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Xigera Camp – June 2013

June 3, 2013 Southern Africa Bush Tails

Weather and Landscape
With a hot start to the month having a high of 37° C, it slowly started to cool down as the month continued, resulting in an average high of 27° C for the month.

We did not receive any rainfall this month, but the annual inundation has started to arrive, filling up the waterways and spilling into the floodplains – it will be interesting to see just how high the water levels will be this season.

Wildlife
The elephants are starting to come back into the area and a breeding herd of 45 was seen north of the airstrip. This has to be one of the biggest herds seen in the concession in the last few years. The elephants have also been making regular trips into the camp area and have provided some great viewing from the decks in front of the rooms during siesta time in between activities.

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Other animals which have been seen in and around camp have been kudu, bushbuck, small -spotted genet and one occasion, a sleeping hippo – right next to the camp. Our luck with sitatunga sightings this month has continued as we enjoyed four separate sightings.
On the predatory side of things, the resident female leopard, Mmadipala, and her daughter have been seen on a regular basis. Another highlight for April was the sighting of a pair of honey badgers just west of the airstrip.

Birds and Birding
The birding this month has been spectacular with a breeding pair of western banded snake -eagles being seen near camp. Down near the Xigera Mokoro Trails Camp a long -crested eagle was seen as well as a Pel’s fishing-owl.

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On the subject of Pel’s, an individual has taken a liking to roosting in a tree across from the loos in the main area of camp. Another Pel’s had begun nesting by the Trails Camp, but unfortunately for the raptor,  a troop of monkeys found the nest and ate all of the eggs. Other great sightings included an African harrier -hawk feeding on starling chicks as well as a Verreaux’s eagle-owl.