West to Malelane

29 August 2022 - Ngwenya to Malelane; Day 4

Again we were in the queue at Croc Bridge well before 6am on a cloudless morning. We had decided to drive west along the Crocodile River and exit at Malelane Gate. 

Game viewing was surprisingly quiet on this normally productive road, we stopped for Burchell's Coucal

Burchell's Coucal (Centropus burchelli)

and later a juv Bateleur

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)

It warmed up pretty quickly, but a Weeping Boer Bean in full flower had lots of birds feeding on the flowers/fruit - but I only managed an image of the Brown-headed Parrot

Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus)

A little further on, I had a pair of African Hawk-Eagle and a first for the trip

African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster)

At a point where the road was close to the river, a Hamerkop passed by overhead

Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)

We decided to head to Afsal for a late breakfast and this was a good decision as we found our first Rhino of the trip - always awesome to see these magnificent, but threatened beasts

White Rhinocerus (Chiromantis xerampelina)

Lead the way

We enjoyed the breakfast at the Afsal picnic spot, where you can get out and sit under some thatch shade to enjoy your breakfast

On the way to Malelane we had a few more Rhino and this Tawny Eagle soaring overhead

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

The Knobthorn's were in full bloom and were quite spectacular with their white flowers in the dry landscape

Knobthorn (Senegalia nigrescens)

I checked for the African Skimmers below the bridge after exiting Malelane, but no luck whatsoever - they were of course seen the next day.

It was an easy drive on the main road in the heat of the day back to Ngwenya where we chilled for the afternoon. We had a walk in the afternoon and I found this Black-collared Barbet with what looks like a Carpenter Bee

Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus)

I love this image of the Tawny-flanked Prinia

Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)

Again, we found the female Cardinal Woodpecker

Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)

Along with the Green Pigeons that came in to roost

African Green Pigeon (Treron calvus)

I managed to get an image of this Telchinia as it paused briefly on a plant

Dusky-veined Telchinia (Telchinia igola)

Then it was back to the deck to get the fire going and of course pour a few obligatory sundowners and relax

G+T