Day: June 23, 2017

Palmiet Saturday 3rd June 2017

BirdLife Port Natal

Report by Elena Russell

Last year’s outing to Palmiet was cancelled due to heavy rain which made the river crossing impossible. Another year, another attempt.

We had a good turnout mostly members and a couple of visitors. We had two options; cross the river in search of the grasslands or take the path alongside the river, both options were not without their hazards. Mike Roseblade took a group alongside the river and the other group crossed the river.

This year the crossing looked OK but some of the stepping stones were under water and a few people turned back and joined Mike’s group but we had John, Oscar and Calvin to assist us over the worst bits. Oscar was up to his knees in icy water and John was busy taking photos!

The path up through the kloof is very rugged but we had some good birds, Purple Crested Turaco…

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Mziki – Malagasy Pond Heron

BirdLife Port Natal

Report by Paul and Sally Bartho

21 June 2017

Our adventure started while we were at the Sobhengu timeshare on the Nibela Peninsular, Isimangoliso Wetland Park, KZN – very close to Phinda.

We received Trevor Hardaker’s report that a Malagasy Pond Heron had been seen at Mziki in Phinda. We followed Trevor’s reports each day hoping that arrangements would be made with Mziki to see the bird before we headed home.

It was only when we got home to Howick that arrangements were made for keen birders to gain access to see the bird.

Sally and I decided to go. We made a booking for the Wednesday afternoon game drive. Then we called several friends to see if they wanted to join us to make up the numbers. We got one taker. So I put out a message on SABirdnet and on the BirdLife Port Natal Facebook page. The phone…

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It was a Monday

Adam's Art and Bonsai Blog

I’m walking through my collection on a Monday. Last Monday, or maybe two mondays ago, as I write this, but you may be reading this three years from now so I’ll just say, “It was a Monday”. I’m looking around at the trees, as I do, and I see an empty spot.Of course the first thought is “Uh oh, someone stole it!” But the second is to look around on the ground in the jungle of growth under my stands. And there it was.I’d like to blame the cats. But the stand needs to be repaired too (tip of the day, metal stands rust. They look cool but you gotta fix them after a while. Fertilizer really eats up steel). So here I am, oh, woe is me, a broken pot, a rusty stand, I’m in for a bad day. But, as is always the case, my problems…

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