Struisbaai Gathering of Three Generations – Swimming, Shopping and Fishing

2014-12-17 | puppy1952

A perfect fishing day dawned again. Earl, Allan and Lauren got up at a very rude hour and quietly slunk off to sea, the latter two having dosed on sea-sick medication the night before!

My rising time, though not as bad mannered as theirs, might have seemed a little extreme to some. The young ones groaned when I cheerfully encouraged them to join me on the beach for a walk and swim. “Meet me there,” I called and left them to dawdle over bowls of Otees and debate as to whether or not it was worth the effort.

Once again it was a blissful morning made better that the masses had not yet arrived. I left my camera behind and regretted it when I spotted a rock kestrel on top of a “Christmas Tree” and then an oystercatcher on the shore line. By the time I was on my return lap down the beach, Simon and Josh appeared to look after my towel and glasses while I went in for a dip. Heavenly – the sea was calm and clear with hardly a ripple. A mom and daughter started chatting to me and asked if I were local. It was their first visit and they were delighted that they’d decided to camp here this year.

Struisbaai is indeed an idyllic place for a holiday. It’s off the beaten track and still a fairly well-kept secret although it’s grown tremendously since my introduction to it in 1982.

It was about quarter past nine when the boys and I returned home with croissants from OK Grocer’s bakery for breakfast(This has got to stop before I gain a ton!) An hour later the fisherfolk pulled in. Lauren had the biggest and best fish!

Lauren’s Fish

The females of the family decided to bond before lunch and how better to do that than to go shopping! Yes in Struisbaai! A new clothing store, Beach Bliss, opened just a week ago and is superbly stocked for men, women and children.

Beach Bliss

Wanien is the owner and there is something for everybody

What do you think, Gran?

This one …..

Or this?

We got quite a few items for Shannon – Christmas presents – so she’ll have to wait to wear them! Lisa and Lauren also got one or two things and I bought a beach bag.

We were almost done when Earl phoned to find out where we were. Not to be outdone we got him some new stuff too – from another lovely shop in the mall.

Earl in his new shorts and shirt

All that shopping is thirsty work so we stopped at Cafe dul Sud for coffee/milkshakes.

Two Strawberry milkshakes, one chocolate a Cappuccino and black for me please!

The girls headed home while Earl and I went to chat to our friends Lynn and Glyn who have a gift shop, Due South, in the mall. We also popped into the nursery coffee shop to get a Christmas loaf for tea.

Friendly Girl in the nursery/coffee shop

Nursery

Coffee shop

South Bound – a wonderful place to browse

We’ve been looking for a suitable bird feeder and found one a quaint little craft shop which sells all kinds of locally made stuff.

We love it’s name and the notice outside – Not made in China – Buy from your own people.

What a surprise to arrive home to the smell of fresh fish frying in the pan. Lauren has taken on the mantle from her dad! It was delicious – the young ones had the nerve to say – Even better than yours, Grandpa! Well equally as good anyway!

What a super star – She caught it – She cooked it

The beach was our next port of call – after 3:30 to avoid the harmful UV rays. And wow – the water was divine – I usually don’t stay in for more than 10 minutes but I just didn’t want to get out this afternoon and the kids were even worse.

The sea was extra blue today

Kites were flying

It’s amazing, Gran!

Shannon got busy with my bird stickers when we got back and they are a-ma-zing. Thanks you Leah for a wonderful gift.

Difficult to photograph but this one came out quite well!

So ended another lousy day in Africa! Tomorrow Earl and I are making an early start to go bird watching with a local expert. Watch this space!

Struisbaai Gathering of Three Generations Day 6

2014-12-16 | puppy1952

Abrie suggested a cure for my hand – sleep with an “Asyn Lap” and when you wake up all the bruising and swelling will have disappeared. Well I thought it was worth a try so Earl bound me up in a crepe bandage and poured brown vinegar over it and finally my hand was taped into a plastic bag. But in the middle of the night I woke up with an excruciating itch under the bandage which I ripped off to scratch. My hand looked pickled and I washed off the vinegar and went straight back to sleep! Admittedly the swelling has reduced and there is no bruising but it is not completely better yet!

Here are some pictures that Joshua took last night.

Laurie

Simon learning the art of tablet photography from an expert

Simon learning the art of phone photography from an expert

The Gang

Fooling around

Cuzzies

Shan and Annie

Chilled

This morning early Grandpa and I gathered the grandkids and headed to the beach. There was much moaning about the ridiculously early hour but they forced themselves and were glad of it later! As far as I am concerned the best time to be on the beach is early in the morning before it gets too hot or too windy.

Looking out to perfection on from the boardwalk

Miles of soft sand

A jellyfish being devoured by sea snails

Into the cool, blue sea

Chilly at first

The kids stayed in for ages

Simon

Walking back

Fishing boat returning

We returned at quarter to ten for a lovely breakfast and then chilled till later when the kids returned to the beach. Jay and Shan are a bit too sunburned for my liking! Earl did some chores around the house, I chilled doing very little for most of the days and Allan cooked an awesome curry for dinner. Laurie and Annie left for Cape Town just after 6 but they will join us at home next Monday – the house will be bursting at the seams till the New Year! What a pleasure to have everyone together – family bonding at its best.

Struisbaai Gathering of Three Generations – A Visit to Springfield Wine Farm

2014-12-15 | puppy1952

Earl rushed me to be ready by 7:30 and dragged me off to the local doctor’s office. Of course it was closed so we went to the harbour to check out what the fishing boats were doing and then went to OK Grocer for freshly baked croissants. By this time the surgery had opened and Dr Fourie kindly took a look at my injured hand. “Best to have it x-rayed,” she said so after gulping down a croissant and jam we headed to Bredasdorp. I am happy to report that there are no bones broken. We called Lauren and Allan with the good news. While waiting for them to join us we had a quick cup of coffee at Wimpy – Earl ordered breakfast. It took ages to come and he hadn’t finished when the kids arrived. Service at Wimpy Bredasdorp much to be desired! Anyway, the kids parked their car and we headed off to Robertson where Abrie Bruwer was expecting us for lunch.

Allan is a bit of a wine buff and a huge fan of Springfield so this visit was a special treat. Many years ago Earl had done some refrigeration installations for Abri and he is also a fellow Struisbaai fisherman.

The drive to Robertson from Struisbaai is very picturesque and of course we did some high speed bird-watching too. We totalled over 30 birds of prey of which most were jackal buzzards but there were also some steppe buzzards, black shouldered kites, yellow-billed kites and pale chanting goshawks. There were also Egyptian Geese, Spurwinged Geese and blue cranes aplenty.

Blue Crane – Our National Bird

Steppe Buzzard

Jackal Buzzard

Pale Chanting Goshawk

We were served with chilled Miss Lucy wine and Abri cooked fresh yellowtail in a way that we’d never experienced before. He sliced the fish thinly, coated it with a mixture of 1 and half cloves of fresh garlic, salt and vinegar mashed in a pestle and mortar and then dipped each piece in flour before shallow frying it in olive oil. It was served with pumpkin and salad and was to die for.

After lunch he took us on a tour of the farm. Allan was in heaven!

Today the winemaking is an incredibly sophisticated science. The equipment used is mind boggling. Abri is a fourth generation winemaker and his children are all training to join the family business. It certainly is in their blood.

Lauren and Allan enjoying a glass of Miss Lucy

Abri Frying Fish

A delicious lunch

View from the house

This sprayer negotiates the narrow aisles between the rows of vines – amazing

Examining the crop

This incredible contraption creates tensions the support wires for the vines using a winch and a stain gauge which regulates the strain on the wire on the wire so it does not break. The I beam down the side of the tractor allows the winch mechanism to cover three rows of vines.

First the bottles are washed

We watched the wine going in, being capped and finally they are ready for packing

We were also shown the cooling tanks which were huge and quite fascinating. Everything is so high tech. No more hand picking the grapes and stamping them with bare feet!

It was certainly an interesting day. Thank you Abri!

Struisbaai Gathering of Three Generations Day 4

2014-12-14 | puppy1952

My eyes sting with the saltiness of the sea water, and I reel against the sudden chill as a wave crashes over my shoulders. But soon I am revelling in a refreshing swim as I become accustomed to the temperature. I frolic in the breakers feeling like a kid again. It is 8:00 a.m. and Josh, Simon and I have walked and run along the most beautiful beach in Africa for half an hour. How amazing to start the day in the delicious Indian Ocean at the Southern Tip of Africa. A more idyllic place would be hard to find.

First stop – the harbour

Interesting Vehicle

Simon intrigued by the barble washed ashore

Simon intrigued by the barbel washed ashore

The boardwalk connects the harbour beach to the long beach

A Kelp Gull sheltering among the rocks

The boys brave the cool waves

Wrapping up after

Life guards coming on duty

Back home we found a daughter cooking breakfast

Grandpa and Jay, in the meantime, were enjoying a perfect morning at sea – the seasick ones remained at home today!

Jay’s Catch

After breakfast – croissants – the boys and I managed to get the last 10 from the OK Grocer’s bakery – and egg and bacon cooked by Laurie – we headed back to the beach. This time we decided to enjoy the calmer waters of the harbour.

It’s a safe family beach

Even the dogs are having fun

After we all enjoyed a swim in the safe waters we enjoyed soft serve ice creams and then spotted Kiora racing into to the harbour.

The boat to match the vehicle we saw earlier!

Getting Kiora onto the trailer

The Champions – a lovely catch of cob

Shannon and I had a little mishap while watching the hitching of the boat. Shan wanted to climb up onto the boat and walked down the slipway which was covered with green, slimy sea moss. Oops she slipped and slid down on her back, hitting her head to boot. She lay unable to get up and I instinctively went to her aid and yes you guessed it slipped in the same way myself! In my effort to save myself I hurt my wrist but no other damage done – I might, though, have a small broken bone in my hand! I will only find out tomorrow when I go to Bredasdorp for an x-ray! Shan has grazes on her back and a bit of a headache but otherwise – no harm done!

Annie is suffering from torn ligaments in her ankle and had a spare brace that is perfect for my hand which has a rather suspicious looking swollen lump on it- I am managing to type so it can’t be too serious – fortunately it’s my left hand.

Annie and Shannon creating a delicious salad

Grandpa braaing the cob

Jay and Simon getting digital

Lovely fish

Helping the daughter

Fab meal

Struisbaai Gathering of Three Generations – Day 3

2014-12-13 | puppy1952

Yes – Today dawned bright and still, heralding good fishing conditions. Earl, Lauren, Jay, Josh and Simon were on the sea by 7 o’clock and were lucky enough to spot dolphins and flying fish! I could be persuaded to board a boat to see that! The fishing was not too shabby either. Grandpa got a lovely red roman and the others were happy to get a few silver fish. The bad news – they were all sea-sick except for Jay and Gramps! But they did not suffer long and were back on land by 9:30.

Red Roman

Some of the silver fish

Jay, Simon, Lauren and Josh (looking a bit green about the gills)

After the fishing excursion the wind got up but the kids went off to the beach and spent some time there. Lolz, Annie and I went down for a while but were soon blown back home.

For lunch we enjoyed Earlie’s fabulous fried fish and later in the day the kids headed back to the beach for a swim.

Master Chef of Struisbaai

Finger food

We had a little mishap with a little sugarbird today. It flew against a closed window and stunned itself. Jay picked it up with a dish towel and rubbed it a bit. It just lay in a stupor but slowly started to flick its wings and eventually flew onto some washing hanging on the line. Eventually it felt strong enough to take shelter at the top of the milkwood tree. I do hope its headache is over soon! We must put those lovely stickers I received as a gift onto those windows soon.

Concussed female sugarbird

Let me rest a while

What just happened?

A malachite sunbird in transitional plumage looks on

Struisbaai – A week with three generations – Day 1 and 2

2014-12-12 | puppy1952

Thursday 11 December 2014

Today began a new chapter of my life – RETIREMENT! Well I have had a chequered on and off career of teaching but with Earl’s retirement I know that the time has now come for me to call an end to my career too. I bade farewell to my principal and colleagues just after 9 0’clock yesterday morning no regrets as the last three and half years have been very happy and I’ve left on a high note!

It was just an hour or so later than Earl and I along with our two teenaged grandsons hit the road to our holiday house in Struisbaai.

The Kokstad Clan – Daughter Lauren and Son-in-law Allan travelled up with the kids Shan 12 and Simon 10 overnighted in Graaff Reinet and arrived an hour after us at 3:30 this afternoon.

Simon, Earl, Josh, Jay, Shannon

Proud Grandfather with his brood of grandchildren

Josh and Simon play fighting

UNO – A favourite of our youngsters

Friday 12 December 2014

This morning we were horrified to wake to rain and wind. Not a fishing day! But this did not dampen our spirits and it wasn’t long before it cleared up. A trip to the local supermarket produced freshly baked break and croissants which accompanied Grandpa’s famous Earlie Brekkie.

Bonding over an “Earlie” Breakfast

The adults went off to the Wine Boutique in Agulhas while the kids went to explore the rock pools. Earl and I also popped into Potpourri a favourite gift/coffee shop that I love to browse in. Grandpa spotted a poster that he just had to have. Most appropriate don’t you think?

Excursion to the Rock Pools

My favourite granddaughter – (I’m your only granddaughter, Granny!)

Gathering the family together is far from peaceful. It is full of noise, attention seeking, teasing, laughter, bantering, chatter and fun, fun, fun.

Our older grandsons are amazing with their younger cousins. Jay 17 and Josh 16, always relate well to them and make sure they have a good time. They include them in the board games, take them off to the beach without the adults and make sure everyone does their fair share of the chores!

Our other two daughters had to work till lunch time today so only joined us at 3:30 this afternoon. Laurie brought her friend, Annie, visiting from London along too. So we now have a household of 11!

Laurie and Annie

Lisa and Earl – Allan braaing in the background

Annie, Shannon, Laurie

Simon, Shan and Jay

Playing Clue

Good old S.A. Braai

Struisbaai – A brief interlude

2014-10-11 | puppy1952

For the first time in four years we have stayed home for the school holidays. Well, the intention was to stay home for the school holidays and deal with stuff that term time does not allow time for. For my sins I am involved in several ‘clubs’ and ‘organisations’ that need my attention – I won’t go into the boring details but I had things to do in this regard. In addition I had to deal with things like replacing a lost Identity document – that didn’t happen – queue hours long – it will have to wait till next year!

By Wednesday afternoon I had accomplished most of the things on the list and my darling husband couldn’t take it any longer and insisted that we shoot off to Struisbaai for the last few days remaining of the hols. So much for a week at home!

But did I complain? Of course not – how fortunate are we to have this amazing place to visit whenever we feel like and time allows. I packed in a rush and forgot my shoes and jerseys but hey – what’s wrong with bare feet? And I got to go shopping in Struisbaai’s mini metropolis.

We arrived on Thursday evening and went straight to the local Pizza Place and ordered Al Greco Pizzas to be collected once we’d unpacked. Just before collection time we had a power cut! Luckily our dinner was cooked in a wood fire oven. They were delicious and having no electricity added to the ambience of our evening.

It is always a pleasure waking up in our little house in Struisbaai. The sun poured in and I thought I would survive without my jersey. I did have a light cardigan and jacket. The sunshine did not last long – it clouded over and was quite chilly. I felt a bit foolish in a cotton summer dress and long black cardigan. We went off to Potpourri for breakfast and the coffee soon warmed me.

The old man reading The Times

Delicious breakfasts are served at Potpourri

The purpose of our sojourn was for Earl to do some urgent chores at the house – i.e. put up a 9DB aerial and a weather station. Don’t ask! It’s all to do with talking to the boats at sea.

Friends in Struisbaai picked up on something I posted on Facebook and made contact. They live in Abu Dhabi and Ray is a friend of Earl’s. I had only met Percilla online. They were here to take up residence in a holiday apartment they have just purchased. So we arranged to braai together on Thursday night. What a great eveing. We caught up on their romantic story and how life is treating them in The Middle East. They plan to retire in a year or two and will then spend more time in Struisbaai. Looks like they have similar plans to ours. Thanks for a stunning evening, Ray and Percilla.

The boys at the braai

The Newlyweds!

On Friday Earl had to sort out some details with the council so after cooking us a delicious brekkie he dropped me off to wander around the Struisbaai Metropolis. I popped in to visit friends who have a wonderful gift shop, Southbound, here. Then I found a shop that looked like it might have a jersey or t-shirt suitable for an old lady. By this time Earl had joined me and let me get two cotton jackets, a pair of pants and a boy’s long sleeved T. So I didn’t have to completely freeze my toes off for the rest of the weekend! As Murphy’s law would have it, Saturday was a beautifully sunny and warm day. But the evenings are a still chilly!

We ventured to the beach on Friday but didn’t stay long as it was freezing.

Our dinner on Friday night, cooked by my personal chef – shellfish stir fried into sweet potato and onion. To die for doll.

My special chef

This morning, Earl cooked up a delicious breakfast and we relaxed for most of the day – well, I relaxed and Earl pottered around doing stuff. I did update the inventory and entertain a few people who popped in – namely Steven and his wife and child who are looking for property, some staff members of Earl’s who were up to do a spot of fishing and the grandchildren of the guy who came to fix the electricity – our main circuit breaker burned out! Earl couldn’t fix it himself as it was the Municipality’s jurisdiction.

I don’t think it’s a good thing for a 70 year old grandfather to do all the things Earl does but he thinks I’m crazy when I tell him to be careful. There’s no stopping him.

What can possibly go wrong?

After he’d fussed around the place for hours I managed to persuade him to do a spot of bird watching. Some we found in our garden or around Struis – the rest on the road to Die Dam.

Cape Bulbul outside our house

Cape Sugarbird in our Milkwood tree

Tortoise visiting our garden (I know it’s not a bird!)

Forest Canary on our lawn

Common Fiscal

Weavers Nests

Kittlitz’s Plover

Capped Wheatear

Grey Rhebok

We saw lots of other birds but they refused to sit still for their portraits to be taken. But we enjoyed the bokmakieries, sparrows, weavers, lapwings etc that were enjoying the bounty of the farmlands.There were lots of yellow-billed kites and we also saw a black-shouldered. Jackal Buzzards were conspicuous by their absence! We usually see lots.

We spotted Denham’s bustards way in the distance – nice view through binoculars but only blurred photographs – not good enough to post.

So tomorrow is our last day and rain is predicted. We will probably pack up early and head home. Back to school on Monday – my last term before I retire. Mixed feelings about that!

Kruger National Park Day 19

2014-08-05 | puppy1952

17 July Lower Sabie
The day started with a stop at Sunset Dam. Aunt was trying to Skype me and I managed to get through to her. how amazing that I was able to chat to her in Australia and show her the dam on Skype!
After spending 20 minutes there we followed the tar road and soon spotted vultures flying and landing in the trees at the side of the road where a small group of cars were stopped and looking towards the river. We realised that they were looking at a hippo kill and a male lion was guarding it. As the cars moved off we were able to get into a better position and get a reasonable photograph. It was great though to see a variety of different vultures. the smell was pretty awful so we didn’t stay long. we gave up our position to a young family who came toward us.

Earl got some lovely shots.

Hooded Vulture

Lion guarding hippo kill – very dirty face

Close-up

At an omrit to the river I spotted a beautiful bird which turned out to be a little bee-eater although I was hoping for a bush shrike.

Little Bee-eater

We stopped at Nkulhu for breakfast and had boerwors rolls and coffee.

The monkeys and baboons were misbehaving and we saw monkey take a packet of marshmallows from a family wanting them for their hot chocolate

Baboons also cheekily raided the table of an older family group and scared one of the women half to death.
As it was our last full day in the park we decided to take the long route via Skukuza in the hope of finding a leopard.
We found many interesting birds and creatures but there were also long stretches of nothing. On the H4-1 it was great to find a male bush buck.

Male bushbuck

A single rhino lay asleep under a tree next to Renoster Pan.
On the N’watimhin Road just before it joins the S79 there is an afrit to a small puddle of a dam. But what a lot there was happening there. we found wooly necked storks, a hamerkop or two, a jacana, grey heron and a brown hooded kingfisher actively hunting for food. A big male baboon sat at the edge of the pond with his back to us.

Just a puddle – but a lot going on

Baboon

In the company of impala

Hamerkop

Male Impala

After enjoying watching frogs and fish being caught by the storks and heron we were about to start the car and head off. But I called, “Elephant” and a single bull lumbered upon the scene. We thought he would take a drink from the end where he’d appeared but he circled round the edge chasing off the smaller creatures in his way. He came straight for us and proceeded to frittle about in a muddy patch. It was fascinating watching this giant give himself a muddy beauty treatment. First he picked up a piece of litter with his trunk but finding it useless blew it away. Then he sprayed himself with gooey mud; eyes included. This ritual took about 20 minutes before he stared straight at us, waved his trunk and lumbered off into the bush. This interlude was one of the best experiences I have ever had in Kruger.

We were quite breathless after this little escapade and reluctantly left the scene and made our way slowly back to camp. On the way we saw a few more interesting things.

Black Shouldered Kite

Fish Eagle with prey

Kudu

Collared Sunbird

Just before reaching home we were alerted to lions across the river – quite far away but nice to see.

It was our last night in the park so we went to the restaurant for dinner. It was The Mugg but it turned out to be great.

Farewell Meal at Mugg & Bean, Lower Sabie

And that Folks is the end of our tale. We left the following morning and made our way back to Cape Town stopping over in Bloemfontein and getting to Cape Town at 5 on Saturday evening. It was an amazing trip!

Kruger National Park Day 18

2014-07-26 | puppy1952

16 July Lower Sabie
We decided on a later start today and started off at Sunset dam at quarter to 8. It is definitely best to be there in the morning. We had an amazing time watching white crowned lapwings, a ruff, three banded plover and different storks and kingfishers.

The hippos were also in amorous mood and we watched a love scene playing out.

White-crowned Lapwing

Ruff

Yellow-billed Stork

Wooly-necked Stork

Three Banded Plover

Pied kingfishers

Show me your tonsils and I’ll show you mine

Just a little kiss please

What toothpaste do you use

Cosying up

Afterglow?

Travel by Hippo – beats the bus

On the S28 we got another pearl spotted owlet. Great to see so many in the park. A Senegal lapwing was another bird that gave us pleasure to find.

Pearl Spotted Owlet

Senegal Lapwing

A tawny Eagle is disturbed by a warthog

The hog ignores the bird

Find a patch to scratch his nose and have a snack

Tawny joins his mate in the dry grass and shares his meal with her.

Our morning produced all the usual suspects before we stopped at Crocodile Bridge for breakfast. This is a small Gate Camp and does not have a restaurant. However they have a coffee hut and tables and chairs outdoors. From the shop we got ready made sandwiches which were really good and we also indulged in chocolate chip muffins. We spotted some good birds there too.

White-bellied sunbird

House Sparrow

Blue Waxbill

Black Headed Oriole

Black Collared Barbet

A special experience today was on the S25 as it crossed to the S26 on a low level bridge. There was just a bit of water but lots going on. We watched monkeys drinking,a heron catch a fish and a monitor lizard catch a frog.

The Heron ready to fish (Note monitor lizard in background.)

What can he see?

Going for the prey

Got it!

Down the gullet it goes

Water Monitor starts exploring

What can he find in the pond

Getting closer

Admires his reflection

Tests the waters with a hind leg

: Speaks with a forked tongue?

A frog meets his fete

Monkey slake their thirst

Kruger National Park Day 16 and 17

2014-07-26 | puppy1952

Satara 14 July
I Had a very bad night last night because of my very sore back. I did some stretching exercises and then we hit the S100. Every bump in the road was an agony and my body language must have shown it all because Peter told Earl to stop and said he thought we should turn back so I could have a rest from sitting. Everyone agreed and I was grateful but said they should go out without me. I have seen everything in Kruger before and wanted them to go out and get me a photo of a leopard. They said they would but the didn’t! Instead we took a walk around the camp and saw some interesting birds. Then we went to the Mug ‘n Bean for breakfast. We spent the rest of the day in camp. Earl gave me a massage and I had a long sleep. I took some painkillers and this helped too.

Bateleur spotted before we returned

Grey-headed Sparrow in camp

Heath did chef duty

Satara to Lower Sabie 15 July
I was much better this morning. I did my exercises and took some more dicloflam. We left at 6:30 and made our way to Lower Sabie where we would be staying in the Safari Tents right next to the Sabie River.
The first part of our trip produced lovely birds and game.

Spider webs in the early morning mist

Lesser Striped Swallow

Good Morning

Lovely Day

Here’s looking at you kid

A Tree with a View

Peek a Boo I see you

Breakfast French Style

Bateleurs posing obligingly

We stopped at Tshokwane for breakfast then did the Orpen Dam loop which was very fruitful.

Breakfast at Tshokwane

Yellow-billed hornbill right next to me at Toshokwane

A mousebird hiding in the foliage at Toshokwane

There were lots of buffalo on the Orpen loop.

Salon Treatments are so relaxing

Just chewing on a blade of straw

Is that a grin or a grimace?

Crossing a ford we found these two kingfishers.

Pied

Malachite

We found this gang at a waterhole

Yet another coucal

Fish Eagle on nest

Male sandgrouse with chick

There was not much on the tar road to Sabie but we stopped at Sunset Dam and had a wonderful hour watching the activity there. A fish eagle caught a fish. A tawny tried to take it away from him. He survived that attack only to have it taken by an adult fish eagle. Giraffe came down as well as impala and wildebeest. There were scores of crocodiles and hippo on the bank and the water birds gave us some lovely entertainment.

Our safari tents are not the same. Earl and I took the bigger one with a fantastic kitchen as we are the caterers. The front deck is also bigger and has a table for four but only 2 chairs. Luckily we brought camp chairs with us. Inside is very roomy and the bathroom is quite modern.
Heather and Peter have a smaller tent but the view is great. We think they might be gradually upgrading all the tents. Theirs is looking a bit the worse for wear. Hopefully in the next couple of years all the tents will be upgraded. I can highly recommend staying in the safari tents although during the day they are quite hot and at night they are cold. But extra blankets are provided. At suppertime it was pleasant on the deck. During the night the sound of the bush was deafening with hippo grunting, hyena laughing and jackals howling. Baboons barking added to the cacophony.

Here are some of the birds who came to visit.

Spectacled Weaver

Yellow Canary

LBJ – Could be a rattling cisticola

Glossy Starling

LBJ

Kruger National Park Day 15

2014-07-26 | puppy1952

13 July Satara 175388
We left camp at 6:35 and the temperature was 10 degrees C. It rose to 28 later in the day.
As we turned onto the S100 we saw a car facing toward us driving very slowly. The driver waved us down and she was very excited. “Die luiperd is hier. Hy was nou op die pad.” (The leopard was here. It was just on the road.) She was the only other car and she pointed into the bush. Peter, Earl and I caught sight of him and then he disappeared. Not a fantastic sighting and no photograph but a leopard nevertheless. Peter told us we were now off the hook! He’d seen his leopard!
Coucals seem to be having a convention in the park this holiday as we keep seeing them.

Two wooly necked storks were next to capture our attention and straight after we were amused to find a saddle-bill at the top of a tree.

We enjoyed some good birding but did not find lions or any more leopards along the infamous S100.
We turned onto the S41 and continued our birding finding many interesting species.

Immature Batteleur

Then onto the H6 where there were zebra and other game to observe.

At 9:10 Peter alerted us to a traffic jam. We found a gap and after much talking at once managed to show Pete where the female was hiding behind a bush. Moving a little ahead we managed to get a good sighting of 2 cubs and then the mom got up and took them off into the bush.

We returned to Satara and Earl cooked us breakfast, we had a bit of a break and then went out again at midday with the intention of going to Sweni Water Hole. Right outside the camp on the H3 we found 3 adult and 2 juvenile Ground Hornbills.

Once again we spotted the usual game and then we were alerted to lion by another tourist coming in the opposite direction.
It was quite far off but we all got good sightings of her before she dropped down and disappeared into the long straw for an afternoon nap. No one would know she was there!
The Sweni Waterhole has changed since our last visit. There is now a road going right down to the river and you can sit there and watch the river before entering the hide. We found it most productive and found jacanas, kingfishers, crakes, moorhen and green backed herons. We spent a long time watching before going into the hide.

After enjoying the crocodiles and terrapin, more activity from the green backed heron and jacanas we were entertained with a love scene from the Jacanas.

We saw four different species of kingfisher in the hour or so that we spent at this spot. We watched the giant and the pied catch fish. The little malachite didn’t have much luck and the brown hooded simply posed beautifully for us when we exited the hide.

On the last leg of our drive back to camp we had a few more interesting sightings. A lovely pearl spotted owls which Earl spotted and reversed to check if he was right.

Burchell’s Sandgrouse, male and female.

Another stunning brown-hooded kingfisher.

An finally elephant and drinking and a hippo and baby on the bank of the river.

All day I’d been battling with my back which decided to rebel against the constant sitting and little exercise. Because of our early starts to the day I even neglected to do my Big Five exercises which my Witch Doctor insists upon. I did some stretches on our return home. I hope a good night’s rest will sort my out by morning.

Kruger National Park Day 14

2014-07-26 | puppy1952

12 July 2014 Mopani To Satara
Our start this morning was early as we were moving to another camp. This time we were to spend three nights in Satara. After three days of clear skies but chilly weather we found that we needed to discard our jerseys quite early in the day as we headed further south. The game viewing also improved and today was one of the best birding days we’ve had this trip.
After packing up, we had coffee and rusks and set of just after 6:15. The temperature was 5 degrees C but rose to 32 later in the day.
We started on the H1-6 and Our first sighting was buffalo then a Swainson’s francolin. We then did the S50 loop and found Kori Bustards at the waterhole as well as Kitlitz plover and Monotonous lark. Later we found red-headed weavers in their non breeding plumage.

Kittlitz Plover

Monotonous Lark

Together with zebra we found some more Tsessebe which are known to be in the Northern part of the park. There were 8 and they were looking good.

Tsebe

When we turned onto the H1-6 again we increased our speed to almost 50 the limit on the tar roads.
Suddenly I spotted a small bird of prey hiding among the leaves of a tree on Earl and Peter’s side of the road. (We are all supposed to keep our eyes open on our own side of the road!) I yelled stop and E had to reverse until I found the spot. They could not believe I’d seen it at that speed and on the other side of the road! It was a little Shikra – a ‘lifer’ for all of us.

Shrika by Earl

When we crossed the bridge over the river we got out of the car between the yellow lines and looked down on the river bed. We found a Saddle-billed stork and two spoonbills sharing a drink as well as white-fronted plovers, some little swifts flying about and a friendly African Pied Wagtail who came right up to our feet on the bridge.

Saddle-billed Stork

At 9:30 we arrived at Letaba and had just over an hour’s break there. Breakfast this time was perfect although we had to wait a while before it was served.
After breakfast it was onto the H1-5 where we found an elephant enjoying a branch full of leaves.

Then a hugely exciting spot for us – two birds of prey which at first we thought were Martial Eagles but on closer inspection we found that they were African Hawk Eagles – a really special sighing One was high in a dead tree and the other in another dead tree in front of it.

African Hawk-eagle

Our next road was the S89. As we went into a dip in the road Heather spotted a nest and asked Earl to stop so we could see if anything was in it – we all saw it at once – a Martial Eagle in a very awkward viewing position. Earl managed to get some good shots. Note its full crop.

Not long after that we found another nest with a bird of prey in it. This time a tawny eagle.

We wondered why we were not seeing Vereaux’s Eagle-owl as it is resident in the park. Heather read up on it and discovered that this is their breeding season so we started paying more attention to nests – they use other birds’ nests instead of making their own. This paid off and Heather was the first to find a Vereaux’s at the top of a tree, hunkering down in its nest. This was on a long dirt road to Satara and while on it we hardly saw another car but the birding and game viewing was good.
We found a few pipits and larks.

Monotonous Lark

Ground hornbills kept company with a few zebra.

Kori Bustards were quite common as were korhaan

The lilac breasted roller is a common but beautiful bird and poses willingly to have its portrait taken. But its cousin is not as pretty but less common so we were thrilled to find him a couple of times. I even managed to get him in flight.

Lilac-breasted Roller by Earl

Purple Roller

At Satara there were plenty of elephants and other game at the waterhole. It seems that we will be having a good time here. We enjoy everything about The Park but would really like to see a leopard. Hopefully our luck will change now that we are back in the South.