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I agree.
If you want to build a hide it needs to be at or near a section of water that will have mudflats for waders and other birds. Kanniedood is built on a rather deep and permanent pool of the Shingwedzi river. I have never seen exposed mudflats from the hide.

Crimson-breasted Shrike in Pafuri.
flock of lesser flamingos on the Limpopo sandbanks.

You forgot to mention the Racket-tailed Roller nest in the same area

Maybe he just choose to ignore that bird as he does Crested Guineafowl and Narina Trogon

Ja, must be

I saw three different leopards within 2hours on the 10th november. The first one was lying across the Biyamiti river just outside the bush camp, the next on the crocodile river road lying in a tree approx 6km away, and the last a big male crossing the same road about 5km away.

The Racket Tailed Rollers had returned to the Pafuri area after being absent for awhile apparently (I have only seen them 20 years ago 3 years running on the road from Punda to Klopperfontein Dam in the Mopani Forest where the Arnot's chats live). They have been hanging around in the Mopani trees at the Pafuri Border Post for awhile. We drove there in Sept this year but the block had just been burnt and they were gone and later having breakfast at the picnic spot I talked to Frank and he reckons they had moved just inside Moz down the Limpopo River. Apparently a group of overlanders had seen them leave the park as the block was being burnt. Well have another look for them n 18 days time when we are at Punda Maria

The RTR's nest mentioned has been found by the guides from the Pafuri Camp in the Makuleke concession. (if I'm interpreting the news correctly)

Saw my one and only RTR on the H1-8 near Baobab Hill 6 yrs ago.

According to the Bird Books all the Cuckoos are summer migrants to Kruger and Southern Africa. I have seen Thick Billed Cuckoo in Kruger 4 times and these are the "summer dates" I saw them:

- 31/07/1989 Pafuri Fever Tree Forest calling loadly with the host a flock of Retz's Helmet Shrikes nearby in the same forest.
- 14/06/1995 Nottens Camp Sabi Sands (Part of the greater Kruger Park)
- 16/07/1995 Pafuri Nyala Drive
- 17/07/1990 Shangoni section near the Shingwedzi River 2 kms from Western Boundary Fence.

I have never seen a Thick Billed Cuckoo in the lowveld in Summer....now who is going to change the bird books????

We have recently heard European Cuckoos calling in northern KZN and they are supposed to be "silent in Africa" (seeSA Birding Hotspots).

j-ms that is truly amazing... have heard the African Cuckoo for sure but only seen a couple of Europeans in my life let alone heard them. I've come to the conclusion we still have a lot to learn about the Cuckoo family. Of course quite a few Klaas's overwinter here in PE especially...have you heard them in your neck of the woods around the corner???

We have lots of Dedirik's and Klaas's calling in summer but that doesn't mean that they are totally absent in winter - they may simply be silent. Also, the same one you hear calling in spring may not be the same ones you hear in late summer.

Had a Klaas's overwinter in 2004 in the pine tree outside my house.
At first I did not know what was making the sound and could not see the blighter.
Listened to all 945 dickies on the Roberts cd and it was a unique call.
Now I knew what I was looking for and eventually it showed itself, just before the van with the nice men in white coats came for me as I would rush outside regularly with my binoculars and gaze into the tree and my neighbours thought I was cuckoo!

So, after 5 years visting kruger regulary I saw my first leopard sighting, that too a mother and cub! didnt get enough time to get a decent shot though. but I am still very happy.

first time sighting in birds included striped cuckoo ,jacobin cuckoo and brown headed parrot.

other sightings included lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalos, waterbuck, impis, kudus etc

birds included brown snake eagles, red bishop, bee-eaters, larks, blue waxbill, giant king fisher, pied king fisher, woodland kingfisher, hippos etc.


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