Monday 24 October 2011

Hail storm casualties.

Took a walk Friday evening to see what other damage the Wednesday hail storm had caused.



The reeds growing at the edge of the dam, just below the cottage, looked as if someone had taken a rush cutter and cut them down. Above is a close-up.


Above a broader view of the same reeds as above.


This patch of reeds at the other end of the dam was devastated, about 2/3 of their hight cut down. These are a totally different type of reed to the ones in the previous photos. A colony of red bishop weavers nest in these reeds every year, this year was no different and they were well established with dozens of nests hanging over the water. After the hail storm not one was left, weather they will come back this year is doubtful, but, who knows, maybe, just maybe.


Sitting under this willow tree was a Hadeda Ibis with a broken wing.


Can't be seen clearly in the photo, but it's left wing was hanging all skew. Weather this bird will recover is uncertain but it's picked a good spot to recover against the dam wall. Lots of food here, insects, frogs and tadpoles. Yesterday when I went to look it was still there but had managed to get on to a safer perch over the water for the night.

3 comments:

Joel said...

I really hope the Ibis will recover, and also the colony of weavers. I hope too that none got killed by the hailstorm. Damage to nature and animals is often overlooked with hail, we tend to think windows and crop mostly.

Weird, is it not, to be concerned about a bird thousands of miles away, but I am! Keep us posted if you can, Philip.

Desiree said...

What an ever sadder side to the devastating effects of hail! To think that here, when it hails, we get excited! Thank you for highlighting the inherently treacherous and far more serious consequences of this phenomenon, when unleashed to its full and catastrophic potential, Phillip.

Mark Kautz said...

Nothing like a good hail storm to trash the place. I'm sure most of the area will recover, but the weavers, not so sure. One can hope, though.

Mark