A few more photos from our visit to South Africa last year.

Maximum temperature in the Charente today 10C, minimum 4C. 2mm of rain measured this morning but we had a dry day. 23km/h south-westerly winds with gusts up to 45 km/h.

African elephant (Loxodonta africana).
Again, I will not state exactly where animals were seen because of poaching risks.

Note those long eyelashes!!

African hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) out of the water grazing. Usually, grazing occurs during the evening or the night, but looking at the amount of grass around I guess they need more feeding hours.  Recent rains have fallen in many places in South Africa but some are still drought-stricken.

Greater kudu, female (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). Note the Red-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) on her back

As above; see she has an oxpecker on her head.  The birds do a fabulous job of keeping the animals free from ticks and parasites.

Kudu male.  The female does not have horns.

Lion (Panthera leo)...

and lioness.

Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus).

Waterbuck  (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)...

As above

African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)

Sometimes one has to just relax, hook your trunk over a tusk and close your eyes for a snooze

Last but not least this couple totally ignored us. Females are receptive to mating for three or four days within a widely variable reproductive cycle. During this time a pair generally mates every 20–30 minutes, with up to 50 copulations per 24 hours.

See also my

 Bird blog

09/06/2017 Despite what the temperatures say, it was cloudy and dismal here today so I have been sorting South African photos again.

Maximum temperature 25C, minimum 14C. 11 kmh NW wind 14 kmh gusts.  9mm rain measured. Lots of thunder and lightning.

Magnificent views in Kwa-Zulu-Natal.

Nyala Male. (Tragelaphus angasii)

Nyala female.

Beetle - Tenebrionidae family

Trumpeter Hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator)

Great White Pelicans - (Pelecanus onocrotalus).  White storks (Ciconia ciconia) and others in the background.

Impala (Aepyceros melampus) with a Redbilled Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) on its back.

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

Wildebeeste (Connochaetes) on the run.

Yellow-throated longclaw (Macronyx croceus)

Burchell's coucal (Centropus burchellii),

Lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus)

Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

18/04/2017 One photo only taken today. I have been identifying bird photos all day at the computer so here are a few.

Maximum temperature 14C, minimum 4C. 24 kmh very chilly NW wind. 

34 kmh gusts.  Dry.

The only photo taken today - An unidentified beetle with apparently a damaged wing.

The following are all photos taken in Botswana in February. I have only just got around to identifying some of them.   I am hoping that identifications are correct!  Please let me know if you disagree.

Pale chanting goshawk( Melirax canorus)

African Jacana (Actophilornis africana).

 Cardinal woodpecker female (Dendropicos fuscescens).

 African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer).

This bird has a remarkable cry, clicking HERE I hope will give you the sound.

Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis)

As above, a very patient bird on the hotel grounds.

Hammerkop (Scopus umbretta).

Also known as the Lightning Bird for the belief in some cultures that people who tamper with its nest will be struck by lightning.

 Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus)

Redbilled Hornbill (Tokus erythrorhynchus). At its tree nest.

White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata).

Yellow-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) on a Cape Buffalo.

Yellow-billed kite, (Milvus aegyptius)