Otter, Mongoose activity at Rietvlei 18-05-2009

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.

Rietvlei, 06 April 2009

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

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

Birdlife at the Vlei 12 March 2009

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.

Tick-knee Chick 19-01-2009

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:

• Back to the top:

Bird Territory 13-01-2009

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:

• Back to the top:

12-01-2009 bird activity

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/

Kittlitz's Plover Nest

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

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

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

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/

Spur-winged Goose

Rietvlei, Cape 2008

Birds at Rietvlei - 27-Nov-2008

27-Nov 2008 Rietvlei

• Spotted White-throated swallow with one chick.

• Black-headed Heron with plastic caught on its bill.

Birds spotted 12-11-2008

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

10-11-2008

Birds spotted:

• 2 Fish-Eagles
  
• 3 Yellow-billed Egret
• About 10 Whiskered Terns are still around (photograph)
  

Rietvlei birds 10-11-2008

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

Puzzled by frogs

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

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.

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

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.