Magpie Shrike taking off

 

 

 Yellow-billed Hornbill



 

Raptors

This last week can really be dubbed “Raptor week”! Some of the most interesting bird sightings have involved these majestic creatures.

By far the biggest sighting this week was at a Buffalo kill. It was taken down by the Koppies female and Sizanani male lions on Catwalk west. These lions had been feeding on the Buffalo carcass for at least four days before they lost interest and eventually left it to the scavengers. Some White-backed and Hooded vultures were anxiously waiting in the wings for their turn. Four days of frustration boiled over and the competition was intense. We watched as a buffalo carcass disappeared before our eyes. The feeding frenzy was a well-deserved cherry on the birding cake.

 

 

 

The next big sighting was an African Harrier-hawk that at first harassed a nesting Hooded Vulture. The African Harrier-hawk circled the nest and cheekily perched in the same tree as the nest, to the great annoyance of the adult Vulture. The Vulture watched the African Harrier-hawk intensely. The African Harrier-hawk then focussed on something else and very quickly swooped on to a nearby Leadwood chasing something. With lighting-like reflexes, it managed to catch a lizard and we watched as he tore into his prey. The interaction between these two raptors was interesting to witness but also how the African Harrier-hawk changed his strategy once a seemingly easier opportunity presented itself.
 

 

 

 
 

A few days later, we bore witness when a pair of nesting Blacksmith Lapwings ferociously mobbed a Tawny Eagle. The smaller birds used their agility to their advantage and successfully drove the large Eagle away from their nesting area.
 

 

 

 

Birders big 6

 

Southern Ground Hornbill

We were blessed with two sighting of these birds this week. The flock that hangs around S7/ Pod mahogany was once again seen on Power-lines road. Three adults were moving in a southerly direction towards S7.
 

 

Another flock of five adults were seen flying over the Kruger National Park boundary west into the Manyeleti Game Reserve. Unfortunately this was a few hundred meters into the bush and we were only awarded with a very quick sighting. This is however another sighting of this rare and endangered species of bird.
 

 

Saddle-billed Stork

The pair of Saddle-billed Storks seemed to have moved away from Main dam to the Ingwe Manzi/ Wild dog dam area very close to the lodge. I had one sighting at each of the dams and I’m currently trying to get as many photographs of them as possible for identity kit purposes.
 

 

 

Specials

 
Some half descent birds were seen in the last while. Imagine our surprise when a Black Cuckoo-shrike serenaded us at breakfast. A flowering Weeping Boer-bean at the main deck is attracting all sorts of interesting birds. The trill call brought immediate attention, when Fritz and I reacted in unison. What a nice addition to the lodge soundtrack!

 

 

I managed to locate a Stierling’s Wren Warbler on Incha road in the North east. I heard the distinctive call and after serious scrutiny I managed to find this special little bird in a Tamboti grove.

 

 

 

 

 

Green Woodhoopoe
 
 

 

 

 

 

 Egyptian Geese shouting at the neighbours

Blue Waxbill 

All photograps & video taken with a Nikon Coolpix P510