Archive for the ‘Gauteng’ category

« Older Entries

Mouths open for the Openbill

January 4th, 2010

African OpenbillCenturion with its disappearing wetlands and clinging on for dear life little rivers does indeed still have its welcome surprises:

Estie and me went mountain biking today, and on our way back drove past a small patch of water close to Eco Park Estate’s entrance. Here we saw a lost, but equally placid with its new Blacksmith Plover friends, African Openbill Stork.

With its large beak and separated mandibles touching only at the tip, it was doing its little bit to catch frogs which might make it strong and help it get of the IUCN endangered animals list.

We could get quite close to take a picture. This is a first time see for both of us, and we will check up on its welfare every time we cycle here.

1 comment »

Posted in Birding, Gauteng

Tags:

Finding the Nothern Pintail Duck

June 23rd, 2007

Diepsloot Nature Reserve
Near: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
GPS: -25.93688, 27.98807
When: 2007-06-23
Who: Thinus, Martin, Hannelie

Finding the Nothern Pintail DuckThe early morning’s thinnest sliver of light appeared silently. Several billion trillion tons of super hot exploding hydrogen nuclei rose slowly above the horizon and managed to look small, cold and slightly damp. There is a moment in every dawn when light floats, when there is the possibility of magic. Creation holds its breath… » Read more: Finding the Nothern Pintail Duck

No comments »

Posted in Birding, Gauteng

Tags:

Marsh Owl in Centurion

May 23rd, 2007

Eco Park Estate
Near: Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
GPS: -25.87323, 28.18467
When: 2007-05-23
Who: Thinus

Marsh Owl in Centurion This saga unfolds on one of my more frequent ‘outings’. See, Tuesdays and Thursdays are “lets see if we can fit 3 days into one” days at one of the places where I work. Louis, ThinusH and me then try and re-invent the word ‘overtime’ by working till about 1am. Considering that our day starts at around 8am, to the untrained ear this might sound quite hectic. But, around 5pm we go mountain biking together for about an hour in the hills of Centurion and Zwartkops. This means we get out, see the sun and sweat a bit. Actually we have nothing to complain about. (And we don’t). » Read more: Marsh Owl in Centurion

2 comments »

Posted in Birding, Gauteng

Ezemvelo Hike

April 28th, 2007

Ezemvelo Nature Reserve Hiking Trail
Near: Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, South Africa
GPS: -25.70826, 28.93009
When: 2007-04-26 to 2007-04-28
Who: Thinus, Werner, Dries, Naas, Heleen, Ester, Elizna
View all photos on Ringo

Ezemvelo HikeBeing our first organized hike for this year, the criteria was simple – be close by, short, easy and cheap. And that’s just the people we hoped would come and join us. (For the full criteria, see the comments below this post). Bottom line is – the long weekend was here and we were going hiking! » Read more: Ezemvelo Hike

8 comments »

Posted in Gauteng, Hikes, Nature Reserves

My New Boat

April 22nd, 2007

Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve
Near: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
GPS: -25.62145, 28.34202
When: 2007-04-21 to 2007-04-22
Who: Thinus, Werner

My New Boat This story starts with my buddy Werner and me innocently walking into the new Outdoor Warehouse that opened close to our flat in Centurion. We just wanted to kill an otherwise boring Saturday afternoon… » Read more: My New Boat

2 comments »

Posted in Gauteng, Nature Reserves

Saying goodbye to the Schuttes

December 28th, 2006

O.R. Thambo International Airport
Near: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
GPS: -26.13278, 28.23177
When: 2006-12-28
Who: Stefan, Mariaan, Thinus, Doepies…

Saying goodbye to the Schuttes I met Mariaan in 2003 at church and Stefan close after that at Aardklop in Potchefstroom. Since then our friendship grew, and we became very close.

They later got married and invited me right into their home. » Read more: Saying goodbye to the Schuttes

1 comment »

Posted in Gauteng, Shows and Events

My Birthday in Rietvlei Dam

November 19th, 2006

Rietvlei Dam Resort
Near: Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
GPS: -25.86937, 28.269236
When: 2006-11-18 to 2006-11-19
Who: Thinus, Naas, Werner, Dries, Marietta, Rudi, Mary-Ann, Corne

My Birthday in Rietvlei DamUsually it rains when we go camping but this time it poured! There were robot crossings where we couldn’t go through because of boulders being washed down the streets. Bad news, as I arranged this date so nicely to coincide with one of the liveliest meteor showers in the year, the Leonid Meteor Shower. It happens right on my b-day, but being November, and our rainy season, not visible every time. » Read more: My Birthday in Rietvlei Dam

1 comment »

Posted in Birding, Gauteng, Nature Reserves

Birding in Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve

September 30th, 2006

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve
Near: Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
GPS: -25.88242, 28.26430
When: 2006-09-30
Who: Thinus

Rietvlei Dam Nature ReserveRietvlei Dam Nature Reserve is a 4000 hectare reserve, one of a very few situated in the grassland biome on the highveld of Southern Africa. This means there’s not a rich diversity of bird species, but still it hosts many of the endemics of Southern Africa. About 80 different bird species can be seen in a good morning/afternoon trip. It is also a sanctuary for rhino, buffalo and various antelope species. » Read more: Birding in Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve

1 comment »

Posted in Birding, Gauteng, Nature Reserves