SANParks.org Forums

Kaapsedraai,

This episode is filled with wonderful pics of our feathered friends all are absolutely stunning.

Gorgeous pic of White-crested helmet-shrike. posing ever so nicely.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you Bushbuddies, hilda and Trrp-trrrrrrrr. We were fortunate to have had all these wonderful bird sightings. There are more coming up, try to post different ones.



Hi anne catherine, yes the car matter was a bit dissappointing, but what can you do. Regarding a bird focus trip in the north - you will be visiting the right place and right time of the year with the migration also have taken place. The next few days I will be focussed at the north i.e. Punda Maria, Pafuri and Shingwedzi - hopefully will give you some idea what to expect or look out for.

Following our visits to Pionier dam, we also did a few others to Shipandani hide and causeway, but without any sightings of the leopard and cub . The birdies made up for it and dominated the scene again, but were also greeted by some interesting characters showing off their teeth.

But, let us have hide-view look at the river in the direction of the causeway.


As we approached the causeway from the hide, we noticed some Waterbuck coming down to drink in their usual cautious manner.


On the causeway, this Black Crake family was busy looking for food. The one chick was very obedient and stayed close to the mother, but the other one was more adventurous and did his own thing.





On another occassion, we were greeted by some interesting and scary looking sightings. Firstly, in a distance these hippos were letting us know that they are all awake and watching us


Then this crocodile was getting very close to the side...


...and the reason, some fierce looking fish with pyrana-like teeth swimming next to the causeway. We have also noticed one or two upside down and came to the conclusion that they might be in trouble and gasping for air and something wrong with water contents.


On this note we have said farewell to Pionier dam and Shipandani hide and causeway, but also thinking about the time of the ranger, Bruce Bryden (suggest reading the book ' A game ranger remembers'), and the time he had to spent here awaiting the building of his house and everything be swept away during the big flood at the time.

Now, coming up next we heading back to Mooiplaas, before exploring the interesting S143 or Tropic of Capricorn loop...to be continued

Beautiful pictures of the Black Crake family Kaapsedraai! I have never seen such small Black Crake chicks before! Awesome!

The hide-view of the river is so calming!

What a huge Croc! And the Fish really has scary teeth! It seems like it was gasping for air, if you look at the bubbles above his eye!

Just catching up Kaapsedraai,

as ever, awesome I just love your Crake family though. It has left a big smile on my face after having to return from KTP.

More great photos

Awesome bird pictures, Kaapsedraai

Love also your "piranhas", the black crake chicks and the huge crocodiles When we were there they were nearly lying on the causeway waiting for some fish to swim right in their jaw - Scary

Looking forward already what your saw at the Tropic of Capricorn loop

Hi Kaapsedraai

Great episodes again

Congrats on your first AWC sighting, amazing

Love your secretary bird

hilda, those chics were really cute and the 2 were so different in their behaviour. There was a water monitor also in the area and we got worried as we did not know what to expect. Thank you for comments.

Meandering Mouse, thank you welcome back from your trip to KTP. Trust you had a good trip to KTP.

yoda - thank you for kind comment.

Pumbaa, your comments are appreciated. I would have love to see the crocs lying on the causway waiting for fish . The Tropic if Capricorn loop was quite something and will share sightings tomorrow.

t-bal, thank you. Yes, we were delighted on the AWC sighting, but the best was on our last night in Kruger when staying over at Satara that we got a brilliant genet sighting, which I will share in days to come.

Back on track STUNNING (Chicks and all )

Kaapsedraai,

Stunning pics of the Black Crake family ...lovely to see the chicks.

Gorgeous Waterbuck ...love the reflection on the water.

That fish has really got mean looking teeth..

Philip1, Thank you for compliments.

Trrp-trrrrrrrr, I appreciate the comments. Yes, we very fortunate to have had these special moments.

Those are the cutest little balls of black fur I've ever seen walking on such long toes...

But then the cuteness gets followed by scary teeth, scarier teeth, and scariest teeth...

Luckily the two were not in the same frames!

Kaapsedraai, I am so of that snake, in the camp nogal. Stunning. I love seeing snakes in the Park. A treat that. And the trees, just wonderful, all of them. The contrast between the small croc and the big one African Wild Cat have ever only seen it on a night drive. And that Tiger fish-what a special sighting. Just the right time and right place. The sunset, as Hilda rightly said, breathtaking. WOW its just awesome
Bet you got a bit anxious about those two Black Crake chicks-they spell one word-Vulnerable. Especially if, liek the one, they go and do their own thing and not stay close to mom. Can be quite nerve wrecking.
Thoroughly enjoying this TR.

Simply stunning kaap what a pity you never got to see the leopard and cub