The 2020 has finally drawn to a close. One aspect that continues is the cycles of nature and has been one of my greatest solaces. During December many wonderful and varied life forms revealed themselves here, a time of growth, renewal and beauty.
On the last night of December, 31, I measured 39,5mm of rain, this brought the total for December to 207,5mm. The highest daytime temperature was 30C on two days, 27 and 29 December, the lowest nighttime temperature was 8,5C on the 2 December. A sultry, warm summer month with rapidly growing foliage.
Now that the Summer Solstice has passed, 21 December, we begin the gradual passage to winter, though usually our warmest month is February.
Here are some of the wonderful flora and fauna seen during the month.
Wednesday 2
Monday 7
Tuesday 8
Whilst doing alien Bramble eradication I came across this stunning
Thursday 10
Friday 11
A simply stunning sunrise
Saturday 12
A short walk was rewarded by these lovely finds,
Later that morning I was astounded to see a Narina Trogan in a tree near the house, I grabbed my camera, pointed and clicked, but didn’t manage to capture this special sighting! The distribution does cover this area, my guess is that now the trees and shrubbery have grown up near the house it has become more inviting for forest birds. Two days later I saw a Bush Blackcap in the Buddleja next to the sitting room window. Both were first time sightings here.
Sunday 13
Monday 14
It is always so exciting for me to find this glorious moth
Tuesday 15
Friday 18
Saturday 19
Wednesday 23
November has been a gloriously wet and verdant month, we’ve recorded rain on 22 days of the 30, a total of 196,5mm. The hillside is green with a wealth of flowers. The only flowering plant that doesn’t seem to enjoy the wet, cool conditions are the orchids, only one seen this November. The coolest temperature was on the 19th at 8C and the warmest 33.5C on the 8th. Most days were overcast and often misty.
Here are some of the wonderful flora and fauna seen during the month.
Monday 2
Trachyandra saltii
Eriosema kraussianum amongst the rock
Bagworm on Hypoxis
Tuesday 3
Although the light was poor, I couldn’t resist taking these late afternoon photos
Speckled Mousebirds
Male Red-collared Widowbirds almost in full breeding plumage
A soft end to the day
Saturday 14
Lotononis corymbosa
Vernonia hirsuta
Berkheya macrocephala
Caterpillar
Schizocarphus nervosus (=Scilla nervosa)
Dipcadi viride
Indigofera hilaris
Indigofera hilaris
In the KZN Drakensberg swathes of spectacular flowering, neon orange Watsonia socium, have covered the mountain slopes, our hillside has also glowed.
Watsonia socium
Striga bilabaiata
Striga bilabaiata
Wahlenbergia krebsii
Ledebouria sp.
Yellow-spotted Ground Beetle, Craspedophorus bonvouloiri
Cyphia elata
White Bramble, Rubus rigidus
Monday 16
I was so excited to see that an Ochna arborea had self-seeded in the little indigenous shrubbery I planted. Normally I’ve seen these beautiful, slender trees with beautiful ‘dappled’ bark in the mountains, their distinctive red and grey green, turning to black, seeds sparkling in the green foliage.
Ochna arborea
Ochna arborea
Tuesday 17
Cool dawn colours
Monday 23
Although I didn’t manage to take a photo, as we were having early morning coffee a russet orange Slender Mongoose, with a black tipped tail, darted across the lawn into the longer grass, so lovely!
Thursday 26
This interesting invertebrate was on the kitchen doorstep.
Friday 27
My find of the early morning was this large Granular Agate Snail, Archachatina granulata
I was on my way to look at the hillside covered with Silene bellidioides, in overcast conditions, they were still open. They are night flowering plants.
Silene bellidioides
Amongst the forbes, where there is good grazing, was this pile of Common Reedbuck droppings
Soft light and light mist in the valley below
Pill Millipede
Sisyranthus trichostomus
Pelargonium luridum
Vernonia natalensis
A delightful hairy caterpillar
Mariscus congestus
Hypoxis iridifolia
As I was wandering through the grasses I disturbed a Common Reedbuck. He stood up, watched me, then cavorted, before settling to observe me once again.
Common Reedbuck
Haemanthus humilis
Silver Bramble, Rubus ludwigii
Arrow-leaved Arum, Zantedeschia albomaculata
Lobelia erinus
Ajuga ophrydis
Otholobium polysictum
Cyanotis speciosa
Asclepias albens
Watsonia socium
A Bagworm on Cyanotis speciosa
The only orchid flowering this November Orthochilus foliosus
Clutia cordata
Pentanisia prunelloides
Ficinia cinammomea
A delightful spotted moth
Saturday 28
The most gorgeous dawn
Monday 30
To round off the month, the sky was filled with vibrant colour in the evening after a storm.
Last October we only had 37.5mm of rain, this year the total rainfall for the month is 129mm, almost 100mm more! Being optimistic I had planted out the vegetable garden in the middle of October and it has been worth it, seedlings appearing and in the last few days seem to grow visibly! Over the 30 and 31 October we have had 46.5mm of rain. The coldest morning was on the 11th, 4C and the warmest day on the 28th and 29th October, 29C. As the ground moistened wildflowers started appearing in greater abundance, with some, for me, unusual species seen.
Friday 9 October:
To my delight I spotted an Emperor Swallowtail, Papilio ophidicephalus, feeding on Jasmine flowers.
Monday 12 October:
Although Swee Waxbills, a fairly common endemic, are around all year, they are very ‘shy’ and this is the first time I’ve managed to take photos, not great, but a record.
Wednesday 14 October:
Thursday 15 October:
Saturday 17 October:
Sunday 18 October:
I managed to spend time wandering our hillside, finding a wealth of flowers and other natural discoveries.
Tuesday 20 October:
Thursday 22 October:
Friday 23 October:
Wednesday 28 October:
Thursday 29 October:
Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October:
Rain and more glorious rain!
During the month Greater Striped Swallows have returned, I heard the distinctive call of a Black Cuckoo and had several sightings of the Common Grey Duiker and a male, female and juvenile Common Reedbuck.
September marks the official start to Spring, by the Vernal Equinox on the 23 September most of the exotic trees had a raiment of new leaves and the hillsides were clad in grass with wildflowers appearing. However between light rainfalls there were many days of strong, hot, dry berg winds. During the month we had a total of 21,5mm of rain, very welcome.
The coldest mornings were on the 27 and 28 September, at 4C, the hottest day was the 20 September, reaching 27C. On the morning of the 7 September a light dusting of snow was revealed on the top of the Drakensberg, but a relatively warm 9C here!
Wednesday 2 September:
Thursday 3 September:
Friday 4 September:
Monday 7 September:
Tuesday 8 September:
Wednesday 9 September:
While preparing the vegetable garden for planting Siphmandla discovered a rather large, sleepy Puff Adder in a nest of leaves beneath a fern, in a warm protected spot. It was probably in semi-hibernation, taking it’s time to move sluggishly to the Jasmine hedge. A day later it had moved on.
Thursday 10 September:
While wandering over the hillside I came across
Friday 11 September:
Saturday 12 September:
Monday 14 September:
Tuesday 22 September:
Wednesday 23 September:
On the Vernal Equinox I heard the Piet-my-Vrou, Red-chested Cuckoo call for the first time.
We had an unusual visitor come to sample our lemons.
The birdbath on the verandah is the social spot for birds.
An Olive Thrush dried off in the sunshine, then took another dip!
Wednesday 30 September:
Each year I wait for the small patch of minute flowers to appear in the lawn.
August has been very dry, with more typical August wind. On the 30th we had the wettest day, over 5mm of rain, bringing the total to over 10mm, so hopefully now new spring growth will really start appearing. Despite the dry conditions there has been some new growth and a few flowers have blossomed.
The temperature dipped to 0,5 Celsius on the 6th, the warmest days were on the 15 and 25 August, 24 Celsius.
A cold front passed revealing a snow covered Drakensberg on the 7 August.
Friday 7 August:
A young male Reedbuck watched cautiously from the hillside
Stunning golden light in the evening.
Friday 14 August:
A young female Reedbuck feeding on new grass on the hillside.
Saturday 15 July:
On a walk I found an
Owl feather
A Common Hottentot male Gegenes niso subsp. niso feeding on Gazania krebsiana
Artemisia afra new shoots
Apodolirion buchananii, Natal Crocus
New Moraea and Senecio leaves
A young grasshopper juvenile eating a Ledebouria ovatifolia
Urginea capitata
A snail shell
Ledebouria ovatifolia
Asclepiad sp. seeds dispersing
The Leucosidea sericea and Buddleja salviifolia are still flowering
Wednesday 19 August:
A stunning sunset
Friday 21 August:
Smoky skies created a pink glow sunset
Tuesday 25 August:
A sea of clouds in the Boston valley at dawn
A sea of clouds in the Boston valley at dawn
A sea of clouds in the Boston valley at dawn
Wednesday 26 August:
In the cool evening, two Dark-capped Bulbuls cuddled together out of the wind
Thursday 27 August:
A stunning watercolour cloud effect in the evening
Friday 28 August:
A walk revealed signs of spring
Bee on Ursinia tenuiloba
Bee on Ursinia tenuiloba
Gazania krebsiana
Nemesia caerulea
Featherduster new leaves on Cussonia paniculata
Cyrtanthus tuckii
Peucedanum caffrum leaves
New leaves unfurling on Bracken, Pteridium aquilinum
Dimorphotheca jucunda
Ursinia tenuiloba
Eulophia hians var. inaequalis
Aloe maculata seeds
Jackal Buzzard hovering high above
Hypoxis sp.
Pentanisia prunelloides
Eulophia hian var. hians
Eulophia parviflora (short-spurred form)
An unknown invertebrate on Urginea capitata
Woolly bee fly
Dry hillside with a tinge of green grass
Reedbuck droppings
Reedbuck spoor
Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August:
Finally cold wet conditions overnight and all day and continuing on the last day of August!
We have now been 127 days in Lockdown here in South Africa. July is the quietest month of winter. Firebreaks are burnt, smoky skies with vivid dawns and sunsets as the sun rises and sets behind a veil. Despite this, new life is already appearing, small green leaves, winter flowering plants, birds spring cleaning nests as the days grow longer.
The temperature dipped to 0,5 Celsius on two mornings, 14 and 17, the warmest day was on the 10 July, 22 Celsius. As a cold front passed over we had 3mm of rain, the total for the month.
As I have been working hard to launch my website, Christeen Grant Creative Arts www.christeengrant.com on the 25 July, I haven’t walked the hillside as often as in the past couple of months. Before dawn on the 7 July I heard Common Reedbuck whistling, and we have seen one, then two on our hillside on the 14 and 30, so they have eluded the poachers so far. In the early evening of 7 July I had a wonderful close encounter with a male duiker wandering into the garden, special moments.
Sunday 5 July:
The full moon setting behind Bulwer Mountain
Tuesday 7 July:
Golden Sunset
Friday 10 July:
Dawn splendour
Thursday 16 July:
A smoky evening
Wednesday 22 July:
Winter beauty, setting sun through winter branches and smoky skies…
Friday 24 July:
Gilded leaves welcome the sun
Southern Boubou having an early morning drink
An Olive Thrush enjoying the mild sunshine just outside my studio as I work.
Wednesday 29 July:
On a walk over the burnt hillside I spotted
A Black-winged Lapwing
Ouhout, Leucosidea sericea, are starting to flower earlier this year
A lilac form of Buddleja salvifolia
A nest from last season revealed
The Buddleja salvifolia have flowered spectacularly this year, the heady honey fragrance filling the air
An African Monarch, Danaus chrysippus aegyptius, warming up in the sunlit grass
I found two beautiful downy feathers
Spotted Eagle-Owl feathers
Beneath the Greater Double-collared Sunbird nest
I found scattered piles of nesting materials, and for a few days thought maybe an African Harrier Hawk had raided the nest. Happily I’ve seen both the male and female since, so assume they had a spring clean and turfed out old materials.
The Halleria lucida are still flowering profusely, a fire-glow in each tree
Cape White-eye feasting on Greyia sutherlandii
Friday 31 July:
Soft morning mist in the valley below
Sometimes in life the way that was so clearly laid out is changed, like a mist enveloping the path in front of you. The path is still there, the path of life. However we need to adapt our thinking to negotiate it, possibly change the route to continue. Sometimes we need to trust to move forward, as each step reveals itself. Life is change.
Today I launched my new website
This watercolour painting of a Chinese Maple Leaf (Private Collection). It was part of a Joint Exhibition, Trees, held in 2008 and is now my logo.
Few things excite me more than to be faced with a clean sheet of paper or canvas, pencils, paint and brushes. This is one of my earliest memories and today the feeling is as strong! Form and colour inspire and challenge me to explore their depths. A more recent passion is photography, particularly of the wealth of stunning indigenous flowers and landscapes in South Africa and Lesotho.
I am an artist, illustrator and photographer, as well as a Nature, Culture and Mountain Walking Guide. All these activities enrich each other and inspire new artistic avenues.
Mediums used: Oils, watercolours, pen & ink with washes, gouache, photography (excluding computer graphics)
Due to Covid-19 guiding has ceased in South Africa, so with grateful anticipation I’m returning to my first career, art. Hopefully in time I will be able to resume guiding, particularly hiking in the Drakensberg and Lesotho and have a more balanced life, as each discipline acts as inspiration to the other.
The website has launched with an online exhibition,
Playing with Light.
The three sections within the exhibition (an example of each),
Botanics
Postcards
Oils
reflect my passions. In each I have been playing with light, creating illusions of form and mood, from delicate watercolour flowers, whimsical postcard sketches and wider views of mountain vistas in oils.
All the paintings and digital images are at reduced prices for this opening online exhibition.
Here are some examples of images in the Gallery section:
Children’s Illustration
Nature Artwork
General Artwork
Oils
Landscape Photos
Animal Photos
Plant Photos
People Photos
Texture Photos
Building the website has taken many hours and my son Robert has kindly taught and tutored me, I am so grateful!
I would love to share it with you, so please click on the link:
I hope you will enjoy browsing!
We have now been 96 days in Lockdown here in South Africa. Winter has set in, but the shortest day has passed. Just after the Winter Solstice a small spark ignites, although it is a slow return to Spring and Summer, the darkest hour is past. Bared branches begin to proffer tight buds, gradually loosening, to eventually unfurl into brilliant rainment.
I love the quiet moment when the balance swings; hope, new life and warmth will return. June colours have been a rich warm range of hues, belying the cool winter days.
Our coldest mornings were the 15 and 16 June at 1 degree Celsius, as a cold front was moving through we also had some frost, however only 5mm of rain fell on the 17, our total for June. The warmest daytime temperature was 21 degree Celsius on the 2, 3 and 26 June. The average temperature for the whole month was a cool 11 degrees Celsius.
Wednesday 3 June:
A golden dawn
I found two different discarded snail ‘homes’,
Common Cannibal Snail, Natalina cafra
Turreted Awl Snail, Euonyma turriformis
Monday 8 June:
Every June I wait in anticipation for frothy white drifts of flowers to appear on the
Buddleja dysophylla, the minute, delicately fragrant flowers are simply magical.
Buddleja dysophylla, the minute, delicately fragrant flowers are simply magical.
Halleria lucida flowers are bursting forth.
Thursday 11 June:
A spectacular dawn started the day.
Saturday 13 June:
Pastel shades at sunrise looking west
A surprising number of flowers on my walk
Common Soap Aloe, Aloe maculata
Common Soap Aloe, Aloe maculata
Otholobium stachyerum
Watsonia lepida
Watsonia socium
Watsonia socium
neither of these Watsonia species ‘should’ be flowering, a bit confused?
The scent is so evocative of winter, the
Buddleja salviifolia
Buddleja salviifolia
Buddleja salviifolia
have started flowering.
A female African Stonechat used a Cussonia spicata seedhead as a vantage point
Gorgeous shades of autumn in the Searsia (=Rhus) discolor leaves
An African Monarch, Danaus chrysippus aegyptius, warmed up in the sunlit grass
Monday 15 June:
On one of the two coldest mornings even the high cloud was a soft rainbow of ice crystals
Tuesday 16 June:
The second frosty morning revealed ice decoration on
Berkheya setifera
and cool layered clouds
Thursday 18 June:
Neon colour streaks lit the evening clouds
Saturday 20 June:
This year the Winter Solstice was as often happens a truly stunning sunshiny winter’s day.
Natal Red Grass, Themeda triandra, living up to its name
Predawn the grasses glowed bright.
Giant Turpentine Grass, Cymbopogon validus
Gorgeous shades of purple and grey, last season’s Watsonia leaves in the grass
Then without fuss the sun popped over the horizon
And sunset was also a quiet affair
Thursday 25 June:
Tuesday 30 June:
All the Ouhout, Leucodidea sericea, have yellowed leaves, definitely more this year, perhaps cold stress in May.
The calm quietness of winter landscape
By the end of June the only bright spots on the hillside are Common Soap Aloe, Aloe maculata
The African Hoopoes forage regularly, though I’m certain they will move on soon.The Black-backed Jackals continue to call every night from the valley. On a few mornings I have seen Common Gray Duiker, but not the Common Reedbuck that usually graze around here. We found a fresh bone on a walk, this ties in with intensified poaching that is occurring in the area. I can only hope that some survive.
We have now been 66 days, 31 in Level 4, Covid-19 Lockdown here in South Africa; if the figures released are accurate, we have not had the very high infection rate, or mortality that was originally predicted for Covid-19; however the economic toll has been dire, there are many people without food or the means to earn money to buy it, generous volunteers collect and distribute to those most in need. More than ever the key to long term food security for most of our semi-urban population, is encouraging sustainable, organic food / vegetable gardens. Troubling is the increase in poaching, we can only hope the animals that call this place home will survive. Watching the natural world continue without interference is a soul restorative.
We are now definitely in early winter, temperatures have dropped, the minimum temperature was 0 C on the 26 May and the maximum 21 C the day before the cold front, on the 25 May. It’s as if the rain tap was turned off, from the April 129.5mm, May saw a total of only 6.5mm. Although a cold front moved through on 26/27 May, there was no snow and hardly any rain.
The tail end of April’s moisture resulted in a soft misty morning then atmospheric sunset on the 5 May.
As there has been positive reaction to the day-to-day diary format here are the highlights:
Tuesday 5 May:
On an evening walk we came upon this Net-wing Beetle.
Friday 8 May:
The evenings are drawing in quickly now, but the Leonotis leonurus glowed in soft light.
The grassy hillsides have turned a rich rose-golden hue.
Most flowers are over, this Bush Tick-berry, Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp canescens, is an exception.
Cool pink and blue sunset.
Saturday 9 May:
The reward for my early morning walk was the spectacular moon just past full.
Delicate concentric rings decorate these soft bodied mushrooms, probably Coltricia perennis.
Sunday 10 May:
Normally I see this bright red and blue Foam Grasshopper in the Drakensberg, so it was a poignant reminder of places I am missing.
I hadn’t seen a Twig Wilter for some time, so was delighted to come across this one.
The bright yellow and blue of this Yellow Pansy butterfly, Junonia hierta cebrene shone in the clear light.
Tuesday 12 May:
A truly golden dawn.
Then I discovered this tiny, about 4mm, orange and black bug strolling over the sink.
Saturday 16 May:
On an early morning walk I watched amazed as these two Black-backed Jackal crossed my path, neither of them spotted me. So I have now ‘met’ two of the night time vocalists.
A Common or Grey Duiker watched me curiously.
Tuesday 19 May:
One of my favourite, locally migrant, visitors are the African Hoopoes that pass through in Autumn and Spring. A pair have been around for a couple of weeks.
The beady orange eye, keeping a watchful gaze, alerted me to the Cape Glossy Starling in the birdbath.
Wednesday 20 May:
Now most of the leaves have fallen, bird nests are revealed. I was fortunate to see the male Southern Double-collared Sunbird exiting, so know this largish, rather untidy nest belongs to the pair that have taken up residence this last season. They are endemic to the Southern African region.
Friday 22 May:
A calm, cool sunset.
Sunday 24 May:
These Black-backed Jackal droppings seem to be territory markers, as they are regularly ‘renewed’.
Some more nests revealed in bare branches and exposed crannies,
Fork-tailed Drongo nest
Southern Boubou nest
Possibly a Dark-capped Bulbul nest
A delightful, lacey, fungi
Monday 25 May:
Even on cold mornings birds flock to the bird bath on the verandah, a Dark-capped Bulbul pair take their turn.
A short time later a Speckled Pigeon had an unhurried feather soak and drink.
Thursday 28 May:
A soft vague sunset
Friday 29 May:
We came across this curious insect on the road and realized it was a Glow worm larvae.
A wide range of birds enjoyed the warmer evening, the African Hoopoe pair flitting from tree to grass foraging.
The Fork-tailed Drongo family, quiet for a change, basked.
Speckled Mousebirds take advantage of the last sun rays to warm up before settling for the night in the Buddleja salvifolia shrubbery.
Saturday 30 May:
The vibrant flock of Cape White-eyes splash happily on a cold morning.
We have now been in 35 days of Level 5 Lockdown here in South Africa. Apart from the devasting economic effect as a Tourist Guide, having previously spent most of my working hours in the KZN Drakensberg and Lesotho for 13 years, with over 95% of the clients being international tourists, I am now home based with no work; life has continued. Lessons learned in how fragile humankind is; how we really need so little in our daily lives; that there IS time to ‘smell the roses’; there IS still beauty and compassion in our world; how we can downscale our existence and live more sustainably; how very vulnerable many are on the margins of our economy. That for me, nature is a healer and teacher bringing joy each day.
Autumn is drifting into winter, temperatures remaining very similar to those in March, the minimum temperature was 7C and the maximum 26.5C. In much the same pattern as last year, we’ve had a relatively good late season rainfall in April 129.5mm. Two light snowfalls have already been experienced in the KZN Drakensberg, 15 and 27 April, with chilly days after the cold fronts have moved on.
On the 12 April we experienced the most spectacular sun set.
Friday 3 April:
A walk around our hillside revealed some delightful finds.
A dead branch was covered in beautiful orange fungi, Podoscypha parvula.
In a shady corner Cheilanthes buchananii ferns and moss glowed green against a rock.
Heavy dew glistened in the grass dotted with dried Berkheya setifera seed heads.
An Amanita rubescens mushroom.
The unusual looking butterfly, Common Hottentot, male, Gegenes niso subsp. niso, feasted on nectar.
An Eyed Pansy, Junonia orithya madagascariensis butterfly rested in the drying grass.
This miniscule jewel, a Stinkbug nymph, 5th instar before adulthood, was a special find.
There were still some sunshine yellow Alectra sessiliflora flowering.
Leonotis leonurus stand tall and vibrant.
Closer to the ground Lobelia erinus sparkle.
Saturday 4 April:
Moody skies with a glimmer of light above the mountains at dusk.
Monday 6 April:
Early morning mist first created a halo round the waxing moon,
then later added atmosphere to the dawn.
Sparkling dew gilded the spiderweb.
Thursday 9 April:
A tiny Ladybird beetle, possibly of Epilachna genus, caught my eye.
Friday 10 April:
I spotted this tiny juvenile Mantid while cleaning windows.
A gentle soft sunset of pastel cloud and sky
Saturday 11 April:
On a wandering stroll I discovered some flowering and fruiting plants and other treasures.
Berkheya rhapontica
Cussonia spicata
Cussonia spicata fruit
Sutera floribunda
A discarded Snail shell
Plectranthus calycina
Two-striped Skimmer, Orthetrum caffrum female, dragonfly resting on grasses.
Polygala hottentotta
Sunday 12 April:
Stunning dawn cerise clouds in the morning.
Then the most spectacular sunset in the evening.
Wednesday 15 April:
With dawn light, a dusting of snow was revealed over the Southern Drakensberg.
During the afternoon a Citrus Swallowtail, Papilio demodocus, settled briefly to feed.
Friday 17 April:
We had a dinner guest feeding just beyond the window, a male Common Reedbuck.
Sunday 19 April:
Philip and I carted water in preparation for burning tracer lines. One of the responsibilities of living in the countryside is fire safety management of grassy hillsides. With Autumn comes the time to burn tracer lines, which become the edges or outlines of the wider firebreaks towards the end of Winter / early Spring. Tracer lines need to be burnt while the grass is still relatively green, this helps contain the fire. Even though we are in lockdown these measures still need to be put in place, so Philip and I devised a plan to carry the 20 liter (=20kgs) water containers, which need to be placed at intervals along the tracer lines before they are burnt. Our multi-day hiking experience came in handy. Philip adapted an old external frame backpack, by removing the bag. We then secured the water containers with straps, and took turns to ‘hike’ them across the hillside and place them next to the tracer lines. This was our workout over the weekend!
Friday 24 April:
A few visual delights while moving around the garden,
A Deceptive Mushroom, Lepista caffrorum, in the compost bin.
Black and white hammock-web spider, Microlinyphia sterilis, family Linyphiidae.
A Cheilanthes buchananii fern.
Saturday 25 April:
A Small Pine Cap, Gymnopilus penetrans, in the lawn.
A Speckled Pigeon sunning on the roof.
A delightful, very small, about 3mm in size, Jumping Spider.
Sunday 26 April:
In the early morning just outside the kitchen door underneath the light, there is usually a host of moths, that is if you get there before the birds start their breakfast feast.
Maruca vitrata, a moth I hadn’t seen before.
A Cape Wagtail that had just selected a tasty treat.
Sometimes other invertebrates are also attracted by the light, like this lovely Lacewing species, possibly Chrysemosa genus.
Monday 27 April:
The light display at Dawn was breath taking,
looking to the east clouds were tinged with softest pink,
the horizon sky dramatic red through, orange, yellow and clear blue with floating white cloud,
and in the south west, rays of light reaching down in front of grey clouds to the palest pink sky above sunlit Bulwer Mountain.
Near the kitchen a Sundowner Moth, Sphingomorpha chlorea,
Fulvous Hawk Moth, Coelonia fulvinotata,
Tuesday 28 April:
A beautiful pale green moth,
Cream-striped Owl moth
a very striking patterned brown moth.
Wednesday 29 April:
A quick wander revealed
A late flowering Watsonia confusa
Otholobium polysictum
Ladybird beetle on Otholobium polysictum
Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. canescens, Bush-tick berry
Common Reedbuck droppings
Thursday 30 April:
Throughout the month Black-back Jackal have been particularly vocal. A pair of Bokmakieries have taken up residence near the house in the thick Ouhout, Leucosidea sericea and Buddleja salvifolia shrubbery, hopefully I’ll manage to take a photo of them, they are very shy. It has been over a year since I last heard Cape Eagle Owls calling, the other morning just before light started creeping in, I heard them close to the house, and now each morning I hear them calling.
Last a Drakensberg Prinia, locally common endemic, fluffed out against the chill breeze.
