50 thoughts on “Early Bird”

1. Sparkle April 21, 2015 at 9:31 am

   When I look at the photo I can almost feel the crispness that’s in the air. Pitty hyienas are seen as the underdogs in so many cases

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 22, 2015 at 3:51 am

      Welkom hier by ons, Sparkle!

      We definitely agree with your sentiments about hyenas; we think they’re fascinating animals and really don’t deserve their cowardly reputation!

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      1. Sparkle April 22, 2015 at 8:27 am

         Thank you kindly! Once I saw hyena pups on the tv. My 1st thought was: are they suppose to be so cute!
      2. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 22, 2015 at 7:28 pm

         Cute and cuddly they definitely are!
2. Jane Lurie April 21, 2015 at 7:50 am

   Out in the jeep at sunrise are some of my most memorable safari moments. Magical. I love the look this guy is giving you!

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 22, 2015 at 3:48 am

      We entirely agree Jane; the wonder of the African bush waking up and the excitement of not knowing what’s waiting around the next corner has to be experienced first hand to fully appreciate!

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3. Ritva's ART / Ritva Sillanmäki April 18, 2015 at 4:59 pm

   gorgeous photo

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks so much Ritva!

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4. Silver in the Barn April 18, 2015 at 4:19 pm

   Terrific shot, shall we call her Esme?

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 4:41 pm

      A good name for a powerful matriarch!

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5. northerndesert April 18, 2015 at 1:09 pm

   Wonderful shot!

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 2:54 pm

      Thank you very much Alison!

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6. MiaMusings April 18, 2015 at 9:07 am

   So true!! In kruger, one morning drive let us drive with two cheetahs for almost 20m. It was awesome

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 2:53 pm

      Now that is special Mia! And exactly the kind reason why we never have any problems getting up early in the morning when we’re out in the bush, not even in summer when the Kruger camps open their gates at 04:30!

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7. montucky April 18, 2015 at 4:50 am

   Great shot!

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:55 am

      Thanks Montucky!

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8. compostingwords April 18, 2015 at 3:32 am

   Wow! The expression looking straight into his or her eyes is amazing! Nice shot.

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:53 am

      Thank you Cyndi! From this animal’s size I’d bet it’s a female; in spotted hyena society the females are dominant over and much larger than the males.

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9. Linda Arthur Tejera April 18, 2015 at 3:30 am

   They’re so unusual looking! Great photo! 🙂

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   1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:48 am

      Thanks a lot Linda!

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10. Leya April 17, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    Perfect portrait of this hyena – must have been great your eyes meeting!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:47 am

       Thanks Ann-Christine, it certainly was a wonderful encounter.

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11. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge – Early Bird | Chittle Chattle

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14. perdebytjie April 17, 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Pragtige foto!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:45 am

       Dankie Dina!

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15. Stacy P. Fischer April 17, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    You absolutely nailed this shot! Focused right on this fella’s eyes 🙂 And the side light is beautiful. Great capture!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:45 am

       Wow, thank you for the generous compliment Stacy!

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       1. Stacy P. Fischer April 18, 2015 at 1:02 pm

          My pleasure 🙂
16. anotherday2paradise April 17, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    Wow…. what a great shot! Worth rising early for. 🙂

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:40 am

       Thanks Sylvia!

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17. Amy April 17, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    How delightful to capture this little guy! 🙂

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:38 am

       Delightful indeed Amy, but not quite so little 😉 . Spotted hyenas weigh around 60kg.

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18. jimholroyd365 April 17, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    That is a great shot…here early morning the only fauna about are stray dogs…

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:37 am

       Thanks very much Jim!

       Those stray dogs you mentioned sounds like such a sad predicament.

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19. bulldog April 17, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    When in Kruger you have to be up at first light… great captuŕe

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 5:36 am

       Agreed Rob, there’s no other way; what a feeling waiting for the gates to open!

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       1. bulldog April 18, 2015 at 7:30 am

          I’m normally first in line
       2. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 18, 2015 at 2:51 pm

          Then it will be a tussle between the de Wets and the Bulldogs if we ever find ourselves in the same camp at the same time!
20. sustainabilitea April 17, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    I’ll have to send the link for this to our younger daughter who, for no known reason, loves heynas. She’s done a number of prints of them, too.

    janet

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 17, 2015 at 6:59 pm

       I’ll be very glad if we could give your daughter some fresh inspiration Janet! Didn’t she blog some of her pictures?

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       1. sustainabilitea April 17, 2015 at 7:01 pm

          Yes, she has a site, but it’s probably not at all up-to-date because she’s so busy. The site is here: https://dewetswild.com/2015/04/17/early-bird/. If you go to Jan 4, 2014, you’ll see a heyna she did.
       2. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 17, 2015 at 7:07 pm

          Thanks Janet! I think the links got mixed up a little though, this one points back at our post 😉
       3. sustainabilitea April 17, 2015 at 7:08 pm

          I sent yours to here and my computer must not have re-copied. Let’s try again: https://dontwaittonight.wordpress.com/.
       4. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 17, 2015 at 7:22 pm

          Thanks again Janet! She sure is really talented, no wonder she’s so busy!
21. that traveling nurse April 17, 2015 at 6:57 pm

    aw, this little fella looks cute in here! 🙂

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 17, 2015 at 7:04 pm

       Wouldn’t advise petting him though!

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22. quarksire April 17, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    awesomeness!

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    1. de Wets Wild Post authorApril 17, 2015 at 7:04 pm

       Thanks Q! Nice to see you around here again!

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