Please find attached (Click here) the movements of our Bearded Vultures; Jeremia, Pharaoh, Lehlwa and Mollie and our Cape Vultures; Bennie and N207, for the past week.
News of Inkosi is that sofar the autopsy has not revealed any obvious signs of death. Poisoning is suspected but we await the test results. A team of Bearded Vulture Task Force members spent some time at Inkosi’s nest but unfortunately did not see any sign of a nestling or Inkosis partner, therefore the breeding success of this pair remains inconclusive. Fortunately a flight over the area surrounding the location where Inkosi was found did not reveal further carcasses. Thanks to Pilot Donovan Barton-Hobbs and observer Dean Ricketts for their survey. They did notice that based on her location data, Inkosi had been feeding at a few informal feeding sites/vulture restaurants.
Our nestling has finally fledged- see attached a sequence of photos- last meal with mom, exercising the wings, peering over the edge, last minute selfie and then an empty nest. Hopefully we will catch it roosting on the nest again so that we can confirm that all is well.
The drive from Wakkerstroom was quite scenic, especially going through Barbeton. After an early start we arrived at the Kruger Park Malelane gate at midday. It was a pleasant surprise that we were able to check in at the gate for the campsite and not have to go to Berg-en-dal.
The campsite was deserted except for us for the two days we were there. The huts were in use. The advantage of being at this campsite compared to Berg-en-dal is that we were able to get out onto the main road towards Skukuza well before anyone from Berg-en-dal and an hour ahead of the main gate opening.
The temperature was in the high 30s on arrival and it stayed as the norm during the days we were there. Nights were a lot cooler with a pleasant breeze. Being so dry there were hardly any insects or mossies to worry about.
That afternoon our drive was full of the Big Big 5 – Elephant everywhere, Buffalo en-masse, and White Rhino around every corner it seemed. It was only at the last minute before closing time that we were treated to the sight of a very large male leopard – flat out fast asleep under a distant tree.
Buffalo gathering
Buffalo gathering
White Rhinos cajoling the buffalos
Elephant on the go
The first morning we headed north on the H3 heading for Transport dam – the Egyptian Vulture on our mind. Birds were plentiful on the drive and so were the Rhinos and Elephants. We even came across several packs of Hyenas – busily off to somewhere or sleeping in the shade.
Doey-eyed Steenbuck
Spotted Hyena
Steenbuck
On the way we stopped for a bird call which excited Sally and hence me too. Sally recognized the call of the Coqui Francolin but had yet to have any decent views of one. We did not have long to wait before it was spotted on the side of an ant hill 20 metres distant. A Female. No longer a BVD for Sally.
Coqui Francolin female
Then as we turned off the tar to Transport Dam Sally heard a Coqui calling again. After some time we located it – well hidden at the base of a tree in long grass. Eventually we were able to ID it as a male.
Coqui Francolin male
Coqui Francolin male
Transport dam was full but no sign of any Vultures of any kind. Despite that we had a number of sightings of interest. There were the usual bunch of water birds as well as a dozy crocodile. An African Fish-Eagle being mobbed by Lapsmiths. Water Thick-knee were present.
African Fish-Eagle
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Dozy Crocodile
Green-backed Heron
Water Thick-knee
In the photos below you will see a great comparison in size of a Water Thick-knee and a Malachite Kingfisher.
Malachite Kingfisher cf Water Thick-knee
Malachite Kingfisher cf Water Thick-knee
After a lunchtime dinner back at the camp we took another drive on the dirt roads – numerous Game Drive vehicles – very unpleasant with all the dust they create. Windows constantly opened and closed. Yet we still had sightings to keep our minds attentive.
Mystery Raptor
Mystery Raptor
Painted Lady
Crested Francolin
Laughing Dove
Diderik’s Cuckoo
Tawny Eagle
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
White-bellied Sunbird in flight
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
Red-crested Korhaan
White-fronted Bee-eater
Brown Snake-Eagle
African Pied Wagtail
White-bellied Sunbird
African Openbill
A brief visit to Berg-en-dal gave us the opportunity to scout for Parrots. To start with – on arrival there was a bus load of guests milling about in the parking area waiting to embark their Game Vehicle. They had been waiting for 40 minutes.
The vehicle was there. The problem was that a Spitting Cobra had beat them to it and was seen in the driver’s cab. They had been trying to remove it. In the end that vehicle was not used as it was still there when we left. Either they had found alternative transport or given the guests a refund. It was fortunate that the snake was not in the back where the guests sit.
The Dam at the camp was bone dry, however the birds were calling and one of those calls was that of a Parrot. After much searching the various fruiting trees they were spotted and I managed to get a shot or two.
Brown-headed Parrot
Brown-headed Parrot
On the way back we were treated to a pack of wild Dogs on the road – 10 in all. They were starting to get on the move and we followed them down the road for a while. They were quite close to our camp.
Wild dog
Wild dog
Wild dogs
Wild dogs
Altogether we identified 103 different bird species in the area. Click here to see the list.
