Late last night while the Italian Leprachaun and I were having coffee this little fellow hoped in for a visit.
Click to enlarge.
Platanna, (Xenopus laevis) also known as the clawed frog. These frogs spend their whole lives in water, true amphibians. It was very strange to see this little guy so far from permanent water, though we have had a lot of rain lately and there are pools of water all over. Adult frogs get quite big and are ferocious predators attacking any thing smaller than itself.
The clawed frog was used all over the world from about the 1940's as a reliable test for pregnancy. If the frog was injected with the urine of a pregnant woman, it spawned. Hospitals all over the world used to keep and breed these frogs.
Today these frogs still play an important part in medical research.
African Hoopoe's can be found in most gardens in southern Africa. Normal habitat is open woodland with short grass underneath. Suburban lawns have created the ideal habitat for them. Worms, beetles and other insects make up their diet.
Click to enlarge.
African Hoopoe, (Upupa africana). Their name comes from their call, a long hoop-poo.
The crest is usually kept flat as in the first photo, except when the bird is landing, alarmed, or excited as in the photo above, as it spots the next course for breakfast.
A sudden stab with that long beak and an earthworm becomes part of the breakfast menu.
Who says females can't live together in peace, (at least some times).
Life's tough in the Marais household, three of us have to share a couch.
Spotted Thick knee, not a very flattering name for quite an attractive bird. Took these photos five days ago at about 6 pm. There were a pair of birds foraging in a recently plowed field.
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Spotted Thick knee (Burhinus capensis). Part of the Lapwing family.
These birds are mostly nocturnal but there was a big hatch of flying ants, (termites) which is one of their favourite foods, insects, especially beetles form most of their diet. This bird is keeping a wary eye on the sky.
One of their characteristics are their big yellow eyes. Note the beak that looks as if it was dipped in ink.
The photo above was taken the same evening. Here I blended three different exposures, (HDR) to get this effect. The photo is pretty much what the eye sees but the camera is unable to capture in one exposure.
Bruno never shares his basket! Never ever! Well he never used to until Smokey arrived.
Click to enlarge.
Smokey sitting tall, while poor Bruno hides his head in shame.
At the rate Smokey is growing he'll soon be bigger than Bruno.
Only country music played here.
These amazing machine that can harvest most crops, change the fitting in front for maize, sunflowers, or even soya beans.
If there ever was any doubt about Smokey making himself right at home and becoming part of the family, these photos show just how at home he has made himself.
Click to enlarge.
Lying between Tombi and Sissy on the couch.
Snuggled up against Tombi's hip, soft and warm.
