I do not often post bird pictures on this channel (as I have a separate birding quiz channel), but I thought these two pictures merit a post.
I captured the images of these Pink-throated Twinspots (top: male / bottom: female) as we were in the middle of a Lion sighting!
The little birds are named Twinspots because every single feather – with the white spots – has exactly two of them .
For birding enthusiasts observing these small seed-eaters is a very special treat and my guests were surprised that I was even more excited about them than about the four young Lions.
Technical data (top): Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 2000 | 1/2000sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
Technical data (bottom): Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 400 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode
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This was the moment when these South African Giraffes realized that they were going the wrong way.
As these three tall mammals appeared around the corner, one of Thanda Safari’s Lionesses (part of a large pride), who was snoozing in the sun, started chasing the Giraffes.
Even though she was not a real threat to the three large ruminants, their instinct made them turn and run immediately as this encounter was too close for comfort.
Unless one of Giraffes trips and falls during the chase, a small group of Lions will rarely attempt an adult Giraffe kill. A kick from one of their strong legs can break a Lion’s jaw and condemn it to death.
At Thanda, Lions on occasion target Giraffes calves. Such kills provide a lot of meat to the predators.
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 200 | 1/500sec | f6.7 | ev+0 | 130mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 30% of original image
This is a slideshow with some of my favorite pictures taken last week (Saint Lucia, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Pakamisa Private Game Reserve, and Thanda Safari).
There are far more ectotherms (cold-blooded animals) than endotherms (warm-blooded animals) on Earth.
With the exception of mammals and birds, most life forms rely on their surroundings and behavior to regulate their internal temperature, a process known as thermoregulation.
Fish, reptiles, and amphibians, with very few exceptions, are considered ectotherms. In this picture, you can see two of my favorite endotherms: a South African Giraffe and a Secretary Bird.
Have a great week!
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 100 | 1/500 sec | f6.3 | EV +0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Image cropped to 15% of the original size.
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 2500 | 1/2000sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 25% of original image Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 125 | 1/500sec | f6.3 | ev-1 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 30% of original image
Yesterday morning, I got up early to watch the sun rise over the Indian Ocean. For the first hour, I was alone as far as I could see along the sandy shores of Saint Lucia’s Jabula Beach, except for some birds.
It was very enjoyable listening to the waves and watching the birds.
I am currently on one of my ‘Christian Sperka Photography Custom Luxury Tours’ with two guests from Germany. We started in Umhlanga, spent three nights in Saint Lucia, and are now enjoying four nights at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve. Next Monday, we will move on to Thanda Safari for another four nights. After a good-bye dinner at Bel Punto in Umdloti , they will depart for home. The two of them are having a great time, with a lot of activities and plenty time to relax.
(Top) Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 8000 | 1/500sec | ev+1 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 30% of original image
(Left) Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 500 | 1/500sec | f6.3 | ev+0 | 150mm | WB AWB | AV Mode | Crop to 25% of original image
(Middle) Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 1600 | 1/500sec | ev+1 | WB AWB | AV Mode | Crop to 25% of original image
(Right) Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 100 | 1/1500sec | f5.6 | ev+0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 70% of original image
This is a slideshow with some of my favorite pictures taken last week at Thanda Safari. My guests and I had many enjoyable game drives with plenty mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, incredible scenery, and beautiful night skies. Have a great week!
Cheetah are the fastest land mammals with up to 120km/h (75mph).
But they can only run fast for about 30sec. After that they have to rest for quite a while to recover. I have seen them sitting for minutes panting next to their kill before they regained the energy to eat.
The Pronghorn (an antelope like mammal from North America) is one of the fastest land mammal species with a top speed of 90km/h (55mph). But unlike Cheetah they can maintain a high speed of 30mph for over twenty miles. Their closest relatives are Giraffes and Okapi, not antelopes.
Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 640 | 1/500sec | f6.3 | ev+0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 45% of original image
Today was a very exciting day at Thanda Safari. The Lion leadership changed with the arrival of two new dominant males from a game reserve in the Eastern Cape.
I photographed the arrival of these two beautiful and large cats, which replace Thanda’s current dominant Lion. He is moving to a new home in another Big Five Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.
This change ensures that the Lion genes at Thanda remain strong.
The two four-year-old brothers will stay in a boma (enclosed area) for a while so they can get used to their new surroundings.
Left: Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 640 | 1/2000sec | f6.3 | ev-0.5 | 24mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 90% of original image
Right Top: Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 3200 | 1/750sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 10% of original image
Right Bottom: Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 2000 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 10% of original image
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 