Sept 08, 2008

A few people reported seeing the Grysbok and lamb in the conservation area.

Ducklings swimming around 6-9-008

(photograph Cape Shoveler - Wally/Rietvlei - Cape)

06-09-2008

Went for a walk behind Mac Phearson’s Plant Nursery.

We saw a lot of nest building activity as the weavers were building their nests in the trees

There were lots of ducks with duckling.

Yellow-billed Ducks with 8 and another with 3 ducklings.

Cape Shovelers with 6, 4 and 8 chicks

Otters in North Vlei 8-9-2008

(photograph by Wally - Hartlaub‘s Gulls at Rietvlei, Cape)

08-09-2008

It rained 30mm so far in the last 24 hours.

The Otters have been seen swimming in the North Vlei.

As usual the Hartlaub‘s Gulls were following them all the time

Pond at Horse Trails destroyed

5-09-2008

Big Bay Walk (Horse Trails) 05-09-2008

The pond is totally destroyed by the flood after the heavy rains and high seas.

The Sand Plovers are still there on the beach, what is left of it.

Nature Corner 4-Sep-2008

Walked to the bird-hide, but the path is still waterlogged.

The Hadedas are breeding in the area for the second time.

The first time we noticed them breeding at the vlei was five years ago, on the island, when there were trees on it.

Among the birds spotted

4-Sept-2008 RietVlei -The bird-hide path.

Birds spotted:

• 2 Purple Herons.

• 1 Marsh-Harrier

• 2 Caspian Terns

• 2 Greater Striped Swallows

The Hadedas are breeding

(Above a Caspian Tern photographed on the jetty at RietVlei recreational facility, Cape Town - Table View)

(The photographs (birds in flight) are of Hadedas flying over Rietvlei recreational facility, Cape Town - Table View)

Photographs by Wally

Rietvlei 3-Sept 2008

3-Sept 2008

• The daisies are blooming. The sun is shining and there is no wind for a change.

• Five Egrets just flew by.

• A Caspian Tern is diving into the lake.

• About seventy Pelicans arrived.

The “Cape of Storms”

01-09-2008

The “Cape of Storms” really lived up to its name this time.

Mother Goose’s second batch of five eggs was washed away.

At home our Masked Weaver “Boytjie” lost his nest containing two chicks.

I tied Boytjie’s second nest down, using nylon cord.

During the storm the poor nest did a somersault but remains hanging (a bit tighter around the branch)

We are not sure if the young birds survived.

Among the birds spotted at the vlei were 2 Caspian Terns.

Egyptian Geese are very territorial

28-08-2008

The Egyptian Geese are very territorial and aggressive during breeding season.

A pair of juvenile geese were brought to the vlei and released near “Father Goose’s” territory. He immediately went into attack mode. Luckily for them they were old enough to fly and get out of the way.

Spotted: One Caspian Tern.