We start out on this very windy chilly morning with James stretched out in his vehicle and completely bundled up with a blanket.
He has Jeandre on camera this morning.
Herbert is out tracking.
The Male Lion and Female Lion might still be in the area from last night.
Brent is out on drive as well.
We see Hubert walking in the distance. James is picking him up and Hubert will be assisting James this morning.
Over to Brent
Brent has Gert on camera with him this morning and he is heading into Cheetah Plains.
UPDATE: Karula is still south of our boundary.
Brent is hoping to be able to see the Styx cubs this morning if they pop out onto Cheeta Plains.
Brent has lost signal so we hop over to James. Brent needs to change his battery. Herbert is getting out of the vehicle and will continue to track while walking.
Stopped to talk to Taxon who is driving guests out of Vuyatela.
The guests are very interested in talking to James.
James said he has been up since 3 a.m
James spots a Martial Eagle. These are the largest Eagles in this area
They have a wing span of approximately 8 feet.
They like to eat Monitor Lizards
Martial Eagle
With James Hendry
Over to Brent who said he has great news!
There are no cats BUT Brent has Cheetah Plains completely to himself this morning.
Brent shows us the sky which has lots of cirrus clouds and straight bands which are actually ice.
Brent is changing his plans. Tracks of the Lions are coming towards our boundary so Brent is going to do a little loop.
I asked Brent if he was concerned about the influx of so many Elephants if they would chase away the Lions and Leopards.
Brent Answers My Question About Elephants And Leopards And Lions
Over to James who now has Herbert in the vehicle with him
Lost Signal with James (darn Gremlins)
Back with Brent
Thandi is the Dominant Female Leopard in this area where Brent is travelling . Thandi is Karula's Daugher. Born in 2007.
Her Cub is still unnamed but is independent. The area is very thick with not many road
(Information on Thandi and other Leopards on my Leopard page.Back over with JamesJames says "Come on everybody. Get out of the Car
Get Out Of The Car
He is continuing but might lose signal.
James lost signal
Back over with Brent
Brents signal is quite choppy as well.
not much happening.
Very Gusty Wind
Brent removes his hat so we an tell by his hair blowing how windy it really is.
Super Windy with Brent's Hair
Lapwings
Over to James who shows us the sky and those streamers are called "The Mares Tail", and are indicative of cold weather. They are made of tiny icicles.
Elephants moving quickly South. Probably heading to the pan for a drink.
Herbert has Leopard tracks heading to the Galigo pan.
The Matriarch Female Elephant is listening to James
Over to Brent as James says Brent has found a fallen tree.
Brent shows us this huge Acacia Tree that Elephants have pushed over. This tree is really large.
Elephants have pushed over this large Acacia Tree
Brent has something else to show us but he needs to move the vehicle first
The Elephants have been eating the foliage from this tree for a few days but look what they have missed.
(couldn't get good pics but Video should be ok)
Look What The Elephants Have Missed
Normal Norman the Wildebeest is over there (Gnormous Gnormon's Arch Nemesis)
Nice big Impala all fluffed up to keep warm in this wind.
Brent said the wind is wreaking havoc with the coms. (messages from Final Control)
Over to James
James says he is so cold. James is driving around a tree obstacle in the road.
Over to Brent
Vervet Monkeys not looking happy with the cold and wind
Arriving at the pan.
Cape Turtle doves getting a refreshing drink
Brent tells us about his favourite Cat sighting
Brent Tells His Favourite Sighting
About A Lion And A Honey Badger
Over to James who is at Buffleshoek Dam with a Burchells Starling
The land owners have done alot of research and they are bolstering all of their dams in preparation for a flood after the dry season
Extensive land moving going on
Zebra's having a drink
Nervous Zebras
Over to Brent
It has got colder
He now has his mittens on. Has left Cheetah Plains.
Very few animals out because of the wind.
Over with James
Driving
James stops and gets out his knife to scrape some bark from this Knob Thorn Tree.
It tastes like chewing gum.
Ok folks! Here ya GO! This is one you will want to see. BUT warning (profanity)
I am not even going to explain what just happened.
You need to see it.
(But I have to say, I am working on this blog and watching the drive and it is now after 3:00 a.m my time and I am laughing so loudly that I hope my windows are closed.)
So here it is!
Funniest thing I have seen in ages
(profanity alert)
ok. Back over to Brent who is still giggling.
Brent saying unless a Leopard has a kill, it is unlikely they would be in a tree.
Perhaps lying in the sun or on a Termite mound.
Brent talking Inkanyeni. He really likes her.
OH! Hubert has spotted an Owl.
It is a Vereaux's Eagle Owl
Too blurry for pics but there is video
Verreaux's Eagle Owl
Over to James
We see a small herd of Elephants. The little ones are lying in the dirt and playing.
James has lost signal
Over to Brent
EXCITING NEWS!! The Leopard that Brent has been tracking HAS BEEN FOUND!
He is heading there now
He said it will be a surprise as to who it is.
As Brent races to the Leopard we head over to James
Elephants looking relaxed.
The Elephants are sticking to the drainage line to get away from the wind.
Back over to Brent
It Is Mvula!
A Male Leopard who is a dispersal Leopard. Is older now and no longer has a territory.
He is looking quite good although he has a slight limp which isn't uncommon.
Mvula June 12, 2016
With Brent Leo Smith
There are Waterbuk just off in the bush. It does not look like they have spotted Mvula yet.
The strong wind helps diffuse the sound and makes for excellent hunting weather.
Mvula is 13 years old.
Trying To Keep Up With Mvula
Over to James for a quick moment and right back to Brent with Mvula
Closeup of Mvula
And this concludes our drive for this morning.
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