AW Pilanesberg Meet 23-29 September 2013

[nan]

wow the pile of Rhinos

[steamtrainfan]

wow the pile of Rhinos

Thanks very much nan.

[steamtrainfan]

THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER 2013 - Part 2/3

Elated at having seen two of the BIG 5 in quick succession we went to Pilanesberg Centre for our last breakfast.

Arrow-marked babbler.


Somewhere along the line we came across quite a pretty bird. I can remember taking a photo of it but for the life of me I cannot find it anywhere now. Joan was burrowing through our Roberts book when she said triumphantly " Here it is. It is a chestnut-vented tit-wobbler. Whaaaaaaaaaat?????????? Never heard of one of those before. When Joan showed us the picture in the book we saw that it was a chestnut-vented tit-babbler. Well, pandemodium rocked the car. Maybe Joan had got a bit confused as we always refer to a very rough sand road as a T_ _ Wobbler. Only once some semblance of order returned inside the car could we continue our trip.

Somehow we always seemed to end up at Mankwe Hide at some stage of the day.

African jacana.


While sitting at the hide and gazing over the water my attention was caught by a very colourful dragon fly darting and then hovering around nearby. I was going to get a shot of this guy but after about twenty attempts I gave up. This guy was just too quick for me as I ended up with about twenty blank photos. Joan then said she would like to try so I gave her the camera and I wandered off to go look elsewhere. Not long after Joan came up to me and said " look what I got" with a very satisfied look on her face. Joan told me that she gave up trying to get a shot on automatic so turned it to manual at f8 and 1/1000. The dragon fly had hovered just long enough for Joan to get her shot. I am very proud of her for getting this photo.


The large crocodile and a wildebeest giving each other the beady eye.


A closer view of the big guy.


The only eland we saw was way across on the other side of the dam.


A springbuck posing nicely for Joan.


It is not often that an african hoopoe will pose so nicely on a rock for his photo to be taken.


Back to camp for lunch and midday siesta. Pete and Margie said that they would like to stay in camp and give the afternoon drive a miss. I mentioned to them about the possibility of Pilanesbergs last day awesome sighting but this did not change their minds.

Joan and I set off on our own. It was very quiet and very hot.

Eventually down near Makorwane Dam Joan got this pic of a giraffe in a nice "Out of Africa" scene giving us the once over.


Time was marching on and as it was getting close to 17:00 we decided to head back to camp via Tlou Drive, Kgabo Drive and Tshwene Drive. Just before the T-junction of Tlou and Kgabo Drives Tlou Drive goes through a slight dip and over a culvert with thick bushes on either side. We had just crossed the culvert when Joan shouted.......

NEXT: A series of 10 photos of what we saw.

[Lisbeth]

Great pic of the dragon fly, which has a beautiful color To Joan

[Flutterby]

Lovely pic of the dragonfly!! Well done to the Joan Ranger!!

[nan]

wow this Dragonfly


but I'm too late

[Bushcraft]

Fantastic Dragonfly pic

Next ...... You are leaving us hanging again STF

[steamtrainfan]

Great pic of the dragon fly, which has a beautiful color To Joan

Thanks very much Lisbeth - Joan has put them in a lovely vase.

Lovely pic of the dragonfly!! Well done to the Joan Ranger!!

Thanks Flutterby - your message has been passed on.

wow this Dragonfly


but I'm too late

Thanks nan.

Fantastic Dragonfly pic

Next ...... You are leaving us hanging again STF

All will be revealed tomorrow but nowhere near the class of your 6th in 6 days photos.

[Bush Brat]

That pic of Joan's is brilliant, as all the other pics!!
I wonder what you found now??

[Mel]

Phew, what a catch up!

Would have loved to be at the meeting as well - lots of laughter it seems
(you all must have been sore after that weekend) combined with great
outings with super sightings all around!

Thanks for your special report, Flasher - very entertaining and vivid.

And sorry for getting on here only now, stf. I wasn't aware that you wouldn't
start an own TT after the meet.

Great sightings you had and very good pix to tell the tale.