June 30, 2012

 On this last day of the first half of what still feels like the "new year", I post a smily face.

We took a quick sunset drive to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve this afternoon. Being school holidays, the park was rather busy. At one stage we drove for a while behind this vehicle with a budding young artist that was showing off his talents in clay on the inside of the back window.

On our way out, we somehow landed behind them again, and the artist had 

proudly added his signature!

All I had to do was flip the shot. Unfortunately not a good shot because it was fairly dark by then!

Such a beautiful piece of artwork! Well done Emile!

The Sentinel" that I posted a photo of last Sunday 24 June, is no more. It has been  pushed over and reduced to a plain old tree stump lying in the grass. I am so glad that I stopped last week and made an effort to get such a nice shot of it!

June 29, 2012

Shadows in colour - could easily be mistaken for an extra set of wings.

June 28, 2012

How I wish that I had discovered this amazing spider nest sooner!
It is slightly bigger than a golf ball and hangs on a single thread.
I put the green leaf behind it to block out the brick wall and also to stop it from swaying in the wind.
The hundreds of exoskeletons show that the babies moulted at least once before leaving the nest.
What a site this must have been..... it breaks my spider-loving heart to have missed it!

June 27, 2012

Working in the garden today I found this amazing spider in a nest under a rock.
It looked so soft and fluffy - complete with winter pj's and woolly blanket!
The play of sunlight on it's hairy body made me fetch the camera.
After taking the photo, I carefully replaced everything as I had found it.
That section of the flower bed will have to wait until spring!

June 26, 2012

Which one of these would be the one that was so camera shy two days ago, I wonder?
Unfortunately the early morning sun was behind them. I asked them nicely to return this afternoon to re-do the shoot, but as you can see, the shock clearly shows on the faces of the two on the right!
Tomorrow I will coax them with apples, because they did not seem to enjoy the guavas much.
Black Collared Barbet - I can't help but think that "Red Headed Barbet" might have
been a more descriptive name for these beauties.

June 25, 2012

Displaying beautiful rich colours after shedding it's skin, this juvenile Blue Headed Tree Agama (Bloukop) kept me entertained for quite some time.
I presume that in an effort to try and get the last piece of remaining skin off it's front leg, it would dart down into the dirt to dig and roll then scuttle back onto the rock to stare at me....
with the skin still sitting there like a glove!

June 24, 2012

"The Sentinel"
Silently watching over the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve and all that lives within it.
I have often taken photos of this tree stump, but never felt that the photo gave the subject much credit.
Today, however, I feel that it is 'just right'.  Sadly a run-away fire has ripped through large parts of the Hluhluwe side of the park. We really need more rain now for the grazing areas to be renewed.
The stump that I posted on 21st May and named "Natures Art" is no more. 
Probably pushed over by an Elephant or succumbed to the constant onslaught of termites.

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June 23, 2012

A colour coded lunch!
Today was a cold rainy day and the birds were thankful for the apple on the patio.
This  Bulbul  seemed to know the drill and I am sure that I can see a glint of recognition in that eye! 
I tried so hard to get a photo of a Black Collared Barbet that paid a visit, but it was too skittish.
Perhaps by tomorrow it will realise that I mean no harm.

June 22, 2012

Taking photos of dead insects has never appealed to me.
This fly however, was rather beautiful and I could not resist.
What I find most intriguing is that the parts of the actual fly that are blurry,
are in quite detailed in the reflection.

June 21, 2012

I was experimenting with the effect of LED torchlight on the hairy leaves of this succulent plant.
The strange little caterpillar was trying hard to get away from the camera - or the light!
It was only about 10mm long.

June 20, 2012

Under the bathroom light at 5am this morning, this moth had what looked like balls of fire in its eyes.
Capturing the effect of the light was not very successful, but I post the photo anyway - even if just to prove that the moth probably spent the entire night in front of the mirror grooming its hair!

June 19, 2012

Beware of the shadow......
(it's really just little spider on a rusty can in the late afternoon sun!)

June 18, 2012

A very hairy bee!
This is actually not a good photo, but I like it because shows how clever bees are- sucking nectar from elsewhere if it can't crawl into the flower from the front.

June 17, 2012

Today's subject was rescued from a Schnauzer's mouth.
Buddy & Lulu were playing the "Let's-see-who-can-hold-it-in-their-mouth-the-longest"-game.

June 16, 2012

You would probably remember the photo I posted on 29 May of the beautiful handpainted 
signs at Phindy's Tuck Shop.
Sadly this is the sight that greeted me today.
Clearly Phindy had been reprimanded, ordered to obliterate the signs and offered a professionally painted sign in return. No respect they showed, either - painted it halfway over the
original work of art & even got the name wrong!
Poor Phindy must be devastated - the place has certainly lost it's charm.

June 15., 2012

 It is amazing how succulents tend to get rosy edgings in winter! 

This normally dull grey plant has large leaves - the outer ones about the size of a slice of bread. 

It has been growing in the rockery for a number of years and has never flowered. 

Last year I took cuttings and planted them against the brick wall at the front of the house. 

Much to my surprise, this year a thick meter-long stem emerged from one of the biggest plants.

Clusters of small flowers cover the length of the stem.

June 14, 2012

Today we had soft drizzly rain - every drop more than welcome!
Although the gauge said only 7mm, perhaps more will fall during the night.
It has been very dry since Cyclone Irina

June 13, 2012

A beautiful winter carpet under the Umdoni Waterberry Tree
(Syzygium cordatum - SA Tree no 555)  

June 12, 2012

A cobweb as fine as mosquito netting draped over a shrub - unlike any cobweb I have ever seen!
Sadly not a Spider in sight, but a hole in the side of the web shows that it was
probably taken by a Spider Wasp or a bird. 

June 11, 2012

Laughing Dove Lesson #1:
On a cold morning, relax a while and soak up some sun.
Well. at least for as long as you can before someone lets the dogs out!

June 10, 2012

Seen on the porch table : Gnats feeding on a little bee. One can be seen licking its chops in the background, while the other is still busy feeding.
This is my second day indoors and my cold and fever blisters are worse today.  Awful!

June 9, 2012

After a very bad night, I decided to stay in today - mostly in bed!
Fortunately I had all the necessary to make my day more bearable- from flu-meds to Cozy Tozy socks!
As I refill the hot water bottle and shake up the fleecy blankets to prepare for the night,
I spare a thought for those who do not have shelter or the comforts that I am blessed to have.
I especially think of those who are ill because of the sudden icy weather but do not have the means to acquire medicine to relieve the awful symptoms.  

June 8, 2012

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
I took a quick trip to the park this afternoon. Sadly the controlled burning season has started.
Although I know it is probably a very essential procedure, I can't help but think
of all the tiny creatures that might not escape the fires!

June 7, 2012

A Brown Hooded Kingfisher.
Like me, it is longingly looking forward to Friday... and possible some rain ;)
It is so dry and dusty and very depressing to see everything wilt around us.
Last year's photos show that the gardens and hostel grounds were quite lush compared to now.

June 6, 2012

Aloe Flower Heads
For two years running the flowers on my rockery were ruined by Aloe cancer
This year there is no sign of it yet and hopefully I will have many insects visiting the garden.
Judging by the hint of cobwebs on the tallest spear,  a spider is waiting in there already....

June 5, 2012

Pollen in abundance!
A macro shot of Christmas Cactus stamens - the strange little insect came as a surprise after I downloaded the photo.

June 4, 2012

The beautiful indigenous Hibiscus Calyphyllus - also known as Lemon Yellow, Rosemallow or Sun Hibiscus. 
 A warm welcome to the new viewers of my blog - local and overseas.
I am happy to add Costa Rica, Kenya, Venezuela and Trinidad & Tobago to the list. 
My blog audience now stretches over 43 countries worldwide - with the USA constantly topping the number of daily page-views!
Often when I've had a hard day with no time for photography, I could so easily give up, but you keep me motivated. Thank you!

June 3, 2012

Me in the morning :)

June 2, 2012

Burchell's Coucal are normally very shy birds and I was very pleased that this guy posed so willingly.
I wonder why it has white markings above the eye? Never seen that before...
We had a lovely drive in the park today, but the sun was harsh and happened
to be 'in your face' most sightings!  
Today's list: Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Rhino, Buffalo, Nyala, Impala, Baboon and Warthog

June 1, 2012

This photo was taken on Sunday (but the Martial Eagle won the blog spot for the day!)
Although the herd was at quite a distance, the photo appeals to me - I somehow feel that they were very aware of being watched - especially the guy in the left bottom corner !
I plan to visit the park again tomorrow - perhaps I will meet up with the Elephants again....
I love the visits to the game reserve and the anticipation of a possible sighting that awaits around every corner. I tend to compare it to angling - you never know when it will happen ....