Thursday, May 25, 2023

25/05/2023 A few photos taken in Addo National Park in February

 I am simply getting further behind with blogging, as the weather improves, I will be out even more so it could get even slower!!  I am trying though!

Yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata), sometimes referred to as the red meerkat.

Two African elephant youngsters having a friendly tussle...

As above.

Lioness ( Panthera leo). You can see she is collared so they can keep track of the pride.

African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) having a great mud bath...

That was good.

Burchell's zebra (Equus quagga burchellii).

Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus).

Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius).

Common tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus lunatus).

As above.

Blood Lily or Paintbrush flower (Scadoxus puniceus).

African elephants (Loxodonta).

South African shelduck or Cape shelduck (Tadorna cana) male.

Red-necked spurfowl or Red-necked francolin (Pternistis afer),

Pale chanting goshawk (Melierax canorus).

Karoo scrub robin (Cercotrichas coryphaeus).

Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis).

Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus).

Blacksmith lapwing or Backsmith plover (Vanellus armatus).

Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala).

As above.

"Zebra Crossing"


My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 02/12/2021).

See also my Bird blog

Joining up with My Corner of the World.

Thursday, May 4, 2023

04/05/2023 Photos from Southern Africa in February

 The maximum temperature here today is 22⁰C, minimum 14⁰C.  South East winds of 22km/h with gusts up to 46 km/h.

African Buffalo with calf (Syncerus caffer caffer) and Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis).

Buffalo as above.

Cape Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus).

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) having a nap under the trees.

Lions having a snooze but I thought you might be interested in their story see below. This is at Kragga Kamma Game Park Eastern Cape.



South African giraffe (Giraffa giraffa giraffe), ostrich to the right and Zebra in the background.

South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis). You can see how large the giraffe is in the background.

Not that often one sees a giraffe lying down but I guess they have to rest as well. The zebras are Burchells Zebras (Equus quagga burchellii).

Impala (Aepyceros melampus).

Nyala male (Tragelaphus angasii).

Nyala females, No horns and lighter in colouring also smaller than the male.

South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis).

Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) one of the easiest to identify, note the white ring around the tail.

Ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola), also known as the Cape turtle dove.

Southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus).

African hoopoe (Upupa africana)...

As above.

Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) adult...

and juvenile.

Helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris)...

As above.

Thank you so much Elyse for taking us to Kragga Kamma, much appreciated.


My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 02/12/2021).

See also my Bird blog

Joining up with My Corner of the World.


Tuesday, April 18, 2023

18/04/2023 Back home and around and about.

 The maximum temperature here today is 17⁰C, minimum 6⁰C.  Chilly North winds of 18km/h with gusts up to 40 km/h.

Lots more photos from Africa will get here eventually!

Two days before the full moon but it was perfectly placed!

Quite a lot of colour around despite the weeds and the long grass!!

Spiraea prunifolia.

We have several new neighbours.

Rapeseed oil.

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis).

Bee possibly a Common Digger Bee!

Cleopatra butterfly- (Gonepteryx cleopatra).

Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) maybe.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

Cherry and apple blossom
Peony and Bluebells

Greenfinch (Chloris chloris).  Greedy fellow!

Peony and bee,

Blossom in the garden.

As above...

Yay, I have managed to cut the lawn, it was a foot high in places!

As above and the veggie garden is still partly covered with weed-proof cover.

Bee.... Western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera).

Not the same one as above!  Sorry, I do not have the time to search for IDs.



My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 02/12/2021).

See also my Bird blog

Joining up with My Corner of the World.