KNP: January 2015

Today, (11th January) was my first full day inside Kruger National Park. I really wanted to give the truck a run, as well as see the wildlife of course! I chose to go down the tarred road on the south side of the Sabie River to Lower Sabie Restcamp. At first the weather was dull & overcast but it quickly gave way to bright sunny conditions. In the early morning I had three different Spotted Hyaenas & a White Rhino female with a small calf, but nothing else of interest.

At Stevenson Hamilton Memorial Lookout.

The view from Stevenson Hamilton.

Mum!

I just had to get the truck in somewhere!

One of the finest views in Kruger,
 or even South Africa!

Nkumbe Lookout.

After breakfast I decided to return via the Nkumbe Lookout. It was incredibly beautiful & very green. I then made a quick stop at Orpen Dam, before returning to Skukuza via Tshokane picnic spot.

The wonderful Orpen Dam.

She was finding it a little warm!

A small part of the large herd of Cape Buffalo.

There was a Lioness panting under a bush, five White Rhino & 700+ Cape Buffalo. 

Adult Martial Eagle

Bateleur.

This bird obligingly flew off the road 
& into a nearby tree.

Male Knob-billed Duck - very impressive!


The female is a little less impressive!

Red-billed Oxpecker on a Bushbuck.

European Roller.

Woodland Kingfisher.

Red-backed Shrike.

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah.

Southern Masked Weaver.

I drove to Paul Kruger Gate & home via the Diospane Road & the S3. It was a full thirteen hours in the field but I did see some good birds, without the trip being too memorable.

23rd January & I took a drive into the park. Along the river, then cut across to the Waterhole Road & back to Skukuza. In the afternoon I drove along both sides of the Sabie River. It was a strange day, as I saw very little, hardly any wildlife & hardly any birds!

Martial Eagle.

A juvenile Martial Eagle posed nicely.

Once the big boy arrived, the two young males 
stopped messing about!

A party of Elephants were quite entertaining at the N'waswitshaka Waterhole. 

Black Stork on a small pond near the S 3.

Water Monitor basking in the late afternoon sunshine.

Three-banded Plover: Photo Essay.

Three-banded Plover is a common resident of rivers, ponds & dams throughout this part of South Africa. Today, (11th January) I came across a pair getting ready for breeding, on some dried mud on the edge of Sunset Dam, close to Lower Sabie Restcamp.

Female, enlarging the chosen spot.

Both birds were very particular about picking up
 tiny bits of debris.
 Some were removed, other bits placed carefully
 in the hollow.

Lots of calling & displaying between the pair.

The male sometimes shaded the female 
when she was occupying the hollow.

I watched the birds for quite some time. First making a nesting scrape, by using its breast to make a depression & then using its feet to kick unwanted debris out of the newly established shallow hollow. It took quite sometime to do this.

Getting ready!

Obviously a delicate moment!

The birds mated & the female then ran back to her chosen hollow.

I will try & keep an eye on this pair, to see how successful they are. They have chosen quite a public place!

Sabie Park - Summer Days!

My house in the bush.

I arrived in Sabie Park late afternoon on 7th January.  Everything in order with the house. It is quite warm around 33 degrees Celsius, but not too bad. It is really great to be back here. Met up with Rob, Cath & their son Sean. Overstayed my welcome & left at 1.30 am the next day! By this time I had been awake for quite sometime! Great to see them again though, last time was four years ago in Rio.

Cath & Rob.

The Brai-master!

My truck at home.

Elephant, crossing back into Kruger 

from Sabie Park!

I have been quite busy arranging stuff! Primarily truck registration & of course its fitting out. However, today (21st January) I decided to do some birding! The weather was at first cool, but then quickly burnt away &became very hot, in the mid range of 30 degrees Celsius.

Water Dikkop.

Fiery-necked Nightjar, on the dirt road 
close to my house.

Best birds included:

11 species of raptor including Amur falcon & Eurasian Hobby; Woodland Kingfisher; both Red-breasted & Mosque Swallows; Croaking Cisticola (first record, but just outside the Sabie Park boundary, in the grassland on Lisbon Estate) & Long-tailed Paradise Whydah.

97species for the day.

 The Franklin's.

Today, (22nd January) having a farewell braii with Rob, Cath & Sean, at the picnic spot by the river. They leave early in the morning for their long journey back to Rio de Janiero & back to their normal lives. It has been great having them around & catching up on events. Bon voyage the Franklins!