A chilly day in Southern Kruger

30 August 2022 - Ngwenya toward Skukuza; Day 5

A cold front blew in during the night and it was a lot colder this morning so we opted for a later entry to the Park. After an early breakfast I had a short walk in the Lodge grounds slowly getting closer to 100 species. A White-throated Robin-Chat was in full song at the top of a tree..

White-throated Robin-Chat (Cossypha humeralis)

I watched an interesting interaction with two Grey-headed Bushshrike's that were carefully, but very quickly foraging on what looked like a Paper Wasp nest. I can only assume they were pulling out the larvae whilst trying to avoid being stung by the adults. Their communication was not like anything I have heard before, bill clicking rather than calling - very interesting interaction

Grey-headed Bushshrike (Malaconotus blanchoti)

I walked down to a quieter section of the river and had a number of Kurrichane Thrush

Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus)

But then watched a graceful Saddle-billed Stork come in to land on the river bank

Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)

Close to where this massive male Waterbuck (I think this guy has been around and has been here a long time) was resting on the sand

Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)

In the gardens around the chalet, I had Mourning Dove, another species that has slowly moved south

African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)

And a diminutive Malachite Kingfisher that was hunting from the reeds in a small dam

Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristata)

Near the restaurant, I was able to capture a Puffback displaying and showing why it is named Puffback. In Afrikaans it is called a 'Sneeubal (Snowball)' which is much more descriptive. Really pleased with the series

Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla)

I also found this Squinting Bush Brown in the shady parts of the garden

Squinting Bush Brown (Bicyclus p. perspicua)

In the mid-morning we headed to Croc Bridge, it had warmed up a little, but was still 12 degrees colder than yesterday. Just after entering the park, we stopped to enjoy the distant interaction between a mother Cheetah and her quite large and playful cub

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

An African Scene - Cheetah and flowering Knobthorn

This time we took the H5 to eventually come out between Skukuza and Lower Sabi. It was a really long road and with little to no game sightings - we did stop for a Striped Kingfisher that was really close to the side of the road

Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti)

Once back on the tar road, we stopped at Sunset Dam where the Wood Sandpiper was still present under overcast skies.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)

We made a stop at Lower Sabi and continued back to Croc Bridge on the tar road. A small family of Ele's feeding on a tree they had pushed over on the side of the road was enjoyable to stop and watch. They were completely disinterested in us

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

We had a couple of Buffalo and a single female Lion sleeping on the road that caused quite a traffic jam on the last stretch back to the gate. I guess not every day can be action packed, so you have to also accept quiet days like today.