Managed to leave out a few pictures from the Namibia saga, so to round it off, I happened upon three of these fine lookers which are the Namibian subspecies of Red-necked Spurfowl and even though they occur in KZN this was technically a lifer. Distinctive features are much lighter breast and belly colouration and lots of white on the face. With red skin showing around the face and neck and red legs wondered what they'd look like plucked.
On the way back to the main road from the lodge, I was stopped in my tracks by this imposing plant. Assume it must be a Hoodia sp. which I've come across in the Karoo - this was the plant that caused all sorts of excitment some years back when some members of a San tribe were awarded a massive payout from a pharmaceutical company after they "stole" specimens to test for it's apparently miraculously effective appetite suppressing qualities - which then proved unfounded.
When in Kruger a while back I praised the termites ability to build skyscraping mounds - well they've got competition.
Back in RSA went off on a wild tern chase to Borokalolo Game Reserve where a lone Gull-billed was supposedly in residence. Upon arrival I was informed that the bird is best seen early or late when it returns (no pun intended) to the roost. This was an island some 100 m offshore and picking out a lone Gull-billed Tern from a thousand others would have required a scope the size of SALT - I'll take their word for it. Contented myself with Brown-veined Whites sucking moisture from a mud hole.
The dam along with most others in RSA was down to about 50% but the surounding bush was verdant enough to indicate some rain had fallen.
Found a Peltopherum africanum or Weeping Wattle, a tree I hadn't seen in flower for a long time and it was smothered in yellow, looking like someone had buttered it.
You may recall my mentioning an overnight stay in Parys and that the town looked interesting enough for a return visit, so I booked into a self-catering place on a farm about 10 k's out of town. Turned out the town wasn't the only interesting place. A long gloomy passage had nine double rooms off it while the other side consisted of 5 kitchens and two dining rooms. The rooms all had showers and basins which drained straight through the wall and into the field below while the toilets were all clustered at the furthest end of said passage. The whole place was overwhelmed by massive antiques including two of these monstrosities - more than one way to do a selfie hey. The longer I stayed the more convinced I became that it must have started out life a s brothel.
Strolled around the town which was quaint but trying too hard to be Parisian, then meandered along the river which forms the northern boundary. This bridge used to link the mainland to a large island but developers have put paid to that by constructing an exclusive golf estate on it. Secondary purpose now is to act as a place to put padlocks and throw away the keys as a sign of undying love. From the size of some padlocks it ain't going to last too long.
Another place of interest is the Vredefort Dome, the epicentre of a meteor crater formed by a lump of rock the size of table mountain giving the earth a snotklap many millions of years ago. It was closed! Not just closed temporarily but permanently. In 2011, some well meaning benefactors fenced the whole area with pallisade, built a giant Education Centre, on top of the dome, erected a massive gate which was presumably to collect entrance fees from the hordes of visitors and all for nothing. What a dreadful waste.
Hands up all those who thought Stonehenge was on Salisbury Plain - meet the African version. The hills in the background are part of a semi-circular range that is all the is left of the crater rim.
My return to Boksburg was enlivened by this apparition - "Excuse me sir do you realise someone's parked a 707 in your factory?"
I really don't remember when I last had one of those hysterical laughs that you just can't stop, it was certainly before Jo died then along comes this ad in a Car magazine of all things..........
..........and the punch line "Non-genuine parts work. Technically". Brilliant, thanks VW.
A recollection suddenly hit me the other night which I think I'll make my motto. My son, Shay, wanted to try paddle skiing at the age of about 5 or 6 so I took him St Helier Dam and tied a long rope to the board in case he had a problem. Don't remember what happened exactly but he dropped the paddle and got into a bit of a state. When I'd got him ashore I sat down with him and told him that I was his dad and would never let anything bad happen and perhaps asked why he reacted like that. His reply was the classic - "It's because I've never patted a duck on the head". How do you answer that?
You may have met this grand lady before, Dusty, who is gracious enough to spend time with me now and then
Marievale is not too far away so drove out there one morning after overnight rain. As they spend most of their time foraging in the grass, the coucal's were soaked. This one came out into the open to dry off a bit and was soon joined by baby Burchell's begging for breakfast.
Though the Whiskered Terns were in their breeding finery, this one didn't look at all happy with life. Maybe he never patted a duck on the head!
A lot of the surrounding fields were flooded which attracted the waders including a few of these. One of very few species that have different names for males and females, though when they're here it's difficult to tell Ruffs from Reeves. On their northern breeding grounds the males grow a fancy ring of feathers around their necks from whence the name.
Plenty of flowers as well including this pretty Dwarf Hibiscus, Hibiscus pusillus which comes in yellow or mauve ...........
............ Yellow Grass Aloe (a lot of thought went into that one) Aloe kraussii............
..........and the Plough-breaker, Erythrina zeyheri, named for the massive underground stem that remains protected from fire or frost.
An unusual visitor to these parts was present at the same flooded areas that I photographed the ruffs, but wasn't very obliging as it took off as soon as I had this shot - a Black Heron.
And of course a grassland wouldn't be complete without these show-offs, Long-tailed Widows. American or Canadian visitors were always fascinated by these majestic birds as they don't have any long tailed species on their continent.
Went off, this time on a wild sandgrouse chase, to try and track down the only one of our locals I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting - the Yellow-throated. However they were off on their Christmas hols so went to Pilanesberg Game Reserve instead. A tree, who's name is lost in the mists of alcohol, covered in little white berries was a magnet for Grey Go-away Birds. My sister feeds a pair in her garden and one of them takes food from her hand. Very comical but the bane of any hunter's existence as they often scare off prey by giving their raucous calls at inopportune moments.
I found an obliging Melodious Lark a while ago and remarked that it's call was a lot nicer than it's cousin. Let me introduce the Monotonous Lark and boy is he ever. At this time of year they call virtually the whole day and, if there is a moon, all night as well. According to the wise men they say "For syrup is sweet" but after listening to them the the whole night you start inventing far less savoury things, such as "F... off and die".
The Pilanesberg NR is situated in the caldera of an extinct volcano and is surrounded by a ring of hills 27 km in diameter. Far better known is the Sun City complex on the outer fringes, which I didn't bother to visit as fortunately, I got the gambling bug out of my system many years ago when we used to drive through after work on a Friday and leave just before dawn - if the money lasted that long.
Was pleasantly surprised to see not one but six of these prehistoric beasts in just over 3 hours, this one rising from a dust bath which by the sounds of things was most enjoyable.
As luck would have it just before leaving a fellow parked by the side of the road waved frantically and pointed out mom and two cubs, the latter snoozing under a bush - absolutely magnificent. And no I don't know what the collar was all about - sorry.
Hard to believe I've been here a month already and off down to Durban tomorrow. My sister's delghtful garden is gradually regaining it's glory after the ravages of drought and though it's noisy compared to the Beast it doesn't take long to acclimatise.
