May 31, 2012

A small Portia Spider sitting on a crocheted doily
Portia Spiders are related to Jumping Spiders and feed mainly on other spiders
I was happy to discover this photo today- I took it last week in the office with my
'baby' Canon and then forgot about it!

May 30, 2012

Today a Baby Brown House Snake came to enquire about enrolment in our Pre-Primary class.
I can imagine his lunchbox: a couple of Geckos topped with mozzie-sprinkles!
The pink hue was reflected from the bright pink blouse worn by the lady holding the snake.

May 29, 2012

For a long time I have wanted to photograph the "Entrepreneurial skills of Phindy",
but there has always been rather heavy traffic and I have been unable to stop.
Heading back home after fetching my car today, I managed to stop and take a photo.
Don't you just love the sign-writing?
I am so happy to have my car back - a job VERY well done and a full valet - wow!
Thank you to the friendly people at Marvic Panel Beaters  and Avis Car Rental in Richards Bay.
Excellent service all round!!

May 28, 2012

One of the birds that were 'waiting in the wings' yesterday - waiting for an opportunity
 to grab the Martial Eagle's catch. I am unable to identify this one - my books show nothing similar.
I really need to get a good bird book

May 27, 2012

A most exciting visit to the game reserve today!  I came across a Martial Eagle feeding on a Guinea-fowl. I sat there for over an hour watching it trying to hide its lunch from opportunistic crows. 

It eventually moved higher up to a more comfortable spot where it started to feed. 

It was very vigilant and kept surveying the area - even keeping a watchful eye on me too!  

(Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Buffalo & Impala on today's list) 

The Hyundai i20 failed the test! I found it rather uncomfortable in the park - although the seats are nice and high, the roof is too low! I had not noticed it before, but I had to deliberately sink down low so that I could see out. Every time I leaned slightly forward I would bang my head against the sun visor. The rear-view mirror also blocked the view even though I am of average height. I could not help but wonder how a tall person would manage. It is a beautiful car otherwise, and surprisingly luxurious with all things electrical, but I have to admit that I can't wait to get my Kia Picanto back. My little 'Mini SUV' - I miss you...

May 26, 2012

The Hoya/Wax Plant has done very well this year, producing 20 flower heads!
 I love the smell that hangs in the air when it is in bloom. No wonder it draws such an assortment of insects.
I did not take a photo of the car today, it was too busy.
Our school sports day went well and l am dog-tired tonight - like all my colleagues that also worked
very hard to make this day a success. 
All the stuff that I took to the food stall still needs to be cleaned and packed away.....
Tomorrow is another day (hopefully!)

May 25, 2012

Today has been yet another VERY hectic day of a crazy week of, among many things - the dreaded nightmare of  tax returns!! The annual Pineapple Tournament (the biggest fundraising event of the year for Hluhluwe Primary School) takes place tomorrow, and I have not had time to take a photo!

I had planned to post a photo of the beautiful Hyundai i20 from Avis Car Rental - being the courtesy car that I drove home late yesterday after dropping my car off at Marvic Panelbeaters in Richards Bay. This is my first ever car insurance claim ever and I can certainly recommend Absa i-Direct for their great service and for making use of such professional supporting companies. So far it has been a pleasant experience all-round - friendly and extremely helpful!  I thank you all! This post might sound like an advertisement, but I can assure you that it is simply out of gratitude!

A photo of the "Blue Streak" will be inserted tomorrow. It will probably be a bit dusty, but I know it will be only too happy to pose! What a lovely car - if only I could keep it! I look forward to our afternoon in the game reserve on Sunday!

May 24, 2012

Today was so hectic that I did not have time to take a photo.
Earlier this month I found this Wattled Plover in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park.
While I sat there I noticed the slightest movement in a clump of grass nearby.
Much to my surprise I discovered the female sitting on a nest
giving me a beady eye!

May 23, 2012

An Itsy Bitsy Spider climbed down the Blackjack spike....
 - I can picture you all singing now! ;-)
I did not notice the little Crab Spider until I zoomed in on the burrs.

May 22, 2012

A succulent dressed up in pretty winter colours

May 21, 2012

Nature's Art
This photo was taken in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park
A beautiful sculpture created by the hands of time.
This photo was taken a few weeks ago. I felt "creatively challenged" today ;-)

May 20, 2012

New visitors to the Guava tree! 

This is a pair of Pin Tailed Wydahs. The female above, and the male below.

The male is catching 40 winks while his lady seems very suspicious about the camera!

In breeding season the male changes to black and white with long black tail feathers and a bright red beak.  On February 22 I posted a few photos of the wooing and mating process.

For the new followers of my blog: There used to be a dead Guava tree just beyond the corner post that was a

favourite 'beak cleaning' stop for a variety of birds - that is until one of the groundsmen decided to cut it down!

I was devastated and summoned a helper to go and find the tree where it had been dumped. We removed a fairly large section and carried it home.  This was then wired to the corner post and very soon the visitors arrived!  On March 21 I posted a photo of 41 swallows resting in its branches! A few weeks ago I created a fruit spike from a piece of wood and hung it on the lower branch. This has proved to be quite a hit, especially with Bulbuls, Mynahs and Barbets - apples seem to be their favourite.

Wydahs feeding on an apple came as a surprise because I always thought they were seed-eaters. 

May 19, 2012

This Fungus on a fallen branch reminds me of sponges that I have seen washed up on the beach.

May 18, 2012

Putting my SX40's "SuperZoom" to the test! A tripod would certainly have improved the shot.
Not good at judging distance and being the outdoorsy person that I am,
I can tell you without a doubt that it was three trees away!!
The bird remains unidentified..... perhaps a juvenile Longclaw? 

May 17, 2012

As D-Day approaches for the submission of payroll tax returns,
I spare a thought for others who are, like me, 'sharpening their pencils' to submit on time!

May 16, 2012

Another Scarab Beetle - but this one has many horns.
It was determined NOT to pose for a photo and I had to keep
picking it up to move it further back on the log that I had placed it on.

May 15, 2012

Ifafa Lily
Brave little flowers but I have never had any luck growing them!
Perhaps this batch will survive because they were lovingly dug up for me by my sister....

May 14, 2012

 Today when loading a roll of bubble-wrap into my car, I noticed this little Jumping Spider.

The sun was a bit harsh but I am glad that I managed to capture the beautiful pattern on its back.

The photo below was taken after it had jumped out of the car - quite cheeky for its size!

May 13, 2012

Today was a very busy day of which 5 hours were spent driving.
Nice excuse for cheating - this photo was not taken today!

May 12, 2012

This caught my eye at the gate today.
These are new leaves and one wonders why the previous one was in the way of the new one?
Perhaps I should ease it out to open it before it causes a "leaf jam" when more leaves emerge.

May 11, 2012

This is a very shy bird and I suspect that it thought that I could not see it.
It is a Tchagra, but I am not quite sure which one
♥My Canon SX40 has an affinity for birds♥

May 10, 2012

A Beautiful African Monarch Butterfly adds an unexpected splash of colour

May 9, 2012

A full Bulbul!
This bird made me smile - after eating about a quarter of the piece of apple that I put on the spike, it hopped onto a higher branch and just sat there with a beak full of apple looking very bloated.

May 8, 2012

The South African Reserve Bank celebrates 90 years.
This coin represents some of the currencies and coins that they have produced over the years

May 7, 2012

The dry version of the pod that I posted on 6 April, 2012
The dead fly puzzles me.
In case you missed the post on 6 April:
"Datura Stramonium, also known as Jimson weed, devil's trumpet, devil's weed, Thorn apple, Jamestown weed, Stinkweed, Locoweed, Datura, Pricklyburr, devil's cucumber, Hell's Bells & Moonflower"

  This plant is extremely poisonous.

May 6, 2012

A Tree Frog came to visit.
The sun was quite harsh and I thought to wait until later to take another photo.
When I looked again it was gone - perhaps a bird took it?
I have heard that when these frogs turn white, it is going to rain. Will have to wait and see....  

May 5, 2012

Yellow-throated Long Claw

At last! I managed to get a shot of the long claws.
I waited patiently but it would not turn around to show off its black 'gorget'
(I tried to get a good photo of the 'Supermoon" tonight, but eventually gave up)

May 4, 2012

 "A tender moment at the Waterhole"
featuring Mr and Mrs Strangehorn

A big thank you to all the visitors to this blog -  @maggiezlenz reached 8000 views today!

May 3, 2012

A Scarab Beetle with a shovel on its face!
I watched this guy actually use it to dig to try and get away from the camera.
How do the ones without such handy attachments manage?
(To the ancient Egyptians, this common beetle symbolized hope and the restoration of life)

May 2, 2012

Net-winged beetles or flat beetles (Lycus spp.) are all poisonous and therefore display aposematic colouration in combinations of orange and black patterns, which is mimicked by certain long-horn beetles and moths. The longitudinal ridges on the wings are characteristic of the net-winged beetles. They are slow flying insects that are very common on flower inflorescences and flower heads during the summer months. The larvae are predatory on other insects and look very similar to the larvae of the glow worms or fire flies. Eggs are laid under bark and in rotten wood, where the eggs will hatch and the larvae start feeding on other insects (Source: Bushveld Training Adventures)

May 1, 2012

These grass seeds in shades of pink always look so beautiful on the side of the road. 

Today I took a closer look and found that the pink part is actually a flower, complete with pollen!