October 31, 2011

This little bug was floating in a container that had filled up with last night's rain.
I rescued it and placed it on a leaf & my reward was an extended photo session.
He painstakingly dried himself by drawing his legs and antennae through his mandibles.

October 30, 2011

This baby Praying Mantis somehow reminded me of our new puppy -
Perhaps because it had the attitude of a Mini Schnauzer.

October 29, 2011

Dedicated to Douglas. 
I am delighted that you enjoy my photos!
You are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. May each day bring improved health.
The yellow Lantana is on top form after the rain we had this week.
This Painted Lady is the first Butterfly I have photographed this season
...note to self: get a book on Butterflies - this might not be a Painted Lady!  ;-)
Fortunately I have a fwend called 'Madame Butterfly' who will confirm the identity....

October 28, 2011

Woolly-necked Stork
We took a quick drive to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve this afternoon.
Although the rain had stopped, the weather had not cleared.
It was hot and humid with very moody skies.
This Woolly-necked Stork was drying its wings after a swim in a ditch next to the road.The photo shows clearly how very green the Park is at present.
It was a short visit - we returned home due to heavy clouds and distant thunder

October 27, 2011

It is still raining here & I have not had the opportunity to take a photo today.
This photo was taken in February. The flowers are those of the Yellow Lantana.
The little spider kept rubbing its silk glad with its hind legs
It made me wonder whether it had run out of silk and was trying to stimulate production, 
or whether it had an itch.

October 26, 2011

Waterlogged Hibiscus - taken at 6pm in very bad light with my Canon A480 point-and-shoot
The blue Bokeh effect in the background is caused by a Purple Heart Wandering Jew
(Plenty more rain is forecast for this week)

October 25, 2011

We are thankful for 14mm of rain
These drops were clinging on the stem of the potted Schefflera  on the porch
The pot is reflected in two of the drops.
It has been a cool wet day - relief after the high temperatures we experienced yesterday.

October 24, 2011

This Blue Headed Tree Agama (Bloukop) had just won a skirmish with
 a younger (and less handsome) fellow.
Unfortunately by the time I fetched the tripod, the fight was over...

October 23, 2011

Hello Fwends - My name is Buddy!
I am a Miniature Schnauzer and I am 8 weeks old.
My new Mommy did not plan to have me, but I plan to make her VERY happy!
(I think her heart melts whenever I act cute and flop down on her feet)
Mommy also has an old deaf dog called Muffin - she looks a bit like a cat.
I growl and bark at her every time she tries to smell my bum. She does not growl back.
Perhaps I should just give in, let her smell me and get acquainted.
 That way, I could be her "ears" and in return she could teach me a few tricks.
My life partner was born yesterday - she will join me in the middle of December.
Her name is Lulu.
I bet I am the first pup to EVER get a Lulu for Christmas!

October 22, 2011

Multitasking..
She was collecting pollen, but he had other ideas - chasing her in circles until he had his way!

October 21, 2011

I will NOT show my face, I will NOT show my face, I will NOT... 

October 20, 2011

A tiny spider with a mighty appetite

October 19, 2011

Aloe Cancer
A rather strange photo today!
This is the second year that the Aloes on the rockery have not flowered.
The 'hairy' seeds that have clung to it, make a very interesting picture, though.
Note to self: I will have to get rid of these plants....
  The "Aloes of Southern Africa" book states that Aloe cancer is caused by a severe infestation of mites that cause abnormal cellular growth in the effected parts of the Aloe.

October 18, 2011

Ellies in an assortment of sizes!
Although the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve is looking very lush and green,
one cannot help but think about the threat of de-forestation.
As the photo shows, recent fires seem to have destroyed most of the young Acacia trees
and the Ellies are uprooting and eating the new saplings.
We watched them for a long time, and this was their food of choice.
This was a herd of about 50 to 60 & considering the fact that they eat all day,
 one wonders how many (would-be) trees they consume?

October 17, 2011

Dwarfed by the tree
This photo was taken on Friday afternoon in the game reserve.
Of all the photos I took of the herd, this one is my favourite.
The late afternoon sun casts a golden glow on the gigantic tree,
while the shadow of the big Ellie's trunk casts a collar on the baby.
This week is a very busy week at school. We are interviewing for the 2012 intake.
By the time I get home the light is no longer good for photography.
I guess I will be sharing more wildlife photos this week...

October 16, 2011

A Lesser Masked Weaver having a bath
These are the breeding colours of the male - looks certainly count in the bird world!

October 15, 2011

Sweet drops are secreted by the Hoya flowers in the morning
After I downloaded, I noticed the ant.

October 14, 2011

Fishing.....

Fishing......

Fishing......

GOT HIM!!!
Yellow Billed Stork in action - it caught three little fish while we were watching.
It was amazing to see the fancy footwork that chased the fish towards its beak!
With no electricity supply from 5am till 8pm, today at the office was a killer!
I decided that the game reserve would the  best option to while away the hours after school.
It was a good decision & extra special because I could share it with my dear Mother!
Although we saw Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebra, Warthog, Impala, Nyala & Wildebeest, this guy certainly stole the show.
We are extremely blessed - into the park at 3pm and out just before 6pm - park and back, only 62km on the odometer!

October 13, 2011

The Leopard Lilies are in bloom
 Although the tiny flowers don't look like much, a Macro shot reveals quite a surprise! 

October 12, 2011

Catawba Grape Flowers
Spot the little Crab Spider... I wonder if it might be one of the babies that hatched in August?
(The grape pergola runs along the side of the patio where the spider nest was)
   Wiki-Answers had the following interesting information about grape flowers:
'The embryo bunches (they look like tiny green hard berries) break and form into flowers after the 15th or 16th leaf has formed on the vine. The time period when this would occur is normally about eight weeks after bud break
with the aid of adequate pollination and fertilization'

October 11, 2011

The Jacaranda Trees are gorgeous this time of the year.

October 10, 2011

A Lynx Spider blending in with the new growth on the Prickly Pear

October 9, 2011

This little Lizard must have fallen from a tree that we were parked under.
As we slowed down it suddenly appeared from under the windshield wipers
and looked at me as if to stay "Please stop the car, I want to get off"
Poor thing - it must have been very frightened.
I am sure it will be very happy in the Game Reserve where it managed to 'disembark'

October 8, 2011

Synchronised eating.
We had a field day in the Game Reserve today...
The recent rain has been a Blessing - plenty of young green grass after the winter fires

October 7, 2011

 The spiders in my garden have had a very productive season!
This is a baby Jumping Spider
 I really like the black and white Kippa!

October 6, 2011

A Lesser Striped Swallow collecting mud from a puddle in the road
Orange and Metallic blue - such a lovely contrast
The underside is streaked in black and white
Beautiful birds

October 5, 2011

There used to be a dead Guava tree on the bank in front of my house.
It was a very popular resting place & beak cleaning station for a variety of birds.
It was quite funny to watch them land and just know that they would start scraping their beaks!
Unfortunately the tree was cut down last week by someone who did not know any better.
Early this morning while having coffee outside, I saw this frowning fellow hanging onto a flimsy twig- while the Guava tree was often host to about 5 bird species at a time!
Although I have been toying with the idea, I suppose the fact that the bird was frowning in the direction of where the tree used to be, made me decide to try and replace the tree,
or at least a part of it by the end of the day.
I located the tree where it had been dumped, cut a fairly big branch and brought it back home.
The branch has been secured to the corner-post of the fence very close to where the tree used to be.
I can't wait to see the reaction of my feathered friends tomorrow morning...

October 4, 2011

I sat outside this morning to try and capture the Swallows in flight :)
The Sunbird had other ideas

October 4, 2011

I sat outside this morning to try and capture the swallows in flight
- the Sun-bird had a better idea!

October 3, 2011

Yesterday we witnessed Warthogs involved in some serious nose-butting in False Bay Park.
I did not notice the hair standing erect on their backs until I downloaded the photos

October 2, 2011

While Mr Peacock was trying his best to attract the attention of two Peahens on this side of the fence,
the fence tried it's best to illustrate the Rule of Thirds

October 1, 2011

While trimming dead leaves from the Yucca this morning, I came across a Lynx Spider's nest
The mother (about 12-15mm long) can be seen sitting inside the nest  
Baby spiders were emerging & floating away on strands of silk
The babies were really tiny, nearly translucent and all eyes