CHRISTIAN SPERKA PHOTOGRAPHY – Page 116 – Christian Sperka Photography

2015-01-242015-01-24

Pecking Order

One of my favorite Elephant images ever!

These two young bulls were sparring to measure their strength. The younger of the two – on the left – did not want to give up and kept provoking the older – and much heavier – one. The Thanda guests enjoyed this prolonged spectacle on the open savannah all around the game drive vehicle.

Picture by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve

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2015-01-21

To the Lodge!

Fifteen minutes, bad light and a long lens!

At the end of today’s exciting game drive with sparring Elephants, grazing White Rhinos and a few unusual bird sightings we were on our way back to the Thanda Safari Lodge when this Leopard female appeared on the road in front of us . After a quick look back at us she continued her walk, seemingly unconcerned, for fifteen minutes before disappearing into the bush. What a way to end a game drive!

Picture by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve

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2015-01-18

Rush to Water!

This African Harrier-hawk decided to walk to the edge of a waterhole. Funny to watch 🙂

2015-01-15

An “unhappy” snake!

I usually do not like to anthropomorphize animals but this Southern Vine Snake gave the appearance of being “unhappy”. Close to shedding its skin it was moving slowly through a tree as we spotted the snake. When I got a bit closer to take some pictures it obviously felt a bit threatened (for a short while). It inflated its neck to display the bright skin between the scales to impress its opponent. It work for me :-). This slender snake has a very bright orange tongue with a black tip.

Vine Snakes are rather shy and usually very relaxed. As with the Boomslang the chance of getting bitten is quite low. Its venom is highly haemotoxic and if a bite is not treated quickly it can be fatal. There is no anti-venom available.

It was the first time I was able to get images of this shy neighbor. What a great day!

PS: The eyes of this Vine Snake look “clouded” as it was close to skin shedding time.

2015-01-08

An Ostrich Affair

A great Ostrich story …

Pakamisa Private Game Reserve

Pakamisa guests love to see our ostriches grow up. This picture series documents the growth of our current youngsters from two days after they hatched until today. Enjoy this Ostrich affair!

A few days old – during the first year of life chicks grow at about 25 cm (9,8 in) per month!

Five weeks old at their evening dinner after heavy rainfalls – The incubation period for ostriches is 35 to 45 days.

Five weeks old on the way back to the stables – These flightless birds can run up to 70km/h (43mph).

Three months old ready to eat – Their lifespan is up to 45 years.

Four months old keeping up with the horses – At one year of age, ostriches weigh approximately 45 kgs (99 lbs).

Pictures by Christian Sperka & Isabella Stepski.

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2015-01-06

What a sighting!

One of my favorite Leopard pictures, ever – a Leopard doing what it does best – disappearing!

This young male Leopard was lying on a low branch in a tree when we approached with our game drive vehicle. As soon as we were in sight he silently moved of the tree and away through the grass. He thought himself undetected when we spotted him again and watched him for while before he decided to disappear all together. Leopards are like magicians. One moment they are there and then they are gone!

An exciting sighting demonstrating to Thanda guests the capabilities of Leopards!

Picture by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve

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2015-01-01

Into the new year!

This Leopard Tortoise was moving fast down the road – into the new year 🙂

2015-01-012014-12-31

Happy New Year

2014-12-27

2014 Collage

My 2014 Instagram Image Collage. What a year!

PS: I only started Instagram in September and I used a few older images to get it going 🙂 But I like the collage!

2014-12-262014-12-26

A relaxing day!

For some people a relaxing day means sitting comfortably at home and reading a book or watching a movie. For some it means to go window-shopping at a large mall. Others would like nothing better than to go to a pub or working out at a gym.

Well, my idea of a relaxing day is to pack a cooler box with drinks and food, fetch all my camera equipment, my binoculars and my bird book (=iPad) and install myself at a hide on a waterhole at a game reserve.

That is what I did on Christmas day.

While listening to a good audio book I took images of many different animals coming to the water. For most of the day 11! Rhinos kept me company. While other nature enthusiasts where coming and going I stayed for the whole day at the hide.

And these are sixteen of the pictures I took during this most relaxing day!