colin25's Favourites

Ongegund dam, a favourite birding spot, but when we left, we called it Moordenaars Dam (Murderers dam). A group of pelicans was already there, some in the water and what at first we thought was fishing, as there are quite large fish in the dam. Then we realised that they weren't catching fish - they were attacking Spur-winged geese goslings, drowning them, then swallowing them. I suspect that they were also preying on other species but they were too far away to make a positive ID.

56 minutes of hard labour

She diligently buried her eggs in a bare patch of earth on the pavement, right at the kerbside. Seemed to dig individual holes for each egg within about a 1 metre long strip. I counted 12 digging/covering spots. Was greatly relieved to see her scurry safely to her wall, which she climbed a little way then rested. She ignored 2 passing cars and 3 wandering Hadedas during her near-hour mission.
Inspected the site the next morning (after gentle overnight rain) - hoping to find a discarded egg - and was amazed to see how undisturbed the soil appeared. No, I didn't probe for eggs!

Heleophryne orientalis -
Eastern Ghost Frog. From Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, Western Cape. https://www.tyroneping.co.za/amphibians-of-southern-africa/heleophryne-orientalis-eastern-ghost-frog/

With Oliver Angus.

See her swinging her bolas: https://youtu.be/DKMrKwTNV5k

Some more wonderful photos of this lady by photographers much better then moi. She is quite a celebrity!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/101951926508391/permalink/4394361263934081/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/101951926508391/permalink/4397220953648112/