BIRD WEDNESDAY – SECRETARYBIRD

Unlike most birds of prey, the Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is hunting its prey on foot, usually in pairs, stalking through the habitat with long strides.

Their prey consists of reptiles, insects, small mammals, birds and the occasional carrion.

They are well known for their ability to catch and kill snakes, even venomous ones!

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ECTOTHERM MONDAY – ANTS

Some *Ants* hunt, some just scavenge, some feed of the nectar of other animals. When they do kill their prey they tear them apart with their sharp strong mandibles.

It has been estimated that over 22,000 species of different Ant species live on earth, over 13,000 have been classified. South Africa has over 500 different species.

I took this picture of an Ant attack in my front garden at Thanda House.

This pictures were taken after dark with my iPhone XS Max.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

PICTURES OF THE WEEK – SLEEPY LIONS

Sleepy Sunday?

Take a leaf from the Lions’s book 😊

Male African Lions spend up to 20 hours a day snoozing, females get up to 18 hours of shuteye. That re-defines the word cat-nap!

Have a good week!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

MAMMAL FRIDAY – SOUTH AFRICAN GIRAFFE

A newborn South African Giraffe is ~1.8m (~6ft) tall. After a few hours of birth, the calf can run and is almost indistinguishable from a one-week-old.

Mothers with calves will often gather in nursery herds. In such a groups they may sometimes leave their calves with one female while they forage and drink elsewhere. This is known as a “calving pool”.

Have a pleasant weekend!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

Kingfisher Week

I am featuring a species or family of species per week on my social media channels. Here is a summary of the last week’s posts (and some blog bonus images). I hope you enjoy some of my favorite Kingfisher pictures :-).

Malachite Kingfisher
Striped Kingfisher
Woodland Kingfisher
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
8 of 10 South African Kingfisher species
Giant Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Mangrove Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher

Pygmy Kingfisher

Sunrise …
A little bath …

Note:

Grey-headed Kingfisher and Half-collared Kingfisher are the two South African Kingfisher species which I have no pictures of.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

http://www.sperka.com

WILD DOG WEEK

I am featuring a species per week on my social media channels. Here is a summary of the last week’s posts (and some blog bonus images). I hope you enjoy some of my favorite African Wild Dog pictures :-).

Out of the way …
Puppies …
Play hard …
Night …
Please …
A bit early …
Puppies …
Pack …
Speed ….
Mine …

Kill …
Argument …
Jump …

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

http://www.sperka.com

ZEBRA WEEK

I am featuring a species per week on my social media channels. Here is a summary of the last week’s posts (and some blog bonus images). I hope you enjoy some of my favorite Burchell’s Zebra pictures :-).

Grooming …

In Zululand …

Cute …

Resting …

Morning light …

Just light …

Down the road …

Drink …

Jump …

Flehmen …

Dazzle …

Portrait …

Fly by …

Fight …

Light …

Please …

Morning …

Eye …

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

http://www.sperka.com

… next week’s species: Warthog

BLACK RHINO WEEK

I am featuring a species per week on my social media channels. Here is a summary of the last week’s posts (and some blog bonus images). I hope you enjoy some of my favorite Black Rhino pictures :-).

Charge …
Ready for action …
Marking …

Relative …
Close enough …
Focused …
With mum …

Temper …

Rain …
Rain is coming …

Down the road …
Smile …

Protect …
Sunset …
Browser …
Rush …

Next week’s species: Buffalo …

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

http://www.sperka.com

NYALA WEEK

I am featuring a species per week on my social media channels. Here is a summary of the last week’s posts (and some blog bonus images). I hope you enjoy some of my favorite Nyala pictures :-).

DIMORPHISM
FAWN
FIGHT
TROUBLE
CHANGE
DRINK
HORNS
DIFFERENCE
BEAUTY
AT WORK …
STARE

All pictures were taken at various locations in South Africa.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

http://www.sperka.con