A blessed Christmas to every one.
There's No Place Like It...
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Holiday & news of Smokey.
Our schools closed on the 7th December for the learners and on the 11th for teachers and other staff, so I have been on holiday for the last nine days with four weeks left. I meant to do a lot of fly fishing for trout on our mountain streams but it has rained buckets almost every day and the river are all raging torrents. At last count at least ten people have drowned trying to cross rivers in our province and many had to be rescued by police and other emergency services, happens every year. Hopefully the weather settles and I can get some fishing in.
All doubts that I had about Cat the cat accepting Smokey as part of the family vanished a couple of night ago when Cat came in with a small mouse he had caught and gave it to Smokey to play with. Smokey grabbed the mouse, growling ferociously at the dogs if the dared to come near, then he proceeded to "kill" it and generally do what cats do with mice. All the while Cat the cat lay on a chair watching Smokey's antics with a look on his face that said, "That's my boy", as if he had anything to do with it.
Smokey with his first mouse.
All doubts that I had about Cat the cat accepting Smokey as part of the family vanished a couple of night ago when Cat came in with a small mouse he had caught and gave it to Smokey to play with. Smokey grabbed the mouse, growling ferociously at the dogs if the dared to come near, then he proceeded to "kill" it and generally do what cats do with mice. All the while Cat the cat lay on a chair watching Smokey's antics with a look on his face that said, "That's my boy", as if he had anything to do with it.
Smokey with his first mouse.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Grey Crowned Cranes,
The fields on the farm where I live, are literally swarming with birds of all kinds. This indicates the farming methods used here are wildlife and bird friendly. Two afternoons ago while out walking with the dogs I spotted these two Grey Crowned Cranes. Other birds that I saw included a flock of White Storks, (European Storks) these birds flew off as I was setting up my camera, Spurwing geese, Egyptian geese, several species of ducks, Guinea fowls, and Swainson's Spurfowls, and many others.
Click to enlarge.
Grey Crowned Cranes with a Hadeda Ibis in the foreground. Cranes often gather in flocks of 100 or more, but I only saw two pairs.
Grey Crowned Cranes, (Baelerica regulorum). These birds are feeding in the newly reaped winter wheat fields. Believe it or not, the next crop, maize, has already been planted here using the minimum till method.
Male crane doing his mating dance, graceful and beautiful to watch.
Here he has almost covered the female under his wing. Cranes lay two to three eggs, usually in marshes among reeds or tall grass. Incubating period 29 to 31 days, fledgeling 59 to 100 days. The chicks are left alone during the day while the parents fly amazing distances to forage, coming home in the evenings to feed them.
These birds are listed as vulnerable mainly due to loss of habitat. In southern Africa there are estimated to be about 10,000 breeding pair, with 6,000 to 7,000 being in South Africa.
Click to enlarge.
Grey Crowned Cranes with a Hadeda Ibis in the foreground. Cranes often gather in flocks of 100 or more, but I only saw two pairs.
Grey Crowned Cranes, (Baelerica regulorum). These birds are feeding in the newly reaped winter wheat fields. Believe it or not, the next crop, maize, has already been planted here using the minimum till method.
Male crane doing his mating dance, graceful and beautiful to watch.
Here he has almost covered the female under his wing. Cranes lay two to three eggs, usually in marshes among reeds or tall grass. Incubating period 29 to 31 days, fledgeling 59 to 100 days. The chicks are left alone during the day while the parents fly amazing distances to forage, coming home in the evenings to feed them.
These birds are listed as vulnerable mainly due to loss of habitat. In southern Africa there are estimated to be about 10,000 breeding pair, with 6,000 to 7,000 being in South Africa.
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Evening visitor.
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.
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.
Thursday, 13 December 2012
African hoopoe.
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.
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.
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