I finally managed to tick Bee-eater in Europe. Spotted at the salt pans of Kalloni on Lesvos. These two pics were made in South Africa.

White-fronted Bee-eater

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This is a typical old windmill in Kruger National Park. They don’t all have nests of course I think this might be a Hamerkop nest.  Anyway, this windmill pumps water into a drinking trough for animals.

Between 1930 and 1980 about 300 windmills were erected to attract more game into the area. At first [...]]]>

This is a typical old windmill in Kruger National Park. They don’t all have nests of course
I think this might be a Hamerkop nest.  Anyway, this windmill pumps water into a drinking trough for animals.

Between 1930 and 1980 about 300 windmills were erected to attract more game into the area. At first this seemed a good idea, but in the late 1980′s KNP management noticed that animal numbers began to change dramatically. Rare species like the Sable Antelope, Roan and Reedbuck began to decrease.

The park has started to close the waterholes to let nature take its course, although around 50 boreholes will remain open for tourism purposes.

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The trees grow like this because of the wind.

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Too hot, originally uploaded by gwendolen.

Yesterday I went cycling with a group of Flickr members. It was the first warm weekend of the year. We’ve had a very cold spring

We saw this juvenile crow sitting quite near the cycle path. Poor thing probably hadn’t learnt to go and sit higher on the dike, [...]]]>

Too hot, originally uploaded by gwendolen.

Yesterday I went cycling with a group of Flickr members. It was the first warm weekend of the year. We’ve had a very cold spring

We saw this juvenile crow sitting quite near the cycle path. Poor thing probably hadn’t learnt to go and sit higher on the dike, where it is much cooler.

Check

for more cool bird pix around the world

Nylsvley Nature Reserve is part of the Nyl Floodplain. This unique area is a RAMSAR site and is one of South Africa’s prime bird-watching spots. Bird list

When the Nyl River floods the reserve becomes a mini-Okavango swamp. Thousands of water birds including rare species breed in the flooded area. The reserve [...]]]>

Nylsvley April 30, 2008

Nylsvley Nature Reserve is part of the Nyl Floodplain. This unique area is a RAMSAR site and is one of South Africa’s prime bird-watching spots. Bird list

When the Nyl River floods the reserve becomes a mini-Okavango swamp. Thousands of water birds including rare species breed in the flooded area. The reserve also provides safe breeding grounds for the endangered Roan Antelope and Tsessebe.

Many nature reserves and parks are under threat in South Africa. Mining company Coal of Africa Limited (CoAL), a company with Australian connections as well as local South African partners, wishes to develop a large scale coal mining project, situated virtually at the entrance to Mapungubwe National Park World Heritage Site.

Nylsvley Nature Reserve is the  latest conservation area to be targeted by a mining company, the state-owned company African Exploration. Any pollution from this mine will be washed downstream to pollute the reserve.

According to Brendan Ryan, Nylsvley is arguably the most important conservation asset in Limpopo Province outside of the Kruger National Park and it ranks on a par with the Mapungubwe National Park.

This is the ‘rear’ view of platform 1.

Blackbirds were singing their [...]]]> I was in Hoogeveen for a meeting this morning.  I had some extra time on the way back, because I missed my return train. Now, normally train platforms are depressing concrete enviroments, but the platform in Hoogeveen is a very green exception to that rule.

This is the ‘rear’ view of platform 1.

Blackbirds were singing their heart out ….

Bumble bees were a-bumbling …  (out of focus)

And dragonflies were a-dragonning

A very pleasant wait it was.

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It’s almost three years ago that we stayed at Satara rest camp. I think we had a bungalow in the A circle. There was a bird bath in the middle, which is great for lazy bird watching in the camp.

Satara sunsets are famous for their beautiful reds. I really need to get back and make [...]]]>

It’s almost three years ago that we stayed at Satara rest camp. I think we had a bungalow in the A circle. There was a bird bath in the middle, which is great for lazy bird watching in the camp.

Satara sunsets are famous for their beautiful reds. I really need to get back and make a new series. I especially need to get back to get new material for Safari Saturday, a new weekly meme for all things African.