Posts in Category: Balule Game Reserve

Greeting the sun…

On October 3, 2016 by lightshedder With 0 Comments - action, Africa, animals, Balule Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, p&s 4 wildlife, Pic of the Day, South Africa, Uncategorized, wildlife

Vervet Monkey, Tremisana Lodge, Balule Game Reserve, South Africa

Early every morning, just after sunrise, the Vervet Monkeys around Tremisana Lodge in Balule Game Reserve in South Afirca would climb high into the trees to bask in the first warmth of the day, well before the sun made it way down to ground level. If I was out before breakfast I was sure to see them, posted like lookouts on the new day. This fellow was distracted by my attention. Unlike most animals, Vervet monkeys are clearly not disturbed by direct eye contact with humans. 🙂

Sony RX10iii at 600mm equivalent field of view. 1/500th @ ISO 100 @ f4. Processed in Lightroom.

Magpie Shrike

On September 26, 2016 by lightshedder With 0 Comments - action, Africa, animals, Balule Game Reserve, birds, p&s 4 wildlife, Pic of the Day, South Africa, wildlife

Magpie Shrike, Balule Game Reserve, South Africa

At the end of a long dry winter in South Africa, one of the most present birds of the bush wherever you go, is the Magpie Shrike. Most locals, including our guides, still call it by its old name, the Long-tailed Shrike. And, indeed, the first thing you are likely to notice is the exceptionally long tail. I saw hundreds of them before pulling up alongside this one in the game viewer at Balule Game Reserve for a portrait. They are conspicuous, not only for their tail, but because they tend to perch in the tops of small to medium height brush and trees, where they can keep a sharp eye out for insects on the ground around them. Like most birds with long tails they use the tail for quick side-ways maneuvers and abrupt turns in flight, when pouncing on prey.

Sony RX10iii at 600mm equivalent field of view. 1/250th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Lightroom.

 

Red-billed Hornbill 

On September 15, 2016 by lightshedder With 0 Comments - action, Africa, animals, Balule Game Reserve, birds, Kruger National Park, p&s 4 wildlife, Pic of the Day, wildlife

Red-billed Hornbill, Trimisana Lodge, Balule Game Reserve, South Africa

Hornbills are by far the most numerous and visible birds in the South African bush at the end of a dry winter. The most see is the Yellow-billed Hornbill…familiar to most as a main character in the Lion King. Thus is a Red-billed Hornbill. I was two days in Africa before seeing one. 

Sony RX10iii at 600mm equivalent field of view. Program Mode. Processed in PhotoShop Express on my Android tablet.