Skywatch Friday - Algoa Sunrise

Looking out across Algoa bay at New Brighton beach.

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artEC Mural

The artEC (formerly the Eastern Province Society for Arts and Crafts) building, in Bird Street has recently undergone a major facelift, with a mural done by Gabriel Chipondo and Bongani Njalo. The pictures are all of people who line and work in the area.

The building is already becoming a a popular backdrop for photographic shoots.

Flowers of the Eastern Cape - Velthemia capensis

I captured this speciman at Skoenmakerskop a while back.

The Velthemia capensis is a fairly common plant growing along our coastline and in parts of the Karoo and Namaqualand.

Strange bed fellows

What more can I say.........................

Little olive drab bird

The bush is so full of these little drab birds that are difficult to identify. Usually they are little grey ones, but this one is slightly brighter than grey, with a beak that appears to be a slightly out of alignment and beady little eyes.

When I am feeling more academic I will consult my field guide. For now I'll just enjoy it for what it is - a little olive drab bird.

UPDATE - 17 September 2011: I believe it is a Sombre Greenbul.

Skywatch Friday - Diamond in the sky

Looks just like a diamond in the sky.




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Loner

A lone buffalo bull, caked in dried mud and looking very much the worse for wear with his torn ears. He is not the type you would want to walk into unexpectedly in the bush.

Skop, skiet en donner

The guinea fowl were enjoying a seemingly peaceful morning foraging for food and avoiding jackals that were intent on making one of them a meal .................................

.......................when all of a sudden the peace was shattered by this wild melee as two guinea fowls stated a fight. This gives a new meaning to the term, "flying into" your opponent.

For those who are not familiar with South African colloquialisms, "skop, skiet en donner" can be  literally translared to mean "kicking, shooting and beating people up". But it does does lose its impact in the translation. The term is generally used to describe action movies of the more violent kind.

Birds of a feather

Guinea fowl standing still long enough to be photographed

Skywatch Friday - Rolling in

View across Algoa Bay with a South Westerly wind in full cry and the waves rolling in.

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High Seas

The sea swell was reported to be at over five metres high, but with the South-Westerly blowing off shore onto Algoa Bay the sea was flat, but the spray from the waves was spectacular.

The New Brighton Beach pier taking a pounding, while the fishermen nonchalantly watch.

Spring is in the air

I was at Addo again this weekend and Spring is definitely in the air.......................I have never see the place so ablaze with flowers.

Mini vs Maxi Tour - The grey creatures

An elephant bull, with a missing tusk, nonchalantly munching away at the the grass, at the Addo Elephant National Park .

But one thing you must always bear in mind when visiting Addo. If you spend your time just looking at the big grey elephants you may just miss the little grey birds. I still need to identify this little fellow, which will happen one day.

Skywatch Friday - Maitland River Mouth

The Maitland River mouth is definitely my favourite beach in this area, with its wide open spaces and the view across St Francis Bay. 

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