Buffalo calves struggle in mud: Video

There were lion tracks all around Banyini and the airstrip at dawn, but I had no joy in finding them.

So no wonder I got all excited when I saw all these vultures in trees at dusk just north of the airstrip. Sadly I wasn’t able to find anything and presume they had just come in to roost. But I will check them out in the morning.

I’m also at a serious disadvantage in looking for a rotting carcass as I can hardly smell. A sense I find I miss quite often in the bush. One day I’ll get it sorted out.
There was lot of elephant activity just south of the hills near Simbiri dam and following up I only encountered a single bull at Ganyani pan.
Moving on to Bandama pan a big herd of buffalo were already all over it. They moved right through the middle of the pan into all the mud and water searching for the cleaner water, but at the same time taking their calves through the potentially treacherous mud. Luckily today they all made it.

I waited some time at the pan hoping the elephant might come. Zebra and giraffe and a lone Sable bull made their appearances but no elephant.

While waiting, I was kept entertained by the Common Sandpipers constantly fighting it out over their territories. They would rise up together each trying to kick the other. Sometimes landing on top of the opponent and trying to drown him, other times grabbing the opponent’s leg in their beaks and again trying to pull them under.
They’re constantly at it and pretty aggressive little dudes.

Returning to Banyini at dusk, a flock of a dozen Marabou storks were feeding in the shallows. The light was beautiful giving some pleasantness to the otherwise really ugly birds. But then they can’t help it.