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noel, I guess it is the beacon where it says it is the most southern baobab in Kruger.... ?
Great sighting and distance never an issue..., but all the cars ...ai!
Thank you for sharing...

Noel, lovely Lion sighting I'm afraid I also get a bit over enthusiastic with my sharing. I don't share with cross looking people with windows up though.

oops, posted twice

Well worth it Sheenaugh-Lee. I should have known that I would find them lounging around and not hunting Zebra. If only. Have read before that lions (and other animals, like dogs) eat grass for roughage?? Thanks for commenting hey!



Yes, Southern most Baobab, and always worth a visit. Seen Leopard there once (imagine the number of cars including some with trailers) so next time I visit, maybe a Cheetah . The cars were really becoming a problem at this sighting, as I eventually had to do some 4x4 driving with my little sedan. Not pleasant. Maybe they were all like me, and have not seen lion in so many days. Thanks for commening Kaapsedraai.



Me too, MM. Iv'e been known to "camp" at leopard sightings. So I guess I should not complain. Thanks for commenting.

Some sightings as I head back to Lower Sabie
yet another Brown Snake Eagle


Some Waterbuck


Some White faced Duck


And the Buffalo I had seen earlier-now a bit further into the bush




And then a sighting I will always cherish as I did not know this info, but read about it when I got home. Roberts describes it as "not usually seen". Maribou Stork displaying its hindneck inflatable air sac. As can be seen, it was foraging amongst some impala.

Wow Noel! That Maribou Stork with it's hindneck inflatable air sac is definitely not an ordinary sighting! We have never seen that before!

Beautiful pictures of the Brown Snake Eagle, Buffalo, White Faced Ducks and Waterbuck too!

And what a lovely Lion sighting at the Baobab!

Bravo Noel that is a beautiful pic of the maribou tell me does it say Why the maribou blows up the sac as its not a usual occurance?

Thanks Hilda. As said I cherish it, if only for the fact that it showed my ignorance. See also below. Thanks for commenting Hilda.



Thanks hey Sheenaugh-Lee .
The general consensus is that it is used for courting and mating purposes, though usually the front air sac is inflated. But it can be inflated at any time, and I have seen a lot of them gathered together, with all of them with inflated front air sacs. So I suspect that it may also be a communication tool. Or else just to fill themselves with air, much like some humans do when they are so full of themselves Seriously though, not much is known about why they even have a hindneck air sac. Certainly in this instance there were no females around, not even other Marabou Storks around. Roberts says the breeding season is in May, a long time away. So we can conclude that it was definitely not courting and breeding, but then again these days, with weather patterns all hunky dory, we never know. But I was glad I saw it. There is a thread about the Marabou Stork on the forum, under birds, and there is some interesting info there, but nothing about the hindneck air sac. And some beautiful pics of the front air sac and some with the hindneck inflated too. Fascinating stuff .

My maggies - no, look noel, you can't say you're not a twitcher! Here you go checking out Marabou Storks' airsacs - I didn't even know they have any! Great sighting indeed - thanks for the interesting info!

So glad you saw the lions!

Noel,

When looks where dished out Maribou Storks must have been in the back of the row.

Kitty cats!!! at last very happy for you. ...30km was definitely not in vain.

Lovely of them.

Noel,

awesome lion sightings and pictures and the marabu with the red "airbag" is also fantastic

I am not a Twitcher, I am not a Twitcher, I am not a Twitcher, I am not a Twitcher. Now i'm twitching! Ok, I confess, I am a closet twitcher Thanks for commenting Bushbuddies



There are some who think it is the most beautiful bird, though I suspect some kind of madness there. Some even reckon cute, but then we'd have to stick to the definition of cute. Ugly but interesting. They are indeed interesting, and its a real treat to hear them clap clap their beaks. Nice hollow clap. But I digress, and lest people think I am in love with Marabou storks, we'll leave it there. Thanks for commenting Trrp-Trrrrr .



Thanks Pumbaa . Something special coming up just for you!

Have no idea why I opted to return to Lower Sabie via Skukuza, but I did. A long drive, but worth it too.
After the sighting of the Marabou Stork, this bird seemed even more beautiful than ever


That Kingfisher again




And another bird that is most beautiful, when it allows you a view. Plumcoloured Starling




At the low level birdge a Heron and a Hippo were keeping each other company, well hidden.




With another Kingfisher checking out the local menu

3 Bachelors


And specially for Pumbaa
These 3 little piglets were not going to wait for mom to lie down, but began to wolf it down-even between mom's back legs.




She had a beautiful set of tusks






They had be all confused- as I recalled all those early childhood stories about 3 piglets. The confusion came when I noticed one had no tail-and I associated them with 3 blind mice









On that tail-less note, its goodnight.

Noel,

Gorgeous birdie pics.

Love your three bachelors ...all posing in a triangle...all on guard duty...on the lookout for any predators.

Those warties are adorable.. .. .. believe it or not are one of my favorite animals.

Thanks for sharing.