Merry Christmas!
December 24, 2007
This is a Malachite Kingfisher and it is my favourite bird in the Valley. It is tiny (about 14cm) and has the most wonderfully vivid colours. We see them quite a bit at this time of year especially once the river is full and we start using the boat.
The river is about half full now and it is raining everyday, so hopefully we will only be marooned for another week or so. It is certainly going to be a strange Christmas way out here in the middle of nowhere….
Merry Christmas to you all wherever you are!
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Cheeky squirrel
December 19, 2007
This little guy puts Gene Simmons to shame! I wish I could say he was blowing a raspberry at a snake or some other predator – actually he was just stretching and for some reason his tongue stuck out at the same time. I have no idea why but I’ve seen it happen a few times. It just seems to be a reflex thing – weird..
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Drought?
December 16, 2007
Although we have had a few storms this month, overall there has been less rain than is usual for this time of year. The river is still very low but the landscape is gradually getting greener.
Last year we had severe flooding in the valley but this year there is talk of drought. Actually, I don’t think anybody knows what is going to happen. The weather here is getting more and more unpredictable, no doubt as a result of global warming. For those of us who live in places with extreme weather changes, every season is a reminder of where our planet is heading. At least the recent events at the UN climate change conference in Bali offer some encouragement but at the moment it is still just talk. So much more has to be done….
Hopefully the river will fill up soon so that we are not marooned for too long – we have had enough rain to make the access road unusable.
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Lillians Lovebirds
December 15, 2007
These colourful little birds are really lovely but are very difficult to photograph. I managed to get this picture from a hide when a passing flock settled in a tree nearby for a few seconds before flying off again.
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
Lioness at sunset
December 12, 2007
Isn’t she beautiful? This is the youngest female in the lion camp pride. She was watching the sun go down, patiently waiting for the cover of darkness so that she can go hunting.
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
King of the beasts?
December 8, 2007
This hippo clearly didn’t like the lions coming down to drink at his spot of river! He watched them for a while from a short distance away and then began to show signs of agitation, yawning (to display his huge canines) and snorting loudly. Eventually he’d had enough and rushed towards them chasing them up the steep bank and past my car! He then returned grumpily to the river and the lions had to make do with a spot further downstream.
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
They aren’t that ugly…
December 3, 2007
Yesterday the Lion camp pride killed a buffalo right outside the camp. The buffalo was making a terrible bellowing noise and we quickly jumped into the car to go and have a look. When we arrived the action was already pretty much over. A lioness was holding it by the neck and the other lions were already tearing away at it. It was the middle of the day so the light was very hard – not much good for photography. When I went back in the evening the lions had dragged the buffalo into some combretum thickets and I had to make do with the Maribou storks that were hanging around in their vague way. These interesting birds are certainly not known for their good looks but in the right light – they’re not too bad..
The lions seem to have decided that Lion camp is the place to be for the rains. We have actually had the five cubs (now about 7 months old) sleeping under the main deck during the day! It is a little disconcerting walking around and having them snarling up at you through the gaps in the floorboards. The adults seem to keep their distance most of the time – except a couple of days ago when we woke up to find the whole pride lying on the grass outside our front door!
Content Copyright Patrick Bentley Photography
