April 2010
Rainfall and Temperatures
April was an extremely high rainfall month taking into account the season and the rain showers received have kept the vegetation looking lush and green. A total of 119.5 mm was received during the month, bringing the total rainfall received during 2010 to 267.5 mm. The total for this wet season (September 2009 to August 2010) has increased to 830 mm.
03/04/2010 14 mm 05/04/2010 12.5 mm
06/04/2010 12 mm 07/04/2010 20 mm
08/04/2010 9 mm 18/04/2010 2 mm
19/04/2010 24 mm 20/04/2010 26 mm
Field
Maintenance
Maintenance work was once again undertaken on the wetland. Damage caused by the resident hippo was once again repaired and branches and logs were put in place to attempt to prevent him from using those areas as exit and entrance points. The outlet pipe of the wetland was also blocked on numerous occasions because of reeds and leaves. This resulted in water becoming stagnant, and thus deoxygenated, causing an undesirable odor. These leaves and reeds were removed from the pipeline and the water once again drained through the outlet. This has alleviated the smell from the wetland as water can once again move out of the system. The wetland will be monitored to insure that the outlet pipe does not get blocked again.
With regards to erosion reclamation, no major activities were undertaken during the month, as we await the delivery of gabion wire. A small amount of routine maintenance work was undertaken on a gabion structure on Tamboti Open area. Here we lowered the height of the gabion to allow water to flow over the gabion, preventing water from flowing around the structure and undermining it.
Roads
Routine road maintenance was undertaken on Bonsela, Chawkleys, Ivory Access and Tamboti during April. Mitre drains were opened on these roads and several sections were gravel patched further. Several sections of the road were also lifted as the road had become angled and uneven. Routine maintenance involves the opening of mitre drains and the repairing of their associated humps, as well as the filling of potholes and the removal of obstructions such as rocks. This is very important as is facilitates the removal of water from the roads surface.
Vegetation and Water
With all the rainfall received during the month, the vegetation is still lush and green. Several tree species started producing new shoots and flowers, a strange phenomenon as we start entering winter, but nevertheless a welcome sight for all the browsers of the Reserve. The herbaceous layer also has an excellent biomass and is providing ample grazing for all the grazers on the property.
The rainfall received during the month has helped maintain high level of water in the major waterholes on Lion Sands. In addition to these, several smaller, natural pans have been formed throughout the Reserve, providing ample water to all the animals on Lion Sands. Water is essential as all of the animals on the Reserve depend on water for their survival, either by being directly dependent on water for drinking and pest removal purposes or by being dependent on the animals attracted to the water for their survival.
Animals
Birds
A wide variety of birds were spotted during April, including several of the more rare species, such as Southern Ground Hornbills (Bucorvus leadbeateri), a Secetarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) and a Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina). Several African Fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) have been located along the Sabie River, catching and feeding on Tigerfish and other indigenous fish species. Saddlebilled storks (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) and Black storks (Ciconia nigra) were also seen at many of the quickly drying mud pools and natural pans, feasting on the small crustaceans and invertebrates.
There have also been several sightings of large predatory bird species, including Bateleurs (Terathopius ecaudatus), Whitebacked Vultures (Gyps africanus) and Martial Eagles (Polemaetus bellicosus).
Reptiles
With the approaching winter conditions and more frequent cold spells experienced on Lion Sands Private Game Reserve over the past month, reptile sightings have been on the decrease. Many species of reptile are now hibernating in refuges and shelters, a way in which they avoid the cold harsh conditions of winter, making the chance of seeing these fascinating creatures rather slim.
There were however a few reptile sightings during the month which included:
- Tree agama (Acanthocerus atricollis)
- African rock python (Python sebae)
- Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
- Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica)
- Giant plated lizards (Gerrhosaurus validus)
- Flap-neck chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)
Special Sightings
Charleston Pride on the hunt
It was an early morning game drive, which was full of anticipation as one of our Rangers had discovered the Charleston Pride on Warthog Wallow Road, resting under a large Tamboti tree thicket. All seven adults and the two cubs were present and it was amazing to see them up close, nestled amongst the grasses and shrubs, attempting to take cover from the hot African sun. The pride suddenly got some life when one of the females broke away and started to chase a herd of Impala, way off in the distance. This was a lone effort, with the rest of the pride sitting back and watching the attempt. All eyes were on this little bit of action…
Everything was still calm and serene, when suddenly out of nowhere an adult male impala appeared. Nobody knows where he came from, but he quickly realised that he was in trouble, when he noticed the pride around him. He attempted to make his escaped through a small opening in the bush, but he was quickly brought down by one of the females. It was incredible to see how quickly and efficiently the pride disposed of the carcass, nothing went to waste. After feeding, they returned to there shelters in the surrounding vegetation, as if nothing had happened, to wait out the heat of the day.
Mammals
Lion
The Charleston Lion pride has become a regular sighting in Lion Sands during the last few months and they have been located throughout the Reserve, usually in close proximity to one of the numerous dry riverbeds that cross the property. They are mostly inactive during the day, but during the night the bush awakens and they become very active. In February’s Ecological report we brought you news that Lion Sands had its newest arrivals when one of the lionesses gave birth to a lone cub. Towards the end of March we had more new arrivals; another lioness had also given birth and had two cubs. Unfortunately one of these was killed by a male leopard on a neighboring property. The two remaining cubs differ in age by approximately a month, but the smaller, younger cub keeps its bigger, older cousin on its toes.
Leopard
We have once again been treated to some incredible leopard sightings during the month of April. On several occasions we have located our dominant male, the Sandriver male, patrolling his territory, in search of females and protecting it from rival males. Warthog wallow female and her sister Outcrop, have also been a regular sighting during the month. Outcrops two female cubs are strong and healthy and have left her side to start fending for themselves. They can often be seen in close proximity to River and Ivory Lodge, an area Outcrop used to frequent when she was the same age.
Edwin Pierce Ecologist
Lion Sands Private Game Reserve
