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Geoff

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I never thought about a leopard eating a mongoose??

That was an interesting experience.

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3 hours ago, mapumbo said:

I never thought about a leopard eating a mongoose??

That was an interesting experience.

 

@mapumbo I wondered whether the leopard would eat the mongoose too. Maybe it just chased them when they started running (as a cat is want to do).

The guide was surprised too. Banded Mongoose frequently urinate and defecate on each other. I've been downwind from a large family group of Banded Mongoose and there was an almighty stench.

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Your work with silhouettes is to be commended!

I also enjoyed seeing the interesting hyena behavior on the previous page.

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The following morning we initially spent some time with one of the lion prides. They had killed a wildebeeste earlier and some of the pride were still picking over the remains.

 

Dragging the carcass

Kicheche-Lion_86I4724.thumb.jpg.1ed7f6bf59c821316a5d15d7cebcab85.jpgKicheche-Lion_86I4716.thumb.jpg.556265215e980636fec0790ee840cbf9.jpg

KIcheche-Lion_86I5023.thumb.jpg.e9ee7d74792f20864c3aaddb13ed6973.jpg

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The pride male. He had an old injury to his back that was withered but he was still charge and looks to have sired a number of offspring.

Kicheche-Lion_86I4680.thumb.jpg.4c65f4835e18ef85b70001421dec49ae.jpg

including this fine young male.

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As the morning temps rose the cubs drank from a puddle before heading for some shade.

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This allowed the scavengers to move in

Kicheche-Hyaena_86I4932.thumb.jpg.8045d16ddaad37c727e2b301d461d103.jpgKicheche-Hyaena_86I4945.thumb.jpg.05ab21133abf020ef63057be786bce35.jpg

 

White-backed vulture

Kicheche-White-backed-Vulture_86I5537.thumb.jpg.e81c0a16604b02574aaf3d35d4ce6f8b.jpg

Tawny Eagle

59c72c541b9c0_Kicheche-TawnyEagle_86I5236.thumb.jpg.4fda3fba58c0e97619824416dff1a318.jpgKicheche-Tawny-Eagle_86I5352.thumb.jpg.dca3504266d30f1465f8e13e3cb8917f.jpg

Yellow-billed Kite (immature)

Kicheche-Yellow-billed-Kite_86I5150.thumb.jpg.015d4bfb9707053e1ace0aa29d04c78b.jpg

 

 

Kicheche-Lion_86I5072.jpg

Edited by Geoff
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More stunning photos for us to enjoy and I especially like that silhouette of the impala with that beautiful sky.

Am intrigued to know what that Tawny's captured. Can't decide what it is.

Guess I'll have to wait a while to find out as you're about to head off.

Have a great time.

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Superb photos Geoff. Very envious of your wildlife sightings and photo opportunities.

Would be good if you could include some details on logistics too, then I can decide if it's viable for me and my other half too!

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1 hour ago, Caracal said:

Am intrigued to know what that Tawny's captured.

 

@Caracal Leftovers from the wildebeeste the lions were feeding from. I didn't post other pics but there was a hammerkop, immature African Fish eagle and a few other critters tucking in to the remains.

 

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

Would be good if you could include some details on logistics too, then I can decide if it's viable for me and my other half too!

 

I'll do that @Dave Williams at the end of the TR. I've got about 5 more days of posts but it will have to wait until I get back from SLNP. 

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@Geoff, such a treat looking at your beautiful photos, you got a lot of babies out and about.

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Absolutely love the images...what a variety, and all so crisp and clean. Very well done!

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offshorebirder

Great stuff @Geoff - thanks for including the Silverbird - one of my favorites.  Wonderful intimate time you had with the Leopards!

 

 

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We noticed not far across the plain that vultures were descending to the ground so we decided to take a look.

We found hyaenas quickly cleaning up another wildebeeste carcass.

Kicheche-Hyaena_86I5497.thumb.jpg.80aded17d8fbdedc3fe8b69d9a865230.jpgKicheche-Hyaena_86I5478.thumb.jpg.efa98f7f8a4cdc8e80bea5fa74493f4a.jpgKicheche-Hyaena_86I5757.thumb.jpg.b5bfff82ac374b7a6bae8e30b831adff.jpg 

With each passing minute more and more vultures were arriving at the carcass and it was a great opportunity for some vulture flight images. 

59c833641e9f0_KichecheRuppellsGriffonVulture_G8A4748.thumb.jpg.9ae6c9cb5888b997adecc767ff46ef76.jpgKicheche-Griffen-Vulture_G8A4785.thumb.jpg.b01b8adff001716644e7bc4f8996546d.jpgKicheche-Lappett-faced-Vulture_86I6021.thumb.jpg.375cbbb1c59dc16fb76ae8213781e328.jpg59c8339aa2d38_Kicheche-Ruppells-vulture_G8A4749.thumb.jpg.b8936cc01405aa39dd885335898d20cc.jpgKicheche-Lappett-faced-Vultures_86I6016.thumb.jpg.41f603d4b3d4c9db198ea4cf494057fb.jpgKicheche-White-Backed-Vulture_86I5752.thumb.jpg.f48e5d34ca4eada078abaac992991699.jpg59c834067e180_Kicheche-RuppellsGriffon-Vulture_86I5980.thumb.jpg.75360c9098bb219b2eb3572742315467.jpg

and a marabou stork too

Kicheche-Marabou-Stork_86I5989.thumb.jpg.a3c80aecd31fc93cc49d32dbdfd99a98.jpg

In no time there wasn't much left of the carcass

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We left the vultures with their meagre remains and headed in the direction of a wildebeeste herd milling about considering crossing a small stream.

On the way there were a few buffalo.

Kicheche-Buffalo_86I5424.thumb.jpg.de94bf8977e2b326c12eb39d562c797c.jpgKicheche-Buffalo_86I5428.thumb.jpg.5e052e8216d533246f4cf79de3fc4e60.jpg

A zebra stands point guard for the wildebeeste.

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The wildebeeste crossed on either side of us and it was hard to know where to look. A few crossing pics.

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A topi joined in too.

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To finish off the morning I took some portrait shots.

Topi

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Tommie

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Grant's Gazelle

Kicheche-Grants-Gazelle_86I6990.thumb.jpg.b0b179078101acb0ea602a962a734c6b.jpg

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great photos 

 

I can fully understand  your position on avoiding crowds, I hate them myself , I want to get close to nature not a load of mini vans and jeeps

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Wow!...incredible images...some of those BIF are out of this world, and the cape bull with the bird is stunning!....really enjoying your fantastic photos... some of the best I've ever seen...bravo!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Before I continue this report two corrections to bird ids from post #37

 

Arrow-marked Babbler (thanks to @offshorebirder) wrongly id'd as a Black-lored Babbler

Entim-Arrow-Marked-Babbler_G8A3070.thumb.jpg.05ac501c781fc1fbab90faea96ceea58.jpg

Slate-coloured Boubou. Not happy with my initial id (Northern black flycatcher) I sent the image to a friend who forwarded it to a Kenyan ornithologist.

 Entim-Slate-coloured-Boubou_G8A3064.thumb.jpg.4ab6a568d5bf8406ea12534ac8d98f24.jpg

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In the early afternoon we sat quietly and watched a breeding herd of elephant slowly approach as they foraged.

Soon they were feeding all around us. A lovely peaceful sighting.

 Kicheche-Elephant_G8A5130.thumb.jpg.bf69e22c9d4830a00ed100c8bdff945a.jpgKicheche-Elephants_G8A4955.thumb.jpg.ea0569f3c642d6c4fb8e540212ac514f.jpgKicheche-Elephant_G8A4999.thumb.jpg.fcb500cccb98ab319582e438bf113c3c.jpgKicheche-Elephant_86I6413.thumb.jpg.44f060c12b506bb09965e4a8303737aa.jpgKicheche-Elephant_G8A4984.thumb.jpg.26d8553869d4090eaccd9464f335ce8a.jpg

Edited by Geoff
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@Geoff

 

Great report and stunning Photos.

Please check the Oxpecker in post nr 1. I believe that you have mis indentified it. I believe that it is a Yellowbilled Oxpecker

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offshorebirder

Really nice elephant photos @Geoff - especially in what must have been harsh light during early afternoon on a cloudless day.  

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/17/2017 at 8:32 PM, mvecht said:

@Geoff

 

Great report and stunning Photos.

Please check the Oxpecker in post nr 1. I believe that you have mis indentified it. I believe that it is a Yellowbilled Oxpecker

 

@mvecht  Correct you are. Well spotted. 

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Later on a good find was a sleeping leopard.

Kicheche-Leopard_86I7132.thumb.jpg.f2cb28b35a72d74dd112cbc06ae0c3d5.jpg

It began to cloud over and we were in for more rain.

Grey-headed Kingfisher

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Dik-dik

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Even so there was some nice colours at sunset.

Rain in the distance but we remained dry.

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The following morning we transferred from Kicheche Bush camp to Kicheche Valley camp.

 

On the way there were more lions. Some well fed...

Kicheche-Lion_86I4376.thumb.jpg.0ab7fbb2519c5c36a5dee84c41d39f17.jpgKicheche-Lion_G8A4459.thumb.jpg.7b3c6623834d5dc058214d0a0ad019c8.jpgKicheche-Lion-Eye_G8A4434.thumb.jpg.3228f87bfb767b3cabe9086a2aca8891.jpg

 Others still looking for a meal.

Absolute intent. Watching passing wildebeeste.

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A cub watches and patiently waits for the outcome of a hunt. It failed.

Kicheche-Lion-cub_86I7340.thumb.jpg.a8956dddae849febbd2a38547ab10ff5.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Geoff
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@Geoff, I imagine a sleeping Leopard, on the ground, is something not a lot of us get to see....

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Stunning photos and fantastic TR!  You really create a "story" with words/photos!

We had debated on which location for awhile, and finally decided Kenya for next safari: all Kicheche camps in the Mara... thanks so much for all your advice!  SLNP will have to wait to another trip (hopefully).

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I enjoyed the scenery with the rocky outcrops and woodland that surrounded Kicheche Valley camp.

 

During our first game drive here (an afternoon drive) we had some of the best light for our trip.

 

Elephant family.

Kicheche-Valley-Elephant-herd_G8A5401.thumb.jpg.987e39a536d90205ea2b8b8fea2e162a.jpg

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Pied Kingfisher

Kicheche-Valley-Pied-Kingfisher_G8A5266.thumb.jpg.f5b5f74c778a70372127f57abd1e88ba.jpg

A fantastic find was a pair of Pygmy Falcons. Unfortunately we couldn't get close and I only came away with record shots.

Kicheche-Valley-Pygmy-Falcons_G8A5559.thumb.jpg.aaa078211a89c3a44e445f76adfc14ab.jpg5a022d01978a1_KichecheValleyPygmy-Falcon_G8A5615.thumb.jpg.8ce367c215b3303dbe55ddfb8bd86746.jpg

 

Not long before sundowners we watched hyaena pups at their den

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Adult approaching the den site

Kicheche-Valley-Hyaena-backlit_86I7554.thumb.jpg.d277c20e567f8868ff640068c5e194cc.jpg

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offshorebirder

Just noticed the Tawney Eagle in post #57 @Geoff.    Question:    is it in the process of vomiting?

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