September 30, 2011

Despite the rain, our visit to the game reserve was quite exciting.
My September album opened with a Rhino and I thought it fitting to close off with this one.
We were parked and watched the birds hovering around catching flies while the Rhinos were feeding.
They slowly moved closer to the car but moved away soon after this photo was taken.

September 29, 2011

An Iris opening in the early morning light

September 28, 2011

This handsome prince-to-be has found a home in the catchment drum under the gutter overflow
All that remains is to try and catch it for that legendary kiss....

September 27, 2011

Camera shy.
Although the bug made a getaway the leaf certainly steals the show!
This is a type of wild spinach - beautiful trailing plants with little yellow flowers
I think it might be related to "Dune Spinach"

September 26, 2011

The unusual green flowers of the Natal Forest Mahogany. The Zulu name is umKhuhlu.
 The seeds look like overgrown lucky beans - Hornbills love the seeds and will soon be visiting.

September 25, 2011

 I spotted this spider sitting on the wall on Friday morning.

Today I found that it had moved to the door frame.

It is quite large - it's legs are probably about 7 to 8cm long

I searched the Internet to try and identify it, but could not find anything

that had such a big head and long slim abdomen.

Unfortunately the light was not too good and the flash caused a white blowout.

I managed to crop out a closeup of it's rather sad looking 'face' 

Strange protrusions are situated just below the lower set of eyes.

This photo clearly shows the Pedipalps that are used to grab and hold it's prey

September 24, 2011

A beautiful Black Headed Heron found wandering on the verge on the way to Stanger.
When I first spotted it, it had a rat in it's beak.
By the time I had stopped the car, turned around & headed back, the rat was not more.
Whether it managed to escape or get swallowed, we will never know.

September 23, 2011

We said goodbye to our beloved Aunty K today. 
 This stained glass cross in the alcove behind the pulpit in St Winifred's Methodist Church let in such beautiful light!
This reminded me of John 8v12 :
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

September 22, 2011

Hungry Mouse Bird
This is the first time that I have seen these birds feed on flowers.
The feathers look like fluff - perhaps that is another reason why it is called a
'Mouse Bird' - not just because of the long tail?
The photo that I posted on 22 July shows the bird in de'tail'

September 21, 2011

Celebrating Spring Rain
By the time I got home today it was raining
No better way to celebrate than with a rainy day photo from the archives!

September 20, 2011

Beautiful little Violas - such a special gift!
Their happy little faces brighten up the front door gate.

September 19, 2011

'A Careful Ant'
It seemed to have an itch or irritation of some kind & kept stopping to do this.
Considering the mandibles featured in the photo that I posted on 13 September,
I could not think of a better name for this photo.

September 18, 2011

Perfect packaging.
How amazing is our Creator!

September 17, 2011

Judging by the green eyes this has to be a very jealous fly.

September 16, 2011

Rest in peace dear Auntie K
It was a Blessing to have you in my life and an honour to be in yours

September 15, 2011

Scurrying to get away from the camera.
What a lovely Corduroy jacket!
The pretty little flower is a weed of some sort that grows in the lawn.
The bug is hanging from a blade of grass

September 14, 2011

Inquisitive Bulbul.
We had our first of the season this morning.
Thunder & Lightning with 15mm of rain.
Thankful indeed.

September 13, 2011

No wonder it hurts when they bite!

September 12, 2011

A pretty little moth in a party dress

September 11, 2011

Paging through the numerous photos of yesterday's caterpillar, 
I took a closer look at a photo that I took later in the day.
It found that it had shed it's skin and moved further up the twig leaving the old skin behind.
The front of his body is anchored to the twig with a strand of silk.
Had I been aware of this at the time, I would have anchored myself to a chair
at close range to photograph the whole process!

September 10, 2011

What looked like a section of a dry twig turned out to be a caterpillar.
The big 'pimples' on it's back can easily be mistaken for feet!

September 09, 2011

Ducktail hairstyle  -  Brylcreem? Who needs Brylcreem???

September 8, 2011

This plant has been sowing itself in my garden since 2006. The strange little flowers have no petals.
I have no idea what it is called

September 7, 2011

Hundreds of tiny eggshells covers this dead leaf.
The little critters are probably all over the garden by now, feeding on all the fresh growth of Spring!

September 6, 2011

A new resident on the front porch!
The saucer-sized cobweb was constructed between the table and the back of a chair.

September 5, 2011

A Mosquito having a vegetarian meal.
Last year I planted Alyssum in a variety of colours.
It seems as if only the seeds of the white ones survived.

September 4, 2011

Today was just too busy for photography.
On Wednesday morning we found this beautiful moth on the floor at school.
It was clearly not feeling very well
Such lovely safari colours.

September 3, 2011

It was a  grey rainy day today with little photo opportunities.
This Kingfisher was in a tree in the neighbouring yard & the photos was taken from the kitchen doorway
Despite the distance I think it was very aware of the camera  What could that be on his beak? 
The blurriness in the foreground is from a plant growing on my fence - I like the sense of depth that it created

September 2, 2011

Little green 'brushes' in the throat of a Sorrel flower

September 1, 2011

Black Spring Day?  Senseless Rhino killings?
What is the world coming to?  Human greed is destroying the very core of it.
I did not take a photo today because I wanted to post one of a Rhino
As I paged through my albums the first thought that crossed my mind when I came across a photo of a Rhino was:
"I wonder if this one is still alive?"