Heavy Rains in the Eastern Cape

The Eastern Cape has experienced some heavy rain in the last week which caused serious damage and flooding in some parts.

A section of the N2 between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth has been washed away and the towns pf Port Alfred and Bushmen's River have been seriously impacted by damage.

At River Bend we were unable to get out for a few a day or two but all is back to normal now.

The rain will ensure plenty of grazing going into summer....as well as plenty of wallowing areas for the Elephants!!!

These are some photographs taken from the west of the River Bend Lodge looking back. This is just one of the 'lakes' we look forward to see the Elephants enjoying on a hot day. You can be assured that when they do we will be doing our best to get some great images....and Guests who are fortunate enough to be here at the time will have an unforgettable experience!!!

(Click on an Image to view in larger format

Images are the property of River Bend Lodge and may not be used without 

prior permission.)

Cape Wagtails enthrall Guests at River Bend Lodge

Wagtails at the Bar!

There are 6 different species of Wagtails in South Africa. The most common of these is the Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis.....and on the 24th of September 2012 we had 3 chickens born to one of the resident pairs of Wagtails at River Bend Lodge in a shrub right outside the Bar.

Guests passing the Bar Area were enthralled at being privileged to get such a close encounter with the Wagtail Family as they raised their 3 chickens....all of which survived and are now part of the River Bend Lodge Team!!!

I apologize for the poor quality of these images, but I used natural light as I did not want to cause unnecessary disturbance. I will research how to get better photographs in case they do this all over again next Spring.

At the nest with newly born offspring

Photo taken 25th September 2012 1 day old

1 Week later

Feeding time

Each chicken got a turn

This was something we all learnt....how a bird keeps the nest clean.

In this case the chicken sidled up to the side of the nest....lifted

it's posterior and as it did so the chickens waste appeared neatly packaged

in a little white sack which the mother / father removed away from

the nest. 

This image shows clearly the mother removing the deposit!!

15 days of really hard work!!

Resting.

The chickens took 15 days from being hatched to leaving the nest!

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Spring 2012

                                                 

                                                 Some Images to celebrate Spring 2012

Lion in Spring Flowers

Three Banded Plover with chicken

Elephants .....doing damage to the flowers!!!

In the Garden at River Bend Lodge

In the Wild at River Bend Lodge

Inquisitive Buffalo Calf

Glossy Starling

These Cape Wagtail chickens were born on the 24th September ......we have taken photographs to document their growth. They are almost due to leave the nest and when they do the series of their growth will be published. The nest was built right outside the Bar at River Bend Lodge.

All of these Images are the property of River Bend Lodge and may not be used without permission. 

To view a larger version please Click on the image.