Public Holiday recap

Posted on

It’s Freedom Day today, giving a nod to 32 South African years since the first democratic elections back in 1994. There are many, many things that you can argue could have been done differently in the intervening period, but so as to be able to celebrate the good bits therein, we get the day off.

So how did we spend it?

Well, after gym (which wouldn’t have been quite so high on my agenda had I known what was coming), there was a walk on the mountain, enjoying the waterfalls:

…and overlooking the leafy green suburbs of Newlands and Fernwood.

Before dropping down into Kirstenbosch Gardens (mid right of the photo above) where we found a Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa):

And then an afternoon at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, where we saw a Betway sponsored horse win a race underwritten by LuckyFish Betting.

We’re all good. It’s not a problem. (It really is a problem.)

That said, if you have things under control and you set your limits and stick to them, you can still have fun and come out richer than when you went in. Which I did, and which was nice.

A real pot of gold at the end of that rainbow then, mostly likely guarded by a leper or a unicorn*.

Pretty good way to spend a pretty good South African day.

.

* you had to be there.

Beware of Bottlenose Dolphins

Posted on

Spotted on a Facebook post earlier today: this beautiful image of two Bottlenose Dolphins (either Tursiops aduncus or Tursiops truncatus – it’s complicated) in the waters off the South coast of the Western Cape. The ‘tog call it Yin and Yang, and yeah, fair enough, you can see why.

Close enough.

But the photo isn’t the reason I’m sharing this. It’s… it’s that weirdly specific comment by Viola Inches (r/toastnames, btw) that made me want to blog it.

What?

Bottle nose dolphins are very friendly however don’t be fooled because they can turn on you like Roman Emperor Son that turned on His own father.

What?!!?

I’m no expert on Roman history (my knowledge of this period is almost entirely garnered from to watching Monty Python’s Life of Brian in the mid-1980s), and so I don’t know the particular emperor father and son combo to which Viola is referring. I guess that sort of thing was probably amongst the many risks you took as part of the hierarchy back in those turbulent, classical times.

But whoever it might be (or even if it’s just completely made up – but then, why would you?), I’m going to be very, very careful next time I encounter a Bottlenose Dolphin.

How embarrassing would it be if one of them turned on me like Roman Emperor Son that turned on His own father, after I’d read this comment?

No. Safety first.

Quick Skink

Posted on

After a visit to UCT this morning for an informative wander around their open day, with United playing at 4, and a dinner out at 7, I’m quickly putting something here.

And the thing is (probably) my favourite local lizard, a Cape Skink (Trachylepis capensis). They’re just such gentle, friendly, inquisitive creatures.

This one was at Kirstenbosch, not one of our back garden family. But equally friendly.

Anyway, footie calls.

More tomorrow.

Let’s go to Kirstenbosch (on Flying Ant Day)

Posted on

I dunno. I feel like Let’s Go To Kirstenbosch (On Flying Ant Day) should be a song title. Something Britpoppy – maybe Ocean Colour Scene or Supergrass. Just an album track or a B-side, though. You’re never going to hit the heights with that sort of title. But true fans will love it.

But anyway. I digress. Often.

Flying Ant Day is an informal term for the Nuptial Flight:

“Flying ant day” in South Africa usually occurs during warm, humid days, often in late spring or summer, following heavy rain. These swarms, often termed rain ants, are largely winged termites (alate termites) emerging to mate and establish new colonies.

Warm day? Check – a balmy 25oC.
Following heavy rain? Er… yes.

Today was the day.

I’m not good at estimating numbers, but I’d say that there was as many as twelve or fourteen of the little buggers hovering about and bonking. Because that’s what they do.

Literally clouds of bonking insects.

The low sun made visualising them fairly easy, but it’s worth remembering that even when you couldn’t see them: they were still there, still bonking.

Of course I didn’t just take photos of flying ants – a challenge though it was with only a 150-600mm lens – but those pics can be saved for another blog post (or posted on Instagram) (or both).

Maybe there was even space for a dreamy abstract image as the sun dipped behind the mountain:

Apparently yes, there was. All still at it in the evening sunshine.

A fascinating phenomenon, and really quite incredible to witness. Still, not something I’d advise if you have any sort of phobia or if you struggle with breathing. I’ll definitely take a mask next time.