In our 21 years living here we have identified over 70 species of birds visiting our garden. Now seems a good time to attempt an overview highlighting some our avian visitors, such as the chorister robin-chat (Cossypha dichroa) in the header photo.
Continue reading “Highlighting some of our garden birds“
As praying mantises are so fascinating, here is a roundup of the five species of praying mantises that I have been able to photograph in our garden.
Continue reading “Masters of disguise: Praying mantis roundup”
On mini walking safaris around our suburban garden here in KwaZulu-Natal I often take my camera with me as invariably I find something worth a second look. Here are some pics of a few of our visitors taken during the months of autumn into winter
Continue reading “Suburban wildlife in the autumn-winter garden”
Distinctive cabbage-trees have succulent stems and large compound leaves that characteristically crowd at the end of branches. Endemic to Africa, Yemen and the Comoro Islands, due to their strong architectural form some species are cultivated as garden plants.
Continue reading “Cabbage-trees – a virtual and literal feast in the garden”
From March to July this year we were able to observe several spiny flower mantid nymphs in the basil bush in our herb garden. The basil bush was their home and hunting ground for four months as they developed towards adulthood.
Continue reading “Watching spiny flower mantids grow”
I don’t see tambourine doves in the garden as much as I used to and in any event they are shy and skittish, so the other day when I looked out of the window and saw a tambourine dove foraging on the ground I fetched my camera.
Continue reading “An unusually confiding tambourine dove”
In our dry winters, visiting birds make the most of the birdbaths in our garden. In this winter solstice week I decided to spend time photographing some of our mid-winter avian visitors.
Continue reading “Winter solstice birds in the garden”
The sombre greenbuls that visit our garden all year round are mostly evident from their loud and penetrating contact calls as they forage while concealed in dense vegetation or high up within the tree canopies.
Continue reading “Sombre greenbuls can be loud and splashy too”
While watching a solitary bee feeding on nectar in basil flowers in the herb patch a few weeks ago, I noticed a minute spiny flower mantid nestled down on one of the flower spikes with its spiny abdomen curled up over its back.
Continue reading “Tiny spiny flower mantid nymphs hunting in autumn flowers”
letting nature back in 