Wally's Blog

Mole-snake killed

2011-07-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

This dead Mole-snake was seen on the corner of Chaffinch street and Canary crescent in Tableview.

Measurement: 2,3 Meters

The mole snake can be "quite ferocious".
Though not venomous, they can cause severe bite wounds. Despite this, they are said to make good pets when sufficiently settled.

The primary food source of P. cana comprises golden moles (hence the name), rodents, and other small mammals. For this reason, it is considered useful for the natural control of problem rodents.

Read more

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_snake

Apologies

2011-03-23T03:50:00.000-07:00

I have been neglecting my blogging terribly but shall get back to regular blogging when we relocate to Cape L'Agulhas.

I have been saddened by the indiscriminate removal of large trees at Rietvlei and is no longer involved with the conservation side there.

Mac 24 hour race

2010-03-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

View more photographs here

2009-11-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

Chameleon

2009-09-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

This is a beaut from my garden. I just missed a photograph of him drinking water from the bird-bath.

Recreation on the water

2009-09-11T14:40:00.001-07:00

2009-08-22T13:49:00.000-07:00

Helmeted Guinaefowl

2009-08-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

Guinaefowl caught in fishing line

2009-08-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Two Helmeted Guineafowl was found on one day with their feet entangled in fishing line

Mongoose released at Rietvlei, Cape

2009-08-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

One female Water Mongoose, caught at Intaka Island , was released in the bird-hide block on 31-7-2009

A male Water Mongoose was trapped and released to join the female on 5 August 2009

Bird Activity Rietvlei, Cape -- bird-hide block

2009-08-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Tue 28 Jul 2009

35 Glossy Ibis
1 African Fish-Eagle
2 Black-shouldered Kites
4 Great Crested Grebes
10 Mousebirds

African Pygmy Mouse

2009-07-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

Found on the Island

Otters at Rietvlei

2009-07-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

I noticed some movement on the waters edge near the new hide - South lake.
It turned out to be a family of otters

Rietvlei reserve 7-7-2009

2009-07-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Rietvlei 7-7-2009 - Mole

2009-07-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

W

We spotted this mole sunbathing -- just his head sticking out.

Rietvlei 7-7-2009

2009-07-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

25-Jun-2009 Rietvlei, Cape - Bird Activity

2009-07-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

25 Jun 2009

The pan is full of water

Bird Activity:

About 60 Egyptian geese in the area halfway to the bird-hide.

Two Cape Longclaws (Orange-throated Longclaws)

One juvenile Black Sparrowhawk

A pair of Black-shouldered Kites

One Rock Kestrel

And pair of Great Crested Grebe in the mating dance. Necks twisting and head-crests fanning.

See photos

Juvenile Swift Tern

2009-07-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Rietvlei Walk 11-Jun-07

2009-07-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

11-Jun-009

Rietvlei Walk

Birds spotted:

* 8 Black-headed Herons - one has just caught a frog. There seems to be a great number of frogs in the area (photograph below)

* A pair of Black-shouldered Kites in the area between North and South-vlei

---------------

Birds breeding in mid winter

2009-06-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Horse Trails 17-June-2009

Rietvlei 10 June 2009

2009-06-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

10 Jun 2009
A super day.
I planned a long walk to the hides but had to cut my walk short because spider webs were covering the whole area.
Going to the hides would have meant that I would have been covered with spiders.
The birds seem to congregate south of the new bird hide

10 Red-billed Teal
8 Yellow-billed Ducks
African Darters
5 Red-knobbed Coots
Egyptian geese
Cormorants
Cape Shoveler

Rietvlei 9 Jun 2009

2009-06-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

9 Jun 2009

Birds spotted

9 June 2009

2009-06-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

A pair of Southern Pochards was spotted flying over the South-lake.

Rietvlei 1-6-2009

2009-06-13T11:27:00.001-07:00

01-06-2009
We watched how a Black Sparrowhawk was trying to get to a dove he dropped on the other side of a fence while the Hartlaub’s Gulls were dive-bombing him.
He gave up and flew away.
Later we saw him return to when the coast was clear to collect his prey.

Pied Kingfisher -- Rietvlei

2009-06-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

26-May-2009 14:07
Three Pied Kingfishers
Young birds.
Two of them look as if they are mating.

Owl Moth

2009-06-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Atlantis 2009-05-26

Photograph Leonard Wolhuter

The best website on this topic: http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_noctuidae/index.html

See more photographs: Http://images.google.co.za/images?gbv=2&hl=en&sa=1&q=moth+owl&btnG=Search+Images&aq=f&oq=

Pelican ring no. H1257

2009-06-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

26 May 2009

Pelican found -- died about four days ago.
Ring number H1257. Ringed on Dassen Island in 2005. (4 Years ago)
It has been seen on a pig farm near Tygeberg about ten times.

Bush for ID

2009-06-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Night life at Rietvlei 26-05-2009

2009-06-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

Rietvlei 23 May 2009 White-breasted Cormorant

2009-06-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

Photograph by Wally Wolhuter

Male and juvenile Pelicans -- Darters

2009-06-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

23 May 2009

Morning walk:
I spotted 50 Flamingos at the South vlei
I managed to photograph a male and juvenile Pelican together with a group of Darters.

18 May 2009 Rietvlei

2009-06-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

18 May 2009

The pan is full of Cape Shoveler about +/- 200

50 Lesser Flamingos

100 Pied Avocets

20 African Spoonbill

10 Little Stints

(photograph by Wally: Flamingos)

Otter, Mongoose activity at Rietvlei 18-05-2009

2009-05-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

18-May-2009 Rietvlei

We saw footprints and inlays of Otters and Water Mongoose near the South-lake hide.
This poor fellow (Otter photograph below) was killed on the freeway. This happens from time to time.

Oystercatchers at Rietvlei, Cape

2009-05-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

18 May 2009
50-60 Black African Oystercatchers were seen on the North Shore of the North Lake.

We have never had this many Oystercatchers and Shoveler ducks in the vlei before

Horse Trails (Plover beach) 8 April 2009

2009-05-13T00:39:00.000-07:00

Rietvlei, 8-April-2009 - photograph

2009-05-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

Rietvlei, 30-04-2009 - photograph

2009-05-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

21 April 2009 - Rietvlei

2009-04-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

21 April 2009
Birds spotted:

37 Spur-winged Geese
Flying from the North-vlei to the South-vlei

Intaka Island 10 April 2009

2009-04-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

10 April 2009
Visited Intaka Island around 11:30 am. Among birds spotted:

Malachite Kingfisher

We had a very pleasant stroll through their nature area.

Rietvlei, 08 April 2009

2009-04-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Fish-Eagle

Photograph by Wally Wolhuter

Rietvlei, 07 April 2009

2009-04-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

7 April 2009
Cape Dwarf Chameleon

12 Oystercatchers on the North Bank

.

Rietvlei, 06 April 2009

2009-04-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Birds spotted:

1 Ringed Plover

36 Black Oystercatchers on the North-bank of the vlei.

4 Three-banded Plovers

6 Little Stints in the South-lake near the pond off the path to The Point

Photograph: Ringed Plover

Rietvlei, 31 March 2009

2009-04-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

Dikkop (Thick-knee) chicks in the boat-parking area.
70 +- Pelicans on the corner of the South-Vlei. (Old cofferdam)

Rietvlei -- 27-March 2009

2009-04-11T07:06:00.000-07:00

Saw a white and black Coot on two separate occasions. Albino???

Rietvlei Nature Reserve -- 25 March 2009

2009-04-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Cape Clawless Otter had a feast on a Egyptian Goose.

I found the remains in the South-vlei near the club.

Spotted the Water Mongoose tracts.

Rietvlei 24 March 2009

2009-04-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

24 March 2009
Found a mature lame Helmeted Guineafowl. It died while we were examining it.

Blouberg Hill 21 March 2009

2009-04-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

We went for a hike to the top of Blouberg Hill. The vegetation was very dry.
We enjoyed great panoramic views over Blouberg, the sea and the mountain.
We saw the land where the "Battle of Blouberg" played out.

Birds spotted:

Yellow-billed Kite

2 Rock Kestrels

Greater Striped Swallows

Intaka Island 20 March 009

2009-04-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

Another visit to Intaka Island. We spotted two Black-crowned Night Heron and a Marsh Mongoose (or Water Mongoose) playing in the water nearby.

Visit to Intaka Island - 12 March 2009

2009-03-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Thursday 12 March 2009
A Visit to Intaka Island accompanied by John Linden and Andre Swart.
We had a great walk, and enjoyed our picnic lunch in one of the two bird-hides.
A pair of Malachite Kingfishers gave us a wonderful show, chasing each other and flew right up to the hide. I took some smashing photographs

Birdlife at the Vlei 12 March 2009

2009-03-25T05:37:00.000-07:00

12 March 009

1 Malachite Kingfisher, sitting on the front landing site, flew towards the reeds on the North-Shore erosion site. This reed area is called the erosion site because the reeds were planted there to stop the erosion.

2 Spotted (Dikkop) Thick-knee Chicks were spotted at the parking area opposite the clubhouse.

70 Great White Pelicans on the north shore and on the vlei.

800 Gulls.

A Juvenile Sandwich Tern and 50 Swift Terns on the jetty

Also spotted 1 African Purple Swamphen (Purple Gallinule)

Photographs: Malachite Kingfisher, Swift Terns and other birds on jetty.

Intaka Bird-hide View

2009-02-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

Monday 26 Jan 2009 (Big Bay beach, Cape)

2009-02-02T04:35:00.000-08:00

(PHOTOGRAPH - PLOVER CHICK)

Monday 26 Jan 2009 (Big Bay beach, Cape)

Big bay beach and Nature Strip

3 Thick-knee chicks

I Peregrine Falcon

White-fronted Plovers with three chicks

To view photographs and information of the birds mentioned, click on the bird link in the side panel or search through the encyclopaedia link.

Navigate to:

My old blog:

My bird photo album:

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22 January 2009 (Rietvlei – North lake and nature garden)

2009-02-02T04:31:00.000-08:00

22 January 2009 (Rietvlei – North lake and nature garden)

Birds in the North Lake near the Slipway:

A Crested Grebe with a month old chick.

About 2000 Avocets

We had 1 mm rain last night and this afternoon the birds were feeding like crazy, among them were:

About 1000 Little Swift

Black Saw-wing Swallows

White-throated Swallows

This is the first time I have seen a grebe chick in the North Lake and I have never seen so many Avocets here or anywhere else.

Black-headed Heron in the Nature garden

To view photographs and information of the birds mentioned, click on the bird link in the side panel or search through the encyclopedia link.

Navigate to:

My old blog:

My bird photo album:

Back to the top:

20 Jan 2009 (Rietvlei, Cape)

2009-02-02T04:29:00.000-08:00

photograph Rock Kestrel - By Wally Wolhuter - Rietvlei

20 Jan 2009 (Rietvlei, Cape)

Morning patrol:

One pair of Spotted Thick-knee in the car park with almost fully grown chicks.

Did not see the Water Thick-knee at fishing site 4

On the way to the bird-hide I met Margaret who helped me with the identifications of the Brown-throated Sand Martins

Other birds seen along the path to the hide:

1 Pin-tailed Whydah

1 Marsh Harrier

1 Purple Heron

1 Rock Kestrel

1 Black-shouldered Kite

10 Glossy ibis

50 Pelicans

200 Avocets on the pan at the hide.

6 Spur winged Geese

The South Lake bird-hide, when completed, will give birders a very clear view of the pelicans Spurt winged Geese and other birds.

The plan is to get the board-walk completed by March 1. (Cross fingers)

To view photographs and information of the birds mentioned, click on the bird link in the side panel or search through the encyclopedia link.

19-01-2009 (Milnerton Lagoon)

2009-02-02T04:27:00.000-08:00

19-01-2009 (Milnerton Lagoon)

I drove down to Milnerton Lagoon to spot the reported crocodile. I saw no crocodile, but there were:

Egyptian Geese and 10 goslings about three days old.

3 Grey Heron

4 Little Egret

To view photographs and information of the birds mentioned, click on the bird link in the side panel or search through the encyclopaedia link.

Tick-knee Chick 19-01-2009

2009-02-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Photographed Dikkop chick - by Wally Wolhuter - Rietvlei, Cape

19-Jan 2009

Remained at the reserve later than usual.

The wind was howling at 40 knots +.

While passing fishing site four, I saw the Water Thick-knee sitting under the trees, and to my surprise, there I spotted two chicks.

As soon as they saw me they scurried under their mother's soft plumage for protection.

My old blog:

My bird photo album:

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Bird Territory 13-01-2009

2009-02-01T11:34:00.000-08:00

Photograph Rock Kestrel - Rietvlei (Wally Wolhuter)

13-01-2009

While surveying the area of Rietvlei, I noticed that the Rock Kestrel has taken over the bird hide block area as his territory.

The Black-shouldered Kite was seen here previously.

Photograph Black-shouldered Kite - Milnerton (Wally Wolhuter)

My old blog:

My bird photo album:

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The Water Thick-knee’s eggs no longer in the nest

2009-01-28T11:43:00.000-08:00

17 Jan 2009

The Water Thick-knee’s (Water Dikkop) eggs are gone.

I suspect that it may be due to the activity at the fishing site, where she had her nest.

I still see the birds in the area.

My other blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/

My new photo album:

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Brown -throated Martins

2009-01-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

08-01-2009

Brown-throated Martins

Some Brown-throated Martins were nesting near the No 4 fishing site. Their nests are little holes in the sand bank.

Before going home in the evening, I have to check that everyone is gone so that I can lock the gates. I use this opportunity to check for fishing line and other debris that can harm the animals or birds, left behind by the day visitors, before locking the area for the night.

The martins were flying overhead and I felt something was amiss. As I surveyed the nest holes, I noticed that they were blocked by fresh mud. I opened the holes, as I suspected the children blocked them to trap the birds.

The next day the birds were using their nesting tunnels again.

Here is a link to some photographs sent to Google under the label of Brown-throated Martins. Note the Sand Martins have a white throat.

The Waterranger's blog

My bird photo album:

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12-01-2009 bird activity

2009-01-14T13:16:00.001-08:00

12-01-2009

An African Marsh-Harrier was sweeping low over the reeds in the South Pan and disturbed a flock of about 200 Weavers.

About 30-40 Swift Terns arrived.

I went to check on the Kittlitz's Plover. The nest was empty and there was no sign to indicate what happened to the eggs. I removed the barrier placed there to protect them.

Picture Links:

Marsh Harrier

Weaver

Kittlitz's Plover

My old blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/

My bird photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/omdiebos/WallySBlog?authkey=0VT7Mn3IZkw#

Back to the top: http://waterranger.blogspot.com/

Bird Sighting 8-01-2009

2009-01-14T13:14:00.000-08:00

50 lesser flamingo's

Kittlitz's Plover Nest

2009-01-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

6-01-2009
The Kittlitz's Plover made nest right next to the path at the bird-hide block.
She covered the eggs so well that it was nearly impossible to see them.
I hope the eggs will hatch.
The nest is at a very vulnerable spot, as the service vehicles sometimes use that area.
I cordoned the site off.

My old blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/

My bird photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/omdiebos/WallySBlog?authkey=0VT7Mn3IZkw#

Back to the top: http://waterranger.blogspot.com/

Kittlitz’s Plover 5-01-2009

2009-01-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

I spotted a Kittlitz’s Plover in the bird-hide block

My old blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/

My bird photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/omdiebos/WallySBlog?authkey=0VT7Mn3IZkw#

Back to the top: http://waterranger.blogspot.com/

Death's-head Hawkmoth

2009-01-13T12:37:00.000-08:00

Death's-head Hawkmoth
(4 January 2009)

Found in the boom-gate at Rietvlei. It got it's name because of the impression of a scull on its back.

The Death's-head Hawkmoth is known to suck honey from beehives and sometimes squeak when handled.

My old blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/
My bird photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/omdiebos/WallySBlog?authkey=0VT7Mn3IZkw#
Back to the top: http://waterranger.blogspot.com/

Mole Behaviour

2009-01-12T23:51:00.000-08:00

3-1-2009

A mole gnawed into one of the club's water connections. This plastic is as hard as iron.

My old blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/

My bird photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/omdiebos/WallySBlog?authkey=0VT7Mn3IZkw#

Back to the top: http://waterranger.blogspot.com/

Bird Activity 2 January 2009

2009-01-12T23:48:00.000-08:00

2 December 2009

Bird activity at Rietvlei:

Cape Francolin with 8 chicks

Helmeted Guineafowl with 15 chicks.

The White-throated Swallows are breeding again.

Photograph: White-throated Swallows
Links to photographs of :
Helmeted Guineafowl
Cape Francolin

My old blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/

My bird photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/omdiebos/WallySBlog?authkey=0VT7Mn3IZkw#

Back to the top: http://waterranger.blogspot.com/

Guineafowl attacking

2009-01-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

1 December 2009

This evening, before leaving for home, I was checking the fishing sites for nylon left behind by the fishermen, when I saw a Helmeted Guineafowl attacking something. At closer inspection, I saw a mole lying on it's back while the bird is fiercely pecking it.

My approach disturbed the bird and the poor mole scurried away and instantly burrowed into an old mole mound. The aggressiveness of the birds is due to them having chicks.

Links:

The my old blog: http://www.wally.iblog.co.za/

My bird photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/omdiebos/WallySBlog?authkey=0VT7Mn3IZkw#

Back to the top: http://waterranger.blogspot.com/

The photo above is of a Guineafowl chick

Spur-winged Goose

2008-12-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Rietvlei, Cape 2008

The White-throated Swallow nest

2008-12-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

White-throated Swallow nesting under the jetty at Rietvlei (2007-01-07)

My Garden Birds 12-12-2008

2008-12-16T13:14:00.000-08:00

One of the masked weaver chicks - hatched

My Garden Birds 9-12-2008

2008-12-16T05:31:00.000-08:00

My home Garden

The masked weaver chicks are squawking like mad.

We noticed both the male and female feeding on Sunday.

Since then a domestic cat killed the female. I heard the frantic distress call of a bird, but was too late to save her.

We could hear the persistent cries from the hungry chicks demanding for food. The male was doing his best to supply the demand.

He managed to rear both chicks.

Posted by Wally Water-ranger

Rietvlei 1-12-2008

2008-12-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

The Heron is OK. The plastic is no longer stuck to its beak

Birds at Rietvlei - 27-Nov-2008

2008-12-14T12:05:00.000-08:00

27-Nov 2008 Rietvlei

Spotted White-throated swallow with one chick.

Black-headed Heron with plastic caught on its bill.

Breakfast time for Cape Sparrows

2008-12-12T12:43:00.000-08:00

Intaka Island, 24-11-2008

2008-12-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

We went on a very enjoyable walk around the island. We took lots of photographs of birds.

The bird islands are great.

Many nests of mostly Ibis.

Other birds seen were:

Herons

Egrets

Darter

White-breasted Cormorants

Reed Cormorants

Egyptian Geese

Coot chicks - Intaka Island - Century City - Cape Town

2008-11-30T14:09:00.000-08:00

17-11-2008 Intaka Island – Blouvlei

2008-11-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

They have lots of birds to view from close up at their nature reserve.

Moorhens and chicks

Coots

Ibis

Heron

Cormorants

The Snipes were not there yet, but I saw a stunning photograph of them.

A must-view nature area in the center of a concrete jungle.

Birds spotted 12-11-2008

2008-11-26T05:35:00.000-08:00

12-11-2008

About eight flamingos were spotted in the South vlei.

Two Greater Striped Swallows were buzzing around my office this morning.

Birds Spotted 10-11-2008

2008-11-26T05:27:00.000-08:00

10-11-2008

Birds spotted:

Rietvlei birds 10-11-2008

2008-11-20T11:47:00.000-08:00

10-11-2008
Birds spotted:

Fish-Eagles 2

3 Yellow-billed Egret

About 10 Whiskered Terns are still around

Photograph Whiskered Tern flying over Rietvlei dam 10-11-2008

Bird Report 7-11-2008

2008-11-18T12:34:00.000-08:00

Rietvlei 7 11 2008

Birds spotted:

Caspian Tern 2

African Marsh-Harrier 2

Banded Martins (breeding)

Pied Kingfishers are breeding in the bank of the South-vlei on the point.

Puzzled by frogs

2008-11-12T11:45:00.000-08:00

Rietvlei 7 11 2008

About two hundred river frogs appeared in Santie's backyard pool, bordering on the vlei, after a 5 mm rain shower the night before.

They were identified as

Clicking stream frogs

Banded stream frogs

Common river frogs

We managed to catch most of them. The frogs were released into the vlei.

The question is

"How did 200 fully grown frogs end up in a fully enclosed, well maintained, backyard pool when there is no other water source within he enclosure?"

BIRD ID

2008-11-11T12:33:00.000-08:00

05-Nov-2008

I spotted some birds (about 8) with black body, red beak, grey tail, black cap and white a stripe across the eye.

We forwarded a photograph to Trevor Hardaker from www.zestforbirds.co.za to confirm the ID of the bird. His reply was

There is no doubt that it is in fact a Whiskered Tern, which is in full breeding plumage. The potential confusion candidate, White-cheeked Tern, has a deeply forked tail and not a squarish ended tail like the bird in the photo and is also not quite as dark on the underside as is the bird in the photo.

Water Thick-knee nest

2008-11-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

05-11-2008

The Water Thick-knee (Water Dikkop) nest in the boat-park contains only one egg.

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Birds at Rondevlei 4-11-2008

2008-11-09T11:46:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 4 November 2008,

We visited Rondevlei for a fire-fighting course.

In South Africa Fire-fighting is an important element of Nature Conservation.

The following birds were spotted:

A Klaas's Cuckoo

A large colony of African Sacred Ibis

Coots

Yellow-billed Ducks

Glossy Ibis

Burchell's Coucal

Mother Goose Died

2008-10-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Mother Goose, our resident Egyptian Goose, started making her nests on Commodore's point, about eight years ago.

Every year she would delight us with the antics of her chicks. We loved watching them grow up and move on. Mother and Father Goose remained to breed on the same spot every time.

Their nest often got flooded after heavy rains. Sometimes her eggs would disappear either through human or animal interference.

This year her first attempt to breed failed because the eggs got stolen. The next two nests got washed away after heavy rains.

Out of desperation she decided to build her nest higher up for a change. We all thought it was a good idea.

They got so tame that they used to come right up to the gatehouse asking for food. The guys at the access control gate would put some food out for them in the mornings.

Last Thursday 9 Oct. she did not come for her food, which was not unusual when she is on the nest, but Clinton, my co-worker, noticed that Father Goose was behaving strangely. He was not guarding the nest. He went to investigate and made the gruesome discovery. Mother Goose fell prey to a predator.

Photographs by Wally (Oct 2008)

Mother Goose on her last nest.
Mother Goose fell prey to a predator.

VIEW MORE MOTHER GOOSE PHOTOGRAPHS HERE

Bird Activity 1 October 2008

2008-10-02T13:55:00.000-07:00

1 October 08

Bird Activity:

I spotted a Grey-backed Cisticola,

Two Hartlaub's Gulls have been squabbling all day long.

Mother Goose (Our resident Egyptian Goose) is on the nest again. She chose a better spot for her nest this time.

She has about five eggs at the last count and has been sitting since 27 October

Sparrowhawk upset gulls

2008-10-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

29 September 2008

Noticed the Hartlaub's Gulls all in flight and squawking. I looked around for the reason for this disturbance, and saw the Black Sparrowhawk sitting in the grass. I ran for my camera and got a quick snap of it.

Working away from the vlei 23 Sep 2008

2008-10-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

23 September 2008

At the Diep River corridor, (on the Tableview side) most of the invasive alien vegetation has been removed, leaving a wonderful carpet of wild flowers and fynbos.

Our job today was to burn the dry branches of the invasive Port Jackson trees previously chopped down.

Among the birds spotted there were:

I also saw a mole snake.

At Atlantis dune fields we burned some more Port Jackson branches.

This area has a few dams and the fynbos flowers are in abundance but there is so much to work here to do still.

Birds spotted:

Jackal Buzzard

Egyptian Geese,

White-breasted Cormorant

Sept 08, 2008

2008-09-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

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

Ducklings swimming around 6-9-008

2008-09-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

(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

2008-09-09T14:09:00.000-07:00

(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

2008-09-07T12:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

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”

2008-09-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-02T14:16:00.001-07:00

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.

Some Notes from my old iblog blog

2008-08-31T12:39:00.000-07:00

17 August 2008

One White-Throated swallow arrived

I spotted:

two Red-billed Teals,

Two Cape Shoveler

Two Great Crested Grebes were seen in a mating dance.

They were facing one another,

beak to beak, and shaking their heads.

15 August 008

Swallows were swirling around in the air over Rietvlei.

11 August 2008

Peter H brought a little dead bird, found in his garden, to the vlei for our interest.

He correctly identified it as an Orange-breasted Waxbill.

It possibly escaped from someone's aviary.

10 August 2008

Birds spotted

One Black Sparrowhawk and a March Harrier were spotted behind McPherson plant nursery.

6 August 2008

Birds spotted

One Black Sparrowhawk

Ten Yellow-billed ducks flew passed

5 August 2008

Birds spotted

Four Red-billed Teals

Six Yellow-billed ducks

4 August 2008

The vlei is very quiet.

Birds spotted:

One Black Sparrowhawk

Three Pied Kingfishers

2-August 2008

Birds Spotted

+- Fifty White-breasted Cormorants. Some of them are sitting on the jetty and some feeding in the middle of the vlei. There must be lots of small fish.

29 July 2008

Another wind-free day

Birds seen:

Two Yellow-billed Kite soaring on a thermal - just gliding and enjoying the trip.Later
A pair of crows was doing the same.

Four flamingos flew passed. Lost maybe?

Burchell's Coucal

Link

24 July 2008

It is another pleasant day.

Went for a walk to the bird-hide.

Mother goose has seven eggs to date.

Birds seen:

One Grey Heron,

One Purple Heron,

One Black-shouldered Kite,

Four Great Crested Grebe in mating plumage.

A Bird identified by sound: Burchell's Coucal

20 July 2008

Mother goose is building a nest on commodore's point. Will go and count her eggs when I get a chance.

Friday 18 July

Bird count

One Black Sparrowhawk

Two Hadedas building a nest

Four Darters

Four Cape Shoveler

Six Crested Grebes

Eight Yellow-billed Ducks

Fourty White-breasted Cormorants

Two hyndred and fifty Pelicans

11 July 2008

One Fish-Eagle is back and perching on the last remaining branch on the island.

10 July 2008

The Fish-Eagles seem to have left.

It must be all the activity, on the island, starting at 7.30 am and continuing throughout the day that drove them away.

They are busy with cleanup work.

Hope they return when tranquility returns

7 July 2008

The Hadedas are still building nests.

18-June-2008

Birds spotted:

One pair of Fish-Eagles just fifty meters away.

One Pair of Black-shouldered Kites.

Thirty seven Avocets

Fivehundred Flamingos (LESSER)

There are signs that the grysbok has been feeding on the young Port-Jackson bush shoots.

At 1400 soft soaking rain came down. We are experiencing some real winter weather.

16-06-2008

A fossil was found at Rietvlei today.

It appears to be the fossilized remains of a tooth of a large animal.

I shall give it to my friends at the museum for identification and dating.

Perhaps it can add another paragraph to the history of the aria.

I shall post more information about it after it has been examined properly.

Visit my photo album to see larger views of the fossil (http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd264/gardenbird/Rietvlei/fossil%20find/)

14 June 2008

OTTER PAW MARKS at the fishing spot

Monday May 19 2008

Rietvlei (North vlei) Bird Count

It is a super morning.

There is no wind and the vlei looks like glass

3200 Kelp Gull

150 Flamingos

70 Pelicans

30 Coots

26 Oystercatchers

23 Hartlaub's Gulls

15 Cape Shovelers

10 Blacksmith Plover

10 Egyptian Geese

8 Yellow-billed Ducks

6 Spotted Dikkops

6 Darters

4 Water Dikkops

3-Pied Kingfishers

2 Grey Heron

2 Great Crested Grebes

2 African Sacred Ibis

2 Fish-Eagle (at the point)

1 Dabchick

1 Reed Cormorant

1 Little Egret

14 June 2008

Walking the dog Saturday

This morning while taking Onesock for a walk, a Peregrine Falcon swooped down and strikes a Racing Pigeon.

The Pigeon fell to the earth.

I ran up to it and found it still to be quivering.

The only mark on it was a little blood on the inside of the wing.

After examining it I left it on the grass and watched the Falcon diving down to claim it's prize about 20 min later.

9-May-2008

I saw otter paw marks at the fishing spot.

The Fish-Eagles are still very prominent

The Hadedas have increased in numbers and are very noisy.

I went for a walk around the vlei, as per usual, this morning. Some large carp were feeding near the shore and coming close to land and I like to sneak up to them and prod the fish with my finger.

The fish startles into a panic and with a sudden swish of it's tail attempts to escape with water splashing and turmoil '

It was toss-up for who got the biggest fright the fish or me.

05-May-2003

CONSERVATION CORNER

With winter on our doorstep most of the migrating birds left our shores for greener pastures, although, I still saw about

fifty little stints on the shores of the North-vlei.
About thirty PELICANS seem to stay all the year round. They sit and sun themselves on a small island, in the South-vlei near the West-coast road and at sunset they come and feed in the shallow waters near the club.

So all water users please leave the water at sunset sharp.

The water level of the lake is very high for his time of the year and if we have a long cold and wet winter get ready for a flood or two.

There are signs of otters all around the shores of the vlei. These creatures are mostly nocturnal and can be seen very early in the morning or just after sunset.

The white DOMESTIC GOOSE'S ten goslings have left and in the meantime she has adopted Mother goose's four goslings and is still flying to and fro.

Every time before it rains

about a thousand Lesser Black-backed / (Kelp) Gulls fly in and just about cover the whole body of water.

A reminder to all fishermen: Fishing is only allowed from the designated Municipal sites, and every fisherman has to pay R55.

Birds seen in the area:

Egyptian Geese (many),

Sand Martins (30),

Fish-Eagles (2),

Sacred Ibis (8),

Blacksmith Plover (20),

Caspian Tern (3),

Flamingos (3),

Spur-winged Geese

Hadedas

Herons

Oystercatchers

Darter

Yellow-billed Duck

Three-banded Plover

Kittlitz's Plover

Other Animals

Steenbok,
Grey Mongoose,
Water Mongoose,
Chameleon,
Marsh Terrapin,
Angulated tortoise