We left Pretoria on 7th November & drove to Andrew & Jackie's house in Malelane. We spent a lovely afternoon & evening chatting & looking for game over the Crocodile River. Earlier that day we had spent quite a bit of time in the hospital in Nelspruit, where I underwent a CT scan, waited for the results & had a consultation with my oncologist. A summary of the results of the scan are in the video below.
The next morning I was on the decking overlooking the river, when an African Pygmy Kingfisher flew in. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me & the opportunity was lost!
The view of the Sabie River from the house.
Delana & I arrived late afternoon 8th November in Sabie Park. It was slightly later than planned, as I spent some time arguing with a policeman over a speeding fine!
The entire area was a but drier than normal for this time of year, this area had received little winter rainfall. As usual we had to spend time unpacking & getting the house organised. We enjoyed a nice evening on the veranda, listening to the sights & sounds of the African bush.
One should be careful what one wishes for! I had been moaning about the lack of rain. Well not anymore! The 11th proved to be a wet, miserable day. The rain just kept on coming. Couldn't do any meaningful birding because of the weather, but both Lion & Spotted Hyena heard from the house at dusk.
It was more of the same on 12th November, rain & yet more rain!
I wasn't too hopeful when I awoke at dawn on the 13th November. It had been raining throughout the night & although it had stopped raining, the vegetation was dripping & it was an overcast morning.
Our first visitor was an inquisitive & tame Warthog. This species has a checkered history in Sabie Park. Over twenty years ago there were several family groups living within the park, but gradually they dwindled as one of the resident Leopards took a liking to preying upon them. At the end, there was only one large adult male left, but then that too disappeared. During the next twenty years or so, there were no Warthogs inside Sabie Park. Now this one has turned up & he is worryingly tame.
Emerald Cuckoo calling.
Delana then heard the distinctive call of an Emerald Cuckoo calling next to the house! We rushed outside & eventually saw the bird calling in in a tree next to the carport! Over the next thirty minutes we enjoyed intermittent views & i managed to get some photos, although the dull light was really bad. I believe that this is the first record for Sabie Park & one of only a handful of records for the greater Kruger area. I rushed off to get Organ & he returned with me & saw the bird. A new species for him!
In my happy place!
Then the sun came out!
Crocodile
A pretty decent sized specimen!
Waterbuck coming to drink.
We then took him back to the picnic site & spent half an hour or so birding but without much success. However the sun did come out!
On our way home we came across this Dung Beetle feast!
Thick-tailed Bushbaby is a regular nocturnal
visitor to the veranda.
On the 14th November I had a short walk around Sabie Park & found another Eastern Nicator in full song. This was in a different area from the first one. This species is a rare resident here, but very secretive & rarely recorded unless it is singing.
The wrecked kitchen!
The next day we spent in Kruger & then Summerfield Spa, where Delana had a massage. But we had a surprise waiting for us when we got home! We had locked all the doors & closed the windows. However, one window is left slightly open because the internet cable runs through it. A Baboon or Vervet Monkey had prised open the window & entered the house causing carnage in the kitchen! From now on we will have to unplug the internet cable every time we leave the house.
On 16th November I birded from the garden early. By far the best record was of a Purple-banded Sunbird singing in the riparian forest next to the river. This is a rare, but expanding species in this area. It appears to be moving along the major rivers northwards. This is a species I rarely see in this area.
The next day we were enjoying breakfast on the deck when a Broad-billed Roller flew in & perched on a dead tree! I believe this is my first record for Sabie Park. I ran to get my camera but it had flown off before I returned.
Vervet Monkey
Living here has its challenges, particularly concerning Baboons & Vervet Monkeys. Both species are an ever present nuisance. However a large troop of Vervet Monkeys have taken up residence in & around the garden. They particularly like the pool for drinking in the hot afternoons. This group has a large number of youngsters, including one tiny baby still glued to its mother's chest.
A brilliant day for a mornings walk.
On 18th November I awoke to a brilliant morning's weather: hot & sunny! I was soon out & about & completed a 5km bird walk around Sabie Park. I heard Eastern Nicator singing, but failed to obtain a sighting. I had better luck with a pair of Common Scimitarbill, who were probing & gobbling down large prey items. The weather quickly turned very hot & consequently a rapid decline in bird activity so I returned home & enjoyed a leisurely breakfast on the deck.
Giraffe
On 21st November I again went birding around the area, recording 55 species. Woodland Kingfisher was recorded for the first time this season inside Sabie Park, as was Pied Cuckoo. Temperatures rose to 36 degrees C, so it was time to head home & take it easy. Spent the rest of the day working out logistics for next years trip to Alta Floresta & the Pantanal. Delana spent the day putting up Christmas decorations! It is November! Keep Christmas in December!
The 23rd proved to be quite a morning! I took the garbage to the disposal site at the main gate & a pair of Thick-billed Cuckoos were displaying over the treetops! They were calling continuously & flying around with roller-like wing beats, followed by a shimmering flight like a parrot. It was quite a display, but they covered a huge area & didn't come close enough for photos.
View of the river from the picnic site.
We spent the next hour at the picnic site & we had the place all to ourselves! We had heard Lion calling in the night, so thought we might get lucky. However, it was not to be. We did rack up 54 species though, mainly by just sitting on a bench!
Broad-billed Roller
On returning to home we heard a Broad-billed Roller singing & saw it atop of a tree. Managed to get a photo before it flew off. Hope it stays around.
The 25th proved to be one of the hottest days yet with temperatures reaching 37 degree celsius. Did some birding early morning, without seeing much of note. However, late morning the Broad-billed Roller paid us another visit.
The pond behind the office
Blue Wildebeest
Warthog with three Piglets
On 29th I was up early & did an early morning bird walk before it got too hot. It was a glorious morning & I enjoyed the walk. Best sighting was of a male Black Cuckooshrike.
On 1st December we were up early & visited the picnic site. We recorded 47 species in the hour, most unusual being 2 Spur-winged Geese flying down the river. In the evening we heard an African Wood Owl calling close to the house.
Elephants were recorded daily at the fence.
Warthogs with five piglets at the garden pond.
We birded just around the house for the next few days. The Broad billed Roller put in a daily appearance & on one day we saw a pair of them displaying. So it looks like they will breed here. On 5th December I again saw the male Purple banded Sunbird singing in the riparian forest in front of my house. But it flew off before I could get a photograph. We also saw two immature Lesser Spotted Eagles circling high above us.
Annelle & Delana
We had guests arriving on 6th December for three nights, so not a lot of birding done. We packed up the house & left on the 9th having been at the house for just a month. It always feels a little sad when we leave & we both wished we could stay longer, but we had to get to Pearly for Christmas & the arrival of Delana's family staying for the festive period.
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