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.
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.
A couple of hours in the sun at Kirstenbosch this afternoon, before the upcoming Matthew Mole concert made things loud and busy.
A few lizards and mice around. Plenty of birds, including a rather hungry Cape Sugarbird (Promerops cafer) and some very pretty, very dainty Black Saw-wings (Psalidoprocne pristoptera)
A few kilometres and some very nice fresh air was just what I needed after an unexpectedly boozy evening out last night and a very necessary lie-in this morning.
Now it’s back to real life with some household chores and a bit of FA Cup football.
Glorious day, even for midwinter.
Last minute school trip shopping, a quick wander around Kirstenbosch, spotted (lol – iykyk) this owl (and another one):
…some Grand Prix to try and see friends in the crowd (we didn’t), this guy doing his stuff under the lights (kerching!):
…and then an England Euro final win.
Not bad… Not bad.
This image of a Cape Robin-Chat (Dessonornis caffer) has been sitting in my “photos I might do something with” folder for a little while now. And so I’m going to do something with it.
I’m going to put it on here.
Almost too common visitors to the back gardens over here but rarely photographed (perhaps because they are bread and butter), they can be a bit skittish around humans and a bit aggressive with other birds. Territorial can like to be their middle name.
Great at welcoming in those autumnal mornings with a bit of cheer.