Various Saturday Critters

This week I'm joining Eileen's Saturday Critter Party, here with a difference. Just after Christmas Grant sent his driver to buy a couple of dozen soccer balls - deflated. Michael inflated them with his bicycle pump and that evening Grant and I piled a few at my feet and we drove through the the streets.  Normally the kids wrap plastic shopping bags into a ball and tie it up with string. This time we stopped wherever we saw a group of boys and called them over. You can imagine the excitement when I lifted a ball and handed it to them. 

These balls cost Tsh 1000/US$ .57c each

Happiness is... I gave these four boys two balls to "share"

We drove through town and handed out another six balls. Later I sent the rest of the deflated balls in the bag to Amanda for Buhangija School in Shinyanga.

Later, driving through the bush we stopped so that I could photograph a buck. We normally see Dik-dik here but this time we were intrigued  confused by the ridge on the animal's haunches.

This dik-dik has a definite ridge on its haunches

Just further along the road, we spotted a colony of mongoose. I managed to capture this one above until it ...

...dived headlong into the grassy verge

Then it appeared on a rock - looking as if it was posing! 

This lark-like bird gave us a beautiful song 

The jury is still out on its ID

While trying to photograph the elusive sunbirds in the thin bushes next to the road, a tractor belonging to the mine, overtook us. I told you I had a variety Party Critters today! 

Back home in my garden, I couldn't resist photographing Princess and Bibi resting on the lawn

The likeness is uncanny!

Mama Princess senses someone near our property fence. Bibi doesn't seem so sure!

Do visit Eileen's Critter party here  and join in the fun.

Happy Saturday everyone!