I spent a couple of hours observing how a pair of Red-billed Hornbills were kept busy feeding their three chicks in the nest cavity. It took a while for them to get used to my presence at the nest but they then busied themselves ferrying food items to their hungry brood. They ranged quite far in order to find food and were away for up top twenty minutes at a time. The nest aperture with three hungry beaks poised to accept incoming food items. Note that the bills are still orange in colour, they turn red as they get older A variety of items were sourced including caterpillars, locusts, beetles and other insects A busy parent A short clip showing both parents bringing food to the nest
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A very hungry looking Mullet about to set off on patrol early one evening The cheeky lioness catches an afternoon nap on this high river bank. A lovely shady spot with a cool breeze One of the older cubs surveys the scene from the vantage point The setting sun back lights one of the younger cubs A fine set
Recently the female Cheetah took down a male Impala for her and her two cubs to feed on. The vultures eventually started to congregate on the scene. After having her fill, she and the cubs moved off as the pressure from the descending scavengers began to mount. When the free-for-all began this alert Tawny Eagle managed to swoop down and pinch this piece and perched in a nearby tree to enjoy the meal at leisure Tawny Eagle
This very obliging Kingfisher allowed me to approach to within 15 feet, so I managed a few crisp images. It began calling so I was hoping the mate would fly in and I could capture some wing flapping and perhaps a duet on the branch. Unfortunately a rather selfish person drove between my lens and the subject and that was that. End of story. Woodland Kingfisher Checking me out Its loud trilling song is very distinctive .... kri-trrrrrrrrrr
The other day I flushed an eagle off the ground on the side of the road as I drove along. Luckily it flew off and perched on a nearby tree affording me the ability to capture some images. I went to check why it was on the ground and found that it had killed and was feeding on a small monitor. I then drove off and came back about 15 minutes later and was pleased to see that the raptor had returned and taken the remains of the kill away to finish it off in peace. When looking at the images I was struggling to nail the ID as I often do with immature/ sub-adult birds of prey in transitional plumage. Fortunately my long time birding friend Mike Pope was able to send me a copy of the relevant page from one of his Raptor field guides to settle the matter Immature Martial Eagle. Note the beginnings of a bulging crop Immature Martial Eagle The prey item, a young monitor lizard
The two female lions and their cubs had fed on this Wildebeest for a couple of days. The aerial scavengers dropped in to finish off the job Hooded, White-backed and Cape Vultures were all on the scene A tagged White-backed Vulture - Yellow Tag 398. This vulture was seen previously on a Giraffe kill on the Reserve. See an earlier post dated 4/11/2018. This bird was tagged on the 17/04/2018 on the Olifants Private Game Reserve Another tagged White-backed Vulture - Yellow Tag A 305. I am still waiting for the information on this bird One of a few Cape Vultures that were present Unusually there were also a few Marabou Storks loitering and snatching up pieces every now and then Imagine if your child looked like this!!!!!
We have had a group of 10 Wild Dogs in our Boma for the last couple of weeks. There are two adult females and eight quite well grown pups. The are being held here in preparation before being moved to a Reserve which has resident adult male dogs where they hopefully will form a male lead pack Some of the pups anticipating a feed Feeding on a Warthog carcass The collared adult female The other adult female
A perfect shallow entry Joystick up Lift-off (note the nicitating membrane in play) Woodland Kingfisher
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April 2024
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