feathers than their parents. Young eagles need these longer feathers when they are first learning to fly, as they give them more stability and control in the air. Each year, as the bird molts, its new feathers grow in a little shorter. When the bird reaches maturity, it will have the long, narrow wing and short tail of an adult, which readily distinguish Bateleurs from all other African raptors in flight.

Perhaps more than any other eagle, the Bateleur is not very good at hiding its moods. Like a mood ring that changes colours depending on how the wearer of the ring feels, the skin on this raptor’s face and legs changes colours, too. When a Bateleur is calm and relaxed, its skin is generally a pale red, sometimes more orange colour. However, when it gets excited, its legs and feet can quickly turn bright red. These birds also raise their crest and puff up their chest feathers and spread their wings to show their agitation. And when the occasion calls for it, this normally quiet bird will emit loud raspy "barks" unlike anything heard from any other eagle!

[Kesheshe]

Day 7 - 9th October (Continued)

Yes eventually got back to THAT waterhole and SO was right they where still there and the light was better.

Tawny Eagle

The tawny eagle’s breeding season varies according to location, but most commonly occurs in the dry season. Courtship consists of aerial displays, during which this normally silent species makes a series of noisy croaks and grunts. After mating, a large, flat nest is constructed from sticks lined with grass and leaves, usually at the top of a thorny tree or very occasionally on a power pylon. A clutch of two eggs is laid, which hatch after around 39 to 44 days. During the early stages of the 77 to 84 day fledging period, while the chicks are still small, the eldest chick may kill the younger sibling. A single nest may be used repeatedly for many years, so long as the crown of the tree remains unaltered. Tawny eagles have a relatively long lifespan, reaching up to 16 years.



Lion

Lions have terrific night vision. They are 6 times more sensitive to light than humans. This gives them a distinct advantage over some prey species when hunting at night.

Lions roar to communicate their position to other prides. A lion’s roar is the loudest of any big cat and can be heard up to 8 km away.

[Lisbeth]

He still does not like the wind

[nan]

for exemple... in this page ONLY 3 pics had opened normaly

[Flutterby]

Looks to me like he is enjoying the wind! Love the pics of the Bateleurs!

All the pics opened for me nan.

[Mel]

I can see all pix as well

So if the lions were down south, were the bateleurs at Union's End?

Great shots in any case.

[nan]

now is ok... all the pictures are here

it seems the water hole is Cubitje Quap
great pictures of the Bateleurs and the Lions too

[General Gump]

Kesheshe, I admire everyone on this forum, who can type more than a couple of sentences.
Great lion photos.