First up is the answer to yesterday’s bird challenge.
The Mystery Bird was a Wahlberg’s Eagle.
It was quite a tricky one, but if you look carefully you can just see the dark patch of its folded-down crest. That might have been easier for those viewing on PCs rather than mobile devices…
Anyway…
“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the
willingness to learn is a choice.”― Brian Herbert
As I am slowly – or should I say quickly – getting encapsulated by photographing wildlife, I find myself surrounded by many people who have already been taken down this journey and are now passionate and experienced wildlife photographers. This TWIP is built on learning and my photographic journey thus far. Recently I had the pleasure of driving a well-known wildlife photographer, and although it was my job to find and create photographic opportunities for her, I also allowed myself to learn in return. I particularly learned to take images from a distance. We are very fortunate to get close to animals on Londolozi but sometimes creating the setting and watching from a distance can create an incredible image.
This learning process has encouraged me to open my mind to learning from everyone that I can. Some of my colleagues are the most exceptional photographers, each with their own individual touch, and each can teach me so much. Surround yourself with those that inspire you. Even those that are also just starting their photographic journey have the ability to give you perspectives that you would have never thought of when trying to capture that ‘perfect’ image. In this case a friend of mine stopped for me to take a photo simply of good light on a Scotia tree, which I have to be honest, didn’t turn out quite how we imagined but the next time I saw this, I snatched the opportunity and captured one of my favourite images.
Two years into wildlife photography and I have so much to learn from so many around me. It’s quite an exciting thought. This week’s images are all ones that I have based on what I have learned over the past two weeks.
Enjoy this Week in Pictures…
The airstrip is often a great place for crossing of wildlife; here a hyena waits and listens in the purple light of an overcast morning to hear if there are alarm calls in the area, possibly signalling a predator and some free food. We were doing the exact same thing.
Moonlight allowed us to watch as a Birmingham male had a quick drink, but before doing so he was distracted by his own reflection in the night.
This Hippo Bull was not happy with our presence as he displayed his size by gaping his jaws wide and a large splash of water. We kept our distance.
A male leopard scans his surrounds, very relaxed as we viewed from quite a distance. The moment we moved closer, he vanished down the tree and into the long grass. Skittish and elusive; the natural behaviour of leopards who have not had the time to become habituated to the presence of man.
I still cannot believe the incredible light from this morning. We stopped on a crest and just watched the misty morning as the sun rose above the rolling hills.
Recently seen more on Londolozi as Ranger Nick Sims talks about in his recent blog, an Avoca male observes a dazzle of zebra as they pass a nearby crest in the afternoon light.
This impressive buffalo bull looks at the rest of his herd as the sun slowly sets behind him.
Long grass has made photography challenging over the last few months.
A young giraffe stares at us through the green thicket. With the bush so lush at the moment, sometimes you only see the neck and head of the tallest animal on earth.
The Flat Rock male has his eyes set on a termite mound. Leopards will often investigate inactive termite mounds to see if there are any warthog families inside; if there are, then it becomes a waiting game.
Probably one of my most incredible elephant sightings as two bulls – one seen in this image – splashed and played around in this waterhole for about an hour. We sat, watched, laughed and were left speechless by the sheer enjoyment they provided us.
The Senegal Bush male. As the constant battle for territories continues between the male leopards of Londolozi, it is an exciting time to be tracking as you never know which male leopard you may find. We found this male with a kill in the tree, which is what his eyes were clearly focused on.
An overcast morning, low-lying clouds and heavy rains gave me the opportunity to capture these zebra on the airstrip.
Two buffalo bulls enjoy a pan as it cools them down on a hot day. We have been seeing quite a lot of a large herd of buffalo and it creates a breathtaking scene when they all come to drink in big numbers.
An impala ram is very alert as he watches two male lions patrol on a misty summer’s morning.
The Ximungwe young male shows us how vicious a leopard’s teeth can look as he snarls at a hyena nearby.
African Green Pigeons are such beautiful birds, often only seen in thick green foliage on the heights of a tall tree, so to see these two individuals out in the open on some dead branches was great. They were very relaxed, allowing us to look at all their colour variations in their feathers.
Crocodiles’ cat-like eyes are able to see in colour, underwater and at night. A sense like this needs to be kept safe; crocodiles have thick reinforced eye-lids and during an attack they can draw their eyeballs back into the sockets for protection.
The key tool to a leopard’s unbelievable balance when in trees; its tail.
One of the Birmingham Male Lions, walking through the mauve flowers of Wild Foxglove.
Your pictures are stunning this week Dean. Love the two buffalo photos.
Dean, I loved all the photos, especially the one with elephant, lion drinking, and the pigeons🤗
Excellent variety of outstanding photos. Most uplifting at this time. Thank you Dean.
Hi Dean. Really good pics. Loved the Buffaloes cooling off in the water! Also, the green pigeons. Have you many of them at Londolozi? Wendy M
Great collection! Very varied. I love the tree at sunrise, the elephant and the leopard tail.
Dean, your paying attention to details, looking at creative views of both flora and fauna are really illustrated in this week’s blog. I love wildlife photography and crave learning from all those around me, never fearing asking questions or advice to keep improving. This is the perfect start to my weekend while sheltered at home here in California. Thank you!!
Hello Dean! It was a pleasure seeing your pictures from the last two weeks! I especially liked 5/21 the leopard resting in a tree, really beautiful!! 6/21 The beautiful morning light!, amazing! 12/21 Fantastic elephant photo! 15/21 What a original buffalo photo you have taken! Looks like they are really enjoying the SPA!, 20/21 What a great, funny and original photo of a leopards tail!, fantastic! I forget to mention the hyena at the airstripe, it’s lovely!
Dean, Enjoying the great variety in this weeks pictures. Thank you. Everything looking green and healthy
Stunning images, each and every one. I particularly liked the Birmingham boy looking at his reflection, the Buffalo with the setting sun and the African green pigeons. So beautiful thank you.
As you all undoubtedly know, the US is basically under total quarantine due to the corona virus. I sincerely hope that all of you at Londolozi remain virus free and know that to spend time each day looking at the wonders of the bush is very cheering. Thank you. Victoria
Great photos, Dean! I’m normally not a big fan of “distance” wildlife photography, but your impala in the mist and the leopard in the tree photos were excellent and inspiring. Further, I liked your mix of closeups and distance shots. Love the Senegal male!
Hi Dean, great selection of photos as always! Was wondering if the Birminghams have responded in any way to the Avocas’ and Nkuhumas’ presence in the northern sector of Londolozi that you know of? Also wondering if you have any update on the Ndzandzeni Female and if she or her cubs have been seen?
Yay! I got the bird ID correct again! My first correct one was the greater honeyguide!
You have such a creative eye and perspective. Love each and every photo, intense, gentle to quirky. Great images!
Wow, just love the leopard tail in perfect formation with the branch 👌🏻🙏🏻❤️
Photography is a ‘forever learning’ process, Dean! You are picking up some valuable skills. Wishing you all the best with learning and with bankrolling all of the gear! 🤣 Thanks for sharing your wonderful shots!
An incredible gallery of images as usual!!! That shot of the green pigeons is particularly special!!
I used this site for my first attempt at identifying a bird in SAR http://www.eishsa.co.za/minisites/birdssa.html#bookmark20
As you can see, they show the light morph of the Wahlberg’s Eagle. So, I guessed the Tawny Eagle. But, upon finding out that the bird in the picture wasn’t the Tawny, I went back for a closer inspection. I found this photograph with the tawny and Wahberg’s together in a tree. This is when I found out the Wahlberg’s has a dark morph and, my goodness, the Tawny is much larger, as you can see https://www.hbw.com/ibc/species/wahlbergs-eagle-hieraaetus-wahlbergi (look about 3/4 way down the page). But, to make matters even more interesting, the coincidence that the American actor, Mark Wahlberg, starred in a movie about the Eagle’s (
Invincible (2006 film) – Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org › wiki › Invincible_(2006_film)
So, it begs the question, which came first, the eagle or the egg? Do they know each other?
Enjoyed the closeup of the leopard’s teeth,
Interesting pattern with the lower smaller teeth.
Dean we are so grateful that we were one of the last safaris with you before the pandemic. Both you and Ray were fun and knowledgeable and most accommodating! Cheers til we meet again.
The Ximungwe young male was displaying his 32 reasons why that hyena should stay away. That was a great capture of that photo.