Sean Pattrick

Flood!!! Jan 2012

2012-01-21T21:20:00.003+02:00

The path leading down to the Olifants River. Normally about six meters or more below this point.

Our access road thru a small drainage line which was 40m wide when the photo was taken!

Our neighbours house so lucky. Only a muddy deck to show for it!

Limited access.

These figs are normally a few meters above the water level.

Going Green!!

2011-12-07T22:29:00.003+02:00

A Table.

Made from old planks given to me. They were from the base of a bed, but they were cut too short and have now been put to good use as this art table. Sue was short of a work surface for all her art material. So I made her this table as a Christmas present.

I decided against glue and so created this joint using some off cuts.

The dots are the dowels that join the two planks together to create the legs.

Shotguns.

With three young boys for Christmas another recycling idea came to mind. I had some old shipping pallets and they were not being used, just taking up space in the workshop. So I dismantled them and used the planks for these shotgun stock's. The barrels come from a very old broom handle! That was when I realized that they don't make things like they used to. The broom handles are more than half the weight of the gun! must have been some solid timber!!

Climate Change!!

2011-10-27T16:49:00.002+02:00

A scene more reminiscent of Europe!

We have had some major storms and with them some very large hail stones just smaller than golf balls! Not what you expect in the Lowveld! The windy month is normally August but that seems to now be September? There are rains in the middle of the year which is also not the norm for this part of the country.

I just wonder if we are seeing the beginning of climate change?

Competition

2011-09-30T17:33:00.002+02:00

Warthog with porcupine quill.

I have often wondered how much competition there is for Aardvark holes? Well it looks like this warthog has found out! There are three or four young warthogs that we see almost daily in our garden that have quills sticking out of them. I think that when the warthogs go home in the evening the porcupine is still in the hole and only leaves later once it is dark. In trying to get out the porcupine must have to push past the warthogs.

There are numerous animals that use aardvark hole's from warthogs to snakes and even some bird species.

The Working Gundog & Conservation Club Trial

2011-08-30T12:15:00.008+02:00

What is Gundog Field Trialling?

Gundog field trailing is a competition to find the best hunting dogs, which either find and point game birds - (Pointers, Retriever breeds) - or quarter, flush and retriever these birds (Spaniel breeds) or simply just retrieve shot birds, especially duck (Retriever breeds). Each gundog section is very specialised, therefore each section in South Africa runs its own separate trials. In this country, the USA and most other countries in the world, field trials are simulated hunts. Field trailing is the platform for hunters and breeders to ascertain that the dogs bred and sold preserve true hunting capabilities, i.e. drive,. perseverance, superb nose (scenting abilities), biddable soft mouth (does not harm the bird) are not gun-shy. One might ask why are dogs used in hunting situation? The Pointer / Setter/ Spaniel breeds are used to find the game (they can also be used for retrieving) and the Retrievers (although they can be used to find game), are specialised in retrieving wounded game as quickly as possible. Taken from www.goldens.co.za

Camo is compulsory, or is it a new fashion?

Field trials are as true to normal hunting as possible so competitors wear camo as they would in the field hunting.

New kids on the block watching the first few dogs working.

Waiting our turn.

Bailey's first ever pheasant!!

The day before she had tried to retrieve a rooster but spent more time playing with it. So it was a relief when she returned at speed, like she had done it a thousand times.

Relief after the first session of the day.

Guns and trialists.

A snoozy spectator in the winter sun. Especially after the four thirty am starts to get to the venue.

Retrieving a pigeon.

A easy test after the pheasant but a little confusing for the young dogs. Just as they had got used to bigger birds.

Out the blocks!!

Eye's fixed on her bird.

The water retrieve.

Setting up for the water retrieve.

Nothing like a dip in freezing water to cool off on a sunny winters day!

Bailey swam like a small motor boat.

Well Done, good girl.

Dog Tired.

Snow !!!

2011-08-30T11:07:00.006+02:00

Inhlazane Mountain

Not the landscape you expect to see in sunny South Africa! Well we have been having a great winter if you like the cold and most of our mountainous regions have had a dusting of snow. The KZN Midlands are well known for their beautiful landscapes, Productive farms and a plethora of arts and crafts. This area has long been a favorite with visitors. The snow only served to encourage more people to come and experience this area.

www.midlandsmeander.co.za

The boys enjoying a cup of Milo after a few hours of hard tobogganing. Dry clothes and socks to warm the toes!

A double decker toboggan!!

Sometimes it pays to be the smallest!

A family affair.

Pile ON !!!

Sabi Sand Workshop 2011

2011-08-27T13:31:00.008+02:00

The Sabi Sand Game Reserve is not only one of South Africa's oldest reserves it is also home to a phenomenal concentration of wildlife, especially the big cats!

www.elephantplains.co.za

Most people are lucky to see a leopard in their life time. In the Sands we are blessed with leopard sightings and this safari was no different with no less than six different leopards in four nights. We also got to see the same leopards a few times so the number of actual sightings was closer to twelve!

This beautiful male was on a waterbuck kill just outside a guest room. He was joined by a female and her cub.

Elephant are well known for their love of water. We watched this bull having a ball while his mates were more subdued and drank before moving off to feed. This waterhole produced elephant almost everyday, and it was great to see a large herd running down to drink.

Dagga Boy's

As they are know are the older males normal found on their own or in small groups. They are fond of wallowing in mud and tend to stay close to waterholes.

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Grooming male lion just prior to starting out for the nightly patrol.

Male leopard on patrol.

Camouflage

I have just had enough!!

Chikwenya

2011-07-11T20:31:00.010+02:00

www.chikwenyasafaris.com

With Kariba Dam having two gates open at the time of our visit there was a tremendous amount of water in the Zambezi. This meant we could get into areas by boat that you can normally only walk into. We floated over islands and witnessed the animals movements and adaptations to this watery realm.

There seemed to be hippo everywhere!! WE were lucky to see a calf that had just been born as was still finding it's feet. Luckily it had a very tolerant mom!!

A not so tolerant mom!

The guests opted to use the boat more often as it is so peaceful just floating along. You are also able to get up close to various animals and birds, for great photography.

Elephant rubbing post.

A young African Rock Python coiled around a branch above the river.

The famous flood plain of Anna trees along the banks of the Zambezi. These trees are now threatened due to the lack of flooding since the damming of the river. The trees need the floods to help germinate new seeds.

Saddlebill Stork fishing one of the flooded areas.

The Zambezi is about 1.5 km wide at this point.

Elephant bull reaching for the Anna tree pods. The elephant in this area are smaller than elephant in other areas.

Under the watchful eye of our Zim guide Kaz.

Winter Workshop 2011

2011-06-29T19:29:00.005+02:00

Bruna's Fish Eagle

Bruna managed to catch this fish eagle at just the right moment on take off!! She has done some work on the image by adding vignetting, a bit of contrast and sharpening.

Tree Squirrel.

These little guy's are super subjects in the cold weather as they sit in the sun trying to warm up. Their antics as they prepare for the day can be very amusing.

A young elephant testing the wind.

Fish Eagle.

As it gets cooler and the pans start drying up. The fish eagles and storks have easy picking. Most pans have a mass of writhing barbel (catfish) caught in the mud. There is also often a lot of competition between the different predatory species.

Dwarf Mongoose.

Just like the squirrel's these little fellows also struggle in the cold of winter and spend a great deal of time in the mornings grooming, warming up, and playing before starting to forage. They are often found in association with hornbills. The hornbills, being birds, are keen to get going in the morning and will call to the mongoose to try and get them up faster. This is because while the mongoose are feeding they often miss insects that the hornbills catch. The mongoose are repaid by having the hornbills as sentry's and by them giving an alarm call for avian predators.

Bruna getting down and dirty!

Michelle looking for that different angle, with her baby cam!!

Linda all wrapped up.

A large herd of buffalo on the morning drive.

Photo Opportunity

2011-05-16T13:07:00.005+02:00

Have a look at the last Diversions article at www.divleisure.co.za

Guests Comment

2011-05-15T12:58:00.004+02:00

I copied this comment off a guests blog and translated it directly from Spanish to English. It certainly had me in stitches!!

Sean Pattrick descended from Irish, has licensed guide of level 3, with specialization in management of rifle, is coach of guides, a degree in management of farms. Hunter professional, manufactures their own knives, is sculptor, wrote for travel magazines and is a professional photographer specializing in wildlife. A great guy like a closet is wardrobe, with a deep voice and appearance of breakfast crocodiles. As they say in that bad movie: "You could drop him off at the North pole wearing a g-string and two-weeks later he would show up in Mexico with a fist-full of pesos and an Attitude." The difference is that he would bring further magnificent photos of the experience. And how, also is not a piece of bread. It has been our teacher of photography for four days. A privilege.

A New Family Member!

2011-03-24T15:43:00.007+02:00

A Labrador Retriever in the bush.

Not the dog you expect to see in the bush but she is taking to it like a lab to water!

Bailey is a yellow lab that has South African Champion father and comes from a working background at the Eagertriever Labradors. www.eagertrievelabs.co.za

She is super bright and is already sitting, walking on a lead and doing short retrieves!

Chilling in the Hammock.

The only way to keep cool and watch the game on the Olifants river plains below the house. The hippo snorts and honks certainly got her attention!

Checking on all the new smells that have been left by passing animals in the night,

before our morning training session. We are all on a steep learning curve and are having a great time doing it. We are following Mike Lardy's training program from http://www.totalretriever.com

Nothing like a pool to beat the lowveld heat at lunch time.

Some swimming companions!

Grey Tree frogs.

Learning to swim in the local waterhole. At least there are no croc's in here!

Learning the finer points of retrieving from the boss!

That's not doggy paddle!

A Bush Bash in the Timbavati.

2011-01-31T21:21:00.007+02:00

Panther and the python (boa)!

Learning about one of our most feared animals from Donald (www.khamai.co.za)at Bateleur Camp in the Timbavati Game Reserve.

Leopard one of FIVE in four days!!

Doctor and elephant bull have a moment.

Boomslang

Often confused with a green mamba but the mamba's distribution is along the coastal belt.

Making safe !!

Gerhard

Looking at the remains of an impala. Possibly killed by a leopard.

The pose we all expect to see leopards in.

The saying goes something like this " you don't have to be the fastest you must just not be the slowest!" are those shoes saying something?

Balule Photo Workshop 2010

2010-12-07T19:32:00.004+02:00

A bushveld sentinel.

These Leadwood trees can live for a thousand years and are so dense that they stay standing for up to fifty years after they have died. So long as they are not ravaged by fire.

An African wildcat in the day!

The Drakensberg at sunset.

Flat lizard make great models.

The first rain clouds of summer made for great sunsets.

Two male lions reluctantly following the pride. With seventeen to feed there is little time to relax between hunts for this pride. Fantastic to see them all on the move together!

Stephen getting to grips with the low light!

Black Rhino Release

2010-11-28T13:42:00.009+02:00

Due to the recent dramatic increase in rhino poaching it is great to see that there are still rhino being released into more wildlife areas in South Africa. The private reserves, various park's staff and people like WWF are doing a fantastic job of looking after our natural heritage. We must keep giving them the support that has been shown in the last few months. It is often only in a crisis that we get to see country's true colours and it is fantastic to see how behind our conservationists the country is.

After an overnight drive being released into a new reserve.

This fellow took out all his anxiety on the vehicle and lost his horn in the process. It just shows how easily the horn can come off without a serious amount of damage to the rhino. The horn will re grow and in about four years he will be back to square one!

All the equipment is especially designed to make the job as fast and safe for both people and animals as possible.

The still sedated rhino about to be put out to have a transmitter fitted in his horn. This enables the park staff to keep a daily check on his position.

Stopping even a sedated rhino takes some man power!

The smaller more rounded and compact foot of the Black Rhino.

Notching the ears provides easy ID in the bush and can be referenced on a national data base.

Lesions caused by a Filaria parasite,one of which is unique to Black Rhino.Part of it's life cycle is as a biting fly, their lava are found in the rhino's dung. The parasite is spread thru the population by rhino visiting dung middens in their territory.

Transmitter fitted, eyes covered to help keep him calm, ears blocked for the same reason. Just a few more minutes and the reversal drug will be given and then its a whole new world!!

Nyalaland Trails 2010

2010-10-07T21:46:00.020+02:00

Kruger Photo Workshop 8-12 July

2010-08-25T22:10:00.005+02:00

Purple Pod Terminalia.

A splash of colour in the winter landscape.

Alan and I getting to grips with some aspect of photography! The workshops provide lots of opportunity for creativity and passing of different ideas between photographers. We all win and learn heaps!

The birds in the camps are great subjects and with cold overcast weather you have to take what you can get.

Reflections.

The Honoury Rangers Phalaborwa did a fantastic job in looking after all of us at Bataleur Camp. The facilities were great for our discussions and feedback sessions. The feedback was certainly were most people learnt a lot from each other. Thanks to the very constructive feedback and support of all involved. A big thank you to Gert and Tertius!

The sunset meant home time and the anticipation of a wonderful meal around the boma fire. Always welcome after the cold drive on an open vehicle.

Making the most of every opportunity.

What it is all about!

Olifants Wilderness Trail May 2010

2010-07-07T15:41:00.006+02:00

Olifants River

The rapids just above the trails camp are a great spot for sundowners, especially with the river being so full this year. The whole character of the river feels different with so much water and the rapids add to that feeling of raw power. It is hard to get trailists back to camp before dark as they enjoy this situation so much.

The southern bank of the Olifants heading away from the confluence of the Letaba and Olifants. On this trail we learnt about 65 new trees in the two days walking, thanks to the group and their keen interest in everything botanical. This meant we also took our time and were rewarded with a close sighting of white rhino, we also saw buffalo, elephant and a great deal of general game.

The rapids just west of camp could provide some great rafting and paddling! Just have to think about what lies in wait below.

The island created by the two great rivers meeting.

Trails are about being in the moment, enjoying the solitude, the chance to let your mind rest and to realise in wilderness there is only you and your surrounds. It's this that modern man is getting further and further from and because of that, we are drawn to it all the more.

Trails Rangers A Frame.

The early mornings and the banter around the fire at night means rangers see little of their rooms and who really needs more.

Blade Smith Course June 2010

2010-07-07T11:55:00.010+02:00

Knives

A weeks worth of work for two apprentices and a Master Blade Smith.
From the top: Damascus Kevin Harvey Master Blades Smith
Utility/Hunter by Kevin Harvey Heavin Forge
Biltong Knife by Heavin Forge team
Hunting knife by Anthony Miles Student
Damascus Dirk by Anthony Miles
Hunting knife by Sean Pattrick Student
Damascus Green River Skinner by Sean Pattrick

Sanding

There is a lot of finishing that is done by hand and eye. Taking out all the scratches left by the grinder using finer grit sandpapers.

Grinder!

The belt grinder takes a lot to master and can quickly ruin all the hours of work up to this stage, just one second too long or the wrong angle! Any excessive heat will result in a blue colour on the blades and the end of the heat treatment. Blue tips are hard to avoid! as there is less steel and it heats up fast. Short strokes and sensitive fingers are the answer.

Two Blades For Finishing.

The blades have been shaped and refined as much as possible on the anvil and are now ready for the grinder and handles.

Damascus!

The pre-formed Damascus blades, just out of the wood ash were it was cooled slowly but still retains some heat hours later! Hard to imagine the finished blades when all you have are grey blobs!

Heating a billet.

The steel is easy to move when heated and gives off a ringing sound when too cool to move under the hammer blows. A number of heats may be needed before the smith is happy with the shape. The more experienced smiths make this look easy and controlled, they also take far less heats to achieve the desired affect.

Pre-Forming the shape.

From the block or billet of steel the basic knife shape is formed. It is then normalised to take the stresses out of the steel created by the forging process, before being ground on the grinder to the final shape.

The steel in the forge!

This is Damascus steel being heated to be able to fold the three pieces of steel onto one another. The mix of the different steel types gives this steel the magical patterns once the blade has been etched. This Damascus has about 184 layers and is in a pattern known as heart beat.

The beginning and the end product!

A block of 1070 high carbon steel which gets welded onto a metal rod to hold it in the forge and be able to handle it at high temperatures. The block is about 10cm long and 3cm wide, the knife at the end depends on how thin you forge the block and if you are able to move the steel into the shape you would like. As a novice this can be a bit hit and miss! Excuse the pun.

Photo Workshop February 2010

2010-04-26T21:04:00.006+02:00

The view that greets all guests after that first morning drive. After a hearty breakfast there is a short discussion and often some exercises to get all the guests familiar with their cameras.

The rhino have been good to us and we have had great sightings so far this year. The dominant bull might not be as pleased as we are to see these two youngsters in his territory.

Although it was late afternoon watching two male cheetah hunting is a thrill ! The low light capabilities of the new digital camera's is just outstanding! A few years ago and we would have nothing to show of this spectacle.

Synchronised lion cubs, having just fed on a giraffe. They are watching the vultures coming in to land but not too close as mom is still feeding.

The light was great and we had this elephant bull arrive to greet the guests. We have had fantastic weather this year. We no longer hear jokes about there must be a photo workshop on since it is raining. I do suspect some farmers will miss us though.

Getting the shot !

Spoons

2010-03-17T12:02:00.003+02:00

Hand made, using traditional methods, right up my street.

Made by Nic Webb at www.nicwebb.com

Ruaha Tanzania

2010-03-16T16:22:00.018+02:00

After months of no rain the storms start! The smell of that first rain on the concrete hard soil is as African as it gets.

Not the usual safari look!

Massai Blankets or Shuka.
The massai have a nack of combining colours and adorning themselves quiet unlike any other tribe.

No Camp is ever perfect and the termites play havoc with the managers wooden bathroom floor. The guy's getting stuck in and helping me to re build the bathroom. No doubt it will not be long before we are building it again, but we have a few tricks up our sleeve and will see how long it takes the little blighters! to chew their way thru this one.

Solid saligna! Chomp on that! Macrotermes.

One way to keep your room rodent free! Makes you feel like a drink.

Pancake tortiose.

Massai Giraffe

Those storms create some wonderful lighting situations a photographers dream.
The dry season in Ruaha offers some of the best wildlife viewing in my opinion. The game is concentrated between dry rivers and the predators are drawn to these areas. The landscape offers some of the most spectacular photo opportunities.

Once the rains start there is a transformation from dry grey, brown bush to brilliant green almost over night.

There may be some unwanted visitors at this time of year but they are all the more fasinating by their brief appearance.

Prides of ten or more lion are not uncommon and their roars are heard nightly!

Kwihala Camp

From the beach to the bush, Ruaha National Park west of its more famous cousin Selous, this is the hidden jewel in Tanazania's parks.

View from Mediteranio

Our stay in Tanzania always starts and ends at the Mediteranio right on the beach in Dar! The sea food and pasta are great and the ambiance really lets you relax and contemplate the trip ahead or the wonderful experiences you have just had.

Cheetah Maquette

2010-02-24T22:09:00.004+02:00

Keeping the creative juices flowing! Clay from the Mawagusi River a sieve from the kitchen,a few days of sun and hey presto! Clay to play with, great way to practice when you are right there in the thick of it so to speak.

The life of Riley

2010-02-22T12:31:00.000+02:00

Kruger National Park, Ruaha National park, Serengeti the list goes on and so will the blog keeping you posted on all my travels and adventures in wildlife.