Afternoon Drive from Ngwenya to Lower Sabie

28 August 2024 - Ngwenya and Kruger National Park; Day 4

We had decided to go into the Park in the afternoon, so while the family slept in I had another walk around the Lodge in cooler weather. There were Ele's on the river past the restaurant, so I made my way to the hide.

On route, I was interrupted by a few Brown-headed Parrot's feeding on the flowers of a Flame Tree (I think) - it was quite entertaining, as they picked off the individual buds to eat something out of the base, before dropping the bud and plucking out another

Brown-headed Parrot (Poicephalus cryptoxanthus)

At the restaurant lookout, Egyptian Geese were flying up and down the river, but below me and it made for an interesting image with the rippled water pattern background

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

A Giant Kingfisher was also hunting above the river and I saw it make a successful dive and catch

Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)

Onward to the hide, where the Ele's were still further away than I thought

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

A Common (African) Reed Warbler made a brief appearance in a bush in front of the hide. Thanks to my friend Peter Kennerley to give me some input on this adult bird which has a pale iris and is freshly moulted which is shown by the whitish tips of the primaries and tail feathers lacking any abrasion

Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus)

Whilst a male White-bellied Sunbird put on a full display on an adjacent bush

White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

I then continued around the Lodge grounds, past the Lesser Masked Weaver colony

Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius)

I found a male Spectacled Weaver on his finely woven and distinctive nest

Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis)

Near Reception, a Pied Crow was pretty vocal from the top of one of the trees on the entrance road

Pied Crown (Corvus albus)

It was then down toward the river, finding Speckled Mousebird

Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus)

A diminutive Chinspot Batis, I love the dappled background in this image

Chinspot Batis (Batis molitor_

and a White-throated Robin-Chat in dense undergrowth

White-throated Robin-Chat (Cossypha humeralis)

At the river, a flock of Common Waxbill were feeding on some seeding bush

Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild)

Whilst a few Water Thick-knees had a fly by up the river then landed on a sand bank and started displaying

Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus)

Whilst Wire-tailed Swallow's were busy nest building in the water treatment plant structure

Wire-tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii)

A White-browed Robin-Chat was also seen in the undergrowth

White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini)

On the way back to the chalet, I had a busy pair of Yellow-breasted Apalis

Yellow-breasted Apalis (Apalis flavida)

During breakfast on the balcony, a number of Trumpeter Hornbill flew by on the far side of the river

Trumpeter Hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator)

While a couple of Hippo's had a tussle below

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious)

The Egyptian Geese were making a raucous and on closer inspection it was over an African Hawk-Eagle that had landed on the sand bank for a drink. Eventually their antics chased it off - but the Eagle did stand it's ground for some time

African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster)

We had a late afternoon drive up the S28 to Lower Sabie - not much seen on the up drive. We always seem to have at least one stop for Lilac-breasted Roller

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus)

We checked out Sunset Dam, less Storks than yesterday - so had a stop at Lower Sabie. This time the Skimmer's were closer and more easily visible. We drove back to Croc Bridge via the H4-2. A big herd of Ele's stopped us for awhile, but they were pretty chilled

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Whilst on the drive, I received a message from the local birder/guide who I was going to meet tomorrow afternoon at the private farm, for a fee. It was a shocking and baseless accusation falsely accusing me of trespassing (without any proof (as there wasnt any) or the date this was supposed to have happened) on the said farmer's farm and one I immediately and unequivocally denied. I have been around a long time using local guides locally and internationally and have also provided guiding services whilst in Kuwait and have never experienced an accusation of this nature nor this level of unprofessionalism and immaturity in my life, more so that he also cut-off all communication straight after my denial message - pretty sad and certainly someone I would now never ever recommend!

It left a sour taste in my mouth, but seeing a queue of cars a little further down the road lifted the spirits in the last rays of sunlight, especially when we discovered it was a brute of a male Leopard resting behind a dead tree. We stayed some time, as it seemed he had a kill and would get up and move every now and then - we never did see what it was