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Just getting back to your story, Mel

Great Martial Eagle photos - and the horns on that buff are amazing. Glad you had a big 5 day

Still more to come, I hope!

Hailey

Big 5 Day!!

Great sightings again Mel, and the photos of the Martial Eagle & Drongo are fantastic... the eagle looked strangely used to that kind of treatment

What a better way to spend a rainy day than playing catch up on your TR Mel have really loved it, sigh to be in KNP now this long weekend......Awesome to have finally got your Big 5 in one day.

Hi Mel,
Congratulations on your Big 5 day and the BEAUTIFUL Martial!!!!

the story about the Rhino Middens also goes like this - a Rhino lent a "pen" from a porcupine that was taken back by the porcupine when the Rhino slept. He told the Rhino that he swallowed it and since then the poor rhino tried to find it in his "droppings".

Love
Rina

Glad you are a bit busy at the moment as well and I have tons of time
to catch up.

Love the Martial / Drongo episode! Those little blightes can be a real
pain in the backside for some.

Your storytelling is still quality! So enjoying it.

Hello again everyone

Apologies for the delay. I went away for a week with my boss up to his remote field station near Darwin.
I had such a great time, but boy did I have a lot to catch up on when I got back!

Meandering Mouse, Melrockson, lion queen, Pumbaa, chirinda, Heksie, vinkie, hilda, haileyidaho, PJL, Mellory, Vlakvarkvrou and Lionspoon - I thank you all for your lovely comments and for sitting so patiently in the backseat waiting for the next episode

Finally, I can share the rest of our day with you

Afternoon drive to Orpen

I’m glad Dad was driving because I was in a bit of a Big 5 daze
However it was my job to read the map
Rather than take the tar road I thought the S36 seemed a better route to Orpen.

After all the excitement earlier in the day, the final stretch was relatively quiet.
It was very hot and the grass was very long.


All we saw on the S36 were these baboons, who gave us their best synchronised bum shots


Finally we reached the H7 and decided to take our time on the last stretch to Orpen.
Then we took the S106 in the hope of seeing some more lions before camp

In the distance we could see 2 blobs in the middle of the road. What on earth could they be?
As we got closer we discovered it was 2 raptors lying on the road having a dust bath!
One flew away as we approached, but the other stayed put for a photo
I think it is a tawny eagle?


This sighting made me wonder if that is where the word “spread-eagled” came from??

A bit further on we came across a lovely African scene


The giraffe were heading to the water tank for a drink


We passed a little herd of impala all resting in the shade


Except for this inquisitive individual who provided our Impala Pic of the Day!!


Next up we saw a little group of what I believe to be Swainson’s francolin?



And then a lone ellie munching on some of the lovely green grass


Just before camp we had a close encounter with some wildebeest grazing next to the road

Mel, just love your unusual Eagle shot. and your typical African scene is leaving me very homesick for Kruger.

Lovely to see you back again.

Quite a lovely afternoon drive Melph68! Love your dust-bathing raptor too!

Awesome "African scene" picture!

Love all your pictures!

Great Tawny sighting, never saw that before
I'm very curious to hear what Orpen had in store for you as it's a great area for both mammal and bird sightings

Thanks Mel,

really love your dust bathing tawny although I saw already a lot of dust bathing birdies never saw a raptor doing this

As MM said the African scene is simply making me homesick

Hi Mel!

Glad you're back!

I agree with the comments above - just love the dust-bathing raptor (quite an incredible photo! ), and that "Africa Scene" made me feel a little hole in my stomach - such a lovely photo, I really miss Africa...

Also - I think your Impie pic of the day is one of the nicest ones so far.

Lovely to catch up on your travels again!

Being Big 5 dazed is a real problem in the Kruger, you loose sight of everything else But at least you had dad to take over the driving
Love the one kiekie with the zebbies and giraffes I love seeing a group of mixed animals just make me long for the Kruger even more
Great episode and I can't wait to see what Orpen showed you guys

Geez, Mel, that first shot and your African scene really make me bushsick!
I just love those shots!

Very interesting capture of the tawny. Saw something similar with an ordinary
blackbird here and was told the following:

Nice to have a little more 'trip' from you, Mel. Love the 'spread-eagle' pic and the giraffe at the water tank. Someone else also posted a pic of giraffe drinking at one, and it is now on my wish list too.

You really did see some interesting and unusual behaviours.