January 10, 2012

A Lesser Striped Swallow nest (with Wasp Security Patrol...)
This is the nest at school that I referred to in yesterday's post.
Unfortunately the chicks move away from the opening whenever I get too close.
I had to zoom to my little camera's max, so this is not a very good photo.
(My blog is not a brag-spot anyway - it is merely a daily journal of interesting things that I come across)
Of the three chicks that I spotted yesterday. this has to be the bold one!
The different colours of the mud tell a quite a story - one also can't help but wonder how many flights the parents had to do while carrying balls of mud in their tiny little beaks to build this nest.
The Paper Wasp nest next to the Swallow nest seems like perfect protection against intruders.
The Swallow parents come and go and the Wasps are not threatened.
Evidence of previous nests can be clearly seen.
After the breeding season the nests get broken down, just to be re-built the following year. 
Can you spot the spider?

January 9, 2012

Ants on the Agapanthus
Today was our first day back at school - preparing for learners who return on Wednesday.
A pair of Lesser Striped Swallows whose nest was still under construction when school closed
for the December holiday, has extra mouths to feed!
I took numerous photos of the chicks appearing at the opening of the nest, but scrapped them all.
Guess who will be taking the tripod to school tomorrow ....

January 8, 2012

If this little feather could talk, I wonder what tales it would tell?
The colour and texture contrast of the fine feather on the miniature roses caught my eye 
There was not much time for photography today - preparing to go back to school tomorrow....