Sunrise is at 6:40am at the moment so while the gates opened at 6am, we figured going out at 6:30am would likely be a better option. Z fortunately slept through the night and woke at 5:45am – which incidentally was when I woke up as well. We decided to head out east on the dirt road which runs along the river. As we descended into the valley, the mist was covering much of the valley and the temperature plummeted from 15 degrees C at the camp to just 7 degrees in the valley and along the river. The birds were quiet and clearly sleeping in so the first 30 minutes or so we really only saw some game life including a herd of buffalo and then 2 hyena in the road. We only added our first bird to the trip list at just before 7am but then they steadily flowed from then onward.
We stopped for coffee / hot chocolate plus stretch legs etc at a picnic spot along the river and H spotted an unknown bird in the tree which we quite quickly identified as a Brown Scrub Robin which was a lifer for all of us. Some drama at picnic spot ensued. S left the passenger side door open and K & Z were sitting on the back seat getting something. A vervet monkey jumped in the front seat, onto back seat next to K & Z, K & Z came flying out the car in a panic, I ran up to car and shouted and started to jump in to back seat and it grabbed a banana and ran out the front. Instant blog demotion for S for leaving the door open. The troop arrived shortly afterwards and one of the males saw H eating an apple and was brazen enough to try and steal it out of her hand. We chased it off though.
By the time we got back to camp (just before 10am), our trip list was just under 50 birds. Z had an early lunch and went for a nap and K & H joined her in the nap part too. S was planning on a nap but then the cricket started and we just had to watch to see if the Proteas could do what was thought to be the impossible and win the Test Championship at Lord’s.
S started a charcoal fire so we could braai some hamburger patties for lunch and then I braai’d them. All the while we would come back in and watch an over and then rush out to turn them over until they were done. Then quick construction of the burgers between overs so we could ensure we didn’t miss anything. By this point, KHZ had all woken up as well. After the victory and presentations we headed out for an afternoon walk and on the way back added another lifer – at least for H & I – (again spotted by H) of a Southern Yellow White-Eye. S was bleak about this one because he had it already on his list which means the gap widens between the two of us. We did a short evening drive on which K added another lifer of a Long-Crested Eagle.
We got back to start the braai around 4:30pm. The wood we were sold at the shop is tree trunk like. After 1 hour 10 minutes, there were still whole logs unburnt. Z likes to eat around 6pm so at about 5:45pm, I started braaiing the steaks on some coals and some burning logs. They turned out pretty well despite the less than perfect cooking conditions. They had a slight smokey, char-grilled flavour to them. We also did some gem squash in the fire and H did a salad and corn on the cob. Z seems to love corn on cob – plowed through 2 of them before considering to eat anything else.
Early to bed tonight for some of us – H & I are both already in/on the bed. It is now 8:45pm and I honestly don’t think I will make it much past 9:30pm.
Until tomorrow …
P, Z (she is my grand daughter and she drove today on my lap), H (she found 3 lifers today!), K (she failed to thank H for the lifer … seems to be a daughter-in-law issue) & S (well you know why already)
