Take a bow....Jake Clarke!!

Some good news from a young Photographer who stayed at River Bend Lodge.

The Clarke Family, from Camden Town, UK visited us in May last year at River Bend Lodge.

Whilst here Jake, the eldest son did a Photography Course with Michael Price our resident Photographer.

Michael mentioned at the time that he had seldom come across such enthusiasm and sheer exhuberence as encountered during the lessons with Jake.

Fast forward to April 2015 and Michael received this message from Jake on Facebook:

“Congratulations on being a finalist in the Elephants competition. I thought you would find it interesting to know that I'm also in the running for the contest - I am also a finalist.
My page is below:
http://www.viewbug.com/member/JClarkePhoto

What wonderful news from Jake!!

He further adds:
“I am also entered into WPOY  (Wildlife Photographer of the Year) and will be receiving the results in the near future.
Thanks for the advice last year that helped me to get the shots,”!!

Here is the Link to Jake’s image which is one of 47 (from thousands of entries) which have been chosen as Finalists in an Elephants, Photography Competition on Viewbug:
http://www.jclarkephoto.viewbug.com/photo/22606821

A little more about Jake:

“I am a 16 year old photographer, based in London. I have been doing photography for the past 5 years. I shoot a wide variety of subject matter, from studio to wildlife and landscape.

Last year I travelled to South Africa with my family. We rounded off our trip at Addo, where we stayed for a few days at River Bend Lodge.  During this time, I attended the photography course run by Michael Price. After developing my skills, I went out and applied this to my next trip out on safari. On said trip, I managed to take the photo that won me a place in the final of the Elephants Photography Competition.”

Well done Jake….and we also look forward to hearing how he fares in the WPOY Competition.

WINTER SPECIAL at River Bend Lodge

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THIS WINTER

Many people are unaware of the wonderful weather we experience in the Eastern Cape during the Winter Months........beautiful warm sunny days and crisp cold nights. Wonderful sunrises and sunsets.

The Aloes will be in full bloom and the skies will be blue....and we look forward to welcoming you!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR A FULLSCREEN VIEW

Grieving Elephants

Back in October of 2011 I wrote a Blog about Avril, the Elephant matriarch who died on the Conservancy (Nyathi) on which River Bend Lodge is situated.

Some days ago an Elephant calf fell into the water at Gwarrie Pan - a waterhole in the Addo Elephant National Park - and drowned.

I went over to the Main Park yesterday and found the family still grieving over the remains of the dead calf....which, by now, has been ravaged by the scavengers......Jackals, Hyenas, Crows et al.

Watching the mother and her older calf standing 'guard' over the remains was a sad sight indeed.

We know that Elephants grieve, and respect the dead.

The scene brought to mind that Blog from a few years ago....so here it is again, for those who missed it the first time.

http://riverbendaddo.blogspot.com/2011/10/avril-matriarch-elephant.html

(TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THE IMAGES JUST CLICK ON AN IMAGE)

A Day with the Birds in the Garden at River Bend Lodge

It was with great delight that, last Friday, whilst walking up from the kitchen back to reception, that I spotted a Cardinal Woodpecker, perched on a tree trunk. I froze to watch. Soon another one appeared…one flew off and the other crawled into a hole in the tree trunk. Wow, a nesting pair of these special little birds in our garden!

Cardinal Woodpecker at the nest

A plan was borne immediately.

I set up my Canon 7D with a 300mm lens with a 1.4 Extender attached, on a tripod. Using my wireless remote I could sit a discreet distance from the tree and still take photographs of the bird’s swopping nesting duties.

I thought it was going to be easy!!

The first day I sat for over 9 hours….watching a hole in the tree. The first time the Woodpeckers swopped the area was in bright sunlight with dappled shade.

 The delete button came into play.

The second time the changeover took place the late shift staff were coming on duty and one of the Chef’s, Siya, was enquiring what I was doing….well no prizes for guessing what happened!

The third time it was just way too dark.

The day was not a waste however.

Sitting and watching the activities of the birds in the garden makes for some really interesting observation…and the realization that watching the smaller creatures can teach us much.

I jotted down some notes the whole day , and here are just some!

“After two hours sitting here I have witnessed Brown Hooded Kingfishers feasting on any of the Water Crickets who dare poke their heads above ground level. We had intended poisoning these little pests who keep disfiguring our lawn. We will have to find a Plan B….we do not want to impact on any birdlife in the garden.

Brown Hooded Kingfisher

I have also witnessed two rather invasive birds making a visit to the Woodpeckers nest….quite a lot of intimidation it seems….what are they, and why?” They spent a lot of time acting like inspectors of some sort!”

(These were later identified as Black Tits)

“During the hours between 12 and about 2.30pm everything seemed to be very quiet. A pair of African Hoopoe’s are raising their young in the base of one the large Pepper Tree’s in the garden The longer I sit here the more accustomed they become to me…sometimes looking for grubs within a meter or two from my chair”.

African Hoopoe

“A pair of Cape Robin Chats have a nest within a few meters of where I am sitting as well….it is very well concealed and I don’t want to try and find it for fear of disturbing them. Getting a photograph of these beautiful little birds is difficult….they a re always on the move”.

At the end of the day I had no photograph of the Cardinal Woodpeckers…..after sitting that long.

The Glossy Starlings were constant companions

I rethought my strategy…and spent some hours every afternoon staking out the nest. Finally after a wait of around 16 hours altogether I managed to get something with which I could share….an acceptable image to show the beauty of this creature.

Cardinal Woodpecker

It was during one of these ‘stake outs’ that I also witnessed the very intimidating (for the Woodpeckers) visit of 5 Scimitar Billed Woodhoopoe’s….it must have been very unnerving for our smaller feathered friends!!

(apologies for the quality of this image)

Scimitar Billed Woodhoopoes

In the coming weeks I hope to bring you more images as we, hopefully, witness the raising of some young Cardinal Woodpeckers in our garden!

The last time I was as patient in ‘staking out’ a bird was back in March this year when I witnessed a Yellow Billed Kite sharing some of a meal from a Lion kill!! That day I sat in my car for 8 hours…and was handsomely rewarded.

Yellow Billed Kite....with a morsel from a Lion kill!!

(To view a larger version of these images just 'click' on an image. All photographs the property of River Bend Lodge)

NEWS FROM THE KITCHEN AT RIVER BEND LODGE

I have spent time during the winter months developing menus that will enhance your culinary experience.

I would like to share just a few of the dishes that feature on our Lunch and Dinner Menus.

In addition to creating these new dishes we are introducing something a little bit ‘special’ to take your culinary experience to a new level……a selection of Salt and Peppers from around the world.

I have paired these with various dishes and I am pleasantly surprised at the various flavours they impart.

Dinner Starter - Game meat terrine with sauce Gribiche and pickled vegetables

 Seaweed Salt

This is a coarse unrefined dry salt which is unbleached and pure. It is hand harvested using traditional methods. The brand name is Le Paludier and the company is based in Batz sur Mer in Brittany, France. A pinch of seaweed salt will enrich all your dishes with the added benefit trace elements.

 Lunch Main - Salt and Pepper Calamari

White Pepper

This pepper which comes from Cameroon, is a perfect match for sea-food and fish dishes as well as white meat, vegetables or mushrooms.

Crepe Suzette

Lunch Starter - Caramelised Onion and Chevin Tart

Assorted Salts

Me and my team in the kitchen at River Bend Lodge look forward to welcoming you this spring and summer

Kelly Liggett - Head Chef

World Elephant Day 12th August 2014

Being, as we are, situated in one of the world's most successful Conservation initiatives, the world renowned Addo National Elephant Park, we thought it appropriate to share some images of these magnificent beasts.

All of the photographs that follow were taken in the Nyathi Concession of the Park, which is where River Bend Lodge is situated.

Game viewing in this area is limited to guests of River Bend Lodge and you have an opportunity of experiencing some of the closest encounters possible with Elephants in the wild and in their natural habitat that you can have anywhere on earth!

We have developed a Photographic package which you can experience during your stay at River Bend Lodge and which can be tailored to your level of proficiency.

In addition to this package we are running a Photography Workshop with renowned Photographer Mark Drysdale in September of 2014....for which we still have a few places available.

See a Blog on this Link for some of Mark's images.
http://riverbendaddo.blogspot.com/2014/05/photographic-course-at-river-bend-lodge.html

Here are some more images, all converted into Black and White,  taken by our in house Photographer
Michael Price with whom you can discuss your requirements during your stay.

Today is World Elephant Day....and we would do well to remember that as many as 96 of these wonderful creatures are being killed everyday in Africa because of man's greed!!

Please click on an image to view large screen. All images the property of River Bend Lodge and may not be used without permission.