Goliath Heron
Found in the central and northern regions where there is inland water as well as open grasslands.
Solitary when feeding but roosts in colonies.
Eats frogs, insects, rodents, fish and small reptiles.
The nest is a platform of sticks in trees where it lays an average of 2-4 eggs.
Info: Robert’s Birds of Southern Africa
Elephant babies are protected
Not only are they shielded by their mothers but by the rest
of the herd too.
The females and other siblings surround them and
make sure they are in the middle of the herd when moving.
These pictures are of elephants in Addo Elephant Park where
the majority are tuskless.
When born, calves are 100% in proportion unlike other
animals which have larger heads and longer legs.
Humbug Ladybird (Micraspis striata)
Family Coccinellidae
Ladybirds/ladybugs are not only found with spots on them but
also plain colours and stripes.
Spotted Sailer (Neptis saclava marpessa)
Family Nymphalidae Limentinae
Medium size: 4-4.5cm wingspan.
Attracted to fermenting plant matter.
Seen the year round.
Info: Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa (Steve Woodhall)
Swainson’s Francolin
A medium sized bird found in the central and northern regions.
Found in all bushveld and cultivated habitats.Food: Berries, insects, snails, seeds. Average clutch of eggs: 12
Found in all bushveld and cultivated habitats.Food: Berries, insects, snails, seeds. Average clutch of eggs: 12
Ant fight
These are not the best photographs I have taken as there was too much moving around.
Once again I have observed that it is always the smaller ants which attack the larger ones and I am wondering why this is as one would think it should be the other way around. I could even understand if was a whole lot of small ants attacking thee, but no, it is always just one??
Once again I have observed that it is always the smaller ants which attack the larger ones and I am wondering why this is as one would think it should be the other way around. I could even understand if was a whole lot of small ants attacking thee, but no, it is always just one??
You are what you eat
...or so I have heard. In the bush there is this wild pumpkin which grows in most places. They are about 4-6 inches in length and the vines often grow up into the trees.
I am not sure if they are edible to humans but the birds seem to love them too and this is usually one indication that we can eat them. They sometimes come in a more roundish shape like this and go orange when ripe.
What I
I am not sure if they are edible to humans but the birds seem to love them too and this is usually one indication that we can eat them. They sometimes come in a more roundish shape like this and go orange when ripe.
What I
Cheetah
They are the only member of the cat family whose claws are not retractable after the age of three months. This has led to the misconception that cheetah belong to the dog family.
Cheetah do not stalk their prey as do lion and leopard, instead, they rely on their exceptional speed, which is 80kmph (48 mph) on average, but some people maintain can be as high as 112kmph (67mph).
Their name is
Cheetah do not stalk their prey as do lion and leopard, instead, they rely on their exceptional speed, which is 80kmph (48 mph) on average, but some people maintain can be as high as 112kmph (67mph).
Their name is
Golden Piper (Eurytela dryope angulata)
Family Nymphalidae Biblidinae
Medium wingspan of 4.5 – 5.5cm.
Seen the year round.
Found in broad strip from the north eastern regions to Port St. Johns.
Info: Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa (Steve Woodhall)
Giant Kingfisher
Found throughout SA in rivers, streams and dams.
The largest of the kingfisher family and identified by the black and white colouring with red breast.
Eats crabs, fish and frogs.
Make tunnels in earth banks for nesting.
Average 5 eggs per clutch.
Info: Robert’s Birds of Southern Africa
Stick Insect - Heteronemiidae Sp
As far as Stick insects go, this one is of medium size being about 10cm in body length but as there seems to be no-one in South Africa who has any knowledge of them, I cannot find a name for it.
Spotted Buff (Pentila tropicalis)
Family Lycaenidae Poritiinae
Small butterflies of about 2-3cm in wingspan.
Found in a very restricted area on the east coast from Swaziland to just south of Durban.
Info: Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa (Steve Woodhall)
Grass Mantis (Pyrgomantis rhodesica)
Family Mantidae
This species of mantis, as the name implies, is found on grass stems where it waits motionless for prey.
It is large, about 7cm in length.
Langganan:
Postingan (Atom)