Southern ocean ahoy

I left for the Cape a few days early so that I could catch with the Kings in Riebeeck Kasteel and was greeted with temperatures of 40 to 45 C for the duration.  Still a favourite spot with the Swartberg looming over the village.

A wonderful air-conditioned room and pool made the heat a non-issue and great company and spectacular sunsets were the cherry on top.

The night before boarding was spent with Jane and Amber in Marina da Gama with superb views and mating great crested grebes out front.

Having been advised that my boarding time was 12.30 pm and warned not to come early, it was with some consternation that I discovered that I'd missed the boat when I arrived at 12.25. A member of the MSC staff then assured me that a plan was afoot to get the 30 odd passengers still on land out to the ship.  Apparently a big blow was on it's way and on a previous occasion the liner was unable to get out the harbour, hence the decision to leave early and anchor off Robben Island.  They then unshipped 3 lifeboats and sent them back for us but we had to be bussed to the V&A Waterfront to be loaded along with a late milk delivery!  All of which took a mere 4 hours.  These two were waiting at our embarkation point, but weren't invited aboard.

We eventually got under way but it was a false alarm as we were then required to await the arrival of the NSRI which was needed to oversee the transfer to the liner for some unknown reason.  On the trip out to MSC Orchestra we experienced the worst seas of the whole cruise, the not so little lifeboat being tossed around like a cork while the NSRI boat kept station with half a dozen volunteers onboard.

As we approached the ship from the rear there were no photo opportunities so had to lift this photo off the internet.

Once aboard, it was anchors aweigh as the Prince Edward Islands awaited approximately 1 800 km south. The weather kindly provided the cloth for Table Mountain!

This trip was originally scheduled for 2020 but you all know what happen that year, so by the time things went ahead MSC had swapped ships for reasons unknown.  I had reserved an inside cabin as it was cheap but was pleased to note that I'd been upgraded to an outside cabin..................with what they coyly called an obstructed view.  Turns out the obstruction was the top of a life boat but when the ship rolled slightly to port you could just glimpse the sea! Still it was real sunshine and very comfortable.

There was a very slight swell running which was only just felt as 80 000 tons and stabilizers take some shifting and by sunset it was almost flat and stayed that way for most of the week aboard.

Two days and three nights were required to get to the islands though there was a continuous buzz whenever birds appeared.  There were 40 official guides aboard but as the lowest observation points were on deck seven, basically 3 stories above the water, which made things a tad difficult for aging eyes.  However with my own personal guide in the form of the very experienced Richard Everett I managed to add eight species to the old life list. Finding him among the crowds on the decks took a while until I remembered to look at feet rather than faces - he eschews shoes!

Some of the bigger species were fairly easy to photograph with my far from ideal camera so I managed to get a southern giant petrel which is as large as an albatross but not as elegant......

..........but dove sized prions and storm-petrels were a challenge - this I was assured is Salvin's prion though they all look the same to me.

The only place where the pitch was noticeable was either at the bow or on the pool deck where the water slopped about a bit.

Albatrosses are the epitome of perfection when  it comes to flight and the massive wandering albatross with a wingspan of 3.5 m performs staggering feats with consummate ease.  To get an idea of it's size take a gander at the dove sized prion in the lower left hand corner!

These birds leave their island nest site and spend up to 7 years at sea with absolutely no adult coaching or flight experience, covering vast distances with nary a wing flap. Awesome creatures.

Food is available 24/7 but the main dining room required a degree of dress which I haven't possessed in 20 years, so the place for me was on deck 14 and in one corner you could sit in a wing suspended 10 stories above the waves.

We've all those read horror stories about the violence of the "roaring forties"..............this was our experience!

Jo and I went on the first "Flock at Sea" voyage, organised by BirdlifeSA which went up the west coast to Walvis Bay. We attended a lecture by a giant among the sea birding fraternity, Peter Harrison and it was his passion for albatrosses, and the sooty albatross in particular, that was the primary incentive to join the "Flock to Marion" cruise.  Sooties are not the biggest but certainly one of the most beautiful of the albatrosses and Marion Island is one of their main breeding grounds.  However like all the birds that nest there, the chicks are being literally eaten alive by house mice.  The mice were accidentally introduced by sealers and soon became enough of problem to warrant cats which then tuned their attention to birds, who had never before met a predator.  The cats were finally eliminated in 1996 but the rodent population exploded, so one of the main reasons for this cruise was to raise funds to undertake the biggest "mouse free island" project ever.  It will kick off in 2024 and will be a staggering exercise, costing hundreds of millions of rand. Ah the folly of mankind.

Wanderers start life as mostly black fledglings and gradually become whiter until around their 20th year they are mostly white and ringed birds have been known to live for over 50 years.

And after a hard days birding.................

There are only two islands in the group but the ship was not granted permission to get closer than 12 nautical miles so we skimmed Gough which was barely visible and were due to overnight off Marion......

................however the weather finally decided to give us a taste of the Antarctic and with a storm front approaching and swells predicted to be 9 to 12 m the captain decided to cut and run. So we only knew where Marion was by what I believe to be called a catabatic cloud formation above it.  When were past the island and making the turn for home, the winds reached around 100 kph and created an interesting list until it was fully astern.

The birding around the islands was nothing short of stupendous with thousands of albatross consisting of at least 5 different species and many others.  Although my personal list contained only 17 species, they were all birds you'd never see unless you were out at sea, so all very special 

The trip back was quiet but relaxing and it was with mixed feelings that Durban hove into sight on day seven, the most noticeable feature being the World Cup white elephant that is the Moses Mabida Stadium on the right.

 

Joburg and Pilanesberg

As I had the motorcycle with me and the bakkie was beginning to make expensive noises again, I spent quite a bit of time reacquainting myself with the suburbs around the city.  Braamfontein was mostly deserted due to a combination of covid and Christmas and driving past the State Theatre I noticed this odd construction.  Have yet to find out what it housed but there was a huge coat of arms on the second floor so assume it belongs to the government.  I'm sure they would happily accept something that looks like a cross between a crown and a wedding cake!

Moving into Upper Houghton the imposing heap that is part of King Edward School could easily be mistaken for Union Buildings in Pretoria........

........and of course Sandton just has to be over the top.

One fascinating touch was this vertical garden on the front wall of an office block.

Emmarentia Dam surrounded the Johannesburg Botannical Garden provides a welcome break from concrete....

.....while this impressive piece of overkill has popped up next to Gold Reef City - could be back in Dubai.

My sister has been feeding several strays and their number was boosted by the arrival this mom and no less than five kittens.

The knock in the bakkie's engine was becoming serious and as the guarantee for the injector rebuild was from a Durban company, I decided to delay my trip to Pilanesburg and see if I could get back there before something serious happened. As it was just after Christmas the N3 was fairly hectic but most of the traffic was coming the other way.  After the vast flatness of the Free State, the koppies around Harrismith are always a welcome sight.

Midmar Dam was an immense waterfall after the heavy rains and spilling to a greater degree than I have ever witnessed before.

The Turner's very kindly allowed me to christen the newly finished glamping tent and I was pleasantly surprised that all the plumbing and electrics that I'd installed were behaving........

.....and how many other places in the world feature a forest and a stream at the bottom of the garden.

Fortunately the knock stemmed from an electrical fault that was soon sorted and I headed back to the Highveld.  The accommodation at Manyane resort was a bit disappointing as were the surrounds, but the fountains at the pool still worked though one was pointing in an odd direction.  The rest of the park is nothing short of disgusting........

 

.......though the birdlife is still good.  Found this little Marico flycatcher still hunting next to the road.......

......and this very agitated diederik cuckoo arguing with another male over who had rights to the red-breasted swallow's nest nearby.  These are possibly the most successful cuckoos on the planet with well over 20 species being parasitised. The females are even capable of matching the colour of eggs of the host species that raised them!

Said swallows didn't seem to know what the fuss was about anyway!

Breakfast was included in the exorbitant rate and the friendly cat here obviously does very well on table scraps.

Back in the park a flock of European bee-eaters were making short work of their favoured prey and I managed to get a shot of their other side which is normally ignored as photographers seem to prefer the blue belly.  A superb creature whichever way you view it.

Did I mention the "roads"?  That line about  - 'In some countries they drive on the left, here we drive on what's left' - is extremely appropriate.

Had heard this ultralight flying about and assume the occupants must be counting what's left of the game.

The main part of the reserve is situated in an old volcanic crater with a large dam in the middle and is still very pretty, but I doubt the overseas visitors staying at Sun City are very impressed with the infrastructure.  Such a pity.

I nearly ran off the road when I saw this dusky lark casually ambling along no more than 5 metres from my lens. It's a migrant and I have only seen it on two previous occasions, so always a pleasure.  What looks like a claw sticking out of it's back is only a feather that's been lifted by the breeze!

The only photograph I've ever managed to get was sketchy in the extreme so here are a couple which show all the distinctive features.  Yes I know it's dull but it is RARE.

Near the main dam a couple of pans had filled which provided an ideal roost for a little egret.  Back in the 1920,s they were almost hunted to extinction as the feathers were highly fashionable on ladies millinery.

My word but this grass is long chaps............

............not really, they are all sitting down.  Some parts of the park are liberally sprinkled with rocks that could rival those near my birth place in the Matopos.

Eventually found a couple of rhinos, dehorned sadly.........

...............and a few hippo doing what hippos do best.

In one corner of their wallow on an overhanging bush, the nest of a grey tree frog.  The female whips up a lather similar to beaten egg-white and deposits her spawn therein, where they safely see out their first few days then drop into the water below..................if it hasn't dried up by then!

The camp had a fair selection of birds including this red-billed hornbill.................

.............and a very intent woodland kingfisher, whose wings may be cobalt, cerulean or just sky blue but stunning would suffice.

Near my cottage a Pride of the Cape Bauhinia galpinii was smothered in orange bloom.