I love lions. When they are not sleeping that is. Which they often do. When awake, lions are always entertaining. They like to play, fight, hunt and generally can’t sit still for long. Here’s a group of them stopping at a puddle for a drink on there way to, well, wherever they were going. Except for denning lions, their location seemed to always change and we had to search in the morning dark in the hopes of finding them. Somehow, often with the help of other guides, we found them. Just like we had to find them, they had to find the buffalo herd, or other prey that could sustain them. Being a big pride, something like a warthog would only be a snack. They often had to drink and, on this day, having rained hard, water was in abundant supply. Speaking of rain, I watched in the rain as they took shelter under an Acacia tree. Suddenly, the wind and rain became torrential and the lions, in a panic, ran from under the tree to a spot about 30 yards away, somehow aware of the danger of falling branches in the wild wind. (Panthera leo – Rongai Pride) (Sony a1, Sony 70-200 with 1.4 extender at 227mm, f/10, 1/500 second, ISO 1600)
Tags: Africa Simon Kararei safari Kenya puddle drinking pride Rongai Pride Panthera leo
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It’s Burrowing Owl time in South Florida. This adult gave me this nice pose when winging it back to the nest. (Athene cunicularia) (Sony a1, 200-600 @600mm, f/6.3, 1/4000 second, ISO 640)
Tags: Burrowing Owl flying Athene cunicularia owl raptor
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These two male Hippos were in a prolonged dispute over territory. They would get really worked up, foaming at the mouth, opening and closing it like a marionette puppet. They seemed very unsure of their footing in the rocky river but positioned themselves in various places which each thought favored their position. Their fighting consisted of fast movements and opened jaws, but no actual bites. I read that this behavior can go on for hours and can include more contact, but this one lasted about 30 minutes a good part of which was spent maneuvering for position or working themselves up for a really convincing open jawed threat that would be sure to convince their rival not to mess with them. Eventually it worked! (Hippopotamus amphibius) (Sony a1, 70-200 f/4 @ f/4, 200mm, 1/1600 second, ISO 640)
Tags: Africa Simon Kararei safari Hippo Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius Maasai Mara Kenya dispute aggression
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Secretary Birds were common in both the Serengeti and Maasai Mara. They typically were seen in pairs or atop an Acacia Tree, where they nest. I think it would be interesting to follow one of these birds for an entire day to see what they consume. I’ve watched them consume many insects, an occasionally a reptile and I assume they eat small mammals as well. As shown here, birds are also part of their diet. I saw this one rushing toward something and we managed to get there before the little bird was swallowed whole. These are large birds and I’m not sure if they have any avian predators but doubt it. (Sagittarius serpentarius) (Sony a1, 200-600mm lens at 411mm, f/6.4, 1/4000 second, ISO 640)
Tags: Africa Simon Kararei safari Secretary Bird predation Sagittarius serpentarius Maasai Mara
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I’m not sure if it’s a bonding thing, or they like the taste, but generally after a feeding both lions and cheetah will lick each other’s faces to clean up the blood. I’m not sure if leopards with cubs also engage in this but would imagine that they do. When alone, they clean themselves us as much as possible. Cheetah often drag their prey into the bush, to get out of sight of other predators who might steal it from them, which is not uncommon. Hyena and lion will readily take the kill for their own. In this instance, the cheetah were in deep shade under a bush and it wasn’t possible to get a good shot. I thought they were almost finished cleaning up when they moved into the open and allowed me this shot. (Acinonyx jubatus) (Sony a1, 200-600 lens @ 441mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 second, ISO 640)
Tags: Africa Simon Kararei safari cheetah cleaning licking cub bonding Acinonyx jubatus Maasai Mara
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