Sunday, June 24, 2012

Big Birds and a Bigger Cat

At the beginning of May I spent a few days in the Etosha Pans, 100km from Home:


There was not much game to be seen at this time of the year because, following a good Rain season, there was still ample water and grazing in the bush.

Often tourists are disappointed because they fly in for a few hours expecting to see every kind of animal.

For me, the magic is in just sitting quietly at a Water Hole in the knowledge that the scene unfolding is thousands, perhaps millions, of years old.



This Elephant was drinking at the waterhole when it suddenly took fright and stomped off in a huff.

I could see no other animals around which might have alarmed it - maybe Elephants just don't like me.


King Of The Road.

I was forced to spend 15 minutes staring at this fellow's butt as he ambled along the road.

He eventually moving off into the bush when another car appeared from the front.


For the first time I got quite close to Marabou Storks - a gang of about thirty hanging-out at a shallow pool of water.

They're scavengers and I'd seen them before in the distance, once waiting hopefully near a Lion kill.


It's difficult to decide which are uglier, Vultures or Marabous.

According to Wiki 'Marabous eating human garbage have been seen to devour virtually anything that they can swallow, including shoes and pieces of metal.'



I don't know what was going on in this Warthog boar's head.

He was feeding peacefully with his mate and two offspring when he suddenly started chasing after them making grunting a squealing noises - this went on for about ten minutes, with them all running around in circles.



There were a quite few Zebra around - but not the large herds seen in Spring when water and grazing is scarce.


Who are You? - Giraffe and the Moon.


The highlight of my visit occurred shortly after entering Etosha - the first thing I saw was the distinctive tail in the grass - the first time I've been close to a Leopard.


The sighting was over in a flash as she disappeared into a culvert underneath the road.

She glanced up once but totally ignored me - in that moment I felt completely exposed - I knew that she could reach me in one bound ...



.

30 comments:

  1. Gorgeous photos, especially the closeup of the zebras--but then, I've learned to expect n othing less from you! THANK YOU FOR THIS BLOG!!!

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  2. What great photos Graham:) And such an awesome leopard sighting! I love your Marabou pics - I see them quite often, but never close enough to get clear, focused shots of them:(
    I'm at one with you in preferring to sit at a waterhole and wait for what might happen.....
    Sadly for most international visitors - they only have a few hours or a couple of days at most, so then they do need to cover as much ground as possible.....

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    1. Thanks Sue - I've never been lucky with Big Cat sightings ... perhaps my luck's changing ...

      ... yes, the only way to really feel the ambiance of a spot is to stay there for a few hours.

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  3. Leopards are my favourite animal of all time, thanks for these photos. The Marabou Stork is also called the undertaker bird because of the view from the back and the way they walk!! Just love the other shots, not sure which is my favourite, but I always have to laugh how warthogs run with their tails stiff and upright. LOL. Take care Diane

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    1. Thanks Diane - hehe yes, Warthogs are funny ... but quite stoopid when crossing roads ...

      ... Marabou's do look like Undertakers hey ... :)

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  4. The photos and your observations are wonderful; thank you. Idleing behind an elephant--I guess he showed you.

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    1. Thank you Joanne - yes indeed the Elephant was the Boss - I've had a run-in with one before and was not going to risk agitating him by trying to get past ...

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  5. Wow! That leopard encounter must have been magic. And the rest is great too. If I had been there as a tourist, I would have been very happy with these sightings. Zebra are beautiful animals, aren't they? I don't know if I have ever seen one.

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    1. Thanks Inger - yes, my heart was beating faster after the Leopard ...

      ... it's too funny watching Zebra walk - they bob their heads up and down in a strange manner.

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  6. Thanks for sharing a great set of photos! (as usual)

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  7. Gorgeous shots. I especially love the facial closeups. Leopards are so beautiful. I unfortunately didn't get to see one in the wild in Kenya but I saw a very beautiful one in captivity at a park in Nairobi. I was fortunate to see all the other big animals on short safari.

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    1. Thanks Penny - I love the Big Cats - especially Cheetah and Leopard - but never get to see them up close ...

      ... my buddy Stretch delights in making me jealous by telling me how many times he's seen them ... :)

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  8. What an amazing place, and so near to home. The picture of the zebra moving to the water and the birds is so peaceful. And you captured their intimacy in the closeup. You are really good Graham to be able to spot the leopard in that grass.

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    1. Thanks Fazlisa - yes, I'm lucky to be living in this beauty ...

      ... I probably would not have seen the Leopard had it not been for her distinctive black tail sticking up above the grass ... :)

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  9. You were just on the path/road with the Leopard a short run away from you? I came with running distance of a grizzly bear once. It was busy ripping apart a log. Humans are not the first choice for food I guess. Does the park offer any suggestions about coming upon a leopard? Great pics

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    1. Thanks Bill - there are many signs in the park warning visitors to stay in their cars - incredibly you still find people who get out and walk around - it's probably ignorance, they imagine it's a 'petting zoo'.

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  10. Graham,
    Great photos as ever. What a thrill to get so close to these animals.....and especially to also get away intact from the leopard!

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    1. Thanks Calvin - it was especially thrilling because it was the first time I'd seen one of these cats up close ... even if it was just a flash ...

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  11. Perfect camouflage, I had to look for several seconds before I saw the leopard. I'm afraid I'd be sooo dead meat in that sort of situation! As the queen of the wusses all my wildlife pics would have terrible camera shake... And the zebras have sweet faces, but I believe they're quite aggressive aren't they?
    Caroline

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    1. I haven't heard of Zebras being aggressive Caroline, but I imagine that they could give as strong a kick as a horse ...

      ... yes, I probably would have missed the leopard had it not been for the distinctive tail ...

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  12. Such awesome photos and stories behind each one. I especially love the elephant. They've always been one of my favorite animals ;)

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    1. Thanks Elisa - Elephants are awe inspiring ... especially close-up ...

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  13. On my "Bucket List for today" is a trip back here to your awesome blog, to look through some of archives. Now I'm not one for fancy words (yeah, right!) but enthralling is the one I use for me here...captivated!

    The photos and commentary--as you must know--are outstanding.

    I got here from Ocean girl, so in thanking you for this blog, I thank her for highlighting it today on her place.
    PEACE!
    Steve
    Naples, Florida, US

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    1. Wow - thanks for your visit and kind comments - I do hope that you'll look at a few of my older posts and that they'll entertain you ...

      ... thanks too to Fazlisa for putting together a slide show highlighting Namibia - her work is absolutely stunning!

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    1. Thanks for your visit and comments Daffodil :)

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  15. Hi Graham .. great photos of various wonderful creatures .. the Maribous, the warthogs (my favourite0 and then the zebra, but with special mention for your leopard ... sounds like a good viewing and break time ..

    Cheers Hilary

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  16. Thanks Hilary - it would have been even better if I could have had a leisurely photo session with the Leopard - but still, I'm thankful for the brief sighting ...

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