Mazithi Dam is a man-made watering hole 10km north of Tshokwane Picnic Site in the Kruger National Park. It is a magnet for wildlife and there is always something of interest to see there. When we arrived at Mazithi around 2pm on the 19th of December, a troop of Vervet Monkeys had just raided the nest of a pair of Water Dikkoppe, aka Water Thick-knees. The birds and primates were in a tense standoff at the water’s edge with the monkeys mostly having the upper hand, although the birds put up a very brave show.
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam. In the top right-hand corner of this image you can see some of the troop snacking on the Dikkop eggs.
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam. This monkey is licking remains from an eggshell.
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam (photo by Joubert)
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
Standoff between Vervet Monkeys and Water Dikkoppe (Water Thick-knees) at Mazithi Dam
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That is a great series of photos.. Your blog allows easy scrolling through the photos in larger size – really nice to do that with this series.
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Thank you, Lisa! I’m glad if the photo sequence helped to convey the story!
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I can always count on your posts containing fascinating glimpses into the wildlife on your continent. Fascinating photo series!
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Thank you very much, John, for another kind and generous comment!
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Ai tog, die arme dikkoppe! Dis maar hoe dit in die natuur werk, maar ek sou sommer daai klomp ape met klippe gooi – hulle is darem baie astrant!
Goeie reeks foto’s!
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Baie dankie, Corna. Was n interessante petalje om dop te hou!
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Fascinating. It is surprising that the monkeys continued hassling the dikkops even after they had taken the eggs. Perhaps they saw the dikkops as challenging them. It certainly does not look like a game. It is surprising that any dikkops survive beyond the egg stage even given the brave defensiveness of the parents.
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We were also baffled by the monkeys’ persistence in harassing the birds, and keeping them away from what remained of the nest.
A pair of Spotted Dikkop routinely uses my mom’s garden to breed. While they are usually successful in incubating all the eggs in the clutch they seldom raise more than one chick. Even in suburbia there are many dangers. As you say, it is a wonder any survive out in the wild.
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That was really interesting! The birds didn’t stand a chance of defending their eggs.
Sorry I’m running behind on visiting and commenting. Busy times with getting Mom ready to move into a care home.
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Totally understandable, Janet. Family first! All the best with your mom’s move and getting her settled in.
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Thanks so much.
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Did you film this with your camera?
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Indeed, Hien. Both Joubert and I use Canons. The overcast conditions and the distance between us and our subjects worked against us though. I hope the photos were clear enough though to convey a sense of the drama.
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Always a Dikkop! Even a pair of them stand no chance against a raiding horde of monkeys. It must nonetheless have been very interesting to witness this battle between them.
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It was very interesting, Anne. Most of all the way the monkeys persisted in pestering the Dikkoppe even long after the eggs were gobbled up. As if they took some kind of pleasure from being bullies.
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That does appear to be rather strange behaviour.
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Dis nou jammer van die Dikkoppies, dis egter hoe dit maar gaan in die natuur. Hoop die aap wat eiers geëet het kry goed maagpyn.
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Ek het my nogal verstom dat die ape so aggressief opgetree het en dit vir n happie van 2 klein eiertjies.
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Ek dink die apies het mekaar maar opgewerk om te kyk wie eiertjies gaan kry. Jul is mos maar jaloers en kannie verdra dat iemand anders die happie kry nie.
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Hoe dit ook al sy, die dikkoppe het aan die korste ent getrek.
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Dis dan ‘n oormag van ape gewees. As dit net een was het hul nog dalk n kans gestaan. Is maar met gewone kiewiete ook. Hul duik en jaag en maak’n lawaai. Als meestal verniet.
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These couple of thick-knees picked the sandy edge of the water because it will make easier for incubation. Didn’t count on the primates that must be hungry. Great series, D. 🙂
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Thanks, H.J! The eggs are superbly camouflaged but the monkeys were clever enough to deduce where the eggs were based on the Dikkoppe’s behaviour.
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The hierarchy of nature can be hard sometimes.
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Indeed, Anne. And danger comes in many forms!
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