Sunday, April 29, 2012

Today as I stroll around my garden, I enjoy the amazing diversity.

I have no clue what this little critter's name is, maybe one day
I'll get a chance to look it up in my bug book

Some of the Aloes are bursting into flower
I look forward to this happy occasion every year

Autumn is here, the mornings and evenings are very chilly, lovely
yellow leaves fall from the 100 year old Tulip Poplar Tree

Just something that caught my attention, sunshine through
the leaves

More Autumn leaves

Tessa Jane, wondering what I'm going to be doing next

A view from our garden, 

Funky views

Once again our garden visitor has arrived
Yellow Knipofia that were stripped by
Weavers
Funky bud

I wonder who can see the little frog hiding in this day lily bud

I'm not sure if this is a Ranger  I need confirmation




Very drab colouration of the under wing of the Garden Commodore

Garden Commodore upper wing

A very common garden bird, Red-eyed Dove
There is high drama every evening in the
garden when the local Black Sparrowhawk come
hunting for dinner 


Tessa Jane doing what she enjoys best in her life,
'herding chickens'

Friday, April 27, 2012

Little White-faced Ducks grow up

Very young White-faced Ducks that were found in our neighbour's
farmyard

All grown up and very much at home in the chicken run

Ganging up on the Mascovy ducklings

The chicken run, Boschveld chickens

Red Boy strutting about with his girls

Black Boy checking his girls

A very smart hen, I just love this colouration

Jacky, checking out if there is anything to eat.

Jacky, a beautiful hen that I bred

Saturday, April 21, 2012

African Harrier-Hawk Junior visits my garden

Just as I started the butterfly census this morning, this chap arrived in our garden, I delayed the start of the census for a few minutes so that I could watch him/her scratch around for a tasty morsel.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Garden birds at Springbrook

I had some interesting garden visitors during the past few days;
Black Sparrowhawk with such a full crop it sat for ages digesting the meal it had consumed
Greater Honeyguide and Olive Woodpecker enjoyed the bird bath that I have outside my office window.
Streaky-headed Seedeater spent time ripping apart the yellow Kniphofia,
This African Harrier-Hawk, looking really guilty!!
A very special visitor during the night was a Southern White-faced Scops-Owl
Pity that I only managed a photo of the African Harrier-Hawk

I wonder what this critter is going to become..........

For the past few weeks these caterpillar have been consuming the Helleria Lucida in my garden. The larger ones are about 11cm in length. I wonder what they are going to become when they grow up???

Saturday, April 7, 2012

God's amazing creation, diversity at its best





Diversity at its best, I wonder what these critters are called?






I wonder what ruffled his feathers?


Every winter around thirty Denham's Bustards congregate on our farm, they can be seen feeding in the pastures and in the maize fields that have been cut for silage. We also have one resident pair. I wonder where these majestic birds go to during summer?

Thursday, April 5, 2012



African Reed-Warbler, this little brown bird has an amazing ability to mimic calls of many birds, African Stonechat and Cape Robin Chat and many others.


At last I can update my blog, welcome ADSL



Red Chested Flufftail caught on camera

Whilst I was taking a photo of a dragonfly, this little man popped out of the reeds, talk about being at the right place and the right time!!!

Trip to Aliwal North

Trip to Aliwal North
Stunning sandstone formations between Elliot and Barkley East

Kramberg Mountain Aliwal North

Kramberg Mountain Aliwal North
Wow the rock formations on Kramberg are amazing