See post dated 28/06/2018
Only my second record of this species here. This male had come once again to feed on the figs that had dropped onto the ground as a result of the baboons and monkeys feeding in the tree canopy above.
See post dated 28/06/2018
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An early season juvenile Pied Wagtail at one of the pans. Only my second record of this species here A pair of Water Thick-knees have a nest at one of our dams. Here one of the parents keeps an eye on me An obliging Little Bee-eater. The first European Bee-eaters have arrived back, their calling reminding me of our time in the Middle East where I used to hear their calls as they flew overhead twice a year on their migration The chick from the Verreaux's Eagle Owl nest site has flown the coop. See post dated 06/09/2020
I followed up from where I had last left the lions and found them again. This evening they were in a cooperative mood and posed well for me Resting up together on a mound in the late afternoon Mullet left, whose mane is something to behold, and Collar right A overhead vulture has caught the attention of Notch, who watches it with interest Mullet was being more co-operative than the other evening and allowed me to get a better image today Later on I also connected with the male Cheetah, seen here surveying the surroundings on the lookout for something to hunt By way of background information the collar is no longer transmitting so the Cheetah will soon be darted to allow for it to be taken off. I look forward to be able to capture images of it in its natural state soon
It has been a while since I last caught up our male lions. The last encounter was on the 28th September when they were on the way back to a kill they were feeding on after having had a drink at a nearby dam. The kill was in thick bush so we were unable to approach and observe the action. Since then I have been scouting for their tracks but I been playing been catch up. Finally yesterday I came across fresh paw marks in the damp sand and was able follow up and connect with them. Lying up in the shade Collar Notch Mullet who was being camera shy About to set off in the evening Collar Notch Mullet
White-backed Vulture gliding in a thermal Hooded Vulture Brown-hooded Kingfisher An obliging female Red-crested Korhaan The male Cheetah out on patrol early one evening Lioness relaxing early one evening Portrait of the Lioness (Mum) One of the young cubs looks towards her mother Sunset over our mountain. Image captured by my nephew Matt
With the very good early season rains we have had over the last few days our dams on the Reserve have had a welcome boost to their water levels Hippo Dam, the largest on the Reserve is now an impressive body of water again Leadwood Dam, which earlier in the year had the wall raised, has come up a few feet. Hopefully it will fill to the new capacity this summer The small Coffer Dam put in as a temporary measure whilst Leadwood Dam wall was being raised is full Secret Dam, which was also enlarged, unfortunately has a leak that needs to be plugged. It has received some recent runoff water which hopefully will hold for a few weeks Lodge Pan. Note the inflow wash in the foreground and the green algae bloom already present on the water Luiperd Dam is about three quarters fill already and looking good Mamba Dam which was still about half full at the end of the dry season has already overflowing again with the early rain we have received. The spillway is top left in the image Blou Wildebees Dam which had the spillway raised over Winter is already at the old full level. It will be impressive when it fills to its new level, hopefully soon Pofaddr Dam which has also had its spillway raised is also filling well. Not quite at its old full level yet but well up on a few weeks earlier
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