Wildlife – Page 81 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

March 18, 2015

Black Rhino

I was lucky enough to see a black rhino cow and calf – moving along a hill opposite to where our vehicle was parked. This photo was taken at full zoom (300mm) and I haven’t cropped it. If I had to guess I would say they were somewhere between 400-500 metres away; and from what I have heard about the black rhino temperament, that is a pretty comfortable distance! (In case you are wondering, the calf is the indistinct lump slightly behind mom).

Unfortunately with the distance there is no way to post a comparison (using my photos) to show the difference between the black and white rhino. Still, a really cool experience.

Have a great evening!

A black rhino cow and calf wander along a hillside. 1/320 sec, f9.0, ISO 500 — A black rhino cow and calf wander along a hillside.
1/320 sec, f9.0, ISO 500

March 17, 2015

Rhino Tracking

I had the privilege of experiencing tracking white rhino on foot. The original hope had been that it would provide us with some great photo opportunities, but the rhino were spending the day in fairly thick bush grazing. In order to remain downwind of them, we ended up in some thick bush as well.

While the photography aspect didn’t pan out as the organizers had hoped, it was a truly special adventure which I enjoyed immensely.

A de-horned rhino grazing in dense brush. 1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 500 — A de-horned rhino grazing in dense brush.
1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 500

March 16, 2015

Oxpeckers

There have been an awful lot of things going on that have severely limited the free time I have had recently, which is why there hasn’t been a post from me in ages. Thankfully a lot of the items on my must get done list are now finished, and I can get back to working on my photography. With the lovely weather we have been having, it seems a shame that I’ve been stuck indoors, but there will be lots of time (and hopefully lots of good weather) for photos in the coming days and weeks.

I wanted something that would be fairly efficient to work on, so I decided to go through the photos I took of oxpeckers at the bird hide. I had posted one photo previously https://wordpress.com/post/51960952/1129/ but had a few others that I thought were worth posting.

Wishing everyone an excellent day!

I was glad an oxpecker returned late in the morning once the light was better; it makes a difference for showing off the subtle colour changes in their feathers. 1/1000 sec, f6.3, ISO 1250 — I was glad an oxpecker returned later in the morning once the light was better; it makes a difference for showing off the subtle colour changes in their feathers.
1/1000 sec, f6.3, ISO 1250

March 3, 2015

Crested barbet

This crested barbet stopped by the watering hole while I was at the Mkombe bird hide at Zimanga Game Reserve. For reasons I can’t quite put my finger on, it reminds me of the cartoon character Foghorn Leghorn from the Looney Tunes cartoons I watched when I was a kid.

Have great evening everyone!

Striking the most intimidating poster possible! 1/1600 sec, f7.1 ISO 1250 — Striking the most intimidating pose possible!
1/1600 sec, f7.1 ISO 1250

Calling to a friend, or calling out a foe?

Getting ready for what was a very ungraceful leap over to the other side of the water.

February 27, 2015

Kalahari the cheetah

Here are the last few cheetah photos that I had flagged for editing from my October / November 2014 project with Wildlife ACT. It took a few days for our first sighting of Kalahari the cheetah, but I was very lucky to get to spend a fair bit of time in his presence, and learn a bit about his personality.

I’m not sure what will be up next, but I still have quite a few photos from that trip that I would like to share. Have a great day everyone!

On the move - look at those huge feet! — On the move – look at those huge feet!

I included this photo only to show how difficult it can be to spot a cat, even with very little ground cover. He looked up briefly, watching us watch him, but as soon as he put his head down, you could have walked past and missed him laying there. I'm pretty sure we drove back and forth a few times before finally catching sight of him. — I included this photo only to show how difficult it can be to spot a cat, even with very little ground cover. He looked up briefly, watching us watch him, but as soon as he put his head down, you could have walked past and missed him laying there. I’m pretty sure we drove back and forth a few times before finally catching sight of him.

This was taken around the same time as the black and white conversion I posted earlier in the week, but from a different vantage point. After watching him from below for some time, we drove up to the road at the top of the dam wall. To get home we had no choice but to drive past him fairly close; we went slowly and quietly, and it gave us some lovely views :) — This was taken around the same time as the black and white conversion I posted earlier in the week, but from a different vantage point. After watching him from below for some time, we drove up to the road at the top of the dam wall. To get home we had no choice but to drive past him fairly close; we went slowly and quietly, and it gave us some lovely views 🙂

February 26, 2015

A wander through the acacia

One day we caught up to Kalahari early on our morning tracking drive, but he soon disappeared into the trees heading down towards the river. 1/320sec, f8.-, ISO 800 — One day we caught up to Kalahari early on our morning tracking drive, but he soon disappeared into the trees heading down towards the river.
1/320sec, f8.-, ISO 800

February 25, 2015

Surveying his domain

Pausing at the top of the dam wall to survey his domain. We were parked about 20 to 30 feet below him, giving us interesting angles to shoot with. 1/320 sec, f7.1, ISO 220 — Pausing at the top of the dam wall to survey his domain. We were parked about 20 to 30 feet below him, giving us interesting angles to shoot with.
1/320 sec, f7.1, ISO 220

February 24, 2015

Occupational Hazards

There are sugar cane fields surrounding portions of Zimanga Private Game Reserve, and on some of our tracking outings, we would follow the cane field fence lines to get where we were going. After tracking the cheetah for some time, we finally spotted him, but I am sure the worker cutting cane (probably less than 10 metres away) didn’t have a clue he was there.

February 23, 2015

Backwards Glance

February 14, 2015

20150214 – Great Blue Heron

We left so early for our walk today I didn’t bother grabbing my camera, and as we were leaving the dike I was kicking myself for it. This would have been so much better shot with something other than my phone. I’ve never before seen a heron perched on the top of the power lines.

Great Blue Heron shot with my Samsung phone through the front window of my car.

A quick snap out through the open window