Mfuwe Lodge, South Luangwa, Zambia

Thanks Anne-Marie, you are kind, I'm a bit OCD with my photos - but I do think this time I have taken on board some of the tips and information that Jonathan was giving.

Lai

LP Loads of fantastic photos, to many at the moment to pick out a favourite they are all so good. I'd be really stuck if I had to choose which one's I would like blown up. You'll have to let us know the ones you choose.
WS

I'm impressed with the birds,seems a lot of folk go for the big 5 and forget to look for all the smaller animals,Never been to Africa,glad your trip went well.

Too true TB - I love all wildlife so try to go for everything, the birds were superb so I'll be posting plenty over the next few days.


Lai

A few photos of some of the birds we saw in South Luangwa NP


A family of Crown Crested Cranes - junior in the middle


We saw approx 140 Crown Crested Cranes on the river bank - quite something to see. Here's a few of them.


White Fronted Bee Eater


Woodland Kingfisher


Fish Eagle


Saddle Bill Stork



Hadeda Ibis


Marshall Eagle in flight


Marshall Eagle and Carmine Bee Eater in the background


Carmine Bee Eater on it's way to the nest


Carmine Bee Eater. Possibly the hardest thing I've ever tried to photograph, fast moving birds, into the sun and on the edge of a riverbank, with a river full of hippos and crocs.

That's todays selection for the bird enthusiasts.

Lai Pai

Lai Pai, I am cock a hoop with all those bird pictures. They are simply stunning and I am in awe at your photography skills. The Hadeda Ibis looks like a bronze statue, it's beautiful and the photo's of the Carmin Bee eater are my favs I think but I also love the Marshall Eagle but I love the cranes as well......Lets just say I am in awe

littlewid-x-

Thanks Littlewid, I think I got a bit carried away with posting photos today, but I can't help myself I really enjoy taking birds, but find it very challenging, one to practice a lot I think.

Jonathan was a great help with the Carmine Bee Eaters, suggesting I watch them and their flight patterns before just clicking away I really want to try them again.

We're thinking of going to a wildlife wetlands place in the spring to try some birds in flight which will be fun.

Tomorrow back to other wildlife - many more photos!

Lai Pai

Love the symitry of the Hadeda Ibis shot LP. and gettong the Carmine Bee Eater in flight against the river background is just brilliant, a big well done .. Just love all the Bird shots, and looking forward to more animal pics, and you go as mad as you want with them.
WS

You didn't get carried away Lai Pai, we love it and I for one adore bird photo's.

A Wetlands centre will be lovely for birds in flight pictures. I was at our local Wetlands Centre earlier this week (brought my sister and her husband a years membership as part of their chrissie pressie) and the birds are plentiful, many varieties. Should have taken my camera but silly me forgot it. The Spring will be a lovely time to get some photo's.

Oh yes, you post as many bird pics as you like

littlewid-x-

no camera Littlewid, you must strap it round your neck all the time, you never know when you'll see something worth taking a photo of!!!!

ps i always forget too

What a fantastic pressie, i must think about that one for next year.

Lai Pai

Today some other wildlife from South Luangwa NP.


Baboon eating wild Mango


We saw quite a few hippo on dry land during the day - plenty of oxpeckers attached!


Impala and baby born that day.


"Hello" - Puku (similar to Impala but woollier)


Puku at sunset


Family of warthogs


Young warthog - lion scooby snax


Waterbuck


Male kudu with beautiful horns. The desolation in the background is where the Mopane trees were until the eles destroyed them all.

Lai Pai

More fabulous photos LP, I'm not surprised your having a job going through them, everytime I see one I think thats got to be a favourite. Love the Impala with the new born. I thought it was unusual for Hippos to graze in the daytime, normaly they do it at night dont they ?
WS

More wonderful photos LP! I love the warthogs they always make me smile, the way they run away with their tails in the air! The Kenyan Express The horns on that Kudu are fabulous!!

Thanks WS and Anne-Marie, yes hippos are normally night time grazers, but we seemed to come across quite a few day time grazers - I was always wary when going behind a bush luckily only encountered biting ants, that's another story

I tried to get the 'Kenyan Express' Anne-Marie, but when they run ........... they are so fast and funny

Next photos will be eles, as you can imagine I have lots and lots and lots

Lai Pai

Ooo yay! More photos!

Brilliant photo's again Lai Pai. I do adore Hippo's and that one with the oxpeckers is just lovely, I do find Hippo's cute. That Baboon picture is gorgeous and i'm with AM, Warthogs really amuse me, but scooby snacks Lai Pai
Looking forward to the

littlewid-x-

Shouldn't have mentioned the scooby snax Littlewid, but sadly it is true! Did you notice the hippo had an oxpecker virtually up its nostril! I bet that hurt.

Eles on Monday for sure.


Lai Pai

Oh no I didn't notice that, I just saw the three on his back, yikes that must have hurt bet his eyes were watering
Looking forward to Monday

littlewid-x-

It could have been worse for the Hippo, it could have been a Crow
WS

WS - ouch!

Lai

Eles of South Luangwa National Park -


Only the bigger eles will go into this very boggy ground


as its thick and deep and the little eles get stuck


they move very slowly














Road block ............. we waited


Gorgeous muddy little ele


We just missed them coming to the river for a drink


In the intense heat - one very tired little ele having a sleep


Resting under a shady tree while the baby sleeps


I love these large feet


ele on his way back from a dip in the river

I've never seen eles lying down before, but we saw babies and young adolescents sleeping, they can't stay on their sides for too long because of their stomachs (like sheep) but I guess they need to rest as much as everyone else and it was seriously hot.

That's all for today
Lai Pai

Thank you Lai Pai!! Just wonderful pictures!! Cute little baby ele asleep just adorable!

Pleasure Anne-Marie, more wildlife to follow and maybe some more eles - I am still searching ..........

Lai Pai