Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: December 2020 Sitamani Country Diary
January 1, 2021
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
A soft misty day.
A very large Common Cannibal snail, Natalina cafra, was resting in the passage way.
Monday 7
This unusual moth had avoided being eaten by the early birds.
Tuesday 8
Whilst doing alien Bramble eradication I came across this stunning
Pineapple Lily, Eucomis autumnalis
Vernonia natalensis
Dipcadi viride
and spotted these Cicada, Family Cicadidae, nymphal skins
Thursday 10
This lovely unfurling Fern caught my eye.
Anthericum cooperi
Stachys aethiopica
Friday 11
A simply stunning sunrise
The last of the waning moon in the brightening sky
Soft morning predawn light over a mist filled valley
Finally the sun popped over the far hill
A gorgeous, small spider, moving very quickly, I learnt was of the Family Theridiidae, a Tidarren species.
Saturday 12
A short walk was rewarded by these lovely finds,
Orange Poppy, Papaver aculeatum
Berkheya setifera and Silene bellidioides
Silene bellidioides
Cyanotis speciosa
Searsia species
and this lovely moth
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
Gaudy Commodore, Junonia Octavia
Pelargonium luridum
Aristea woodii
A small bee species on Aristea woodii
Albuca setosa (=pachychlamys)
Common Sandman, Spialia diomus ferax
Agapanthus campanulatus buds
A delightful hairy caterpillar
Hirpicium armerioides
Xysmalobium involucrum
Indigofera hilaris and Aristea woodii
Senecio isatideus
Alepidea natalensis
Aspidonepsis diploglossa
Hypericum lalandii
A myriad of tiny creatures in the Eucomis autumnalis flowers
Koppie Foam Grasshopper, Dictyophorus spumans
A striking black and orange Grasshopper
Haemanthus humilis
Asclepias albens
Aster bakerianus
A bee-mimic fly, Phytomia incisa
One of the most perfect Orthochilus foliosus orchids I’ve seen
The top view of a Schizocarphus nervosa (=Scilla nervosa)
Ornithogalum graminifolium
Monday 14
It is always so exciting for me to find this glorious moth
Wounded Emperor, Neobunaeopsis Arabella
After a stormy afternoon the sun reappeared before setting
A double rainbow to the east refracted in the last of the rain showers
Tuesday 15
Family Mantidae, Common mantids
This amazing, Family Ascalaphidae, Owl Fly, was perched on the veggie garden gate
Friday 18
Bladder Grasshopper, Pneumora inanis
Saturday 19
A Carpet Bell flower, Craterocapsa tarsodes, that I usually associate with Sani Top
Fern, Ophioglossum vulgatum subsp. africanum
Mammatus, meaning mammary cloud, is a cellular pattern of pouches hanging underneath the base of a cloud
Wednesday 23
Handmaiden moth, Family Ctenuchidae
I discovered this hatched Fork-tailed Drongo eggshell beneath the Japanese Maple in the garden.
What a lovely and varied collection – you have some stunning shots here and such interesting sightings. Curiously, the only time I have ever photographed and owl fly, it was also on a wooden fence post in the garden. We haven’t been on a grassland walk for many months, and it was lovely to see some of the familiar flowers plus of course those I am not so familiar with.
Thank you Carol! This last December was really amazing after the good rain, the flowers have been stunning. If you’d like to walk in grassland, you’re welcome to contact me. xxx
The spring rains were latish as I recall but the abundant – good to know the flowers responded so well.
Thank you for the invitation re a walk in grassland. I would love to contact you about that – however, will postpone doing that until our infection rates decline enough for the hospitals not to be overwhelmed. We are keeping mostly at home during this awful surge. Once things are less fraught, I will be in contact. Thanks again. (We no longer have permission to walk where we used to due to the pandemic.)
christeengrant 
A collection of marvels. Owl Fly? first for me.
Thank you dear friend. Only seen an Owl Fly once before, but not here!
What a lovely and varied collection – you have some stunning shots here and such interesting sightings. Curiously, the only time I have ever photographed and owl fly, it was also on a wooden fence post in the garden. We haven’t been on a grassland walk for many months, and it was lovely to see some of the familiar flowers plus of course those I am not so familiar with.
Thank you Carol! This last December was really amazing after the good rain, the flowers have been stunning. If you’d like to walk in grassland, you’re welcome to contact me. xxx
The spring rains were latish as I recall but the abundant – good to know the flowers responded so well.
Thank you for the invitation re a walk in grassland. I would love to contact you about that – however, will postpone doing that until our infection rates decline enough for the hospitals not to be overwhelmed. We are keeping mostly at home during this awful surge. Once things are less fraught, I will be in contact. Thanks again. (We no longer have permission to walk where we used to due to the pandemic.)
Understand completely! xxx