ORPEN Webcam - Summary – March 2010CIVET AT Orpen – voted the Favourite Sighting for February.
As February was a short month the vote only took place on the 2nd March and was not included in the February Summary.
Monday - 1 March First sighting at Orpen for the month was of a Hyaena
Then shortly afterwards a Honey Badger. Guinea Fowl visited the waterhole in the morning and then a Giraffe (amazing, as we saw not a single Giraffe last month).
As Giraffes go, this one seemed much taller than any other we have seen. Perhaps an older male? Wildebeest and Impala also visited the water during the morning.
The picture below is just quintessentially Kruger – Zebra and Wildebeest drinking together, with an Impala ram in foreground.
An hour or so after the previous Giraffe left, another Giraffe appeared
Again we watched how gracefully it stooped to drink.
Then again we were treated to a Giraffe sighting, this time, a mother and baby, the baby mimicking its Mother to the letter.
The next view we had, was baby drinking on its own with mom in background concentrating on feeding. How fast the baby has learned to manage on its own – just 30 seconds!
In the evening Danie decided to treat us - by focusing the cam on a beautiful sunset, then zooming in on an Egret preening itself.
Last sighting of the day saw a Buffalo coming to drink close to mid-night.
Tuesday - 2 March This morning we were awoken to this exquisite dawn
Then as the day lightened we saw both an Impala and a Wildebeest herd sharing the water, Zebra then joined them.
Later Warthog came to drink as well, followed closely by more Zebra and a family of Baboons spread around the pond, each making sure its “personal space” was not invaded.
A not often seen during the day sight of a Buffalo coming to drink and again a Giraffe came to the water – This one was even taller then yesterday’s Giraffe?
How lucky could we get, two days in a row seeing Giraffe?
As the sun began to set, a flock of Guinea Fowl gathered around the water, and an Impala herd also circled the water, heeding the final “last call” of the day.
During the night we saw this cute Hare hopping in for a drink!
Wednesday - 3 March Middle of the night Buffalo were seen again. We awoke to an overcast day and saw a very large Baboon and a Terrapin visiting the waterhole just as it started to rain.
The rain must have affected the cam and only saw a sighting again in the late afternoon. The sky was still very overcast.
In the evening we saw a very cloudy and rainy picture with an Elephant approaching the water.
That was our first Elephant of the month, a month that turned out to be an incredible “Month of Elephant" sightings.
And the Buffalo during the night ending the day’s sightings.
Thursday - 4 March It was still overcast this morning and a Heron took full advantage of being the only creature on cam.
Wildebeest and Zebra also visited the waterhole.
As the skies cleared, we saw this pretty picture.
Nothing else seen for the rest of the day.
Friday - 5 March Our first picture today was this mid-night Ellie.
We also saw a Jackal having a drink and a Mongoose/Honey Badger near the water.
The dawn was spectacular with all shades of blue imaginable! A few minutes later either a Mongoose or Honey Badger came for a drink – making “Hailey” a very happy lady!
A lone Buffalo once again visited the waterhole, followed by three beautiful Kudu cows.
Not long afterwards we saw the waterhole being shared by Zebra, Wildebeest and Impala, with one Wildebeest not content with sitting on the sidelines.
Mid morning our signature animal of the month visited the waterhole.
Then a herd of Wildebeest had the water to themselves, some kneeling, others just bending their heads to drink.
Late afternoon another Elephant was spotted, and a Kudu shared the water with two Marabou Storks.
Not long after that two Elephants showed off their drinking talents.
Danie again kindly zoomed up close to a departing Elephant.
Then we had a view of the sunset over the roof of the camp, and also a close up of tourists watching the waterhole action while having a hairdressing session
During the night an Elephant came to visit. .
. . . a bit later these Hyaena came for a bath.
Saturday - 6 March First view of the day/night was of a Honey badger. We also saw a beautiful picture of the coming dawn.
Heron and Marabou shared the tranquil morning waterhole. Later some Impala and Zebra joined the Birds at the water. Warthog were also seen.
This beauty came for a drink and we watched in awe!
Sunday - 7 March Today was another overcast day, and the cam only came on close to 6pm. We saw Warthog during the night. The Owl was spotted as well as a Buffalo.
Monday - 8 March The Owl and Buffalo again visited just after mid-night. Then a quick sighting of an Impala in the early morning and nothing else until midday, when we saw a troop of Baboons feeding.
The afternoon continued with Marabou Storks, but a different position to the usual poolside spot…
.. a little while later another sighting of the two regular Elephants! One of them could clearly not hold his drink.
As the sun’s last light was disappearing from the scene, a lone Buffalo came to drink.
We saw an Owl do a fly past as our last view.
Tuesday - 9 March A Hyaena at the water, was our first view, then at sunrise and just before the spotlight was switched off we witnessed this gorgeous picture of pinks and blues.
Again a herd of Guinea Fowl (well that is what they look like, can only call them a flock when in flight
) and some Warthog arrived for a drink.
Only Impala were seen until mid morning, first one, then three, then four, then half a herd, then a full herd, which got bigger and bigger with each change of the cam
Wildebeest decided to join them and push in for their spot at the water.
The Impala left them to their own devices and they; the Wildebeest were frightened by something, and started running away from the water!!
At lunch time these Five Little Piggies took a stroll near the water, and this Little Piggy even walked in the water
In the early evening, before the sun had fully set a little Jackal came for a drink – Very pretty picture of you, I must add!
Danie then gave us a view of the lights being turned on in camp and a close up of something in the bush – but we could not make out what is was?
Ah ha! Danie was checking what the picture looks like with a different setting on the cam.
Some of us thought it might be a bit over-exposed? We could now see far to the back of the waterhole, but the near viewing has lost some definition.
Wednesday - 10 March An Owl and a Pussycat - no, no, rather - An Owl and a Hyaena were seen during the early hours of the morning.
The Hyaena clearly thinking a little snack was to be had, but the Owl had other plans and survived the ordeal, ending our sighting of it, taking a bath!
Early morning brought these Wildebeest right into the centre of the water?
Thursday - 11 March Impala and Wildebeest also made a return visit to the waterhole.
This Kudu bull and cow were a welcome sighting!
When the male Kudu exited the picture, he left a very skittish and alert female behind, her ears pricked up listening to every little noise, our voices dropped to a whisper, so as not to disturb her further! Wait a minute – she cannot hear us, what are we thinking!
Just after lunch the three Kudu were back – unfortunately all but one kept their distance from the cam. A female moved a little closer and we viewed her beauty.
Then an hour or so later, the whole Kudu family were back, still keeping to the far side of the water.
As evening approached a few different animals came to the water, giving us beautiful shots in the fading light.
The Owl came back tonight, and so did the Jackal.
Friday - 12 March Very early morning cammers “Mel” and “Lionspoon” clicked away at the Owl as it moved from one side of the water to the other.
In the first light we saw the waterhole being shared by the Guinea Fowl and an Impala.
A bit later in the morning four Elephants came to have a splash and drink, as the sun is getting up a bit later now, the rays are catching the cam at a bad angle and highlighting the scratches, disrupting our viewing.
A herd of Impala took over the waterhole, and when they left a solitary Elephant made a visit, then he called in his three friends and they all cavorted in the water – these two going for the “Full Monty”. We were surprised to see that they left some water for the other animals when they had finished?
The Wildebeest and Impala that followed having to take a few extra steps to get to the water with the level visibly lower!
One Elephant returned for a final shower!
In the afternoon, four beautiful Kudu came to drink
, what gorgeous looking antelope they are!
Elephant, yes more Elephant came for a thoroughly good drench at the waterhole. There were so many poses of them posted that it was difficult to decide which one to include.
In the late afternoon a Buffalo came and rolled around on the ground close to the cam, and Danie panned the cam to the right hand side to give us a better view
He then gave us an EXTREMELY Close up view of the Buffalo!!!
The Oxpecker in his ear, making up for the missing horn.
Our first view of the night was of an Owl
The cam stayed focused on the right hand side of the water hole and was left in that position until the next morning.
Saturday -13 March This was the incredible view that greeted us this morning!
Oh to be there - what a pleasure!!
As the light strengthened we saw a Jackal “leopard crawling” to the water and we could be forgiven for the mis-identification.
Next up, very shortly afterwards, was an Elephant. Usual suspects took their turn at the water. A large Warthog plopped himself down at the waters edge and had a nap!
Again Wildebeest and Impala shared their morning drink, but this time we had a slightly different view of them.
A lone Elephant visited at around noon and twisted his trunk every which way!
Three beautiful Kudu came by in the afternoon. Mid afternoon we saw one sighting of an Elephant.
Then a Heron couple were dancing a
"Love Story" for us. They left us with the last sighting of the evening walking off into the sunset hand-in-hand (actually neck-in-neck).
The cam was down for maintenance until Monday the 15th at 3pm.
Monday - 15 March A Marabou Stork was the first sighting after the cam was restored. Then a lone Elephant came by and had his afternoon fill.
After that we saw a cute Warthog family in the foreground and two Elephants came to enchant us in the late afternoon.
We had a view of the regular Owl in the middle of the night visiting the waterhole.
Tuesday - 16 March First up, an Owl on the far side of the waterhole. Then a Buffalo came to drink and then a small Jackal, at first, very close to the cam and then having a drink.
The cam was “frozen" at 5:28 today and we have been reassured that the experts are working all out to restore the pictures.
At about 3pm the cam was again operational. We had a glimpse of a Marabou flexing its wings… Then cam offline again.
Wednesday - 17 March The connection to the cam was up around midday and we saw three Impala rams and then the Marabou Stork.
Just after lunch, a Giraffe family with baby in tow visited the water hole.
they hung around for quite a while giving us a good view.
Our next sighting was in the evening of a breeding herd of Elephants with the cutest babies you ever saw – trying best to drink and this little “b u m” winning the Daily Favourite Sighting!
An Owl ended our viewing for today.
Thursday - 18 March An early morning Hyaena came to drink and a Hamerkop posed in the beautiful morning light.
Zebra, Impala, Marabou Stork and a Buffalo also visited today.
Mid morning an Ellie came for a drink, followed by a group of Impala and a close up of a Marabou with a Baboon Troop drinking.
Again an Elephant came to drink in the late afternoon.
Two hours later the breeding herd were back with their gorgeous babies.
We could see how well they guard those babies.
An antelope came by in the night and we saw exactly what is meant by “caught in the headlights” Shortly afterwards a Hyaena was seen drinking, hopefully not after an antelope meal
Cammer “**Emma**” joined the ranks of the addicted.
and posted a Hyaena picture.
Friday - 19 March A very early morning Ellie came to drink – early as in half an hour after midnight.
We also saw an Owl in flight and two Jackals drinking before dawn arrived.
Dawn brought Marabou, Warthog and Impala, then an Elephant dribbling while drinking was a great sighting!
Wildebeest, Impala and Warthog were seen during the rest of the morning and then a lovely Waterbuck strolled across our view.
We saw an afternoon Elephant as well as the breeding herd came by in the evening!
“Matthys” snapped them coming to the near side of the waterhole.
Then. . . . A Friday Leopard – must have been reading “Magic Guarri’s” - My Pic of the Day!!!
This also gave us a portent of sightings for the rest of the month…..
Saturday - 20 March An early morning Ellie was seen sniffing out any possible trouble in the air.
All the usual suspects were seen this morning, which at Orpen at the moment includes Elephant/s.
This one nearly putting paid to the cam
The Owl was seen utilising every side of the waterhole.
Then the distinctive tail of a Leopard as it departed the waterhole after being seen having a drink. (2nd Leopard of the Month)
Sunday - 21 March Early morning “Mel “ & “Aussie Ranger” posted pictures of a Hyaena and then an Owl.
Then daylight brought the usual sightings of Wildebeest, Impala, Zebra and a Marabou Stork and of course the regular Elephant, but today he was eyeing the Baboon sharing his water – watching very warily he was!!
Mid afternoon another Elephant was using the facilities.
Then two Elephants partook in some pushing and shoving!
. . and the winner doing a Victory lap around the waterhole for us.
Again the Owl came to the waterhole as well as an Elephant in the night. Other night time visitors included a Hyaena, and a really close sight of a Jackal.
Monday - 22 March First animal seen this morning – an Elephant – they are becoming as common as the Jackal at the Nossob waterhole. Impala, Warthog were seen during the day.
Then the two jostling Elephants were late afternoon visitors, but only a little bit of pushing happened. They thought it better to stake their territory on opposite sides of the water.
A Jackal was seen during the night, as well as an Elephant.
Tuesday - 23 March Impala and Baboon were seen this morning.
In the afternoon three Elephants decided they needed to take a full drenching and entered the water, giving us a superb sighting.
We saw an Owl and a Jackal during the night.
Wednesday – 24 March Buffalo were the first sight this morning – for a change.
Then Impala and Warthog were also seen.
A Gecko was a welcome diversion for the cammers.
Elephant were the afternoon visitors, first at the far side of the water, and with each sip coming closer and closer. Once again we had a view of an Elephant at night.
A stunning Leopard walked onto cam for the THIRD time this month!!!
then five Zebras visited the waterhole, very cautious indeed they were – must have had an idea there was a Leopard about?
Not much later a pack of Hyaena came to the water, all having a swim and a sleep/rest and even a bit of fun, if we looked closely.
They stayed in view for a good hour or so, a Jackal later also visited the waterhole.
Thursday - 25 March As the new day started we were treated to a wonderful sighting of a Hippo!!! Well done “Mel” for being awake while the day shift was having a sleep.
This was not only a wonderful sighting, but the picture was excellent as well, not forgetting the rarity!!
The day carried on ever so boring after last night!
Swimming Elephant – Herd of Impala.. Ho Hum . .
This chap was too beautiful to ignore.
A small antelope was seen eating the lush grasses near the cam and could have been the reason the next visitor was sighted.
4th time this month
Two hours later the Leopard was back, sitting, standing, drinking!! Wow we were happy. (Could this be called the 5th sighting – definitely YES).
Then, the breeding Elephant herd were back – Oh so cute – next minute they were off in a BIG hurry??
Then these tussling Gentleman were on cam.
At exactly the last minute (23:59:00) to be precise, an Owl took the honour of being last creature on cam.
With that, our viewing ended for the day. Very satisfied we were
Friday - 26 March Our little Owl friend was still on cam at midnight or the first minute of the new day.
Half an hour later a Hyaena and two Elephants were at the waterhole together – but it appeared the Elephants dominated the waterhole for awhile, but the Hyaena was still lurking around and made a solo appearance again a few minutes later.
At 3:30am there was no mistaking the figure of a Leopard coming to drink (6th Sighting
) “Mel” & “Hailey” and “Melrockson” were rewarded for their late night virgil.
||
An extremely beautiful dawn picture was posted this morning.
Impala, Zebra and Warthogs were the order of the day, as well as Baboons.
Then a Buffalo decided to enter the water and lie down and have a thoroughly lazy afternoon, at one point, watched by a curious Impala and then a Baboon and when it emerged from the water, it seemed as though a Warthog was being chased for disturbing the R & R time.
In the early evening we were treated to a magnificent series of close ups of an Elephant coming to drink.
At one point we could see the “whites of his eyes”
Then he came closer and closer to the cam and was surely thinking about giving it a nudge!
Then the waterhole was miraculously back to normal as though nothing had happened.
Saturday - 27 March Just after 1am our
7th Sighting of the Leopard – unbelievably and after checking yesterday's picture had not inadvertently been posted twice an almost identical Leopard picture!
Again in the daylight we saw Impala, Warthogs, Guinea Fowl and then a gathering of Impala being “overseen” by a Baboon?
A few Impala also ventured very near to the cam and we admired their pretty/ daintyness.
In the evening an Elephant came to the waterhole and warily watched a herd of Impala on the far side. The Impala really look so exposed at night, and we know there is a Leopard somewhere close – WARNING Bells were silently ringing out.
Sunday - 28 March Very early in the morning a Jackal walked by and then unusually these very timid Impala were seen. “Hailey” commented ‘Leopard Food’ – you had better get there quick to tell them Hailey!
Two early morning Buffalo were also seen – not taking a wallow this time?
In the daylight we first saw a hectic waterhole – Impala and Zebra & Wildebeest sharing the facilities and the next picture was of pure peacefulness – a lone Marabou Stork standing watch.
Not much else happened beside the previously mentioned animals, in the evening we again saw Buffalo coming to drink.
This Steenbok was seen. . .
ending today’s sights.
Monday - 29 March in the wee hours this breeding herd of elephants came en masse to the water.
The rest of the day saw a few Impala and two Buffaloes, but not much else.
Danie kindly broke the “boredom” for us and zoomed up to them.
As darkness (now much earlier) descended around the water, the Buffaloes had a last drink and departed the scene. They were replaced a few hours later by an Elephant, displaying the amazing agility of its trunk.
Tuesday - 30 March First sighting in the early hours was of a Buffalo and then a Hyaena coming to drink.
then this Jackal may have had a grandiose plan, thinking a Buffalo may be a good snack???
In the morning most of the usual suspects spotted as well as a small group of Buffalo at the water – one of them giving the ‘cammers’ the beady eye.
After lunch these two HUGE Ellies paid us a visit – Thanks
In the evening a nightly visit, first by a Steenbok and then by Buffalo.
Not long afterwards we saw a typical Elephant scene – first an adult at the head of the file coming to the water, followed by babies, then adults (if we could have seen in the dark) I am sure they were holding the one's in front tail?
What a fantastic family portrait we saw.
They left after about an hour and then very soon afterwards an exact repetition – a Single file of Elephants coming out of the darkness to drink and generally giving us a beguiling view of them and their beautiful offspring!
A lone Elephant gave us the last view of the night.
Wednesday - 31 March The cam came back online in the morning, presenting us with a delightful picture of the sun slowly peeking somewhere over the horizon.
In the morning light Impala were seen.
These baboons were grooming in the “I’ll scratch your back, if you scratch mine” style. What a unique picture on the cams.
We also saw the Breeding Herd during the day, giving us a new perspective of them.
In the evening they were back again. Two jousting Ellies were seen and the last sighting of the month was of a Hyaena drinking and its rear view as it exited the scene.
Hope that your Easter Weekend is restoring you and that you have managed to spend time with your loved ones!
JJ
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