WILDLIFE JOURNAL SINGITA PAMUSHANA, ZIMBABWE For the month of June, Two Thousand and Nineteen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 12,6˚C (54,6˚F) For the month: 1,8 mm Sunrise: 06:31 Minimum recorded: 08,8˚C (47,8˚F) For the year to date: 268,4 mm Sunset: 17:23 Average maximum: 26,1˚C (78,9˚F) Maximum recorded: 31,2˚C (88,1˚F) These mid-year months are exceptional for wildlife sightings – it’s dry, there’s little foliage resulting in no place to hide, and everything is drawn to the permanent water sources – either to drink or to hunt. The light and palette is a photographer’s paradise and you need to pack an extra memory card especially when you have a an afternoon drive that results in lions, a leopard, white rhino, black rhino, elephant, hyena and plains game! But wait until you see what our “Unusual” animal of the month was… Here’s a Sightings Snapshot for June:
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WILDLIFEJOURNALSINGITAPAMUSHANA,ZIMBABWE
ForthemonthofJune,TwoThousandandNineteen Temperature RainfallRecorded Sunrise&Sunset Averageminimum: 12,6˚C(54,6˚F) Forthemonth:1,8mm Sunrise: 06:31 Minimumrecorded: 08,8˚C(47,8˚F) Fortheyeartodate:268,4mm Sunset: 17:23 Averagemaximum: 26,1˚C(78,9˚F) Maximumrecorded:31,2˚C(88,1˚F) Thesemid-yearmonthsareexceptionalforwildlifesightings–it’sdry,there’slittlefoliageresultinginnoplacetohide,andeverythingisdrawntothepermanentwatersources–eithertodrinkortohunt.Thelightandpaletteisaphotographer’sparadiseandyouneedtopackanextramemorycardespeciallywhenyouhaveaanafternoondrivethatresultsinlions,aleopard,whiterhino,blackrhino,elephant,hyenaandplainsgame!Butwaituntilyouseewhatour“Unusual”animalofthemonthwas…Here’saSightingsSnapshotforJune:
Lions• We’veenjoyedsightingsoftheRiver,NorthernandSouthernPridesthismonth.ThelargeRiverPrideis
splittingupbutreconnectedonenightviacontactroaringandsuccessfullyhuntedabuffalothatmorning.
• Manybuffalokillshavebeenmade,aswellasagiraffe.• TheSouthernPridehavecubsanditwasadelightwhenoneofthemwasbraveenoughtocomeand
investigatethegame-drivevehicle.Leopards
• Twoleopardswereseenintheareawhereaprideoflionswasfeedingonabuffalokill.• Therehavebeenquiteafewsightingsofmaleleopardsthismonth,probablythebestonewasfrom
theboat,ofayoungmaleleopardrelaxingontopofarock.Cheetahs
• Thetwomaleshavebeenseenandthehighlightwaswatchingthemchaseandcatchawarthog.Elephants
• Someimpressivetuskershavebeenseen.Interestingbehaviourwaswatchingonemovingfallendownthorntreestoaccesstheprotectedgreenpanicumgrassgrowingbeneaththem.
• Wonderfulbreedingherdshavebeenseencrossingtheriverorcomingtodrinkatthedams.Inoneinstancethemotherelephantscameovertothevehicle,pausedandthenslowlywalkedpastwiththeirbabiesforustoadmire.
Buffalos
• Largeherdsofseveralhundredbuffaloesatatimehavebeenconvergingatthewaterpoints.• Itwasinterestingtonotealotofday-oldbabiesatonesighting.Normallythecalvingseasonforthem
hereisinFebruaryandMarch,soitisverylatethisyear.
Rhinos• Ourrhinoviewingis,“offthecharts”toquote
arecentvisitor.You’llhavenoproblemseeinglargecrashesofwhiterhinoandmightneedtoputinabitmoreworktofindblack,butyoushould.Onegroupofguestshadanamazingafternoonontheboatwhenfourblackrhinoscametodrinkattheshoreline,abouttwentymetresfromtheboat.
Wilddogs
• We’veseentwopacksonthepropertythismonth.
• Thealphafemaleofthelargepackof13isheavilypregnantandwillgivebirthanydaynow,ifshehasn’talreadydoneso.
• Thewilddogsarehuntingimpalalikeanefficientmachine,butthehyenasaretrailingthemandconstantlytryingtostealtheirkills.Thewarscenesgetextremelychargedasthedogstwitterandyelpandthehyenasgrowl,squealandwhoop–andoftenthehyenasgetawaywiththespoils.
Hyenas
• Thehyenashavealsobeentakingonthelionsfortheirkills.Aclanof26tookonsixlionsoverabuffalocarcass-therewassomuch
dusteverywherewecouldn’tevenseethebuffalo,butintheendthehyenaswon.Plainsgame
• Plainsgameabound,includinggoodsightingsofherdsofeland,sableandevenhartebeest.
• Ahighlightwasseeinganewborngiraffestaggeringaboutonitslankylegs.
Unusual• ABROWNHYENA!Thebrownhyena(Hyaena
brunnea),alsocalledstrandwolf,istherarestspeciesofhyena.We’vehadsporadicunconfirmedreportsofsightingsonthepropertybefore,buttwicethismonthabrownhyenawasseenfeedingontheremainsofbuffalokillsmadebylions.
Walksandrockart
• It’sthebesttimeofyeartowalk,andguestsandguidesalikearethoroughlyenjoyingthebushexperienceonfoot.OnonewalktheguideledtheguestsfromtheNdunaDamviewingplatformandastheygottotheotherendofthedamtheysawablackrhinocometothewater’sedge,sotheyhid
behindabushandwatcheditdrink–itwascompletelyunawareofthem.Thentheycontinuedontoanancientrockartsiteandbacktothevehicle,inacircularroute.
Activities
• We’vehadsomeveryactiveguestsandhavehadsuchfunplayingsoccer,practisingarcheryandgoingforrunsinthewild!
• DaytripstoGonarenzhouNationalParkhavebeenenjoyedaswellasmorningvisitstoKambakuwhereguestsenjoyafullgamedriveandthesharedknowledgeofbushcraftfromShangaanmembersthere.
SomeexcitingandinformativeBushStoriesfollow,aswellasaJuneGalleryofimages.
Abriefpause ByJennyHishinThispackwaseasyenoughtofindthatmorning–theyweretrottingdownoneofourmaintracks,andwereonthehunt.Somewouldgooffonquicksideexcursionstoseeifanypreyanimalswereinthearea,butsoonreturntothepackandcontinuerunningwiththem.Iwasfollowingalongcomfortablybutthentheyalldive-bombedthroughamopaneforestwherethevehiclescannotgoandIlostthem.Iwaitedontheotherside,buttonoavail.ChastisingmyselfforlosingthemIthoughtitbesttogoandwaitatthenearestwatersourceastheyhadbeengoinginthatdirection,butIdidn’tthinkthey’dbethereyet.Sureenoughsomeofthemwere!Theymusthavegivenchasetosomethingandmissed,buttheyaresofastandcanreachspeedsofupto56km/h(34mph).Theyregroupedatthepan,caughttheirbreath,somehadaquicksipofwater,anddecidedonthewayforward.Theadultscrossedthepantentatively.Wilddogsareverywaryofwater,notsureofitsdepthandwhatcouldbelurkingbeneaththesurface.Onlyoncethey’veestablishedthatitisveryshallowandsafewilltheyplay–buttherewasnotimeforplaythismorning.Theyearlingswerenotasconfidenttocrossthestreamandstoodanxiouslyonthebankawaitingfurthercommand.ThisgavemetheperfectopportunitytoracearoundtotheothersideandseeifIcouldphotographthemfromthesouth.
Theadultscalledthepups,lettingthemknowitwassafetocross,andofftheyallwentatpace,tohuntagain.Whataspecialsightingandopportunitytophotographthemduringthatbriefpause.
Atranquilafternoonwithbuffalo ByDharmeshDayaBuffaloarenotveryhighuponmanysafariguestslistofanimalstowatch,howevertheycanbeaninterestingspeciestoobserve.Thisparticularafternoonwewereoffthebeatentracklookingforrhinos.TheroadsledustoLojaanDam,aquietlittlecornerinthecentraleastofourproperty.Justbeforewegottothedamwebumpedintothestartofabreedingherdofbuffalo,thatwereheadingtothewatertodrink.Veryslowlywemadeourwaythroughtheherd.Atthedamwerealizedthatthebestwayforustoviewthebuffalowouldbetogetoffthevehicleandwalktothedamwall,whichiswhatwedid.Sittingatthesafetyofthewall,wewereatadistancethatallowedthebuffaloestocomeanddrinkpeacefully.Thepositionofthewallputusinagreatplacetogetsomenicephotosoftheherdofbuffaloesingoodlight.Asitturnedoutthatwasallthatwasinstoreforusthatafternoon,andthatwasenough.Justbeingabletowatchaherdofover100buffalocomingdowntothewatertodrink,andalltheherddynamicsthatgoeswiththat,wasentertainmentsecondtonone.
Lionsonhoneymoon ByMarkFriendRecently,IwasenjoyingagamedrivewithmygueststhroughanareacalledBanyini(looselytranslatingto‘opengrassland’).Mostwatersourcesaredryingupasweareinthedryseason,withthebiggerwatersystemsholdingwaterlonger,suchastheBanyiniPan.Asaresultmostanimalswillfrequentthesepointstohydrateand,withthat,sowillthepredatorslurkwhilelookingforopportunitiestocometothem.Naturallythisisagreatplaceforustoexplore,lookingfortheanimalsandtheaction…Onthisoccasion,wecamearoundacorner,nearaplacewerefertoastheTermiteMoundandasluckwouldhaveit,thereatthewaterweretwolionswalkingwestwards,eversoslowly.Itwasanadultlionessandanadultlion.Iveryquicklysawthatthefemalewaswalkinginfrontandthemaleclosebehindher,almostasifhedidn’twantheranyfurtherthanawhisker’sdistanceawayfromhim.Thisonlymeantonething-theywereamatingpair,ahoneymooncouple.Mysuspicionswereconfirmedwithinsecondsofmetellingmygueststogettheircamerasreadyforactionshots-aflickofthefemale’stailintheupwardpositionandhercrouchingdownwasallthebigdominantmaleneededforhiscue.Weweresituatedintheperfectposition,themalemountedthefemaleandmatingbegan.Matinglionsarealwaysagoodsightingforbothonlookersandphotographersasit’sfilledwithgreataudiosounds,growls,snarlsandoutburstsofroars,alongwithactionliketeeth-baringandswattingeachother.Thebeautyaboutthisscene,isdependingonhowlongthematingpairhasbeenactive,it’snotunusualtogetmating
episodesafterthecatshaverestedforabout10to20minutes.So,ifonemissedtheactionshots,alloneneedstodoisbepatientanditwillhappenagain.Betweenmatingepisodes,thecatswouldspendtheirtimerestingorcleaningthemselvesbylickingtheirbodieswiththeirroughtongues,moreorlesslikeourdomesticcatsdo.Imustadmitthatbothcatswerelookingabsolutelybeautifulandintheirprimeasnotonlyweretheyclean,theywereplumpandhealthyandwithallthosehormonesfloatingaround,lookingattheirabsolutebest.Duringmating,thehoneymoonerstendtoseparateawayfromthemainprideandtendtonotpursuemuchinthewayof
hunting,howeverduringthemanydaysofmating,aroundtheclockatregularshortintervals,thecatsburnalotofenergyandbecomeveryhungry,soit’salwaysagreatideatokeeptabsonthemasonecouldgetluckyandfindthemhuntingatthispointorevenmakingakill.
MatingsequencephotosbyMarkFriend,usinganiPhone.
Herethemaleliongoestogreatlengthstolookhisbest…cleaninghispaws,hismaneandlickinghis‘wrists’tothenwashhisface.
Waterbuck ByTengweSiabwanda
Waterbuckinthesepartstendtoliveinsmallherdsofsixtotwelve,sometimesmore,withonedominantmalewhodefendstheterritory.WehaveasmallherdofsevenwaterbuckwhichlivearoundSosigiDam.Twofemalesarepicturedhereintheearlymorninglight,onthebankofthedam.Onlythemaleshavehorns.Theyaresuchbeautifulantelope,andquitedifferentlookingfromothers.Theyarequite‘fluffy’withlongbrown-greycoatsandwhiteringsaroundtheirrump.Thehairishollowandallowsforextrabuoyancywhenswimming,helpingthewaterbucktokeeptheirheadsabovewater.Theircolourblendsinverywellwiththeirhabitant,andtosurviveinthebushyouneedtohavetherightcoloursoryouwillendupbeing,breakfast,lunchordinnerforlionsorhyenas!Waterbuckarefoundnotfarfrompermanentwatersources;theydrinkdailyandfeedonqualitygrassthatgrowsalongthewater’sedgesandfloodplains.TheyaregoodswimmersandI’veseenthemescapeinwatertoavoidpredators.Thewhiteringhelpsmembersoftheherdtofolloweachotherandstaytogether.Theyhavesweatglandswhichproducesapungentoilsecretion–thesmellofwhichhelpsthemfindoneanother,andtheoilinessmakestheircoatwaterproof.Itisalsoapossibilitythattheoilmayactasaninsectrepellentandminimisethenumberofticksonawaterbuck.
Creativephototips ByJennyHishinTherearesomecreativetechniquestotrywithwildlifephotography,thataddevenmoreinteresttoarealisticnaturalscene.HerearetwothatI’vediscoveredandwillsharewithyoutotryonyournextsafari:Fallingstars:Here’sanaptquotefromShaunTan:“ThemoreIdrawandwrite,themoreIrealisethataccidentsareanecessarypartofanycreativeact,muchmoresothanlogicorwisdom.Sometimesamistakeistheonlywayofarrivingatanoriginalconcept,andthehistoryofsuccessfulinventionsisfullofmishaps,serendipityandunintendedresults.”Iwantedtorecordthestarsintheskywhileananimalwasdrinking.TodothisIneededalongexposureofabout20seconds(torecordthestars)andtheflashtofireattheendoftheexposure(to‘freeze’whateveranimalwasdrinking).Ishouldhavesetuponatripodforthelongexposure,butIwasinthesunkenphotohideandcouldn’tgettheangleIneededforthestars,soinsteadIbalancedthecameraonabeanbagjustoutside
ofthehide’swindowopenings.Ipre-focusedonthewater’sedge,andinduecoursethismagnificentwhiterhinocametodrink.Themagichappenedwhen,undetectedbymeatthetime,thecameraeversoslightlysettleddownintothebeanbagafterItriggeredtheshutterrelease.Itsslowslippingdownrecordedthestarsashavingthesedelightfultails,likeaskyfulloffallingorshootingstars!Oncethecamerasettledtheirfullbrightnesswasrecorded,andtheflashdidtheworkofilluminatingtherhinoperfectly.Mylensandcamerasettingsforthiswere:Lens:70to200mm,Fstop:f/2.8,Shutterspeed:20sec,ISO:1000.Bouncingflashacrosswater:Thiswassuchaspecialscene–ayoungblackrhinocalfdrinkingatnight.Itdoesn’tgetbetterthanthatandyou’llneverforgetthememory,butifyouwanttophotographityou’llneedtouseflash.Byanglingtheflashheaddownyoucanbouncethelightacrossthewater.Thisdoesn’tstartletheanimalbecauseit’sadiffusedlightthatilluminatesit,ratherthanaharshdirectbeamoflightaimedstraightatit.Butthemagicstartshappeningifthereareripplesonthewatermadebytheanimaldrinking.Thelighthitstheripplesandreflectsoffthemontotheanimal’sskin.Asyoucanseehereboththeblackrhinoandtherockarepatternedintheseinterestingbandsofplayfullight.Mylensandcamerasettingsforthiswere:Lens:400mmf/2.8,Shutterspeed:1/200sec,Fstop:f/2.8,ISO:800.
Allatwitter ByJennyHishinLeft:Thisisajuvenilemartialeagle(Polemaetusbellicosus)anditisprobablyaboutfiveyearsold.Theygettheirfulladultplumageintheirseventhyear.Right:Afluffed-uplilac-breastedroller(Coraciascaudatus).Below:Afemalegreaterpainted-snipe(Rostratulabenghalensis).Itisunusualinthatthefemaleismorebrightlycolouredthanthemale;themaleispalerandgreyer.
JuneGallery
Twoblissfulmomentsofthesunriseticklingthebranches.
Thesetwobullsengageinatouchinggreeting,somethinglikeahandshake–youcanseetheoneonthelefthasputhistrunktotheother’slips.Afterthisagoodroundofbullyingplayandblustertookplace,all
ingoodspirit.
Thislittlefamilyofvervetmonkieswashilarious.Themotherandthelittlemonkeyinthemiddlewerehaving
alovelytimewatchingtheworldgoby,evenapplaudingasitturned,whiletheterroratthetopsat
schemingupheapsoftrouble!
Justlookathimonthenextpage–heisnodoubtplanninganattackwhilehislittlesiblingsimplywatchesabugflyby;andthenheistryingtosuckhispawdryafterwhatevernonsenseendedupinitgettingwet,
whilehissiblinginnocentlynibblesonaleaf.
Andspeakingofcheeky–howarethesetwoclownstryingtochargeusintheroad?Secondslatertheirconfidencefledandtheyscamperedbehindmumwhowaspayingthemnoattentionatall!
AllphotographsbyJennyHishin,unlessotherwiseindicated.
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