Those fat cats are STILL fat and still lazying around in much the same area they were yesterday, just north of the airstrip.
Magwaza has left Manyari and her boys, and this evening they’ve all been roaring crazily and I can even hear them now as I sit here typing.
With the lions providing for a little less than anything exciting, I bolted east in search of elephant. I had a whole pile of their tracks heading through the hills just west of Nduna, but think they must be holed up in the hills with no access for me.
I carried on through the hills to Lojaan dam. The dam was quiet and even my friendly hippo wasn’t there, so I took a stroll around the dam. Just as I got to the waters edge my hippo mate bolted out the water in a splashing display and then settled down as if nothing had happened. The dude must have been resting underwater when I arrived.
Carrying on through the hills to Nduna dam there was no further sign of elephants and only these 2 impala rams sizing each other up.
Having checked on the lions towards dusk still in the same place, I took myself to Banyini for what I hoped to be a spectacular sunset. I got all set up to shoot time lapse of the sunset, which was almost nice but just didn’t flare up into a major spectacle.
While I had the camera locked off filming the sunset, I was strolling around the area. Of course being sure not to get myself in the shot. Then One-Tusk and her family came strolling out the mopanie into the open area of Banyini as they headed to the pan to drink. (One-tusk wasn’t in the mood to come and hassle me.)
If I told you I flew my microlight today, you probably wouldn’t believe me or more likely you’re saying “damn bloody time!”
Had a magical flight at dusk but only for quarter of an hour. AND the good news is the plane fits perfectly in the hangar! I was sure I had messed up on some measurements but all just fine.
On my early morning airstrip patrol the giraffe and impala seemed unsettled but not really looking in any direction. Right on the eastern end of the airstrip I found 4 extremely well fed FAT CATS. Manyari, Magwaza and the 2 males. They are ridiculously over fed and eventually sauntered off into the bush and passed out.
That was them done for the day.
I was out early on my dawn patrol, all excited that I’d be spending more time in the field today.
But the bush wasn’t that excited to see me. Well if they were, they didn’t come out and make a song and dance about it, but I was happy as always to bump into one of my real friends on his way home to sleep.
At least for me it was just a bargain being out on my daily work doing what I love.
All morning was quiet, except for the dawn procession of guineafowl coming to drink at Bandama pan. The guineafowl flocks are huge this year as they’ve bred exceptionally well following the good early rains.
I took a drive through the hills past Lojaan dam and back to Banyini.
Banyini was fairly quiet and I found this dead Booted eagle (Imm.). It seemed to be in good condition. I’m waiting for feedback from the vet.
I did have to sneak home in the heat of the day to test my hand at welding, manufacturing a trolley to carry the microlight.
But I was quickly out again in the afternoon down to the Chiredzi River where the elephant bulls are hanging out at the moment.
Several were on the bank feeding and others were already crossing the river all in their own time. They really weren’t in any rush to get anywhere at dusk. Not like most who’re rushing home from a hard days work in the office. These guys have it Gooood, but only so long as poachers don’t get their dirty hands in here. At least Malilangwe is one of the safest places for them.
Well you’ve sure been getting a little behind the scenes stuff of a filmmaker. It’s not always all the rosy stuff, but then it is a pretty cool place to be building a hangar when the troops come by on their way to the feeding grounds.
Again today the baboons sauntered by. And they just kept coming and coming over the rise. There sure is a huge bag full of those guys.
Otherwise my day was again spent in the hangar, but I’m hoping that’s about it. There a few little things to tweak but basically it’s finally finished and the next phase is rigging the plane AND then getting airborne!!!
So its soon back to normal days with the added bonus of the microlight to assist my work.
Thanks for hanging around and being patient.
Of course I didn’t get much else to photograph except the sunset on my way home.
So with no real pictures for the day, I dug into my archive and going back to a month ago, I found today was the day I had that awesome time with the 3 black rhino!
Besides the normal impala herd on the airstrip, a lone elephant bull also crossed over on the eastern end on his way to water.
At least today I didn’t find any new carcasses.
But then I took a different route heading west down to the Chiredzi River. It’s just the most magical drive down there in the Acacia woodlands.
But in the early hours things are always pretty quiet along the river although I did see this giraffe bull heading down to drink.
A few elephant were a ways off feeding in the mopanie woodlands where they get most of their sustenance at this time of year.
Just before heading back to hangar duty I did my rounds on Banyini and in the cool weather, this really handsome White Rhino bull was drinking at the pan before sauntering off south.
And just as I was about to start work, a troop of baboon crossed the airstrip right next to my hangar. Those little guys riding on their mom’s backs sure have it good. They’re always so comical. Pity my mom’s back was never that comfortable AND fun!
I wouldn’t say it was back to an exciting start.
2 carcasses in a couple of kilometres of each other.
The buffalo cow looked like she’d died of old age. He teeth were really badly worn and she was extremely thing. The carcass was already a couple of days old and the vultures had moved on. They had found new pickings.
The giraffe cow seemed to be in the prime of her life and died of natural causes. And the vultures were really tucking in to this one.
Both carcasses had hardly been touched by other predators. There had been some chewing on bones but probably only by jackal.
We had both carcasses tested for anthrax and thankfully both were negative.
On my way out this morning, 4 of my friends came strolling down the road all bloodied and well fed. So no guessing what they’d been up to. The hyaenas carried on up into the hills. The one female is full of milk and obviously nursing. If only I could find their den. No doubt when I’m airborne in the next few days I hope to pick up on these sorts of things.
It was another day at the hangar and all nearly done!
Only at sunset did I get out to Bandama pan with little going on except for the Egyptian geese, Blacksmith plover and Booted Eagle all trying to get along.
Recent Comments