Nature SA

Worcester Botanical Garden

2011-11-07T15:26:00.002+02:00

Aloe dichotoma

Part of the Richtersveld collection at the garden

Photo: Winfried Loffler Taken: 6th of November 2011

Aloe ramosissima

Part of the Richtersveld collection at the garden

Photo: Winfried Loffler Taken: 6th of November 2011

Autumn Equinox 21st of March 2011

2011-03-22T09:37:00.000+02:00

The Lighthouse at Cape Agulhas

2010-12-01T09:44:00.000+02:00

Arniston Beach in late November 2010

2010-11-09T13:43:00.005+02:00

Swift Tern (sterna bergii) on the East Coast in May 2009

2010-04-16T18:27:00.014+02:00

Swift Tern (sterna bergii)

2010-04-16T17:48:00.000+02:00

Went to the Lourens River Estuary in Strand this afternoon to look for Common Terns, that usually assemble there this time of the year, before departing for the northern hemisphere. None were to be seen, but instead there were hundreds of Swift Terns (sterna bergii). They are not very common birds in the Western Cape, so the numbers were an unusual sight. They do not migrate like the Common Tern, but only move up the East Coast of South Africa during the non-breeding season. If you live in the Cape Town area, you should go and see them. In these numbers they are usually only found on Robben Island.

World Migratory Bird Day 2010

2010-03-25T08:18:00.001+02:00

Spring Equinox 20th March 2010

2010-03-21T08:19:00.003+02:00

Nature-SA Wallpapers-Chobe Elephants-Botswana

2010-03-09T18:58:00.003+02:00

Nature-SA Wallpapers-Off the Coast of Swakopmund-Namibia

2010-03-09T18:53:00.004+02:00

Nature-SA Wallpapers-Moremi Game Reserve-Botswana

2010-03-09T18:45:00.004+02:00

Last call for input and updates for the 2010 IUCN Red List

2010-01-29T08:44:00.003+02:00

BirdLife International seeking input and updates for the 2010 IUCN Red List.
BirdLife International invites you to participate in an online consultation process to discuss possible changes to the global threat status of species in your region or taxonomic specialist group. The key points are as follows:
* To read and contribute to discussions on the species under review, visit the forum at www.birdlifeforums.org
* Click each link to view a short topic on each species, giving the rationale for the status review and a request for information.
* Make your contribution through the forum by typing it in the box below the topic, and then clicking "post my message". Posts are then added subsequently by forum moderators (therefore there may be a delay before your posting appears on the site). All contributions that are used will be explicitly acknowledged in the species accounts that will appear on the BirdLife and IUCN websites, and in future publications.
* The initial deadline for contributions is 14 February 2009, when we will assess the contributions made and post up a draft list of preliminary decisions. You will then have two more weeks to comment further. Final decisions will be made and posted up on28 February. The results will be fed into the 2010 IUCN Red List.
* To maximise feedback, please distribute this message as quickly and widely as possible to relevant people within your networks.
* If you would like to propose additional category changes please post a comment on the relevant
Suggestions for new topics forum, or email andy.symes@...
* For more general information about the GTB Update, visit http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/gtb_forums.html.
For your information, discussion topics relating to species found in Africa are:
African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus): uplist to Endangered
Alaotra Grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus): list this species as Extinct?
Black Crowned-crane (Balearica pavonina): uplist to Vulnerable?
Corncrake (Crex crex): downlist to Least Concern?
Fischer's Turaco (Tauraco fischeri): information requested.
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga): information requested.
Ludwig's Bustard (Neotis ludwigii): uplist to Endangered?
Madagascar Grebe (Tachybaptus pelzelnii): uplist to Endangered?
Madagascar Snipe (Gallinago macrodactyla): new information requested?
Mayotte Drongo (Dicrurus waldenii): downlist to Vulnerable?
Rufous Fishing-owl (Scotopelia ussheri): downlist to Vulnerable?
Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug): how to interpret new population estimates?
Southern Ground-hornbill (Bucorvus cafer): information requested to reassess this species global status:
Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis): information requested.
Swierstra's Francolin (Francolinus swierstrai): information needed.
The revision to Nesospiza taxonomy requires a reassessment of their conservation status.
Thank you very much in advance for your cooperation. We look forward to receiving your contributions via the web forumbefore 14 February 2010.
For further information, contact Andy Symes, Global Species Programme Officer, BirdLife International

Position at BirdLife South Africa: Oppenheimer Fellow of Conservation

2010-01-23T16:33:00.001+02:00

Dear bird-watchers and ornithologists

We have a vacancy for the position of Manager of the Conservation
Division (Oppenheimer Fellow of Conservation) at BirdLife South
Africa. The advert can be seen at:
http://www.birdlife.org.za/page/5999/vacancies (closing date for
applications is 15 February 2010).

This is an exciting position, and the appointed person will have a
critical role to play in contributing to BirdLife South Africa's goals
and objectives, and thus ultimately to the conservation of our
country's birds.

Please distribute this message to any people who have the relevant
qualifications and experience and who might be interested in applying.
Also please forward to other listservers.

Many thanks,
Mark
--
Mark D. Anderson
Executive Director: BirdLife South Africa
P. O. Box 515, Randburg 2125
South Africa
Tel: +27(0)11-7891122 (work)
Tel: +27(0)53-8420883 (home)
Mobile: +27(0)82-7880961
E-mail: director@...
E-mail: torgos.t@...
Website: www.birdlife.org.za

What can individuals do??

2010-01-17T09:25:00.002+02:00

--- In ClimateConcern@yahoogroups.com, "Thecanadianone" <rmayhew@...> wrote:
The question on a lot of folks' mind seems to be: what can i do as an individual (or a family) to aid the cause of preventing climate-related problems? Well, there are a LOT of very good answers to this, which to my mind include the salient elements of the "recycling motto": Reduce, re-use, recycle and most important of all Rethink - rethink the basic way we as individuals and communities of all sorts tackle life and life-styles in both general and specific ways..... for starters, do we really need the bulk of the mountains of consumer goods which most folks so thoughtlessly and heedlessly consume? Anyway, before i start a diatribe or a lecture, here are a few thing i found on one of the many good websites which deal with specifics:
http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/activities/art19630.html
Think climate change is too big of a problem to solve? Think again. Small changes in our everyday lives can make a big difference. Just ask Patrick Gonzalez, a Nature Conservancy climate scientist who sits on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the scientific body assessing global climate change.
As someone close to what climate change will do to our planet, Patrick has made energy conservation a permanent part of his lifestyle. He and his wife have given up their cars and run all of their errands using public transportation. Patrick's desk is always bare because he saves paper by reading almost everything online, rarely printing out documents.
"Climate change threatens natural communities and human well-being," Patrick said. "Each person can make a difference because one small positive act multiplied millions of times produces immense benefits."
We can all lower our carbon emissions by following Patrick's top energy and climate-saving tips.
Easy Things You Can Do To Help Our Climate:
TIP: Travel light. Walk or bike instead of driving a car. Cars and trucks run on fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In the United States, automobiles produce over 20 percent of total carbon emissions. Walk or bike and you?ll save one pound of carbon for every mile you travel.
TIP: Teleconference instead of flying. For office meetings, if you can telephone or videoconference, you will save time, money, and carbon emissions. Airplanes pump carbon emissions high into the atmosphere, producing 12 percent of transportation sector emissions.
TIP: See the light. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. These energy-efficient bulbs help fight climate change because they reduce the amount of fossil fuels that utilities burn. You will save 100 pounds of carbon for each incandescent bulb that you replace with a compact fluorescent, over the life of the bulb.
TIP: Recycle and use recycled products. Products made from recycled paper, glass, metal and plastic reduce carbon emissions because they use less energy to manufacture than products made from completely new materials. For instance, you?ll save two pounds of carbon for every 20 glass bottles that you recycle. Recycling paper also saves trees and lets them continue to reduce climate change naturally as they remain in the forest, where they remove carbon from the atmosphere.
TIP: Inflate your tires [and do everything else you can, to make sure your vehicle is running efficiently - then use it/them as little as you possibly can!!!]. If you own a car, it will get better gas mileage when the tires are fully inflated, so it will burn less gas and emit less carbon. Check your automobile monthly to ensure that the tires are fully inflated. Follow this tip and save 300 pounds of carbon dioxide for every 10,000 miles you drive.
TIP: Plant native trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and use it as their energy source, producing oxygen for us to breathe. A tree in the temperate zone found between the tropics and the polar circles can remove and store 700 to 7,000 pounds of carbon over its lifetime. A tree that shades a house can reduce the energy required to run the air conditioner and save an additional 200 to 2,000 pounds of carbon over its lifetime.
TIP: Turn down the heat - or the AC!! Heating and air conditioning draw more than half of the energy that a home uses in the United States. Turn down the heat or air conditioning when you leave the house or go to bed. You can easily install a programmable thermostat that can save up money and carbon.
TIP: Buy renewable energy. Electricity generation produces 40 percent of carbon emissions from the United States. A growing number of utilities generate electricity from renewable energy sources with solar panels, windmills and other technologies. If your utility offers renewable energy, buy it. If not, send them a message asking for clean energy.
TIP: Act globally, eat locally. If you shop at a supermarket, the food you buy may travel in a plane from the other side of the world, burning fossil fuels the entire trip. Shop at a local farmers markets and you will find fresh and healthy food, and help save our climate.

ABC website - Update of Country Checklists

2010-01-17T09:15:00.002+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, "John Caddick" <John.Caddick@...> wrote:
A new version of the country checklists has been launched on the African Bird Club website at
http://www.africanbirdclub.org/countries/checklists/index.html.
The database which supports the checklists has about 1,300 new and revised records. Many countries will have some modifications but the following countries have a significant number of changes: Comoros Islands; Congo (Brazzaville); Democratic Republic of Congo; Eritrea; Ethiopia and Libya.
A new status of SAT has been introduced to include records of satellite
tracked birds.
The following publications and documents have been used for this version:
ABC Bulletins up to and including 16(1); ABC Checklist May 2009; Birds of the Comores; Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea; Bulletin of the British
Ornithological Club up to and including 2006; Malimbus up to and including 31(1); Scopus up to and including 25. In addition, we would like to thank numerous correspondents for their personal communications with suggestions for new and revised records.
The country checklists continue to be a well used part of the ABC website with over 10,000 downloads to date.
Please contact us if you spot any errors or omissions in any of the
checklists and we will endeavour to correct these in the next version.
Phil Atkinson and John Caddick
African Bird Club

The Weather

2010-01-09T19:50:00.000+02:00

The shot in the previous post was taken on Saturday the 9th of January 2010 at 14.00 Central African Time.

Courtesy University of Dundee, Scotland

The weather in the Western Cape was warm today, reaching 34 degrees Celsius in Somerset West. The fires in the Overberg area are under control now.

The Weather in Southern Africa

2010-01-09T19:40:00.002+02:00

African rarities now available on twitter, RSS and email subscription

2009-12-29T08:17:00.001+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, Doug Newman <doug_newman@...> wrote:

HI all.

If any of you want to make use of this, there is now a dedicated rare
birds section for each continent and that obvoiusly includes Africa.
By simply posting in the section on the forum your post automatically
goes to Twitter, any subscribed RSS feeds and forms part of a daily
automated email for the entire continent.

In addition if you simply want to keep track of this section you can
do so by
1) Following it on twitter
2) Adding it as one of your subscribed news feeds if you are using an
RSS reader
3) Simply click on the email link for that forum and you will
instantly get daily rare bird summary emails for the entire continent.

Feel free to make use of it... It is free... Hope to see some
contributions soon.... Also if anyone has RSS feeds for rarities on
any of their websites and would like to reach a wider audience, let us
know and we can arrange to stream it into the africa section with ZERO
extra work on your part... It just comes in and goes out to a bigger
audience with no extra time what so ever (provided you are using RSS)

http://www.simplybirding.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=169

Regards,
Doug Newman

Birding made simple

http://www.simplybirding.com
+27 82 853 2804

Regards,
Doug Newman

--- End forwarded message ---

Ostrich with Chicks

2009-12-03T22:20:00.001+02:00

Springbok seeking Shade

2009-12-03T22:15:00.000+02:00

Blue Wildebeest at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

2009-12-02T23:10:00.000+02:00

Birds seen at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

2009-12-02T22:58:00.001+02:00

1 Hadeda Ibis
2 Reed Cormorant
3 Eurasian Hobby
4 Lanner Falcon
5 Black Kite
6 White-backed Vulture
7 Black-chested Snake-Eagle
8 Gabar Goshawk
9 Tawny Eagle
10 Martial Eagle
11 Secretarybird
12 Ludwig's Bustard
13 Kori Bustard
14 White-quilled/Northern Black Bustard
15 Spotted Thick-knee
16 Crowned Lapwing
17 Namaqua Sandgrouse
18 Speckled Pigeon
19 Laughing Dove
20 Cape Turtle-Dove
21 Namaqua Dove
22 Didric Cuckoo
23 Common Swift
24 Little Swift
25 White-backed Mousebird
26 European Roller
27 Lilac-breasted Roller
28 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
29 African Hoopoe
30 Common Scimitarbill
31 Golden-tailed Woodpecker
32 Pririt Batis
33 Brubru
34 Brown-crowned Tchagra
35 Crimson-breasted Shrike
36 Bokmakierie
37 Common Fiscal
38 Fork-tailed Drongo
39 Cape/Black Crow
40 Barn Swallow
41 African Rock Martin
42 Spike-heeled Lark
43 Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark
44 Black-chested Prinia
45 Karoo Prinia
46 Rufous-eared Warbler
47 African Red-eyed Bulbul
48 Orange River White-eye
49 Cape Glossy Starling
50 Karoo Thrush
51 Marico Flycatcher
52 Cape Robin-Chat
53 Kalahari Scrub-Robin
54 Tractrac Chat
55 Familiar Chat
56 Ant-eating Chat
57 Dusky Sunbird
58 Scaly-feathered Finch
59 White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
60 Sociable Weaver
61 House Sparrow
62 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
63 Southern Masked-Weaver
64 Red-headed Finch
65 Green-winged Pytilia
66 Yellow Canary

Date: 24th of November 2009
Specific areas were birds were observed: Twee Rivieren, Kiele Krankie, Mata Mata, Nossob River Bed

Giraffes stage comeback in Niger (BBC)

2009-11-09T21:57:00.002+02:00

Click link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8349712.stm

Birdwatching in the Helderberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West

2009-10-25T10:35:00.000+02:00

1.	Helmeted Guineafowl
2.	Cape Spurfowl
3.	Egyptian Goose
4.	Little Grebe
5.	Hadeda Ibis
6.	Verreauxs' Eagle
7.	Red-knobbed Coot
8.	Cape Turtle-Dove
9.	African Black Swift
10.	White-rumped Swift
11.	Cape Batis
12.	Bokmakierie
13.	Karoo Prinia
14.	Bar-throated Apalis
15.	Cape Bulbul
16.	Cape Grassbird
17.	Cape White-eye
18.	Olive Thrush
19.	Fiscal Flycatcher
20.	Cape Robin-Chat
21.	Orange-breasted Sunbird
22.	Cape Sugarbird
23.	Cape Sparrow
24.	Cape Weaver
25.	Yellow Bishop
26.	Brimstone Canary Date: 23rd of October 2009 Time: 10.00 - 12.00

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

2009-10-19T13:01:00.003+02:00

I will be visiting the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park towards the end of November 2009 and will give a full account of fauna and flora seen, when I get back.

Bird Watching in Somerset West

2009-10-17T16:52:00.001+02:00

Birds observed in Somerset West (Centre of Town) October 2009

Smaller birds were displaying, larger birds flying over.

1. Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris

2. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

3. Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash

4. African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus

5. Little Egret Egretta garzetta

6. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

7. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala

8. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

9. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius

10. African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer

11. African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus

12. African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro

13. Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus

14. Verreauxs' Eagle Aquila verreauxii

15. Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus

16. Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus

17. Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea

18. Laughing Dove Streptopelia (Stigmatopelia) senegalensis

19. Cape Turtle-Dove Streptopelia capicola

20. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata

21. Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas

22. African Black Swift Apus barbatus

23. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer

24. White-backed Mousebird Colius colius

25. Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus

26. Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus

27. Cape Batis Batis capensis

28. Common Fiscal Lanius collaris

29. African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis

30. Pied Crow Corvus albus

31. White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis

32. Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo (Cercropis) cucullata

33. Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne holomelaena

34. Karoo Prinia Prinia maculosa

35. Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis

36. Cape White-eye Zosterops virens (capensis)

37. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio

38. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris

39. Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus

40. Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens

41. Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra

42. Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris (Nectarinia) chalybeus

43. House Sparrow Passer domesticus

44. Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus

45. Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis

46. Southern Masked-Weaver Ploceus velatus

47. Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix

48. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild

49. Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis

Fwd: Soutpansberg and Venda Birding Report

2009-10-17T11:42:00.003+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, Samson wrote:
Dear All.
It was on Saturday 03 October 2009 when I took out one of my client from Gauteng Province by the name of Michael Johnson and and wife to Entabeni Forest and Muirhead Dams for half day.
At Entabeni Forest we saw some special birds amongst others Orange Ground Thrush
Bat Hawk(a pair)
Grey Headed Parrot
Narina Trogon
Jackal Buzzard
Burchell's Coucal
African Goshawk
Swee Waxbill
Cape Grassbird
African Firefinch.
At Muirhead Dams we went there to look for Blue Spotted Wood Dove at
one of the most reliable places for this species.Luck was not on our
side for the Dove and it turn out when we stopped to one of my
favourable patch when Michael said he saw something like a Dove and
might be a Lemon Dove.Guess what It was a pair of Buff Spotted
Fluftail that my clients had a nice view of them.Other birds we saw
include
Lizard Buzzard
Long Crested Eagle
Olive Woodpecker
Southern Boubou
Blue Mantled Crested Flycatcher
Emerald Spotted Wood Dove
Thick Billed Weaver
Cape Weaver
Golden Weaver
Common Moorhen
African Olive Pigeon
Black Saw-Wing
White Throated Robin Chat.
Purple Crested Turaco
Regards,
--
Samson Mulaudzi
Cell:083 662 9960
Tel:015 556 3406
Site Birdguide for Central Soutpansberg and Venda area:
Hanglip Forest
Entabeni Forest
Roodewal Forest
Muirhead Dams
Some of the Special Birds I can show you:
African Broadbill
African Finfoot
Lesser Jacana
African Pygmy Goose
Bat Hawk
Allen's Gallinule
White Backed Duck
Dark Capped Yellow Warbler
Mottled Spinetail
Orange Ground Thrush
Grey Headed Parrot
Half Collared Kingfisher
African Hobby
European Hobby
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Pink Throated Twinspot
White-Backed Night Heron
Eastern Nicator
White Starred Robin
Gorgeous Bushshrike
Narina Trogon
Scaly-Throated Honeyguide
Forest Buzzard
Crested Guineafowl
African Crowned Eagle
Verreaux's Eagle
Discover the birds of Soutpansberg.
BIRDING WITH SAMSON!
Im also available to guide birders through VENDA 4X4 TRAIL.
Registered SABAP BIRP Observer No:11136

Tecoma stans

2009-10-13T19:25:00.000+02:00

Tecoma stans (Yellow Trumpetbush) is an attractive plant that is cultivated as an ornamental. It can by found throughout the tropical Americas. It has been introduced to countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific, where it has become a problem plant. It is a declared weed in South Africa and should be removed from gardens. The honey produced from Tecoma stans nectar is poisonous.

This picture taken in Somerset West, Western Cape on the 13th of October 2009

Southern Africa Satellite Picture-13th of October 2009

2009-10-13T10:48:00.000+02:00

At 7.00 Central African Time

Southern Africa Satellite Picture-6th of October 2009

2009-10-06T15:51:00.000+02:00

Taken at 14.00 Central African Time

Tropaeolum majus

2009-10-02T18:30:00.001+02:00

Tropaeolum majus

This pretty annual from the Americas has become quite invasive and can now be found along the Eerste Rivier and the Lourens Rivier in the Helderberg region.

New Yahoo Group on Global Warming

2009-09-26T17:05:00.001+02:00

--- In ClimateConcern@yahoogroups.com, "William" wrote:

This is to introduce, and invite you to join, a new group on Yahoo
dedicated to environmental concerns. The group is "Climate, Environment,
and Society" (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Climate-Environment-Society/
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Climate-Environment-Society/> ) and is
open to those with an interest in, and concern for, the science behind
environmental problems caused by human influences on the environment,
especially global warming. We will also discuss measures to be taken to solve these problems, reduce human influences on the Earth, encourage and attain a sustainable human presence on the planet, and explore social implications of these actions.

We hope to achieve a balance between scientific accuracy and interesting and informative material of value to those not active in the sciences.

The group will be moderated, but posts will be available to the public.

International Ornithological Congress - Brazil - August 2010

2009-09-25T22:07:00.001+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, "keith_betton" wrote:

Details of next year's conference are here:
http://www.acquaviva.com.br/ioc2010

Included is the opportunity to register interest in presenting a paper.

Keith

What's in bloom in the Cape?

2009-09-21T18:53:00.000+02:00

Carpobrotus mellei

Lachenalia pustulata

Lampranthus amoenus

Satyrium odorum

Sparaxis grandiflora

Pictures taken on the 20th of September 2009 in Somerset West

Tanzaniabirdnet blogged!

2009-09-18T16:00:00.001+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, Stein Nilsen <stenills@...> wrote:

Dear Africanbirders,
we try to reach as many as possible, and now all the Tanzania-related (and often the whole of East-Africa) discussions are now available as a blog. See the latest development in using GIS as a superb tool for determining range of species! Bring your GPS with you when birding!! http://tzbirdatlas.blogspot.com/
Please comment directly in the blog!

As ever, all the distribution maps are available at http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com/maps
and if you wonder where to go birding use our Google-Earth GRID. http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com/google-earth-grid-and-ibas

More than 300 maps made by Neil&Liz Baker are now available at tanzaniabirdatlas.com
Yours Stein Nilsen (Administrator)

Stein ï¿½. Nilsen
Straumsveien 2081
N-9106 Straumsbukta
Norway
Tlf: +47 47334524
http://www.tromsofoto.net
http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com
http://birdlife-troms.no
http://useitmedia.com

German Green Innovation to Lead at the 2009 IAA Frankfurt Auto Show

2009-09-13T23:04:00.002+02:00

--- In ClimateConcern@yahoogroups.com, "smithgordon46" <smithgordon46@...> wrote:
753 exhibitors from 30 countries will be represented at the world's most important trade fair for mobility, including 62 vehicle manufacturers. The 82 world premieres will provide the visitors with a glittering display of innovations. In particular the models from the German OEMs, whose 42 world premieres make up the lion's share of the innovations, will show the way forward for future growth and a high level of environmental compatibility
http://www.greencarmagazine.net/

Birding in Rwanda: Ruhengeri (Musanze) - Kigali Road

2009-09-13T18:48:00.001+02:00

Birding in Rwanda: Ruhengeri (Musanze) - Kigali Road

Buhanga Forest

2009-09-13T18:46:00.001+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, "Marcell Claassen" <marcell@...> wrote:

Hi all

This morning was spent in Buhanga Forest, the relic forest on the outskirts
of Musanze (Ruhengeri). With pleasant overcast conditions and overnight rain
the birding promised to be good.

One of the most numerous species in addition to the Common Bulbul was the
Yellow White-eye, one ficus tree alone had over 20 birds in foraging along
the branches. Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Tropical Boubou and Grey-capped
Warbler were calling everywhere with the latter two even offering some good
views at times.

Blue-headed and Green-headed Sunbirds were all present plus a female Bronze
Sunbird busy building a nest, the male was nearby. Another good sighting was
Hooded Vultures at a nest in a ficus tree with a chick in the nest. Also a
good view of female Red-headed Bluebill (my 1st record for Buhanga of this
species).

Maybe somebody can help with this, we came across a Greenbul which we ID as
Shelley's/Kakamega Greenbul - as it came into clear view we saw the pink/red
legs which was quite obvious against the plumage and forest background.
Unfortunately we got no photos and the bird was silent as well. Any ideas or
suggestions?

Species for the morning (in random order);

Yellow-throated Greenbul (4)
Mackinnon's Shrike (3)
Scaly-throated Honeyguide (Calling)
Yellow-breasted Apalis (3)
Grey-capped Warbler (c.8 seen)
Tropical Boubou (1 seen, more calling)
Blue-headed Sunbird (4)
Green-headed Sunbird (2)
Bronze Sunbird (3)
Spot-flanked Barbet (calling)
Black Saw-wing (2)
Speckled Mousebird (c.10)
Arrow-marked Babblers (3, more were calling)
Blue-headed Coucal (at least 2 calling)
Brown-crowned Tchagra (1 - displaying)
Yellow-fronted Canary (c. 5)
Hadada Ibis (2)
Yellow White-eyes (20+)
African Thrush (2)
Violet-backed starling (1)
Hooded Vulture (2 + 1x chick)
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher (2)
Grey Woodpecker (1)
Black Kite (2)
Red-eyed Dove (1)
Grey-backed Camaroptera (3 plus more calling)
White-browed Robin-chat (1)
Red-capped Robin-chat (1)

All the best
Marcell

Marcell Claassen

Elegant Africa Ltd
Mob: +250 (0) 78867 1572
Mob: +44 (0) 778 3030 471
E-mail: marcell@...
Blog: http://rwandabirdingguide.blogspot.com/
Rwanda Bird Atlas: RwandaBirdAtlas@...

Facebook page

2009-09-09T19:22:00.001+02:00

--- In Haworthia@yahoogroups.com, "plicatilis" <plicatilis@...> wrote:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96593673067

Hi all, we have started a Aloe collectors facebook page. Feel free to join and ad some photos of haworthia and gasteria (they are aloaceae !)

Visit to Tini Versveld Reserve 5th of September 2009

2009-09-09T10:30:00.000+02:00

Romulea tabularis

Lachenalia pallida

Wachendorfia parviflora

Drosera cistiflora

Moraea tripetala

Ornithogalum thyrsoides

West Coast National Park, South Africa

2009-09-08T21:27:00.000+02:00

Arctotis hirsuta

Gladiolus speciosus

Spring Flowers Postberg Area

Dorotheanthus bellidiformis

Tsaarsbank

Schaapen Island

Pictures taken on Saturday the 5th of September 2009
The West Coast National Park was established in 1985. It protects the Langebaan Lagoon, the landscapes surrounding it and the islands in Saldanha Bay. The size of the Park is 32.000 ha.

Madagascar Pochard

2009-09-01T23:06:00.000+02:00

Male Madagascar Pochard (Aythya innotata)

Photo by Lily-Arison Rene de Roland

Biologists for The Peregrine Fund recently discovered the Madagascar Pochard (Aythya innotata), a medium-sized diving duck that was considered extinct by many authorities until this current sighting.

Sitting on a couple of small lakes some 300 km north of Antananarivo sits fewer than 20 Madagascar pochard. Although once part of an extensive wetland system throughout the central plateau these are now the last remaining unmarred high elevation volcanic lakes of their kind.
Having such a small population, means that even if the number of ducks remains stable, it is incredibly vulnerable to any random event, like a storm, that might wipe them out. Getting this species back to relatively safe numbers is a major priority and it was decided that an in situ captive breeding programme to build up numbers for release onto other lakes was the best way to go. This would be coupled with protection and study of the species in its remaining habitat. A partnership was formed between ourselves, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), The Peregrine Fund (TPF) and Ministry of L’Environement et Forêts (E & F). Each organisation brings complementary and invaluable expertise to the partnership.

See the DODO Blog of the Durrell Conservation Trust

http://blog.durrell.org/index.cfm/2009/8/22/In-search-of-the-Madagascar-pochard-the-worlds-rarest-duck--Part-1

Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining

2009-08-28T18:30:00.001+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, Jeremy Taylor <jeremyjtaylor@...> wrote:

Lake Natron faces renewed threat from soda-ash mining

26-08-2009

BirdLife has learnt that a Tanzanian Government Agency is seeking to buy mining equipment for large-scale soda ash extraction from Lake Natron the most important breeding site for Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor [Near Threatened] in the world. This is worrying indeed, said Lota Melamari - the CEO of Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST-BirdLife in Tanzania).

An advert for the supply of mining equipment, and a recent announcement of the expansion of the railway and building of new port at Tanga to handle soda ash all point to deliberate efforts to keep alive the intention of mining Lake Natron's soda ash", added Lota Melamari.

Full story at http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2009/08/think_pink.html

The Global Health Atlas !

2009-08-18T23:00:00.001+02:00

--- In ClimateConcern@yahoogroups.com, "Shaan W." wrote:

Greetings to you all,

In a single electronic platform, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Communicable Disease Global Atlas is bringing together for analysis and comparison standardized data and statistics for infectious diseases at country, regional, and global levels. The analysis and interpretation of data are further supported through information on demography, socioeconomic conditions, and environmental factors. In so doing, the Atlas specifically acknowledges the broad range of determinants that influence patterns of infectious disease transmission.

This allows users to browse, view, query, search the contents of the WHO's Communicable Disease global database and output data in reports, charts and maps.

Visit below for full details:
http://free-gis-data.blogspot.com/2009/04/global-health-atlas.html

Thanks for your time!

Sincerely,
The Publisher,
http://free-gis-data.blogspot.com/

Note: This site will be updated with more and more free GIS/RS stuff daily, so please keep visiting in future!

Fwd: Soutpansberg Birding with Samson Mulaudzi

2009-08-18T22:54:00.002+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, Samson Mulaudzi wrote:
Hi All.

This time was with two Australian's dedicated birders who hired me
once again to explore Albasini,Entabeni,Roodewal and Hanglip Forests
in the Soutpansberg region in the northern part of South Africa.
It was on the 15th and 16th of August although we started late I
finally met my clients at Shiluvari Lakeside Lodge in Albasini.
We set off for our birding spots and our first birding site was
Albasini Dam.The highlights here were few raptors we had like:
Jackal Buzzard
Long Crested Eagle
Brown Snake Eagle
African Fish Eagle
Lizard Buzzard and before the roosting female Spotted Eagle Owl we had in the lodge surroundings.
Our next stop was Entabeni Forest which is afro-montane habitat.
The highlight for this site was a pair of roosting Bat Hawk(lifer to Rene) in a stand of Gum trees. I took them to my favourite patch and and amongst other birds we got;
Yellow Streaked Greenbul
Olive Thrush
Lemon Dove
Cape White Eye
Knysna Turaco(heard)
On sunday we went to Roodewal Nature Forest and our highligts were a pair of African Broadbill.
Scaly Throated Honeyguide
Lesser Honey guide
Olive Bushshrike
Orange Breasted Bushshrike and away from the forest I took them to a pair of African Crowned Eagles on the nest in a pine trees and almost all lifers to Marie.
The afternoon finished up with a visit to Hanglip forest also Afro-Montane habitat and my clients were rewarded with the most superb views of Forest Buzzard(lifer to them)
Jackal Buzzard and Verreaux's Eagle.
Thanks and Happy birding with Samson.
Regards,

Samson Mulaudzi
BIRDGUIDE-Shiluvari LODGE
CELL:083 662 9960
TELL:015 556 3406
Email: mulaudzims@...
Web:http://www.shiluvari.com/ or http://www.limpopobirding.com/
Special Birds:
African Broadbill
African Finfoot
Lesser Jacana
African Pygmy Goose
Bat Hawk
Starred Robin
Chorister Robin
Orange Ground Thrush
Knysna Turaco
White-Backed Night Heron
Eastern Nicator
Gorgeous Bushshrike
Narina Trogon
Scaly-Throated Honeyguide
Crested Guineafowl.
Discover the birds of Soutpansberg.
BIRDING WITH SAMSON!

The Secrets of TREESHOP Revealed, South-Africa’s boutique Nursery

2009-07-20T11:17:00.001+02:00

Feed: PRLog.Org ZA Latest 5

Treeshop, a South-African boutique nursery reveals its secrets about its South-African trees.

View article...

Limpopo Province, South Africa

2009-07-17T22:18:00.001+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, Chris Lotz <birdingecotours@...> wrote:

Dear Birders

I have just completed a wonderful 6-day birding trip to some very good lodges in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and below is a brief trip report. Highlights of the trip were Bat Hawk, Short-clawed Lark, Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Cape Parrot and all the other usual suspects we find close to Kurisa Moya, and at Pafuri, Pel's Fishing Owl, another Bat Hawk (both this and the owl at dusk and active, i.e. not roosting) and Three-banded Courser along with the more widespread (in SA) Bronze-winged Courser. Day 1, 8 Oct: I fetched Sture from Johannesburg airport just before 8 am and we headed immediately north. We stopped briefly at Zaagkuilsdrift
Road to find some dry western birds such as KALAHARI SCRUB-ROBIN,
SCALY-FEATHERED FINCH, GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA (MELBA FINCH), NORTHERN
BLACK KORHAAN (heard only), BLACK-CHESTED PRINIA and others. We then continued north to Polokwane, from where we headed to Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge. Here, it is amazing how one can find a rich assemblage of dry western birds and only 20 minutes' drive away then see a fine suite of temperate forest birds. The dry area birds included the likes of SHORT-CLAWED LARK (brilliant views of several individuals on the ground and sitting atop bushes), SABOTA LARK, RED-CAPPED LARK, KALAHARI SCRUB ROBIN, BLACK-CHESTED PRINIA, DESERT CISTICOLA, LAZY CISTICOLA, SCALY-FEATHERED FINCH and AFRICAN QUAILFINCH. Then on the Kurisa Moya property we found forest birds such as YELLOW-STREAKED GREENBUL, NARINA TROGON, GREY CUCKOOSHRIKE, BLUE-MANTLED CRESTED FLYCATCHER, CAPE BATIS, SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO, CHORISTER ROBIN-CHAT, GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA, nesting SWEE WAXBILL and that night a duetting pair of AFRICAN WOOD OWLS (which we saw only briefly as one flew past). David Letsoalo, the brilliant Kurisa Moya birding guide, helped us find many of these species. Day 2, 9 Oct: before light we headed to Woodbush Forest (again with David) and found super birds such as YELLOW-STREAKED GREENBUL (many), BLACK-FRONTED BUSH-SHRIKE, OLIVE BUSH-SHRIKE, CAPE PARROT (a tiny isolated population of this rare bird occurs in Limpopo Province here at Woodbush), KNYSNA TURACO, MOUNTAIN WAGTAIL, RED-BACKED MANNIKIN and BAT HAWK roosting near its nest.

Mid-morning, we proceeded to Kruger's Punda Maria gate, finding nice birds en route, such as STRIPED KINGFISHER (many), GABAR GOSHAWK and SHIKRA. We then entered Kruger and while having a late lunch at Punda Maria Rest Camp we saw four species of sunbirds feeding only metres away from us in the Aloe garden near the camp gate (one of the features of many of Kruger's camps in winter are the blooming aloes with attendant sunbirds and beautiful Impala Lilies). Driving northwards towards Pafuri we found other good birds such as LIZARD BUZZARD, LAPPET-FACED VULTURE, KORI BUSTARD and ASHY FLYCATCHER. After arriving at Pafuri, we found AFRICAN GOSHAWK, TROPICAL BOUBOU, MEVE'S STARLING, YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER, GREY-BACKED CAMAROPTERA and many other birds before the sun set. We spent the night at the superb Pafuri Camp, excitingly situated overlooking the Luvuvhu River.

Day 3, 10 Oct: we left on an early morning drive to look for coursers at their day-time roosts. Johnson, another brilliant birding guide employed by Wilderness Safaris and previously based at Ndumu, knew the whereabouts of these special birds. After a bit of searching, we eventually found a pair of THREE-BANDED COURSERS standing only 4 metres from the vehicle. We also had good views of a few BRONZE-WINGED COURSERS nearby. During the morning drive, we also saw/heard four woodpecker species including BENNETT'S WOODPECKER. A cluster of baobabs yielded excellent views of BOHM'S (BAT-LIKE) SPINE-TAIL and MOSQUE SWALLOW.

A late afternoon drive to Crooke's corner at the confluence of two rivers (the Luvuvhu and Limpopo) and three countries (South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) generated DOUBLE-BANDED SANDGROUSE en route and at Crooke's Corner itself a PEL'S FISHING OWL (which landed on a low branch on a small island in the Limpopo, then swooped up into a larger tree on the bank), a BAT HAWK (or second one for the trip) flying over the Luvuvhu and SQUARE TAILED (MOZAMBIQUE) NIGHTJARS hawking over the Limpopo. On the night drive back to the lodge we saw FIERY-NECKED NIGHTJARS and some nice mammals such as PORCUPINE (poor views though), LESSER BUSHBABY and LARGE-SPOTTED GENET. Back at the camp we had close views of THICK-TAILED BUSHBABY and AFRICAN CIVET.

Day 4, 11 Oct: Chris heard PEL'S FISHING OWL before dawn from Pafuri Camp (the previous morning Sture heard AFRICAN WOOD OWL). After an early breakfast we embarked on the long drive traversing half the length of Kruger, to Phalaborwa Gate. One of the mammal highlights was ROAN ANTELOPE not too far south of Pafuri. Both our mammal and bird lists
were growing steadily with all the usual suspects as well as the odd more special one. Our destination for the night, after a full day of driving, was the well-recommended Toro Yaka Bush Lodge in Balule Game Reserve. Balule is one of the big private reserves bordering on Kruger -
and there are no fences between the two parks. Here at Toro Yaka, a resident AFRICAN BARRED OWLET entertained us day and night (like other Glaucidium owls, these are not just nocturnal but can be active even at midday). LESSER BUSHBABIES provided close views around the bar area at night.

Day 5, 12 Oct: The morning was occupied by an 8 km walk along a stretch of the Olifants River - we took part in the South African Pel's Fishing Owl survey, this section led by Steve Baillies. General birding along the river was excellent, but disturbingly we did not find any Pel's Owls
- even though we thoroughly searched every potential site including two breeding sites from the previous survey. We did find a pair of GIANT EAGLE OWLS, which the fishing owl competes with for roosting/nest sites. We are very worried about the conservation status of Pel's Owl in South Africa. Although not considered globally threatened, in South Africa this bird is under severe threat. Recent surveys along the Luvuvhu and Olifants Rivers indicate that there might potentially have been a marked recent decline in numbers. The entire South African population has been estimated at only 60 pairs - well over half of them in Kruger and adjacent reserves, but these populations might be declining. Historically, Pel's Fishing Owl occurred in the Eastern and even probably in the Western Cape - but it's range has now contracted so it now occurs only from Zululand northwards - and I believe the remaining South African population needs to be watched very carefully (as does the Namibian population; the Okavango of Botswana is a stronghold, but even there its population may be decreasing in some areas).

While doing the owl survey walk, we had excellent views of a GREATER CANE RAT scampering from the river up the bank (it looks like a Rock Hyrax with a long tail). Another highlight was a flock of four HORUS SWIFTS (resident here although a summer visitor over much of the rest of
its South African range) flying around a sandbank also full of WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATERS. LITTLE SPARROWHAWK, PURPLE-CRESTED TURACO, HOODED VULTURE, GREY-HEADED BUSH-SHRIKE, RED-FACED CISTICOLA and many other birds entertained us while we tried in vain to locate owls.

Day 6, 13 Oct: after a second night staying at Toro Yaka in Balule Reserve, we briefly birded Trackers Guest Farm for excellent species such as STIERLING'S WREN WARBLER and CUT-THROAT FINCH (at the feeders). We then looked at the stunning TAITA FALCON on the Abel Erasmus Pass before finally heading straight back to Johannesburg. The total bird
list for the trip was 226 species, plus 29 mammals.

Good birding!

Chris
---
Chris Lotz
BIRDING ECOTOURS
http://www.birdingecotours.co.za
Cell Phone: +27 72 635 1501
---

--- End forwarded message ---

INVASIVE SPECIES MEETING CONCLUSION, ASCENSION ISLAND

2009-07-10T10:39:00.001+02:00

From the St Helena Independent

VOLUME IV, ISSUE 32, 3rd JULY 2009

MEDIA RELEASE – 1 July 2009

On Tuesday 19 May, the EU-funded South Atlantic Invasive Species (SAIS) Project concluded its regional workshop on Ascension Island. The meeting brought together environmental, agricultural, pest control and conservation staff from the South Atlantic UK Overseas Territories, as well as experts in invasive species law and policy from the UK, Europeand New Zealand. This meeting was the first time that such a mixed group of people from the South Atlantic region (dubbed “the Forgotten Islands of the South Atlantic” or the “new Galapagos” by attendees) had come together to discuss regional strategy. Despite having some of the world’s most precious assets in their native plants and animals (e.g. the Ascension Island Pteris fern, St Helena gumwoods, South Georgia pipit, Tristan albatross, and Cobb’s wren), these treasures arelittle known outside the region, and therefore often overlookedwhen assessments of global conservation priorities are made. In addition, as the region has a total population of less than 10,000 people, it is difficult to make the region’s voice heard at international meetings.

During the workshop, participants contributed their suggestions for elements to make up a Regional Strategy for Invasive Species. It is hoped that this document will be useful to draw attention to the serious impacts (to biodiversity, as well as local economies and livelihoods) caused by invasive species in the South Atlantic region, and to access more funding to deal with these impacts in the future.Clare Stringer, RSPB’s South Atlantic Project Manager said the meeting had been a success: “It was wonderful to see people representing all of the South Atlantic UK Overseas Territories discussing what they had in common. There arealready ideas for exchanges of personnel and sharing of experiences and skills throughout the region – this will help build the critical mass that is needed to deal with the invasive species issue, and raise visibility inside and outsidethe region.” A draft Regional Invasive Species Strategy should be available for comment by July, with an official launch expected in November 2009.

For more information – contact Clare Stringer clare.stringer@rspb.org.uk

Andrew Darlow adarlow.sais@cwimail.sh

Brian Summers bsummers.sais@horizon.co.fk

or Brad Robson brad.robson01@googlemail.com

Winter in the Western Cape Province of South Africa

2009-07-04T18:05:00.000+02:00

Jordaaniella dubia

Garden in the winter

Strelitzia reginae

Oxalis pes-caprae

Lachenalia bulbifera in bloom (Somerset West in July 2009)

Haworthias in Cultivation

2009-06-25T12:23:00.001+02:00

Haworthia reticulata (Western Cape)

Haworthis glauca var. herrei (Eastern Cape)

Haworthia cymbiformis var. reddii (Eastern Cape)

Haworthia turgida "Tradouw Pass" (Western Cape)

From a Cape Garden in Somerset West

2009-06-10T19:27:00.000+02:00

Stapelia gigantea in bloom in March 2009 (Origin Natal)

Bulbine lagopus (Origin Western Cape)

Haworthia coarctata (Origin Eastern Cape)

Swift Terns

2009-04-12T18:40:00.001+02:00

--- In AfricanBirding@yahoogroups.com, "bridgecl" <bridgecl@...> wrote:

Since a couple of days appr. 400 Swift Terns can be seen at Strand Beach at the Lourensriver mouth.

Winfried Loffler
Somerset West

--- End forwarded message ---

Agave attenuata

2009-03-29T21:38:00.002+02:00

The agave attenuata is a very common garden plant in South Africa. Whenever one is flowering in the neighbourhood, it normally makes it into the local papers. Its inflorencence is a 3 meter long raceme with hundreds of greenish-yellow flowers, which lasts for many weeks. The stem carrying the inflorescence dies off after flowering. Its commonly known as century plant or lion’s tail.

The plant is native to central Mexico and is reported to be rare in the wild. The first specimens were sent to Kew Botanical Garden in 1834.

THE BROWN WATER IN FALSE BAY

2009-03-28T15:34:00.001+02:00

Articles are being written in the Cape Town press on a regular basis, or whenever the phenomenon occurs. Often a nearby sewage plant is blamed. However, the dirty brown water is perfectly safe. See the article below, which was published in 2006 and which will set the record straight:

THE BROWN WATER IN FALSE BAY

The most popular misconception is that the brown water phenomenon is caused by raw sewage discharged into the sea. Ironically sewage is not brown, it rather resembles the grey colour of waste water from a washing machine. Extensive studies of the patches have however established that the discolouration is caused by the aggregations of ten of thousands and sometimes millions of single celled plants known as diatoms. The organism has been identified as Anaulus Australis. It is unicellular and occurs naturally in the surf zone along sandy beaches.

Anaulus Australis has been monitored by the Scientific Services Department of the City of Cape Town since 1989 on a fortnightly basis along the False Bay coast between St. James Tidal Pool and Mnandi Beach East. There are a total of twelve sample points on which Anaulus counts are done. The highest concentrations are found in the area between Sunrise Beach and Life box 30.Trends based on the median values of all the sample points indicate a drop in the number of cells counted this past year. As can be seen by the accompanying graph, there has been no great variation in the numbers over the past twelve years. Anaulus Australis is not a pathogenic organism and does not pose a health risk to bathers despite the obvious aesthetic aspect of swimming in "dirty" brown water. Apart from the Western and Eastern Cape, sightings have been reported worldwide, including the Mediterranean Sea,

California, North Islands of New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands (CSIR, 1989). Physical and chemical factors, which control surf diatom blooms, have been identified as nutrients, silicon (obtained from freshwater input from adjacent dune fields), currents, temperature and wind. The only way to limit the occurrence of brown water patches would involve an attempt at modification of these natural factors. Research has confirmed that treated sewage effluent discharges into False Bay are not a requirement for the formation of Anaulus patches.

Haworthia Collection

2009-03-20T18:46:00.001+02:00

I am collecting Haworthias and have accumulated some surplus over the years.

Anybody interested, if you live in the Western Cape?

May be I can swap plants with other collectors.
This is what I have to share:

Haworthia attenuata var. attenuata "Committees"

Haworthia attenuata var. attenuata

Haworthia attenuata var. radula

Haworthia retusa forma geraldii

Haworthia reticulata var. reticulata

Haworthia variegata var. petrophila

Haworthia chloracanta var. chloracanta

Haworthia reinwardtii forma chalumnensis

Haworthia reinwardtii forma olivacea

Haworthia cymbiformis var. reddii

Haworthia cooperi var. leightonii

Haworthia glauca var. herreii

Haworthia turgida "Tradouw Pass"

Haworthia magnifica var. magnifica

Haworthia coarctata forma adelaidensis

Haworthia coarctata var. tenuis

Haworthia coarctata var. coarctata

Haworthia cymbiformis var. cymbiformis

Regards

Winfried Loffler

Tern Colony Strand/Macassar

2009-03-12T19:22:00.001+02:00

The tern colony at Strand/Macassar (end of Strand Beach) is very active at present. There must be 15.000 birds, I guess. Looks like they are starting to assemble for the big trek north. Its an awesome sight, especially in the early hours of the evening. If you live in the Western Cape, you have to see it before they leave.

Regards

Winfried Loffler

Somerset West

2009-03-09T10:47:00.000+02:00

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