Kalahari images

There is something magical about the Kalahari. This vast 'green' desert with its red dunes, ephemeral and fossil rivers is a very special place. I don't know if it's the colour of the sand dunes or the soft light of dawn and dusk but, whatever it is, I'm drawn to it.
Its also a great place for camera-trapping. This is because animal life is attracted to the few water sources (artificial or natural) that exist on the sprawling farms and wildlife reserves that cover the region. So, even though its a 10 hour drive from where I live - I do it happily and always with great anticipation.
This time the anticipation was even greater than usual because there was a suggestion that there might be Pangolin (Manis temminckii) and Small Spotted Cat (Felis nigripes) on the property I was visiting. Now you must understand that to an African camera-trapper these are mega-ticks! Trips like this are not frivolous affairs.

But sadly, by the end of our time there, the above two species hadn't graced my cameras with their presence. Nevertheless, it was great fun and we collected some images that I enjoyed:

Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)

Bat-eared Fox (Otocyon megalotis)

Gemsbok or Oryx (Oryx gazella)

Cape Fox (Vulpes chama)

Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So if YOU like the idea of getting images of Pangolins and  Small Spotted Cats then give me a shout and I'll organise a camera-trapping safari to the property. It won't take much to persuade me!

Things that (don't) go BUMP in the night.

I've just returned from a great trip to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. I always love going there but this time was particularly special since I got to set up some cameras at various sites not accessible to the public (thanks Jan!). I'll post a few images of those sites in due course but, for today, some images from our camping site.

The campsite was unfenced so there was a good chance that lions would wander through - as they often do. So I set up a few cameras in the hope of getting some shots of these beasts bumping into my tent!
Well, it never happened. The big cats came pretty close one night but not close enough for a photo - and maybe that's a good thing.

But we weren't entirely alone:

 A Cape Fox (Vulpes charma). I know foxes are considered to be vermin in some parts but around here seeing one is a treat. These guys seldom get habituated to humans so generally behave as foxes should: pretty furtive and secretive.

A Black-backed Jackal (Canis mesomelas). They're not nearly as cute, in my opinion, as the Cape Fox. Known for their cunning and wariness their nocturnal calls are a feature of the African night.

..and lastly....

A Brown Hyaena (Parahyaena brunnea). It's always a treat to see these guys too. They're pretty solitary and nocturnal and, unlike their Spotted relatives, never very vocal. Even though they can weigh over 40kg and are pretty capable of ripping up carrion there is nothing too scary about them. They're welcome to bump into my tent any time!

The Frustrations of a Camera -Trapper

Its been a disappointing few weeks. I've had my cameras out in some promising spots and know there were interesting nocturnal amimals around. But do you think I could get a decent picture .....no.

This is the back of our local lynx, or caracal (Caracal caracal). The raised hindquarters are pretty diagnostic and its a beautiful cat - probably the apex predator in the farmlands around here.

This little face belongs to the Striped Polecat (Ictonyx striatus). I've never caught one on my cameras before and its been on my wish-list for a while. Sadly one sees these little guys often as road-kill.

This, I believe, is a Cape Grysbok (Raphicerus malanotis). If I'd got a good colour photo the lovely rufous-brown coat with white flecks would have been impressive - but it was not to be.

However, this is the image that I'm really bummed about:

I'm pretty sure it's a Cape Fox (Vulpes chama) since nothing else around here has a bushy tail like this. I would love to have got a good picture of him. It's the only true fox in the region and very seldom seen - certainly be me!

But obviously all is not lost. The animals are here so it's just a matter of catching them. Perhaps a job for my Cuddeback cameras which will usually give a good night-time colour image.

Oh,  I did get one good image. I'll call it Canis pesticus: