Road Hogs

It is not surprising that there is such a high accident rate and death toll on the road between King Williams Town and Grahamstown, when you experience first hand the bad driving on that road.

Here we have two for the price of one. The first feels obliged to travel at 60 kph on a main road, when the car obviously has the capability of going faster. It make one wonder whether the driver lacks confidence or is just unlicenced.

The second, a Government vehicle, has no qualms about overtaking on a barrier line and putting the lives of other motorists at risk.

947 FAB EC please note that if you overtake us on a barrier line you will be photographed.

Ecological Day - Oystercatchers

Oystercatchers are usually seen in pairs but may gather in flocks of up to 40 birds from October to March. I have been coming to the Maitland River Mouth for the past 35 years and I do not recollect seeing oyster caters gathering there in such large numbers in the past.

To me this is an indication of an environment that is conducive to ensuring a growth in their numbers.
There are apparently less than 5 000 of birds left in the world and is the only oystercatcher that breeds in Africa.
It is the encroachment of man in their habitat that is making their continued existence so vulnerable.
Oystercatchers mate for life and may live for up to 35 years. They do not breed until they are three years old.

Its nest is a scrape in the dune. Two eggs are usually laid during summer, at the height of the holiday seasons. The eggs and nest are not easily visible to the untrained eye and eggs can easily be trampled on, which makes them very vulnerable.

The birds eat limpets and mussels and not oysters. The birds can only feed at low tide and do so at day and night. Because of their highly selective feeding area they are much more susceptible to human activity than most shore birds

This brings me to my question, “Why mess up their habitat with another big development. The Cape coast has already been spoilt by the developers, which is why I agree with the sentiments expressed in this sign. What impact will this have on the oystercatcher’s habitat? It will undoubtedly spoil one of our last wide open beaches – a place where you can come and enjoy nature, peace and solitude.

Let’s retain some unspoilt wide open spaces for posterity.

For more ecological day posts, visit Sonia at Leaves of Grass.

Sky Watch Friday - Take your pick

Delicate manoeuvre by the Westbank aerobatics team at last weeks airshow

Oyster Catchers feeding at the tide line at the Maitland River Mouth beach last night

PE Airshow 2008

I really enjoyed the airshow on Saturday, despite te fact that the star attraction, the Black Widow, a Mirage C3 was unable to be there, having collided with a sea gull in Cape Town, which severely damanged her wing. If you follow the lables in the side bar you will see pictures I published of her from the previous airshow.

This year we had a good collection of helicopters doing their thing. Squirrel, rescue helicopter of Netcare 911 flying off after a simulated accident.





BK 117's of the SA Airforce doing synchronised flying to the sounds of Ravel's Bolero. These are incredibly versatile machines.

The SA Police Task Team put on a good anti hijacking demonstration with their Squirrel helicopter, complete with sniper.

The Augusta helicopter, which replaced the old Allouettes, was affectionately referred to by the commentator as the Italian stallion.


Oryx helicopter of the SAAF going through its paces

Blogger has been up to its tricks again. Yesterday I was not able to do any posting or commenting and this morning I have not been able to resize my pictures.

Laughing Dove

It is strange how we so often dismiss as uninteresting, or just overlook what is a common every day site, like this laughing dove. Yet when we take the time to stop and observe them, it can be so rewarding.



When I pulled into work this morning, this little guy did not move off, so out came the camera and I am glad I took the time to take a few shots, even though I was running late.



Looking at this bird it is also easy to see how the term, "as gentle as a dove" originated.