Taking leave

Went to do some atlassing in the West Coast NP and bumped into a small flock of Grey-winged Francolin which I really wasn't expecting.  Consultation with the great oracleof Robert's however confirmed that I was not mistaken.  Have never before had the opportunity to photograph the species and though it took a while as they were intent on feeding, eventually managed to get one mid-peck.  Rather special markings I thought.

Even though it's 80 k's from Yzerfontein, on a clear day Table Mountain still dominates the skyline.  Had to go to Langebaan for meds and on the way there noticed a broken down Hyndai parked on the opposite side of the road.  As it was still there when I returned and the three guys with it were looking rather desperate, I offered to help.  The battery was flat and they needed a jump start so I got the cables out but the terminals were so worn it wouldn't turn.  Well I'll give you a tow, do you have a rope, no only an old seat belt, so I dug out my tie-downs and we made a plan.  When it was finally started it emerged that they had been there the whole night and were desperate for water, which I always carry - boy did that bottle disappear fast.

Still enjoy the novelty of the sun being swallowed by the sea,  but not yet had a really spectacular setting.

Yzerfontein really is a very pretty, clean and well cared for town but unfortunately property prices reflect it's desirability.  Just above the harbour is this well laid out park and of course at this time of year it is liberally daubed with scarlet and yellow.  While wandering around I heard a familiar call and there perfectly posed on an aloe.......

.........was this majestic beast.  Of course as soon as the camera came out he got shy and led me a merry dance around his patch, until I caught him in an ungarded moment.  Can't think of a more appropiate name than Malachite for this brilliant sunbird.

OK how's this for a garden bird - top that if you dare.  There are signs all around Yzerfontein with Ostiches on them but I really didn't expect them to be strolling around the streets.

A sudden buzz of activity occured one Friday a while ago with tents, flags and toilets popping up at the sports club and along the beachfront and come Saterday the caravan park was swamped with cars as hundreds of people set off on the inaugural Yzerfontein MTB Challenge.  Two courses were available either 43 or 71 km which took them along a sandy backroad to the National Park and back - and all for only R250 per person.  It's that old "make 'em suffer and they'll gladly pay" philosophy at work.

I was interested to see where they went in the park so drove there and caught up with the front runners (front bikers?).  They hooked up with the main road for a while then dived off onto another sand road along the shore of the lagoon  and eventually joined up with the tar road again.  From there the more athletic continued on another 30 k loop while the less adventurous headed back.  I came across a chap running with his bike which had a flat and asked if he'd like a lift.  He must've thought I was part of the sweeper team as he happily chucked his bike in then asked how far it was back to the finnish.  About 20 k's I told him, fine I'll run, just leave my bike at the start.   Riiiight.

As I was a liitle wary of getting the van back to the workshop without the dragging brakes destroying the bearings I moved to Die Ou Skip, a very pleasant park in Melkbosstrand.  Just up the road was Koeberg nuclear power station which is surrounded by a large swathe of nature reserve which they happily maintain your are welcome to visit at any time, so I did.  Went for a stroll to do some atlassing and came across this very laid back bunch of eland.  I'd left the water bottle in the bakkie so took a short cut along the road and was checking out some cute little Penduline Tits - not what you're thinking, look them up - when a van approaches and a jovial fellow asks what I'm doing.  Looking at birds, oh I thought you were taking photographs.  Er, these are binoculars you know.

Lucky he didn't see me taking this!  You're welcome to come and play in our back yard just don't make us nervous.

An ostrich farm about 30 k's from Cape Town boasts these signs.  Dropped the Beast at the workshop on Friday afternoon and as it was going to be at least a week I decided to take a holiday - it's hectic this retirement business.

Flew to Joburg, picked up a car and after a couple of nights with my sister and brother-in-law it was off to Kruger.  First night at Orpen and though expecting it, I almost missed the full moon rising.  This last occured on the winter solstice several years before I was born, so doubt I'll be seeing it again.

Heard something knock over the dustbin and arose to find out what was potting .  Opened the sliding door and heard the clack of claws on concrete and a silver wraith emerged at my feet.  Had to hastily close the door or I would have had a ratel (honey badger) rummaging in my drawers - not that I had any on.   Sunrise brought home just how bad the drought has affected the area but the animals are still in remarkably good condition.

Saw a flicker of movement in the grass at the side of the road and there were Mr and Mrs Sandgrouse finding breakfast.  Mr is the more colourful of the pair and a one point gave a fine view of the double-band from which the name is derived.

Enter the "ag shames" in the form of a group of Dwarf Mongoose.  Unfortunately they are such hyperactive little sods that despite dozens of attempts this was the best I could do.

First major of the trip, perched atop an anthill not much more than 10 m away - sublime.

There was a scrum of five vehicles and I eventually managed to get closer and it decided that a lie-down might be in order - a really special cat.

I had lunch with me so pulled into Muzandzeni picnic site and was presented with this spectacle - who's watching whom?  Signs specify that visitors must stay within the enclosed area but who tells the ellies?  That single gum pole is all that seperates the two species but then up popped the enforcer......

...........not sure what he was saying but he certainly gaves those guys a good talking to.

All the camps and picnic sites have their resident scroungers and among them here was a delightful group of Arrow-marked babblers, continuously chatting away to each other.  The one below appeared to be the lookout as he sat up in a tree while the others fossicked on the ground.

Later at another water hole - can you work it out?

And two hours after the cheetah, the first of three for the trip and not a decent shot of any of them.  Kept forgetting to take pics as I was so gobsmacked about my good fortune, the only reason I got this one was because he was taking a nap but the tree was at least 50 m away..

Satara was next stop for two nights and on a early outing another scrum announced that something was up.  Well not quite, there were three of them and they all looked as though they had been to a hell of a party the night before.

For those who have not previously made it's acquaintance let me introduce you to the prettiest antelope on the planet, the Steenbok.  Not quite sure how it got the name as steen is stone in Afrikaans so I reckon in English it ought to be a Rockbok.

The weather became overcast and some rain fell over the next three days.  The road from Satara to N'wanetsi has a number of culverts, almost all of which have been taken over as hyena warrens.  So when it wet and miserable, who the heck wants to get out of bed?

Moving on to Oliphants I came out one morning a found these two Yellow-billed hornbills attacking their reflections in the windscreen.  The one on the left was really punishing the wiper.

Though still overcast, the sun made a brief appearance on my second morning at Oliphants.

A viewpoint just before the camp gates begged a photo and after taking it I just sat marvelling at the wonder of Africa. Noticing a vague movement below I trained the binoculars on the spot and a small herd of elephants came into view.  A book I read recently had a passage in it about the "Elephant Pause" and though I'd never heard of it before what I was seeing certainly seemed to substantiate it's existance.  I have been unable to find anything about it on the internet and though I scrutinised every word in the elephant museum at Letaba found no mention of the phenomenon, so it may just be hunter's stories.  However these animals were pausing in the middle of a barren piece of ground with one foot forward and standing completely motionless for minutes at a time, quite extraordinary.  Seems to be running on a bit so more next time.