On a sunrise drive, we came across a spur-winged lapwing whose four eggs had just hatched. She cowered over them, protecting them from the vehicle; all we could see was four sets of toothpick legs. We stopped and sat quietly, giving her space and time to relax. She grew more comfortable and eventually opened her wings and sat upright. Underneath her were the most gorgeous balls of feathery fluff.
We watched for over half an hour as these chicks found their feet. Like wind-up toys, they would run around the sand, rocks and gravel, eventually scurrying back to their mother, completely exhausted and quickly falling asleep underneath the protection of her wing. I returned to the site almost every day. By the fourth day, I was amazed to see how they had grown in confidence and agility. They were now venturing as far as 10 metres from their devoted mother. Let’s hope that they continue to grow so we can document their development.
The cubs were located for the first time this week, stashed away in a secure den-site in the southern regions of the Triangle. We estimate the cubs to be between two or three months old. She is one of the most successful leopards in the Triangle with a strong lineage.
It is near impossible to go a single day without hearing a different opinion on why things are the way they are. Regardless, there is still much action in the southern portions of the Mara River.
The days are heating up and all animals need to drink. The small watering holes, drainage lines and depressions become focal points for animal movement.
Whilst waiting at a potential crossing point I came across Anthony Kiplunghurt who was the winning guide from The Greatest Maasai Mara Photographer of the Year competition in 2020. He guided Paolo Torchio when he captured his gorgeous winning photograph of the leopard in the rain. Part of Anthony’s prize was a trip, along with four other guides, to Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River. With two months left in this year’s competition, the question we are all asking ourselves is who will win, and which guide will be making his, or her, way to South Africa’s Kruger National Park?
Down in the far south-western portion of the Mara Triangle, some very large wildebeest herds have started moving north back into Kenya after a brief return to Tanzania, providing much relief for the resident lion pride in the area.