A hot day in paradise

Much the same as yesterday at dawn around the Halali waterhole with the Verraux’s Eagle Owl again coming to drink along with many Double-banded Sandgrouse.

Verraux's Eagle Owl

Also Golden-breasted and Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, African Grey Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, White-browed Scrub-Robin and many Helmeted Guineafowl present around the waterhole.

Golden-breasted Bunting

The walk back ton the camp was equally productive, with Brown-crowned Tchagra, Long-billed Crombec, Grey-backed Cameroptera, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, a few White-crested Helmet-Shrikes and a Groundscraper Thrush along the path.

Grey-backed Cameroptera

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Red-billed Buffalo-weaver
White-crested Helmet-shrike

Groundscraper Thrush

Not much else done during the morning whilst waiting for a puncture to be mended and Toni coming down with a bout of suspected food poisoning.

The afternoon spent around the Okahojou Camp where many Sociable Weavers were present scrounging for food around the tables attracting the attention of a Little Sparrowhawk. Also African Red-eyed Bulbul and a Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler here. A visit to Olifontsbad waterhole in the evening was very quiet apart from hundreds of Helmeted Guineafowl and a Cape Hare and also a Lioness at Gemsbokvelate waterhole at dusk.

Lioness

A bit of excitement at the Okekojou waterhole after dark with 2 Black Rhinos, a horde of Elephants and the ubiquitous Black-backed Jackals.

Another day in paradise

Another fantastic day around Etosha starting with several hundred Double Banded Sandgrouse at the Halali waterhole at dawn along with a superb Verraux’s Eagle Owl which having failed to catch a sandgrouse stopped for a drink. Also White-browed Scrub-Robin, Lilac-breasted Roller and Grey-backed Cameroptera here and lots of Greater Blue-eared Starlings and a few Red-billed Hornbills around the camp during the morning, though the light was too poor early morning for many photos.

Red-billed Hornbill
Greater Blue-eared Starling

Few birds seen during a morning drive though 1 Painted Snipe, 3 African Jacanas and a pair of Red-crested Koorhans seen. A pride of 8+ Lions gave superb views by the road to Salvadora Waterhole, one female coming to within 15 metres of the car whilst the Zebras beat a hasty retreat. Also a Steenbok seen sitting in the shade by the track.

Lioness

Steenbok

20+ Elephants present at Goas waterhole along with many Black-faced Impala and Greater Kudu and several hundred Red-billed Quelea here attracting the attention of Lanner and Gabar Goshawk.

African Elephant

Gabar Goshawk

Red-billed Queleas

An evening drive was much better for birds with a stonking Batleur circling overhead and Red-necked Falcon and Lappet-faced Vulture perched in roadside trees.

Batleur

Lappet-faced Vulture

Red-necked Falcon

Several Lilac-breasted Rollers and 1 Purple Roller also seen along with 5+ Black-backed Jackals around a dying Zebra.

Lilac-breasted Roller

Purple Roller

3 Black Rhinos at the Halali waterhole at dusk along with 2 Lions and many Double-banded Sandgrouse and a Rufous-cheeked Nightjar.

Etosha Wonderland

A drive through Etosha National Park to Halali camp produced an excellent variety of mammals in particular, most of which at very close range with many Burchell’s Zebras and Springbok and fewer Oryx, Greater Kudu and Blue Wildbeest on the plains.

Giraffe

2 Lions present by Rjetfontain waterhole but were asleep and also Giraffe and many Springbok here along with Crowned Lapwing, Blacksmith Plovers, African Jacana and several Namaqua Sandgrouse.

Crowned Lapwing

Blacksmith Plover

Namaqua Sandgrouse

3 Elephants present at Newbrownii waterhole along with many other game plus 2 Secretary Birds and several Ostriches.

Secretary Bird

Ostrich

1 Black Rhino showed well by the road in scrub near Halali and a very photogenic Black-backed Jackal also seen along with Greater Kestrel, Double-banded Courser and several Kori Bustard and Northern Black Koorhans.

Black-backed Jackal

Greater Kestrel

Kori Bustard

Northern Black Koorhan

The rest of the evening spent around the camp where Groundscraper Thrush, Southern White-crowned Shrike and the usual African Red-eyed Bulbuls were present. Little seen on a dusk visit to the waterhole other than 2 Lions and 2+ Rufous-cheeked Nightjars.