The ABC of the KNP.

[Michele Nel]

Delicious Dicky-birds & Devilishly Dusty Dioramas Despite Disapointing Day Drives - Doh!.

OMW Dewi...

[Michele Nel]

Thx again everybody for reading and commenting. I am working on the next episode - it is just a slow process at the moment due to lack of time...:)

[Flutterby]

Lovely sighting of the Squacco...never seen one! So, even though you may have been disappointed you still had a few nice sightings.

[Pumbaa]

Well the variety of birds was not yet bad, Michele,

especially the temmmick's courser on its nest and the squacco

Those impressive river beds do indeed look a bit strange with nearly not water in it and dust can also appear in February when it is normally lush and green

[Mel]

Sorry to hear that more disappointment came your way, but you made the best out of it.
And even if the bateleur-zebra-in-dust-at-waterhole isn't an award winner, it's still a great shot.
I like how the dust wriggles through the photo.

[Michele Nel]

[harrys]

Ohh great Lion and bird photos

[Michele Nel]

E is for Energetic Early birds, Egos and Elephants….

Before you all think that I am the Energetic Early bird that I am referring to let me tell you that I am NOT…I don’t do mornings very well at all (and neither does Rob) and I need all the encouragement in the world to get my head off that pillow. Rookie on the other hand can get up at some horrible hour in the morning and be Extremely Energetic and it is an absolute given that Rookie, no matter what, will head out into the bush at that horrible hour. So every morning a decision had to be made ..do I bird within the camp or do I go out with Rookie ??? Some how or other I do manage to make the right decision though and I am always happy with my sightings...
The morning that I did managed to get up early and head out with Rookie from Mopani was one of my better decisions.It wasn’t long before the excitement started and soon I was yelling…."Stop stop stop... bokkies on the right !!!” Hmm those bokkies were in actual fact Roan but they were already disappearing into the bush and we had a brief sighting of their rear ends. Rookie, knowing the roads like she does, took a turn off in the hopes of intercepting with the Roam again. The next minute I was chirping from the back seat. I asked Rookie how important it was that we find the Roan. A slamming of brakes followed …
"Why ????" asked Rookie, “What have you seen?”
“' Well if you reverse a bit I can show you two beautiful male lions," was my calm reply.
And they were indeed beautiful…lying amongst the bushes soaking up the morning sun.



We spent a little while with them but they weren’t looking very energetic at all.So we continued in our pursuit of the Roan. A few kilometres down the road we came across a puddle in a riverbed…and what a productive puddle it was…Woolly-necked Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Great Egret and what I think may be a Marsh Sandpiper. Four birds for Birds Captured in one fell swoop !!!
I have very poor record shots of these birds ..but that is all I need to prove that I have seen them….but they are not good enough for a trip report.

Were we ever going to meet up with those Roan. We continued on our way and before long we actually did find them again. This time they allowed us more than a view of their rear ends. As a matter of fact the youngster was quite a show off...



Next up was Pioneer Hide..now this is when I realised that the Energetic Early bird catches the worm….or in this case the fish. Unfortunately both the Darter and the Pied Kingfisher were a fair distance away for any decent shots but it was enjoyable watching them catching their breakfast.






And let’s not forget about the birds with Egos….I mean just look at these Green-backed Herons….just full of their own importance.







And as for this Jacana ….admiring his reflection much better.



But actually when looking at my photos later on in the day I think my Ego topped that of the birds. I finally have some decent Green-backed Heron photos…being an Energetic Early Bird had paid off.

to be continued….

[Alf]

Stunning bird pictures even with all the dust around

[Flutterby]

What a fantastic morning!! Lions, ROAN , and all those birdies! E is for envious!

And you got lovely pics of the birdies!