30 August 2022 - Ngwenya toward Skukuza; Day 5
A cold front blew in during the night and it was a lot colder this morning so we opted for a later entry to the Park. After an early breakfast I had a short walk in the Lodge grounds slowly getting closer to 100 species. A White-throated Robin-Chat was in full song at the top of a tree..
White-throated Robin-Chat (Cossypha humeralis) |
I watched an interesting interaction with two Grey-headed Bushshrike's that were carefully, but very quickly foraging on what looked like a Paper Wasp nest. I can only assume they were pulling out the larvae whilst trying to avoid being stung by the adults. Their communication was not like anything I have heard before, bill clicking rather than calling - very interesting interaction
Grey-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti) |
I walked down to a quieter section of the river and had a number of Kurrichane Thrush
Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus) |
But then watched a graceful Saddle-billed Stork come in to land on the river bank
Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) |
Close to where this massive male Waterbuck (I think this guy has been around and has been here a long time) was resting on the sand
Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) |
In the gardens around the chalet, I had Mourning Dove, another species that has slowly moved south
African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens) |
And a diminutive Malachite Kingfisher that was hunting from the reeds in a small dam
Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristata) |
Near the restaurant, I was able to capture a Puffback displaying and showing why it is named Puffback. In Afrikaans it is called a 'Sneeubal (Snowball)' which is much more descriptive. Really pleased with the series
Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla) |
I also found this Squinting Bush Brown in the shady parts of the garden
Squinting Bush Brown (Bicyclus p. perspicua) |
In the mid-morning we headed to Croc Bridge, it had warmed up a little, but was still 12 degrees colder than yesterday. Just after entering the park, we stopped to enjoy the distant interaction between a mother Cheetah and her quite large and playful cub
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) |
An African Scene - Cheetah and flowering Knobthorn |
This time we took the H5 to eventually come out between Skukuza and Lower Sabi. It was a really long road and with little to no game sightings - we did stop for a Striped Kingfisher that was really close to the side of the road
Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti) |
Once back on the tar road, we stopped at Sunset Dam where the Wood Sandpiper was still present under overcast skies.
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) |
We made a stop at Lower Sabi and continued back to Croc Bridge on the tar road. A small family of Ele's feeding on a tree they had pushed over on the side of the road was enjoyable to stop and watch. They were completely disinterested in us
African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) |
We had a couple of Buffalo and a single female Lion sleeping on the road that caused quite a traffic jam on the last stretch back to the gate. I guess not every day can be action packed, so you have to also accept quiet days like today.
No comments:
Post a Comment