An awesome day at Leadwood

08 January 2021 - Leadwood Big Game Estate; Day 2

Despite the late night, Simon and I were up before sunrise, packed the cooler and headed out to try and find the Lesser Moorhen and Dwarf Bittern that he had seen earlier in the week. We dipped on the Moorhen, but did have brief views of the Bittern. We then stopped at the dam where we had sun-downers yesterday afternoon and took some time photographing the resident Water Thick-knee's

Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus)

Also at the dam, a Grey Heron was patrolling the edges

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

A Yellow-billed Kite had roosted overnight in one of the dead trees

Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)

Simon had a stakeout for nesting Woodland Kingfisher, so that was our next stop. We got into a good position and watched the adult bird bring a variety of food items to the nest, in between lots of vocalisation

Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis)

In the hour or so spent at the nest, other species seen included; Chinspot Batis

Chinspot Batis (Batis molitor)

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Burnt-necked Eremomela (Eremomela usticollis)

This outrageous looking Locust/Grasshopper.

Locust sp.

We had saturated views of the Kingfisher after which time, breakfast with the girls was calling. We stopped for these two Lizards on the way back to the house.

Lizard sp.

After breakfast we spent the rest of the day on the patio and in the pool. This was also the perfect location to watch birds passing by. In no particular order, I managed to photograph the following species;

A pair of Red-billed Oxpecker's feathering their nest

Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus)

A family of Retz's Helmetshrike

Retz's Helmetshrike (Prionops retzii)

A young Southern Black Tit

Southern Black Tit (Melaniparus niger)

I suspect this is a female White-bellied Sunbird, but am not 100% sure

Probable White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

Speckled Mousebird

Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus)

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow investigating a potential nest site

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus)

Followed by Violet-backed Starling doing the same. The male kept his distance, not wanting to get involved in the decision

Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

A migratory Willow Warbler was heard, but generally kept in cover. They were certainly way easier to photograph in Kuwait

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

A Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird put in a brief appearance

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus chrysoconus)

I was unsure of this raptor passing overhead, but we finally agreed it was most probably a Whalberg's Eagle

Whalberg's Eagle (Hieraaetus wahlbergi)

It was a really relaxing afternoon and we all got a bit crisped in the sun. At 3pm, we packed the cooler again and headed out for an afternoon drive. We were fortunate to briefly see Black Rhino, but they are always way more skittish and elusive than their square-lipped cousins. However, this Dusky Indigobird was a little more cooperative.

Dusky Indigobird (Vidua funerea)

This family of Warthog piglets were quite inquisitive

Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

We managed to catch this migratory Steppe (Common) Buzzard, as it passed by overhead

Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Late in the afternoon, we stopped again at the dam we had checked in the morning and this time we were lucky. The Dwarf Bittern was out, hunting in the open, albeit a little distant. Great to see this skulker again, which erupts after a good rainy season, which we certainly have had.

Dwarf Bittern (Ixobrychus sturmii)

In the tree nearby, a Grey Heron was sunbathing

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

We then headed back to the sun-downer spot, stopping for Striped Kingfisher.

Striped Kingfisher (Halcyon chelicuti)

There were a few migratory Red-backed Shrike's around the dam this afternoon

Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)

After an awesome day together with good birds and much laughter. Sun-downers were again enjoyed against another magnificent Drakensberg sunset

A few days with good friends

07 January 2021 - Leadwood Big Game Estate; Day 1

We checked out, packed the car and had a slow drive from Motswari Camp and out along the main tar road of the reserve, not seeing much else - however, the clouds did start dissipating. We stopped in Hoedspruit to pick up supplies and continued to Leadwood Big Game Estate where we would spend two-nights with our great friends, Simon and Jenny Price.

Simon met us inside the reserve and we followed his Land Rover to their stunning house on the river bank where we quickly unpacked the car, detouring around this Golden Orb Spider (or Banded Legged Nephilia) and settled into our room. 

Golden Orb Spider (Nephila senegalensis)

It had been quite some time since we last saw each other, so had much to catch-up on. We chilled on the patio with wine and snacks where the time passed very quickly. Around 3pm, we packed the cooler boxes and headed out for the afternoon drive. Simon knew where the Lions were, so that was our first stop. The pride was in thick bush, but that didn't deter from some great views once we were in position.

Lion (Panthera leo)

We departed from the Lions and drove some of the roads around the reserve, ending off at the dam, where we would enjoy sun downers, snacks and watch the sunset. At the dam, there were a pair of Red-billed Teal's which are uncommon in the reserve

Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha)

Also present was a Three-banded Plover

Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris)

Whilst overhead I picked out a moulting Little Swift that was foraging on midges, as the sun set.

Little Swift (Apus affinis)

Speaking of the sun set, it was magnificent.

It was then back to their magnificent house, stopping for a recently introduced Black-backed Jackal after which festivities continued late into the night. 

Black-backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas)

Soggy and Grey

07 January 2021 - Motswari Private Game Reserve; Day 3

It rained all through the night - 75mm was recorded. My wife wasn't confident of staying dry on the drive, so opted to sleep in. I headed down to the restaurant for coffee and by the time we had our coffee the rain eased and stopped, so the morning drive was on, but with only 3 on our Land Rover due to the weather.

Before leaving, I check the Barred Owlets who now looked like characters from a Lord of the Rings movie

African Barred Owlet (Glaucidium capense)

There was an unusual Moth at the entrance - a dry place

Unidentified Moth

I think my wife had the right idea to sleep in, as there was very little about in the wet bush and on the muddy roads this morning. A grumpy looking Tawny Eagle

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Even the normally bright Lilac-breasted Roller didn't look to colourful

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus)

A lone Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)

And after our coffee stop, the sun put out a brief appearance as we saw this distant male Lion lying in the long grass

King of the Beast's (Panthera leo)

It was then back to the Lodge for breakfast and to pack after an enjoyable and relaxing few days, before heading off back to Hoedspruit to spend 2-nights with our good friends.