The well-known Egyptian Goose is a large (up to 3.5kg) duck that is probably South Africa’s most numerous waterfowl species.
Egyptian Geese inhabit almost every freshwater habitat, preferring rivers and waterbodies with open shorelines within easy reach of open fields for grazing. Their diet is mostly vegetarian, particularly including grasses and cultivated crops (which is why they are regarded as pests in some parts of their range).
Outside of the breeding season, which in South Africa mainly stretches from late winter to early summer, Egyptian Geese can be found in large flocks of hundreds, even thousands, especially so while moulting (which leaves them flightless for about a month). In the breeding season however pairs are more solitary in habit, viciously defending small territories around their nests and goslings from others of their kind. Nests, lined with plant material, are bult in a variety of places ranging from shallow depressions hidden on the ground in thick vegetation to burrows, the abandoned nests of other large birds, holes in trees, cliffs, caves and buildings. Pair bonds often last for life, and the females incubate the clutch of 5 to 11 eggs for about 4 weeks. Chicks hatched in elevated nests have to jump out after hatching, responding to the call of their mother below, and then follow the parents to water. Both parents take care of the young, which start flying at around 10 weeks of age.
The IUCN considers the Egyptian Goose as being of “Least Concern“, having a large (though likely decreasing) population distributed over most of Sub-Saharan Africa, with introduced or feral populations in many other parts of the world. Ironically they no longer occur on the lower Nile, where they were once considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. They are however a very familiar sight all over South Africa.
Although the Hippopotamus seldom needs any introduction, most people are entirely unaware of just how big these portly animals are. Bulls can reach 1.7m high at the shoulder and weigh as much as 3,200kg (though usually around 2 tons), while cows are smaller, reaching weights of 1,700kg.
Hippo close-up
Hippo on land showing their short legs and portly body
Hippo showing enormous gape
Hippo posturing at the Balule causeway
Hippo posturing
Hippo posturing
Hippo eyeing us from the Sabie River
Hippo pod (Photo by Joubert)
Hippo on land
Hippopotamus require deep, permanent pools in slow-flowing rivers, dams and lakes, usually with exposed banks and islands and easy access to grazing grounds. They consume 100kg or more of fodder daily, consisting mostly of grass but will also feed on fruits, reeds and other waterplants. Areas subject to heavy grazing by Hippo take on a park-like appearance, with short “mown” lawns. They have been recorded taking carrion from carcasses. In times of drought hippos will travel up to 30km in a night to reach grazing, and will try to make do with any water or mudhole as protection from the sun.
Hippos lazing in the water
Hippo hiding in the shade of a bush
Young hippo looking for something to eat
Hippos from N’wamanzi Viewpoint
Pod of hippos in the bed of the Olifants
Mazithi Dam was little more than a drying mud puddle crammed with tired hippos and flayling barbel
Hippopotamus yawn
Hippo pod in the Pioneer Dam
Hippos at Nkakane
Hippo pod (Photo by Joubert)
Hippos
Just look at that tiny hippo baby!
Hippo in the dark, grazing past our camp
Hippo making the most of the overcast conditions
Hippo tusk
Hippo in the Sabie River (photo by Joubert)
Hippos returning to the hippo pool in the early morning
Hippos in a quiet pool of the Sabie
The hippo has the pool all to himself
Hippo eyeing us from the waterhole
Hippo
Hippos live in herds consisting of a territorial bull, cows and calves, numbering from 2 to 200 (usually around 15). The territorial bull will tolerate other mature bulls in his area provided they act suitably submissively – if not, terrible fights will break out in which one or both combatants are often killed. Inside the group the cows also maintain a strict hierarchy. Territories are demarcated by dungpiles and scattering droppings on prominent bushes and rocks by flicking the tail. Hippos follow specific trails between their waterhole and feeding grounds, and is especially dangerous when encountered along these. In fact, Hippos are among the most dangerous of African animals and cause several human deaths annually. Instances have also been noted of Hippos killing (by drowning or biting) other herbivores or crocodiles which venture too close. They are surprisingly fast on land, capable of speeds in excess of 35km/h, and are just as fast in the water. Hippos are most active at night, preferring to spend the hot daylight hours lolling in the water or baking in the sun on a sandbank and then heading out to feed at dusk.
It is unusual to find hippos moving around on land during daylight
What seems a lazy yawn may be a threat display
Hippos in a deep pool
Hippos
Hippos baking on a sandbank
Young hippo resting on an adult
Hippos lazing on a sandbank in the Nwaswitsontso River
The normal view of hippos, lazing in a pool of water on the Sweni River
Hippo encountered on a night drive from Olifants
Another pod of hippos at the Ngotso weir
Hippo antics at Nsemani Dam
Hippos at Lake Panic
Hippo highway leading from the water
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
Hippos at kuMfazana Pan
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
Most Hippo calves are born in the rainy season, when cows give birth to a single offspring after a gestation of about 8 months. The calves are usually born in reedbeds, where they remain hidden for a few weeks before being introduced to the herd as bulls are known to kill calves, even their own. Cows are incredibly protective of their young and nursing usually takes place in the water. Thanks to their large size and aggressive nature, few Hippos succumb to predator attacks, though lions, hyenas and crocodiles will attempt to catch calves given an opportunity. Drought and starvation are the biggest cause of natural deaths in Hippo populations. They have a life expectancy of up to 50 years in the wild.
Playful baby hippos
Playful hippos
Chubby hippo calf and mom
Baby hippo
Hippopotamus
Baby Hippo at Mestel Dam
Hippo gang at Sunset Dam
Hippo becoming a temporary island for Marsh and Serrated Hinged Terrapins
Hippo walking back to Lake Bhangazi
Hippos lazing at Amazibu Pan
Hippos
Baby Hippo resting on mom’s back at Rathlogo
Hippo baby (photo by Joubert)
Hippo babies (photo by Joubert)
Lazy family of hippos at Mestel Dam
Pair of Hippos walking along the Letaba River
Hippo family at rest
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
Resting hippos
Hippos
Hippopotamus cow and calf
Hippopotamus calf
Owing to a declining population due to poaching and loss of habitat, the IUCN considers the Hippopotamus to be “Vulnerable” and estimate that the total African population numbers between 125,000 and 148,000. It is estimated that there are at least 5,000 (and probably considerably more) Hippos in South Africa, where they now occur naturally only in the Lowveld of the Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces and the north of Kwazulu-Natal, although reintroductions have occurred outside these areas. Reliable places to see Hippos in South Africa are the Kruger National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Pilanesberg National Park.
Hippos
Pod of Hippos in Sunset Dam
Pod of hippos seen in the river from Crocodile Bridge
Hippopotamus in the rapids below the causeway
Hippos yawn as a threat
Hippo going walkabout in broad daylight
Hippos in the Mfazana Swamps (photo by Joubert)
Hippo
Hippo Babies
Hippopotamus (photo by Joubert)
Hippos in a dam in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Lazy Hippos
Hippo in a dam in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Hippo in a dam in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Hippopotamus
A pod of Hippos on the shores of Lake St. Lucia at Catalina Bay
Hippopotamus
Pair of Hippopotamus
Pod of Hippopotamus in Nsumo Pan
Hippopotamus eyeing us with some suspicion from among the reeds
Hippopotamus
Hippos in Transport Dam
Baby Hippo
Hippopotamus
Hippos and a crocodile sharing a corner of Manyeleti’s biggest dam
The Little Grebe, or Dabchick, is a small (120-190g, 20-29cm long) resident waterbird, commonly seen in pairs or small groups on shallow wetlands, ponds, lakes, pans, dams and other quiet freshwater habitats (rarely in fast flowing rivers). They feed on aquatic prey, including fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects, mostly caught under water, and in turn are preyed upon by large predatory fish.
In South Africa, Little Grebes breed mostly in the spring and summer months. Solitary pairs build a floating platform of plantmaterial, anchored to some underwater structure, for a nest. Before leaving the nest the parent bird always covers the eggs, of which there may be up to seven in a clutch, with some nest material. After hatching the chicks are often carried on their parents’ backs when swimming. At the end of the breeding season the Little Grebes moult and are then flightless for a short time.
Despite a declining population, estimated at as many as 3.5-million, the IUCN consders the Little Grebe of Least Concern, owing to a wide distribution across Africa, Asia and Europe. Little Grebes occur all over South Africa wherever suitable habitat is to be found.
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Grebe with chicks
Little Grebe chick
Immature Dabchick
Little Grebe
Little Grebe
White-faced Whistling Duck surrounded by Little Grebes
The Great Crested Grebe is a relatively big (up to 1.5kg, 45-56cm long, with a wingspan of up to 73cm) waterbird inhabiting large bodies of open water (mostly dams, lakes and pans, and rarely rivermouths and protected bays) where they feed on fish, crustaceans, amphibians and aquatic insects pursued underwater.
Locally, breeding seems to occur at any time of the year, on platforms of floating plant material anchored to emergent plants such as reeds or in flooded thickets. These birds are well known for their elaborate mating display. Clutches usually contain only two eggs, and the chicks are often carried on the parents’ backs.
Great Crested Grebes have a wide distribution across Europe, Asia and Australasia, with a limited occurrence in Southern and East Africa. The IUCN estimates their population at as many as 1.4-million and considers the species of Least Concern. In years past this grebe suffered greatly due to hunting for the plume trade, but today gill-netting is a more serious threat to their survival, especially so in East Africa where they are now rare. Great Crested Grebes are locally common residents in South Africa and occur mostly on the central Highveld (Gauteng, Northwest, Mpumalanga and Free State Provinces) and the Eastern and Western Cape.
African Darters have a wingspan of up to 1.3m and weigh in at as much as 1.7kg.
Darters are common residents at most wetlands, lakes, dams and slow flowing rivers, and occasionally lagoons and estuaries. They swim low in the water, usually with only their neck and head above the water, and can stay underwater for up to a minute when pursuing prey. African Darters feed mostly on fish, and occasionally frogs, water snakes and crustaceans, which are swallowed whole and head first.
Breeding occurs in colonies (often mixed with other species) in trees and reedbeds, mostly during the summer months. Nests are platforms built of sticks, on which both parents incubate the 3-6 eggs with their feet. Darter feathers are not waterproof, explaining why they are often seen sunning themselves on rocks and dead tree branches with wings outstretched. Some birds loose all their feathers when they moult after the breeding season, and then are flightless for a short period.
African Darters occur over most of Africa south of the Sahara, and can be seen almost all over South Africa, even occurring in the arid west of the country along the course of the Orange River. Despite a declining population (estimated at between 25,000 and 127,000) in many range states, the IUCN considers the African Darter of “least concern”.
The Little Egret is a relatively small, white heron weighing about 500g with a wingspan of around a metre and characteristic yellow toes, believed to aid in attracting prey to within striking range.
Little Egrets forage singly or in small groups in shallow, open wetlands, on the margins of rivers, dams, lakes, lagoons and waterlogged pastures and agricultural fields, and in the intertidal belt along the coast. They feed mostly on small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs, insects and other invertebrates
Breeding in this species coincides with the rainy season (in South Africa mostly the summer months), usually nesting in colonies numbering dozens up to thousands of pairs and often in association with other species of egret, heron, ibis and cormorant. They build their nests of sticks on cliffs, in reedbeds or trees, usually over the water, or on the ground on safe islands. Clutches of up to 5 eggs are incubated by both parents for a little over 3 weeks, and the chicks fledge at about 6 weeks old.
The IUCN estimates that there may be over 3-million (and the population is growing) Little Egrets distributed over Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. Vagrants have become established in the Caribbean and now appear to be spreading into North and South America. In South Africa the Little Egret is a common resident (subject to local movements to the coast during winter) all over the country, with the exception of the arid Northern Cape where it is mostly seen only along the course of the Orange River.
The well-known Cattle Egret is a small (280-450g) white heron (egret) with a wingspan of less than a metre.
Cattle Egrets usually forage in small groups numbering 10 – 20, but can at times be found in flocks of thousands where food is abundant. These birds inhabit open grasslands, savannas, pastures and meadows, swamps and marshes. They’re a familiar sight wherever large wild or domestic herbivores are grazing, catching insects and small vertebrates disturbed by their big neighbours’ movements. They will also peck ticks and other parasites from these bigger animals.
As with most other egrets, Cattle Egrets breed colonially in groups numbering from a dozen to several thousand pairs, often in mixed species congregations. Nests are built of sticks in trees and reedbeds, often over or surrounded by water. In South Africa breeding reaches a peak in the summer months. Clutches of one to five eggs are incubated by both parent birds for about three weeks, while chicks become independent at about 45 days old.
With a growing population estimated at as many as 10-million, and an expanding distribution on every continent except Antarctica, the IUCN considers the Cattle Egret to be of Least Concern. Their rapid range expansion in the past 100 years is directly correlated with the expansion of cattle farming across the globe. In South Africa they occur in every province, although they’re not very common in the xeric northwest of the country. They’re also much more numerous during the warm summer months, with many birds migrating to central Africa to escape the harshest of winter in our southern climes.
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Western Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egrets (photo by Joubert)
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
Cattle Egrets
Cattle Egrets in flight over the sea at the estuary of Lake St. Lucia
Some of the most impressive sights of our recent visit to the Satara area of the Kruger National Park was the enormous flocks of Red-billed Quelea occupying the grasslands of the central plains. Following the good rains that bought respite from an awful drought, the savannas are heavy with a rich harvest of seeding grasses, and literally millions of the little birds are making the most of the abundant foodsource. When their population reaches a peak, as it currently has, there could be as many as 33-million Red-billed Queleas swirling in cloudy swarms over the Park!
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
Red-billed Queleas at Satara in April 2017
The Red-billed Quelea is a small (20g) seed-eating sparrow-like nomad inhabiting grasslands and grainfields (causing enormous losses to farming communities). Swarms that could number in the millions descend on watering holes at least twice daily. While feeding they “roll” over the grasslands in a wave-like motion, most impressive to witness! While seeds make up the vast majority of their diet they do catch small insects as well, especially when raising chicks.
Nesting occurs communally in the rainy months and hundreds, even thousands, of nests are woven per tree (prefers thorn trees) by the males. Breeding colonies could consist of more than 2 million monogamous pairs, and is a magnet for every imaginable predatory bird, reptile and mammal that is large enough to take adults and chicks. Clutches normally number three eggs and the female incubates them for only 12 days, whereafter the chicks fledge within another two weeks!
The Red-billed Quelea may well be the most abundant bird on the planet, with an estimated population as large as ten billion, and as such is considered as being of least concern by the IUCN. It occurs widely in the savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa and can be found in every one of South Africa’s provinces, where it must number in the hundreds of millions.
(The photos in the following gallery were taken on visits to the Kruger Park and elsewhere)
At almost a metre tall with a wingspan of 1.7m and a weight of up to 1½kg, the Great Egret (or Great White Heron) is the largest of the white herons (or egrets) occurring in South Africa.
Great Egrets normally forage alone or in small, loosely associated groups, although they do sleep and breed in large colonies of up to a thousand pairs (often with other kinds of herons as well as cormorants and ibises). They are usually seen in flooded grasslands, along rivers and dams and at estuaries and lagoons, where they prey mainly on fish and frogs and occasionally on other vertebrates. Nests are built of sticks, over water in sturdy trees or reedbeds or on islands. In South Africa most breeding occurs during the rainy summer season. Both sexes incubate the clutch of up to 6 eggs for a little over 3 weeks, and then feed the chicks on regurgitated food until they are able to fly within two months of hatching.
Great Egrets occur on all the continents except Antarctica, and is commonly encountered over most of Africa south of the Sahara. Owing to its enormous distribution and large population, the IUCN considers the species of Least Concern. In South Africa, they are absent only from the arid west of the country.
Unlike most other herons, the Black-headed Heron isn’t closely associated with water, and they are mostly seen stalking grasslands, scrublands and cultivated fields and only infrequently in marshes or next to waterbodies, for prey that ranges from insects to mammals, reptiles and birds the size of doves.
Black-headed Herons stand about 90cm tall with a wingspan of 1.5m and weigh around 1½ kilograms.
Pairs are monogamous and nest colonially (up to 200 pairs) with other herons of their own kind or in mixed-species congregations with herons, ibises and cormorants. Nests are large platforms built of sticks in high trees, reedbeds or cliffs, in which clutches of 2 to 4 eggs are incubated. In South Africa breeding has been recorded throughout the year, with a peak in the summer months.
Black-headed Herons are commonly encountered over most of South Africa, even in suburban parks, open plots and road verges in cities and towns. It is also common over most of Sub-Saharan Africa and the IUCN considers it to be of Least Concern with an increasing population, benefiting from the clearing of land for agricultural enterprises .
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