Back to KNP

23 July 2022 - Letaba Camp, KNP; Day 1

A week had passed and we were headed back to Kruger to pick up my son from Letaba Camp. We left Jozi at 4am and this time headed back to Phalaborwa Gate arriving at 9:30am (same time as we arrived at Phabeni Gate a week ago). Whilst waiting to go through the gate, I papped this Glossy Starling perched on an Impala Lilly - classic Kruger

Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens)

We detoured on a few of the sand roads on route to Letaba picking up a Pearl-spotted Owlet

Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum)

Once at Letaba we checked in and caught up with Eric, Kari, Brian, Cynthia and the kids who had a great week at both Orpen and Letaba Camps. We chilled and caught up and a little later I had a walk around the campsite. Mourning Doves are common at Letaba

African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)

As were Black-backed Puffback's

Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla)

On the lawns, Natal Spurfowl were seen scratching around

Natal Spurfowl (Pternistis natalensis)

while both Red-billed 

Southern Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus rufirostris)

and Yellow-billed Hornbill's looked for scraps around the braai areas

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas)

A pair of Tree Squirrels enjoyed some mutual grooming

Tree Squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi)

and in the leaf litter I found a Squinting Bush Brown

Squinting Bush Brown (Bicyclus a. anynana)

We all met for a casual lunch and later departed for our afternoon game drives, each picking different routes. We chose to follow the river road and on exiting the gate bumped into a family of Ground Hornbill

Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

My wife's sharp eyes picked up a raptor perched in the shade of a large Fig Tree - it took some time to identify it as a Juv/Imm African Hawk-Eagle

African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster)

A little further along a Common Scimitarbill provided some distraction

Common Scimitarbill (Rhinopomastus cyanomelas)

As we rounded a bend near the river, there was one car stopped. We pulled up next to it and had a pride of 6 Lion walking through the grass along the river and eventually walking past the front of our car - what an awesome sighting. It appeared to be a Lioness with sub-adult cubs. Fortunately  Eric and Kari weren't far behind us and also managed to get great views

African Lion (Panthera leo)

We then stopped on the bridge over the Letaba River, as you are allowed to get out of your car to enjoy the view. Driving back to camp, a lone Hyena purposefully walked up the road passed us

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

Once back at camp, it was the customary sundowners whilst the fire was lit, dinner was prepared and stories shared - what more is needed?

Giga Alert

18 July 2022 - Sefapane Lodge, Phalaborwa

We exited the Phalaborwa Gate around 8:15 and it was a short detour to Sefapane Lodge. Why this Lodge, well about 3-4 weeks ago we received a Giga Alert from the SA Rare Bird Group of a vagrant Wood Warbler that was found by a visiting British Birder. Clearly a case of reverse migration, but one that certainly caused a stir as it was also a 1st for South Africa.

Fortunately, it had remained in the same group of Fever Trees at the Lodge which was suddenly put firmly on the map by the hoards of birders who came to see the bird. My fingers were firmly crossed that it had remained.

We were the 2nd car to arrive at the Lodge to see the bird, however the first arrivals only had 10-minutes to spare and left before finding it. The staff of the lodge were very helpful in pointing out where it had been seen, so it was a waiting game with continual searching in the canopy to try and find this small and active bird. While patiently and nervously waiting I was distracted by a Fish Eagle that passed by overhead

African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

Then suddenly it was there almost midway in the Fever Tree in front of me - what a stunning little Warbler! After that I didnt lose sight of it for the duration I enjoyed watching it as it actively fed starting midway and working up to the canopy before moving to the next tree and doing the same. 

Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus  sibilatrix), a 1st for South Africa

After enjoying saturated views for around 40-minutes, it was time to join my wife for a quick breakfast at the Lodge, finding Southern Veined Arab on the way to the restaurant

Southern Veined Arab (Colotis v. argillaceus)

It was then back into the car for the long drive back to Jozi where we arrived in the late afternoon after a really enjoyable few days in the central Kruger and a new tick for my SA list.

Onward to Phalaborwa

18 July 2022 - Roodewaal Camp, KNP; Day 4

Unfortunately this was our last day, so a travel day back to Jozi. My son remained behind with our friends and their kids and we would be back next week to pick him up from Letaba Camp. We had packed the night before and said our cheers, as we had an early morning start. Another great sunrise on the main Olifants Camp Road

Kruger sunrise

We stopped at the Tawny Eagle nest and were delighted to see the chick being fed by the adult.

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

It was then a long drive past Olifants and up to Letaba where we had a good sighting of Spotted Hyena on the side of the road, next to it's den which had some hidden cubs

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

We then headed for Phalaborwa Gate and onto Sefapane Lodge and not just for breakfast.