We left Pearly Beach early on the 22nd August. We had a long drive of over 1,000 kms to reach Bloemfontein, where we stayed with Francois & Chantelle. The next day we drove to Burkea Park in Pretoria. The next couple of says were spent doing chores in & around the city. We arrived home late afternoon on 27th, just in time to have a sundowner drink on the veranda. Lion & Spotted Hyena called nearby. It was good to be home again.
I was up early on 28th August birding in & around the garden. A pair of African Firefinch seem to have taken up residence & an African Goshawk displayed overhead.
In the afternoon we drove into Hazyview to do some shopping.
The next day we drove into Kruger for the morning driving down the S114, before turning on to the S21 & back along the main road. The best sighing was a pair of Side-striped Jackal, who kept hidden in the long grass! It was a pleasant outing & nice to be back in the national park.
We spent the 30th at home, first birding around the garden & then enjoying a late breakfast at the picnic site.
The last day of the month saw us conducting a bird walk around Sabie Park. It was a beautiful winter's morning & although birds were not plentiful, we recorded a creditable 49 species in just over an hour.
The 1st September marked the official first day of spring. However, it didn't feel like spring! Very much still winter here. There was however, the first two intra-African migrants in: Wahlberg's Eagle & Yellow-billed Kite. We drove our normal half day route: S3 & S4, onto the Diospame Road, down the Waterhole Road to Transport Dam & back via Skukuza. The game viewing was decidedly ordinary with Spotted Hyena being the best sighting.
We did have a very good sighting of a pair of African Hawk Eagles on the newly constructed New Loop Road. We were back home for lunch & spent the rest of the day in the garden.
