KNP: Crocodile Bridge Area.

 We drove from Pretoria on 4th November, arriving in Sabie Park late afternoon. For the next ten days or so I wasn't feeling too good, so we didn't do anything apart from birdwatch from the veranda. I managed to do a walk around SP one day but totally exhausted myself & couldn't do anything for the rest of the day. On 6th November I went for my sixth & final chemotherapy infusion. It went well but made me ill for the next few days. It is very frustrating to be in such a great location & not being able to be active. I have been ill for the last six months due to chemo side effects & it just feels a total waste of my life! I can enjoy very little these days. 

By the 13th November we decided to get away for a few days & booked three nights in a chalet at Crocodile Bridge Camp. This was to be followed by another three nights at Serenity Lodge up in the hills behind Malelane.

Black winged Stilt

Three banded Plover

African Green Pigeon

We initially thought that this bird was caught

 in some twin in the bush. However, it was sunbathing!

Pied Cuckoo

Lesser Striped Swallow

We drove through the park stopping briefly at Sunset Dam on the way. Always a nice spot to spend some time.

 Due to a number of factors were arrive quite late at the camp on 13th. We had time for a quick walk around the camp & settling in to the chalet. We enjoyed a quiet night listening to the sounds of the nearby river. 

Black bellied Bustard

Up early on 14th November but the weather was poor: very overcast & light drizzle throughout the day. We set off north on the main tar road to Lower Sabie & then drove to the savanna like area north & east of the camp. The highlight here were multiple views of Black-bellied Bustards displaying. In total we saw five different males really well & we spent some time taking photos. 

Common Reedbuck

Impala & Red billed Oxpecker

Secretarybird

Swainson's Spurfowl

A common species in these more open areas.

Black-crowned Tchagra

Eastern Paradise Whydah

Pin tailed-Whydah

We returned to Lower Sabie Camp for lunch & then drove back along the dirt S28 road. It was a long & exhausting day for me, but we obtained some great photos of some nice species. 

Just a few seconds late on this sighting!

Open billed Stork

They seem to be a summer visitor to Kruger.

The weather on 15th November was much better & we set out to explore the Crocodile River Road & Mpondo Dam area. It was slow going both for birds & animals. We did see two shy White Rhinos, but they moved off before I could get a photograph. We did slightly better with a Leopard sighting. Despite it being quiet, we saw 81 species in the morning. We had lunch back at the chalet & 18 Red-winged Pratincoles were hawking insects over the river. 

After a lazy lunch break, we set out on our afternoon game drive at 2,45 pm. We went north & then cut across to the S28 road via Duke Waterhole. My plan on using this route was to try & see Cheetah, which is no mean feet in these areas! 

Purple Roller

Red backed Shrike

Wattled Starling

It was a slow drive with few animals but we did see an adult Red backed Shrike & a fleeting Eurasian Golden Oriole. There were also several hundred Wattled Starlings in this area.

Cheetah

Then we headed south & saw three male Cheetahs walking parallel to us in the tall grass. Eventually they climbed a termite mound to have a look around & gave us excellent views! It was a wonderful sighting which we had all to ourselves. Delana was delighted, as this is her favorite cat species. Sometimes a plan just comes together very nicely!

The rest of the evening was spent around the fire at the chalet. 

Brown Snake Eagle

Red crested Bustard

Senegal Plover

We packed early on the morning of 16th November & took a leisurely drive down the Crocodile River Road (S25). The only sighting of note were a group of five Senegal Plovers by the roadside. 

The view into Kruger from The Deck Restaurant.

We exited the park through the Malelane Gate & Delana took me to The Deck Restaurant for lunch. What a nice place it was with expansive views over the Crocodile River looking into Kruger.

Spotted backed Weaver

Southern Masked Weaver

Next to the parking area was an ornamental pond with both Spotted backed & Southern Masked Weavers breeding in good numbers. 

Grosbeak Weaver

Grosbeak Weaver nest.

Grosbeak Weavers were also breeding in the bullrushes in the pond. I also kicked out an adult male Little Bittern at the waters edge. However it was too quick for me to obtain a photo.

After a nice lunch we  drove the short distance to Serenity Mountain & Forest Lodge.

Egypt

 

In the airport lounge!

We drove to the airport on the evening of 11^th October for our flight to Cairo. We were lucky in that our bags got put through to our final destination Hurgada. Spent some time in the lounge before boarding our Egypt Air Flight. Plane was modern & spacious & the flight was uneventful arriving on time in Cairo the next morning.

We boarded our plane, but nothing happened! We were stuck on the runway for two hours with a technical malfunction. Luckily for us they kept the air conditioning going! We eventually got underway & arrived the the very modern Hurgada Airport. We found our transport & were soon on our way 327 kms south to our home for the next eight nights. The road took us along the Red Sea coast through very arid & sparsely populated areas. Managed to spot the odd Brown-necked Raven, but that was it!

Marsha Shagra

The chalets were very comfortable.

The only piece of natural vegetation!

Arriving at Marsha Shagra Village around 5pm. This is basically a famous dive resort. It is very barren & few birds to be seen.

I was up early on 13^th October & walked from our chalet to the restaurant area. First bird I saw was a migrant Common Cuckoo! A quick walk checking all available cover, revealed nothing apart from an immature male Eastern Black-eared Wheatear. Wasn’t feeling well, so retreated to the chalet for a lay down. In the afternoon did a bit of a migration watch from the chalet (not feeling up to a walk). Saw a White-eyed Gull fly by & a Steppe Eagle circling high & eventually migrating south. Small numbers of Barn Swallows also flew south during the afternoon.

Laurens & me birding from the chalet.

I still wasn’t feeling well on the 14^th October, so confined myself to watching from the chalet. Eight European Honey Buzzards passed south in a group, followed by an immature Steppe Eagle. Later a pair of Barbary Falcon flew by. Five Northern Wheatears were on the bare ground in front of our chalet.

In the Bedouin tent in the evening.

Mr & Mrs James!

The restaurant at night.

In the evening, visited the Bedouin Tent for a drink, before having a nice meal at the restaurant.

I enjoyed a good night’s rest but dawn on the 15^th saw me not very well at all. No energy & diahorhia has returned! Did a short watch from the chalet which produced 5 Grey & a Purple Heron flying south with 3 White Wagtails. Later in the morning two immature Lesser Spotted Eagles & a Common House Martin flew south. A Northern Wheatear was just in front of the chalet.

Western Reef Heron

Osprey

Common Ringed Plover

Greater Sand Plover

In the afternoon took a walk down the beach photographing Western Reef Heron; Osprey; Common Ringed Plover & both Greater & Lesser Sand Plover. We then went for a beer in the Bedouin tent on the beach before going to the restaurant.

Up early on the 16^th October but not many birds around. The only species of note was a lone Northern Wheatear. Shortly after I spotted another wheatear, which turned out to be an Isabelline (uncommon here apparently).

After breakfast did a short migration watch from the chalet & saw a fine adult male Western Red-footed Falcon circling & going slowly south. A few minutes later an immature Lesser Spotted Eagle went south. Just as I was packing up a Whinchat flew in close to the chalet, but it was soon on its way.

Anelle & Delana, just after they had been snorkeling.

Didn’t do much in the afternoon as not feeling great, but did spot a Cattle Egret along the coast.

On 17^th October found a migrant Common Redstart around our chalet. An early morning migration watch revealed three immature Lesser Spotted Eagles drifting south; a Black Kite & an adult Black-crowned Night Heron resting in a palm tree. Single Western Yellow & White Wagtails flew south.

Little Stint

Sooty Gull

Great crested Tern

Along the coast were 3 Common Ringed Plovers; a Greater Sand Plover; a Kentish Plover & a Little Stint. Single Sooty Gull & a Great crested Tern rested on the rocks.

In the afternoon an immature Golden Eagle drifted slowly south. A bit too far for distant photos but good views through the scope.

An early morning walk to the restaurant on 18^th October produced three Sooty Gulls flying by, but little else of note. However, on the way back to the chalet a couple of hours later 11 Northern & an Eastern Black-eared Wheatear were on the gravel plain in front of our chalet. The Common Redstart was still present around the chalet. Later in the morning a pair of Bonelli’s Eagles flew by. Resident here, or migrants?

Lesser Crested Tern

Greater Sand Plover

A walk down the shore produced singles of both Lesser & Greater crested Terns; a Greater Sand Plover still present on the rocks, together with a lone Common Ringed Plover. But little else.

The wind was still a strong north-west direction on the morning of 19^th October. Two Desert & a Northern Wheatear were on the gravel plain. Two White Wagtails & a Red-throated Pipit flew south. A Black Kite was noted, as was an immature Caspian & an adult Sooty Gull.

A walk across the gravel plain early on 20^th October produced 5 Northern & a Desert Wheatear. It was then time to pack & travel the 300+ kilometers to Fort Arabesque just south of Hurgada. We arrived there mid-afternoon & settled into our room.

The resort.

This is a huge resort, very modern & with lots of facilities. It is very busy & very different from our time at Marsha Shagra Village. Hooded Crows proved to be common in the resort. We enjoyed a pleasant evening with great night-time views. 

I took it very easy on the morning of 21^st October as I hadn’t been well the previous day. Spent my time working on my blog & sorting photographs. Feeling better now. The only bird of note was a White Stork which flew over the resort.

Conducted a short early morning birding walk around the resort on 22nd October. In this sterile habitat only seven species recorded! Best were a European Sparrowhawk flying south & a Lesser Whitethroat.

The wetland area.

Andrew birding.

Feeling a little better on the morning of 23rd October (but still suffering from chronic fatigue). Went for a walk with Andrew to a wetland area close to the hotel. It was a little disappointing, as highly disturbed & very barren. We did manage to see a few birds though: 2 Caspian & a Great Crested Tern, Grey Heron & 2 Greater Sand Plovers. On the nearby desert were 7 Northern & a Desert Wheatear.

I walked three kilometers, which is the furthest I have achieved since starting chemotherapy. Felt very pleased with myself & it was nice to have Andrew with me for support.

Had a bad night & little energy on the morning of 24th October. Did a short bird walk around the grounds seeing very little. I spent most of the day in our room relaxing. 

Not feeling great today (25th October) so spent most of the day in our room sleeping. The only birds of note were a flock of 11 Black-crowned Night-Herons flying over the resort.

On the 26th did a bird walk to the nearby wetland. It was a tough walk for me, as it was very hot & no shade. On arrival spotted an Osprey nest building & a European Marsh Harrier flew over the area. Apparently an uncommon bird here. There were no birds on the wetland itself apart from four Grey Heron. In the small marsh heard a tacking sound & soon had glimpses of a Garden Warbler. Upon playing the tape another bird flew in & both gave decent views but I was unable to get a photo as they kept to the depths of the bushes. On the way back to the hotel I found a Willow Warbler in a palm tree. Spent the rest of the day relaxing as I was very tired. 

27th October was our day for packing & leaving the hotel to travel to Luxor. It has been a nice stay here, but I have not been that well, so couldn't swim in the sea etc. The guys & girls had a wonderful time snorkeling on the house reef, saying it was some of the best snorkeling ever!