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Jay · 04-08-2012 18:48:40

The point of this trip was my younger nephew's 21st, so birding was kinda squeezed in wink His parents had left for their new work in the Delta (Botswana) so of course some of the family HAD to go up to Hoedspruit for his birthday!

My dad and I flew up to Lanseria....the very very very early morning drive to CT airport gave us a Barn Owl flying across the road and a Bat-eared Fox which just wouldn't get out of the road until we stopped and switched off the head lights, not exactly a highly recommended move on a country road in the pitch dark LOL!

We landed half an hour early, yip, miracles do exist, and the drive to Hoedspruit went well, except when the Garmin lost the signal in Belfast and honest truth, we heard her panic lol

It was the first time we have driven through Dullstroom, and wow, what a gorgeous little town! As we drove out, a Fish Eagle circled above a dam....this is apparently wonderful birding while horse-back riding area and I plan to do so in the not too distant future!

The Abel Erasmus Pass is awesome! What stunning scenery, especially at the bottom off the pass as one drives next to the river!

We arrived in Hoedspruit late afternoon and my nephew was thrilled to see us! Of course we spotted countless warthogs in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate (where nephew lives).

The next day we went to inspect the plot my dad has purchased in the estate...a Black-crowned Tchagra popped in and out of the edge of the dense bush on the road side of the plot and a giraffe watched us curiously as we inspected the cutline that runs through the property.

Cal, Luna and a giraffe 0432 by jackie.during, on Flickr

The estate has more White-crowned helmet-shrike than I have ever seen before!

White-crested helmet-shrike 8466 by jackie.during, on Flickr

I eyed out the cutline and the fire break next to the adjacent reserve (which is big 4) with absolute glee! Not only is this wonderful birding country (more about that later) but I am SO looking forward to mountain biking and horse riding those cutlines!!!

How to resize your photos
"Better Photography is a journey, not a destination." George D. Lepp
http://birdearth.wordpress.com/2012/03/ … -the-lens/

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. Mahatma Gandhi

Treat the Earth and all that dwell therein with respect.Remain close to the Great Spirit
Show great respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right
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Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions.
American Indian Ten Commandments

wildtuinman · 05-08-2012 07:39:59

Lovely start Jacqui! Did you stop for the Taita Falcons?

Love the Helmet-shrike photo and yes, they are particularly common at the moment!

Laine and Dirk's Bird Photos - created with Bird Photo Organizer - v3.0!

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Latest Lifer(s): Sooty Falcon, Black Coucal, Short-tailed Pipit, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Ramkat · 05-08-2012 09:33:30

Jay - a few highlights for Dullstroom to remember for next time Harries Pancakes and Senqu clothing shop for lekker outdoor stuff. Fresh Trout pies at Milly's - yes I most think about my stomach first big_smile

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Imax · 05-08-2012 10:29:12

Great start Jay, cant wait for more!

birding101

"There is a difference in merely getting a bird, and seeing it."
A supremely bad idea, by Luke Dempsey.

Muis · 05-08-2012 15:02:02

Looking great so far Jay! cool

WTM...."Jaqui"???...dunno if anyone has survived doing that! neutral lol

Jay · 05-08-2012 16:05:34

Thanks guys wink ...and WTM the nuns used to spell my name like that grrrr LOL!...and unfortunately we didn't have time to stop for the Falcons!!! I thought of them as we drove through neutral neutral BUT will have plenty opportunity in the future to visit the site, so am looking forward to that wink

Thanx for the tips, RK cool

Forgot to list a Jackal Buzzard being mobbed by a Pied Crow and a Long-crested Eagle spotted on the Dullstroom road too!

How to resize your photos
"Better Photography is a journey, not a destination." George D. Lepp
http://birdearth.wordpress.com/2012/03/ … -the-lens/

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. Mahatma Gandhi

Treat the Earth and all that dwell therein with respect.Remain close to the Great Spirit
Show great respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right
Look after the well-being of Mind and Body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater Good
Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions.
American Indian Ten Commandments

Jay · 07-08-2012 18:27:52

The Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate has 2 birdhides; the one is just down the road from where my sister's house is...a nice walk, but this time we drove as we wanted to drive some of the "wildlife section" too.

There were at least 4 Fork-tailed Drongo sitting on logs and continuously diving from their perches and catching insects. A Brown-hooded Kingfisher sat just underneath us on a big log, perfectly un-bothered by our presence...Blue Waxbills are every where on the estate, and drank from the little dam. A pair of Dark-capped Bulbul also perched on the surrounding logs.

Brown-hooded Kingfisher 8493 by jackie.during, on Flickr

Dark-capped Bulbul 8491 by jackie.during, on Flickr

..and some shots taken with my BlackBerry wink

birdhide HWE 2 by jackie.during, on Flickr

birdhide HWE by jackie.during, on Flickr

How to resize your photos
"Better Photography is a journey, not a destination." George D. Lepp
http://birdearth.wordpress.com/2012/03/ … -the-lens/

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. Mahatma Gandhi

Treat the Earth and all that dwell therein with respect.Remain close to the Great Spirit
Show great respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right
Look after the well-being of Mind and Body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater Good
Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions.
American Indian Ten Commandments

Muis · 07-08-2012 18:39:51

Great photos Jay cool Eish, dam fine with the blackberry as well!

wildtuinman · 08-08-2012 08:45:52

Great photos, Jay!

LMAOOOOOOOOO!!! lol lol lol Work is so hectic here at the moment that I seem to confuse you with my analyst, Jacqui, Jackie, after the countless emails I am typing at present. lol lol lol

Sorry about that. neutral lol lol lol lol

Laine and Dirk's Bird Photos - created with Bird Photo Organizer - v3.0!

Follow me on Twitter @wildtuinman

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Latest Lifer(s): Sooty Falcon, Black Coucal, Short-tailed Pipit, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Laine · 08-08-2012 09:27:43

Lovely shots Jay! big_smile Just love the Dog scoping out the giraffe and the giraffe scoping out the dog.. lol

DotDaan · 08-08-2012 09:59:54

Lovely photo of the BH Kingfisher Jay big_smile

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Imax · 08-08-2012 11:49:42

Great shots Jay. Does the open structure on the hide not scare the animals way?

birding101

"There is a difference in merely getting a bird, and seeing it."
A supremely bad idea, by Luke Dempsey.

TrevorC · 08-08-2012 11:51:11

Lovely shots Jay big_smile Keep them coming smile

Latest SA Lifers: Lark-like Bunting, Meyer's Parrot
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wildtuinman · 08-08-2012 11:51:51

Imax, do you see any animals around? lol lol

Laine and Dirk's Bird Photos - created with Bird Photo Organizer - v3.0!

Follow me on Twitter @wildtuinman

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Latest Lifer(s): Sooty Falcon, Black Coucal, Short-tailed Pipit, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Jay · 08-08-2012 19:56:16

Thanks very much everyone smile smile

@WTM and Imax: there are giraffe, eland, zebra, kudu, impala, warthogs, leopard and the small buck in the estate; I think they made the hide so high so as to not scare the animals wink ...the buffalo have thankfully been moved off the estate, them I do not like bumping into while walking! The estate does border on big 5 and big 4 reserves though; last time we were there, a pride of lions had gotten in and we were warned not to walk after dark or in the wildlife section until they moved out.

@Laine: the dog was really really curious about the giraffe and the giraffe was just as curios LOL! But they both just silently stood and stared for absolute ages!

How to resize your photos
"Better Photography is a journey, not a destination." George D. Lepp
http://birdearth.wordpress.com/2012/03/ … -the-lens/

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”. Mahatma Gandhi

Treat the Earth and all that dwell therein with respect.Remain close to the Great Spirit
Show great respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right
Look after the well-being of Mind and Body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater Good
Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions.
American Indian Ten Commandments

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#1 04-08-2012 18:48:40

Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#2 05-08-2012 07:39:59

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#3 05-08-2012 09:33:30

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#4 05-08-2012 10:29:12

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#5 05-08-2012 15:02:02

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#6 05-08-2012 16:05:34

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#7 07-08-2012 18:27:52

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#8 07-08-2012 18:39:51

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#9 08-08-2012 08:45:52

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#10 08-08-2012 09:27:43

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#11 08-08-2012 09:59:54

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#12 08-08-2012 11:49:42

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#13 08-08-2012 11:51:11

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#14 08-08-2012 11:51:51

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

#15 08-08-2012 19:56:16

Re: Hoedspruit and a day in Kruger

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