The 2022 Africa Journals, Ch. 24: The No Drama Day, Except for the Bee-eater and the Dragonfly

 

Chapter 24:

The No Drama Day, except for  the Bee-eater and the Dragonfly

I need drama in my life to keep making music-

-Eminem

Today was a No Drama day, except for the dragonfly and the Little Bee-eater that couldn't swallow it.    Other than that, it was great day to focus on photos, pardon the pun.  

Tea and cookies arrived with my wake-up call at 5 A.M.  I rushed through them, then hustled to the common area to wait for the trucks to arrive.   My luggage was all packed and waiting so staff could move it to Marg's tent.   We would share for the next three days at Enkewa.

Today, Sylvia and I were in Johnson's truck.   I took more than 1400 photos today.    Don't worry--I won't publish anywhere near that amount.

Well, wait.  There were the wildebeest that raced across the Salt River, water splashing and sand flying, apparently afraid of any crocodiles that might be lurking in the two inches of water.    

 

Whew, we can all breathe easier after their safe crossing, right?   Actually, their dash across the river might be attributed to learned memory.   During the Great Migration, when tens of thousands of wildebeest gather to "follow the grass", crocodiles are indeed waiting for them, though in somewhat deeper water.

That happened in the afternoon.   I just thought I'd get that wee bit of gnu-imagined drama out of the way.   Gnu, by the way, is another name for wildebeest.

First off, though, Johnson found a large pride of lions descending a slight grade and they were walking in the vehicle tracks.   You can often find that in the early morning as they try to avoid the dew-laden grasses,   They also like to lie on the bare tracks as they are the first to wear up.

So, here we are with the lion pride in the pre-dawn darkness.

Lions frequently lie down and wait for another lion to play with, like the cat above.

Then, DRAMA!   Yes, I know I said it was a No Drama day but lighting doesn't count.

Knowing that photographers like to shoot animals that are walking right toward them, the guides drove past a bunch and then angled the vehicle so we would be in perfect position.   The lions couldn't care less.   They are quite used to it.

If you look closely, you will see the back on a lion lying down in the track on the far side of the truck.

Then I noticed that every time we passed a certain young male, he would chase after the truck.  Then he started making eye contact with me.   Apparently his chase instinct was triggered.   I was concerned about the eye contact, though, and guessed his next step would be to jump into the truck.

This is the juvenile delinquent that was chasing trucks.   I couldn't get a photo of him in the actual chase because we were moving.

During the third time, I stuck my head out and said, "NO!"   That caused him to draw back on his haunches and stare.

It probably won't cure him of chasing safari trucks, though.   I just hope he stops before he hurts someone and has put down.    I guess that could be considered Drama.

We aren't supposed to do that, by the way.   We aren't supposed to have any interaction with the animals at all.   I thought the situation was serious enough to scold him, though.

About the bee-eater DRAMA!    This is what happens when your  eyes are bigger than your gullet.

That's  a very nice dragonfly, but it's so big.   How are you going to swallow it?

I don't think butt-first will work.   What about those big wings?

See?

Sideways is even worse.

Just keep working on it, my Little friend.

Well, that was exciting!

THEN, the NO DRAMA began.

Black-bellied bustard.

Fork-tailed drongo, also called The Thief.   It has the ability to mimic many bird calls and when it sees a bird with a delicious morsel, it mimics th alarm call, causing the bird to drop its food and fly away.   Then the drongo swoops in for a treat.

My favorite African insect, the dung beetle.

For some entertaining info on dung beetles, follow this link:

A pair of elands cooperated for a photo.

A small herd of elephants.

We came to a wet area and found several wading birds, like this Hadada ibis, also called Hadeda, or as Marg calls it, "That damn bird!"    Ah, the problem with the Hadada is its very loud calls which it like to make early win the morning, even before the roosters have a chance to wake everyone up.

I call it Africa's alarm clock.

Africa's natural alarm clock, the Hadeda Ibis.   I got this off the Internet.   Click on the arrow to hear the Hadeda.

    

These two photos are of a Goliath heron, the largest heron in Africa, standing five feet high with a wingspan of 7.7 feet.

A line of wildebeest coming down a hill.

And mixing with their symbiotic friends, the zebra.    The zebra are the brains; the wildebeest are the brawn.   Zebra eat the taller stems of grass and the gnus eat the grass close to the ground.

Green-backed heron.   I don't know what its title friend is.

Kestrel.

Black-shouldered kite.

Wattled lapwing.

Wattled lapwing

Imapala stags in the bed of the Sand River.

This lilac breasted roller is tossing an insect in the air so it can catch it head first.   That makes it easier to swallow.   

The catch.

The following three photos are of a Secretary Bird, so called because it resembles an old fashioned British clerk with its white morning coat, pencils in the hair, etc.   I love them!

Not only are they exceptional-looking birds, but look at those eyelashes!

Red-necked spurfowl.

The pretty little Steenbok, a small antelope standing only 20 inches at the shoulder.

White-backed vulture.

Warthogs

The answer to the age-old question about whether zebras have white or black stripes is this:   Zebras have black skin and hence, white stripes.

 

We found the Salt River pride all sacked out in the shade of various bushes.

They had been feeding on the carcass of a Cape buffalo down in a ditch.

And I'll wrap up today's journals with a bit of lion  porn.