Feast of the crocodiles, Luangwa River Microlight flyover.................for Gordon G

[marc]

140+ Crocs feasting on a dead hippo.
Crocodiles appeared to be the only animals that were "concerned" with the micro light flying overhead.........perhaps a throwback to the days when Pterodactyls ruled the skies!

I captured this dramatic sequence of images from a microlight one early morning on a flyover the Luangwa river as the dry season lingered on.
This death was possibly caused by anthrax that gets stirred up in the dried riverbed and can lay dormant for decades. The Luangwa river boasts the largest number of crocodiles per kilometre of any river in the world. This image is testament to those the numbers.
Was fortunate for this image to get picked up by many newspapers and nature magazines in Europe at the time.

Luangwa River, South Luangwa Nat Park- Zambia. NOV 2011

Nikon D700
Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII
1/400s
f/5.6
ISO1250@ 82mm.

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A wider perspective.

A few of the crocs take on a white/ghostly appearance after the river sand/dust bakes them in the sun.

Nikon D700
Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII
1/500s
f/5.6
ISO1250@ 70mm.

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Nikon D700
Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII
1/500s
f/5.6
ISO1250@ 150mm.

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Nikon D700
Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VRII
1/640s
f/5.6
ISO1250@ 110mm.

Crocs panic and scatter to the safety of the Luangwa as we fly overhead.

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Cheers
Marc

 

[Oztours]

WOW, WOW, WOW....

 

[Callie]

Magical sighting Marc! Some attitudes there with the crocs!

 

[gaknott]

Amazing photos, Marc! (Note to self: stay out of the water....)

 

[gordon_g]

Oh HELL NO...

Outstanding Shots though !!

 

[Gottshotz]

Terrific aerial shots Marc ---

 

[JFW]

Very neat to see! Awesome photographs Marc. About how big are the largest crocodiles in the photos?

 

[Bristolian]

A great set of images and an unusual perspective for 2011

 

[Kathy G]

Fabulous series of photos Marc!

 

[Yezdi]

Just WoooooW....Magnificent series Marc.....The aerial perspective is fabulous

 

[marc]

Very neat to see! Awesome photographs Marc. About how big are the largest crocodiles in the photos?

@JFW
Some would easily reach 4.5M+ (15+ft)

A great set of images and an unusual perspective for 2011

@Bristolian
Yes thanks Steve, before the real proliferation of drones.

 

[marc]

Many thanks for the kind words and positive comments folks, much appreciated.