20 Sept 09- Pete's Pond Part 1

The time at Pete's Pond was yet another amazing incident on the trip. We never expected to go there and we would not have if our plane had been on time. It is NOT normally something that visitors to Mashatu get to see, and I am very grateful to have been able to go.

We spent a lot of time driving around looking for animals and found them, but it was fantastic to also just sit in one place and let the wildlife come to US. Well, ok, they came to the pond and we just happened to be there, but they came to where we were for a change!

There was a lot going on at the Pond and it was fairly crowded- along with the five of us and Afke, a friend of hers was visiting and the volunteer camera operator was also there. The hide is not large and I would say that eight people is about twice as many as really fit. Nevertheless, I did my usual thing and took a few thousand pictures and the best of them are here.

So many different things were going on that most of the pictures are organized into groups and will end up in a couple of articles.

First: the view from the Hide-
Left side


Left center

right center

right side


Then we have an obligatory shot of Impala:


They may be everywhere, and may be the most common animal in Africa for all I know, but they are still beautiful. I'll admit to becoming more choosy about photographing them by this point though.

Straight across the pond from the Hide were Guinea Fowl and way out some baboons.

A vervet crossed through the birds to get to a different food bush.


As he crossed I got a shot of more different animals than any other opportunity while I was there, I think: Egyptian Geese, Stork, Guinea Fowl and Vervet in one single exposure.


Then again, in the next shot are Impala, Warthogs, an Egyptian Goose and the Stork!


An Impala drinking


I love shots of different species together and whenever I could went for those shots.
These Impala were thirsty and the Vervet just seemed to be keeping an eye on them, maybe making sure they didn't steal the pond?


The next shot is less than perfect because some of the structure from the hide and camera pole obscure the line of sight to the left side, but I still like the view of young Vervet being watched by an Impala.


The Vervet and Impala were the most common animals (besides small birds!) at the pond that day, so I got quite a few shots of them together in deifferent areas.
This bush seemed to be the Vervets favorite eating spot.



Notice the two small birds flying over the pond in this next shot-


I like this one of the running Vervet with an Impala.


I am going to finish this post with a few shots of Vervet:









This seemed sort of like "Vervet Nursery"






It seemed like this guy knew we were looking at him.

A lot more pictures from Pete's Pond still to come!