A section of a spider’s web, photographed in mistbelt forest in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Find: Web design”
Usually the Tree Agamas in our garden appear to be peaceful, even in the breeding season. But this week I witnessed a prolonged duelling match that turned quite violent at times between two competing males. Continue reading “The battle of the rival Tree Agamas”
My find this week takes us to the indigenous mistbelt forest patches of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. In this photo, the huge base of a Lemonwood (Xymalos monospora) suggests the size of this impressive old tree. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Find: Survivors in the Mistbelt Forest”
Perhaps because Bladder Grasshoppers are active at night, they are heard rather than seen. The call of the male Bladder Grasshopper, something between a bleat, a shriek and a croak, is alarmingly loud. Continue reading “The grasshopper that shrieks in the night”
Taken in spring last year, these Common River Frogs are making sure of a fecund spring. Common River Frogs are very variable in colour, so I hope that I have identified this pair correctly. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Find: River frogs”
Small flocks of mannikins are frequent garden visitors, arriving in a sudden flurry often accompanied by high-pitched chirping. These are very small birds weighing only 10 g (less than half an ounce). Continue reading “Mannikins: Gregarious seed-eaters gracing the garden”
This little caterpillar has impressively long hair down the entire length of its body. It looks rather as if it has just left the hair salon. Continue reading “Weekly photo find: Long-haired caterpillar”
Among the first spring flowers are the delicately scented lilac-hued blossoms of the shrubby Puzzle bush. Continue reading “The Puzzle Bush: Tough, pretty and nutritious”
A large and beautifully marked Oleander Hawk-moth, photographed on a wall in our garden two years ago. I assume that it laid the small green eggs visible on the wall below it. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Find: Oleander Hawk-moth”
