Kgalagadi 2016: A Lion A Day Keeps A Doctor Awake

[xelas]

@@wildlifepainter

Maybe we should join you on your next visit to Kgalagadi ?

[hannahcat]

If I wait for the end of this trip report, there will be too many great things to comment on! So let me go ahead and take a break (I'm only on page seven) and just say how much I'm enjoying it. What an amazing cheetah sequence! And jackals are going to the top of my wishlist -- they're just gorgeous in your photos, very graceful and full of personality.

 

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[wildlifepainter]

Hey Alex, you know you're welcome to join us. But you better get cracking on those reservations. Maybe you can give me some photo lessons?

[Chakra]

What can I add that has not been said already ! A big thanks for sharing the photo of my "domesticated" Halfmen's tree at Upington airport. I remember driving mile after mile to see one in Richtersveld and there was one sitting right in the airport !!

 

I remember you complaining after your first trip to KTP about not many predator sighting. Well, nothing to complain this time.

 

Much as I like Zavedza's excellent photos of raptors, lions and cheetah chase, but the ground Agama was my favourite. As you know I'm always promoting the Little Five and he/she is a true champion of them.

 

Keep it coming mate !

 

@@Galana : your knowledge continues to bowl me over !!

[deano]

@@xelas - really liked the lion and giraffe sequence and then the giraffes drinking. And a wild cat. And then a fantastic view of the beautiful KTP. Between you and @@TonyQ my 2017 trip planning is going to be a brawl between Kenya and the KTP!

 

kind regards

 

deano.

[xelas]

@@Chakra

Thanks for joining our adventures, and for all nice words. Indeed the Little 5 are as impressive as the Big 5; learned that two years ago on a tour with mr.Braine.

Only 2 1/2 days left to cover ...

 

 

@@deano

Do both! In the same year!! OK, I know, ... but lets do some dreaming ... !

Edited March 31, 2016 by xelas

[cheetah80]

The last Wild Cat photo is just exquisite!!! Love it! You have had good luck with them, I'm jealous I only ever saw one, and then it was quite far. I hope the luck will change this year

[Zim Girl]

Beautiful sequence of the giraffes drinking and probably the best wild cat pictures I have ever seen.

[TonyQ]

The wild cat photos are superb - what an excellent sighting of a beautiful animal

[xelas]

@@cheetah80

The way of the Nature is unpredicted; last visit we were only seen lions and cheetahs from great distances. This year, at least lions, were everywhere. I wish you good luck with AWC.

 

@@Zim Girl

The wild cat must be attracted to Zvezda; last year the one was fighting the "foo fighter", this year we have seen them on various days. Even a kitten, but that one only by eyes.

 

@@TonyQ

Thanks! It is a sight to behold. Now, what about a leopard ...

[JohnR]

I'm so jealous of the wild cat. I've only seen them in circumstances where I couldn't photograph them.

[xelas]

@@JohnR

There is always a next trip ...

[xelas]

(continued)

 

The morning drive continued as planned: driving from waterhole to waterhole and scanning the grounds and the trees. There were some bushes occupied by lions but they have all been doing ... nothing, so no photos. All that looking attentively at the trees produced zero leopard ... but plenty of birds ! Mostly those that we have seen already but also some new ones. Here they are:

 

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Tawny Eagle #1

Namaqua Sandgrouse, her and him

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Verreaux's Eagle, juv. (??)

Crowned Lapwing (Plover) - 2016 Edition

Crowned Lapwing (Plover) - 2015 Edition

Wattled Starling & Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Cape Glossy Starling

Striped Kingfisher

Tawny Eagle #2

Shaft-tailed Whydah

A very late breakfast at the picnic site, and on towards Gemsbokplain. No cheetah today. Instead we saw a group of spotted hyenas, in too deep of a shade, and a nice lady who is visiting Kgalagadi from 1954 onward gave us plenty of useful information. Chatting with fellow nature lovers is one of the best things while waiting for some action to develop. Once again the heat built up so we return to the camp. No ice cream as the store in Mata Mata does not hold it .

 

 

(to be continued)

[bettel]

I think you should start your own topic on Big Year 2016 forum

[wildlifepainter]

Great bird photos and your lapwing is improved over last year's. Good job! I have to agree with you, visiting with fellow guests is half of the fun of the KTP which isn't the case in Etosha or other parks IMHO. Most everyone is anxious and willing to share sightings and tips and everyone is generally happy no matter how slow the day is. I wish I was there now!

[xyz99]

That lapwing, wow...what a difference a year makes Same camera?

[Marks]

Love the hare on page 16. Recently finished a re-read of one of my all time favorite novels, Watership Down, and while the species are of course not the same, they're similar enough to bring a smile to my face.

Superb capture of the springboks.

The lion walking in front of the giraffes is also really well-photographed.

[xelas]

@@xyz99

Interestingly enough, the 2015 Edition should come out better; some of feather details were "lost in translation" between Google+ and Safaritalk, however even looking at originals, the 2016 birds photography is a nice step above 2015.

Here are detailes:

Edition 2015: Nikon D7100, AF-S 300f/4, TC-E14II: f/8, 1/500 sec, 420mm, ISO160

Edition 2016: Nikon D7100, AF-S 300f/4, TC-E17II: f/8, 1/1000 sec, 500mm, ISO250

 

@@Marks

Thanks! That hare was a surprising sight; I have not seen one posted before (on Kgalagadi TR). Although not seen on final processed photos, it was very dark and I am surprised the AF was working at all.

[Kitsafari]

stupendous cheetah hunt!

 

and adorable pronging springboks. i've yet to see them... one can only hope and dream....

 

still very much behind on page 17 @@xelas, but so enjoying your words and her photos.

[Kitsafari]

awesome AFC sighting. it's so like our domestic street cats, it really can pass as one.

[Peter Connan]

Some more beautiful birds!

[xelas]

(continued)

 

 

The afternoon game drive started with more birds. Identifying birds of prey is a real challenge for me, as i always want too "see" new species . Yet quite sure those two are properly IDed

 

Steppe Buzzard

Next we have stayed longer with those colourful gems of nature namely the bee-eaters. Alongside the LBR, the bee-eater is Zvezda's favourite. This one below is pretty but ordinary photo of one ...

 

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

... while being patient and staying with it for a longer time proved to be very good idea.

 

In 2014 trip report, the LBR with a bug was quite a hit, and I hope the sequence above will be of equal interest.

 

 

This giraffe close-up is posted mostly because the light makes the eye very shiny.

 

And springboks are added .... because they are always a pretty sight. And even prettier if in a late afternoon light.

 

It was another long day and we were quite tired when approaching the camp when the two male lions were spotted on the sand dune just above the camp itself! The photos, again in very low light, are nothing special ... but they are an important link to our last day in Kgalagadi! Stay tuned!

 

[Galana]

Another excellent set and I especially like the action with the BeeEater and the lighting on the last Springbok photo..

[Towlersonsafari]

Lovely bee eater shots!

[xyz99]

Love the bee eaters! I never saw a perched one - just one (or maybe a few) in flight, fairly high up, in Southern Turkey. Zvezda's sequence with the bug (is that a moth?) is fantastic!