Another day with lots of variety, from warthogs to hyenas, cheetahs to lions, topis to elephants, etc.
I think the topi is my favorite large antelope. So statuesque!
How cool would it be to have elephants wandering around in our fields! (with shrikes flying overhead.)
We stopped at a sausage tree in full bloom because our guide spotted a Martial Eagle (again, the largest African eagle) deep in the branches. The eagle had a partially eaten animal under its feet, seen in the last picture after he moved to another branch. It was impossible to tell what it was but possibly a hare. For as long as we stayed there, the bird neither ate nor flew off but looked mighty regal. Check out the contrast between the dark back and the very white front with all of those speckles! Too bad it never turned fully around for us.
In that same tree we saw yet another type of Shrike. A group of Grey-backed Fiscal Shrikes, including at least one young bird trembling its wings waiting to be fed, were clustered at the far side of the tree. Unfortunately, feeding that yummy insect to the young one took place entirely behind the branch. Deep within the interior of the tree where it was too dark and the flitting birds too fast for a good photo, we spotted many small sunbirds (nectar drinkers, like our humming birds.) The photos were only adequate for ID.
Back to the antelope family, on a ridge we saw gazelles with hartebeests and later on we drove past a small family of impalas. Of course, the father had to poop right as I took their picture.
Mid-day we came to a large meadow where far off in the tall grass hyenas were cleaning up the remains of a kill. When a lion came along, the hyenas scattered, running toward a tree right near our jeep. Under the tree, one hyena was all curled up and whining loudly. Two others came to investigate, sniffing around and seemed to confer with one another. After a minute or so they left and eventually he got up again but looked wobbly and miserable. In the tree above was a Steppe Eagle and another was flying above the scene. There was also a Marabou Stork minding its own business. They are considered to be quite ugly – they do look a bit like a vulture. With their thick beak they are certainly not sleek like most storks. Here are some moments from all that drama.
Next up, a warthog wandering through the pampas and baboons in a tree. The old fellow seems to be shaking his head at youth. And the baby – well, that must not have been very comfortable!
Visiting this cheetah up close was one of the strangest safari moments. The cat was lying under a tree that was directly next to the road. Really, we could almost have reached out to pet him. Safari jeeps were lined up, coming from both sides to see the cheetah up close. The guides were very considerate, staying no more than a minute or two before moving on to give the next people a chance. With the long lens, I was able to get a couple of shots while still in line. We probably waited 15 minutes to get these close up pictures. When we got to the tree, I could no longer get the whole cat in the viewfinder! Only the last picture is cropped. The cheetah was indifferent to our presence, neither amused nor annoyed as far as I could tell.
Birds still caught our eye over and over. At the picnic sight, the Hildebrandt’s Starling was bathing and put on a good show for me.
None of the following birds are new to my blogs. I simply include these pictures to show how each day was packed with fascination and beauty! Lilac-breasted Roller, an ostrich peeking out of the grass; a heron; an African Mourning Dove, a Black-shouldered Kite, and more shots of bustards, the first being the White-bellied and the last 2 are of a Kori Bustard.
A bird that definitely deserves its own moment is the Fischer’s Lovebird that Jackie spotted. These little parrot-like birds are so adorable! (Of all the pictures I took, the first shot was the only one where they all had their eyes open!)
The Secretary Bird always deserves its own moment in my opinion. In the first pictures we see it hunting, but sadly not successfully during the time we watched. (Notice the purple insect at the top left of the first picture. I think it must be the same kind of grasshopper the Short-tailed Roller was battling on Day 5.)
When we spotted two of them high up in the tree, I had to sit half way out the door of the jeep to point the (heavy) camera upwards at that angle. It turns out that we were witnessing a courtship ritual! Very fun! Videoing isn’t my forte, but, to show the bobbing action, I thought this deserved a try. Too bad that the lighting setting was off. And that is the end of my Day 6 photos.
