Friday, 27 July 2007

Weekly Report 16th - 20th July 2007

16/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 24*C Min Temp : 06*C

07:30 Did last week's report and paperwork

08:30 We took Roz on a short trip on UmPhafa to just have a look around. There were Impalas and Blue Cranes on the Ryefield.

10:00 We took Roz grocery shopping in Ladysmith.

14:30 We took a drive to Geluk over the mountain, but did not see anything.

15:30 We took a drive down to the Ryefield again and took a walk down to the River. There were 7 Warthog on the Ryefield and the usual group of Impala, 4 x Blesbok and Blue cranes.

17:00 We saw the Giraffes on our way to the Ryefield. When we left for home we found them again at the 2 ponds near home having a drink.


17/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 21*C Min Temp : 06*C

07:30 Did yesterday’s report

08:30 We left to go look for the Old Kudu bull. Its health has been going backwards for a while and we need to step in, since there are no natural predators for the big game like the Kudu Bulls on UmPhafa

08:40 Near the base of the mountain 9 x Impala's (1 x ram, 3 young male lambs, 5 ewe's)

09:00 On our way down the back of the mountain Duiker female

09:30 Just at the base of the mountain near road 5 x Kudu's (1 bull, 4 cows)

09:40 Round the back near the second dam Duiker on the right hand side of road and a young Kudu bull on the left side

11:15 Near the N3 round the back of the mountain Near the border fence we spotted a female Mountain Reedbuck.
11:20 Back of mountain A male Duiker ran across the road

11:45 On our way to show lodge 3 x Kudu Bulls enjoying some of the aloe flowers

11:55 Near the Lodge We counted 12 Giraffes including the 3 claves. Unfortunately, yet again, we were unable to see whether the new calf is male or female

13:00 We went to Cloustons and headed up a stream, we went to check on a trapdoor spider.

14:30 We headed up to the new road to see the progress. They have gone another 150m since last Wednesday.

15:00 9 x Hartebeest on the Ryefield when we went pass there.

16:00 We went to take a look on the Ryefield to get some pictures of the Hartebeest. Unfortunately when we got close enough to use the binoculars we noticed the one with the lame leg was among them. We decided not to go any closer. It seems that its leg has gotten worse. We notified Charles and if the leg continues to deteriorate we will try to dart it and have closer look


18/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 20 *C Min Temp : 05*C

07:30 We had to go look for the old Kudu Bull again today. Over the mountain and down the back

08:00 On road to mountain A Black-backed Jackal was running down the road towards the mountain

08:15 Near the base of the mountain 4 x Shelley's francolin

08:30 On top of mountain 2 kudu cows, 1 bull and a mountain reedbuck in the middle of top, about 200m away

08:45 On our way down the back of mountain we saw 12 Zebra's on the side of the mountain

09:10 Back of mountain We saw about 3 Hartebeest. There should be at least 7, but we could only see 3

09:15 Just a bit further down the road we saw 2 x Mountain Reedbuck near the 2nd Stream. We also saw the group of Kudu's usually in this area (1 young bull, 2 calves and 3 cows)

09:30 Round the back near N3 3 x Duikers, near the fence (2 female, 1 male)

10:10 We went home and did yesterday's report.

11:30 We hiked to the big stream and down it towards the Tugela river in search of tracks and signs. We identified some Water Mongoose tracks, Civet latrine area and tracks, Serval tracks, Black-backed Jackal tracks and Porcupine faeces. At the Tugela river on the far bank we witnessed a fight between 2 Duiker males. We could not see them clearly as they were fighting in the reeds.

11:15 Hannes and Michael went to Ethuleni School to dig some holes for the post on which the sign will be placed. The soil was really hard and they poured some water in the holes to soften it up. The digging will continue tomorrow

13:15 Hannes and Michael then headed off to the back of the mountain to go look for the old Kudu bull again. They could not find him, but did however come across a dead Kudu cow. Its insides had been eaten and it looked quite fresh. We do not know how it died, but do not think it was a predator. We will try to find out more, but I don't think we will get anything conclusive

16:30 Back home


19/07/2007

Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 23 *C Min Temp : 06*C

05:00 - 07:00 We took an early morning drive towards the mountain, the Ryefield and round dawn back towards the mountain. It was not a very successful drive. We only saw some Impalas and scrub hare.

07:30 Did yesterday's report.

08:30 We went looking for the Giraffes up near the Lodge, so Roz could spent some time with them. we found them halfway between the lodge and the big dip.

10:00 We hiked up a stream nearby to look for some tracks. We found some Caracal and Serval tracks.

13:00 Went home for some lunch.

08:30 - 14:00 Hannes, Michael and Mandla went looking for the old Kudu bull again. They found a Kudu Bull. It seemed to have fallen down a crevice and broken it's neck. We are not sure that this is the old Kudu Bull and will have another look around, but it could be the one we are looking for.

14:30 The Kudu's head was taken back and the glands removed for analysis.

15:30 We loaded transport boxes for the Common Reedbuck.

16:00 We headed out to Nottingham road to dart some Common Reedbuck for release on UmPhafa

18:30 We arrived at Nothingham Road, where Charles was waiting for us and preparing the darts.

19:00 We headed out to find and dart some reedbuck

23:30 We darted 4 x Common Reedbuck through the night, boxed them up and headed back to UmPhafa. (3 males, 1 female)

02:00 We arrived back at UmPhafa safely.


20/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 22 *C Min Temp : 05*C

07:30 We left to go release the 4 Common Reedbuck we captured last night. We released them at the loading ramp near the Ryefield

09:30 We left for Ethuleni School to dig the holes for the sign. Roz went to talk to the children about animals and taking care of your environment. We put the sign up and it looks great.

13:30 Headed back home.

Weekly Report 9th - 13th July

09/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 11*C Min Temp : 05*C

07:30 Last weeks report and e-emails

08:30 We headed up the mountain first today and came across a Black-backed Jackal in the road on our way up

8:45 Just before we started up the slope we saw a slender Mongoose crossing the road ahead of us

08:55 On our way up 6 x Kudu's (3 cows, 1 x calf, 2 very young bulls)

09:00 On top in middle area Mountain Reedbuck

09:05 We saw the 14 Blesbok over in their usual spot on the right hand side of the top of the mountain

09:20 When we headed down the mountain we saw 3 x mountain reedbuck (2 males, 1 female), one we saw earlier

09:45 Just at the bottom of the mountain we saw the old Kudu bull that usually stay in this area.

10:15 Round the back of the mountain We spotted another Slender Mongoose just next to the road. Very close to this there was a Longcrested Eagle in a tree

10:20 Back of the mountain near N3 Duiker female

10:30 On our way to show lodge near the turn off we saw a male Duiker in the donga

10:40 Near the show lodge at big dip 5 X Kudu cows browsing on the acacia's

10:55 Near show lodge in clearing on the hill we saw 10 Giraffes, (2 older calves looking healthy)

11:05 We headed down to the Ryefield. Near the Big stream there was a Bachelor Impala group of about 14

11:10 There were 4 Blesbok, 66 Blue Cranes, more than 15 Hadeda Ibis, 1 x Warthog and 47 Impalas on the Ryefield this morning

11:50 We headed up towards the dam at the base of the mountain, but did not see anything. On our way back though we saw 7 Hartebeest on the other side of the Donga.

13:00 We took a hike up toward the show lodge in search of the Giraffes in the area.

14:30 Found the Giraffes near the Lodge in the bushes spent some time with them.

15:10 Searched the area to see if We could find the new calf and it's mother. The other giraffes had moved down towards the lodge

15:30 We found the mother in the valley near the top, but was unable to see the calf. We followed the cow for a while.

15:50 We eventually saw the calf as the cow started moving up the hill away from the valley. We could not see it properly, just that it looked ok.

16:30 Hiked back home


10/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 19*C Min Temp : 03*C

07:30 Did report and some paperwork

08:20 Near big stream About 20 bachelors near the stream

10:30 We headed round the back of the mountain past the lodge first and found the Giraffe cow with the calf near the lodge. We tried to identify the calf but it was lying down in the grass.

10:45 Further up the road we saw 2 x giraffe male play fighting, there was another male nearby

10:55 We went round the back, but we did not see any animals today. We headed up the mountain

11:45 In the middle area on top we did see a Duiker female

11:50 On the usual spot on the right hand side of the mountain were the 14 Blesbok.

12:10 We drove down the front side of the mountain and at the base of the mountain we saw 6 x Zebras near the road

12:25 Near the donga on our way back we spotted 7 more Giraffes browsing, the 2 older calves included

12:40 Ryefield 4 x Warthog (1 boar, 3 sows), 34 Bachelor Impalas, 38 Impala ewes with a ram, 4 Blesbok another 5 x Warthog (1 sow, 4 piglets), and 72 Blue cranes

13:30 Took a hike towards mountain and down the stream at the base but did not see anything special. Spent some time with the Giraffes on my way up.

15:45 Headed home

14:10 Hannes took the decorators around some of UmPhafa. They headed up the mountain

14:30 They saw 5 Giraffe on their way up. The others were just out of sight.

15:20 By the dam near the house they saw a Spoonbill

15:30 Ryefield The usual Impalas, 5 x Warthogs, 4 x Blesbok and 2 Longcrested Eagles

16:00 He took them back and they headed back to Durban


11/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 23*C Min Temp : 03*C

07:30 Yesterday's Report

08:00 We headed up to the mountain. Just on top of the mountain we saw a Gymnogene in a tree.

08:40 Right hand side of mountain 3 x Mountain Reedbuck on the hill

08:45 Not too far from there on the right hand side as well, we saw some of the Blesbok. We were unable to count them all,

09:10 On our way back down 2 x Grey Duiker females in the bushes at the base of the mountain near the road

10:00 - 13:00 We went to Ladysmith to take a tyre in for a puncture. We also went to Colenso School to discuss the research student and sports equipment needed.

13:15 Near show lodge We saw 2 of the Giraffes. The progress on the lodge is looking good

14:00 Cloustons 2 x Shelley’s Francolin's. New road about 150m since last Wednesday

15:00 Ryefield 42 x Blue Cranes, 5 x Blesbok, and the usual group of Impalas

15:30 Went home and did some paperwork


12/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 22*C Min Temp : 05*C

07:30 Near big stream 2 x Warthogs and just on the other side a group of Impala bachelors

08:20 We went to Mike's Lodge on Geluk to have a look around, but could not see anything.

09:00 We went to Colenso school to discuss the sport fields. We will take Mike there tomorrow to see how we will improve this

10:40 We headed up to the new road to see it's progress, 50m since yesterday

11:30 Ryefield There were 11 Warthogs, 4 Blesbok, 71 Blue cranes and the usual 70+ Impalas.

12:00 We went to the show lodge to see if we could spot the Hartebeest, but were unable to see them. We were able to spot 3 Giraffes near the base of the mountain near the border fence

13:00 I hiked towards the dam to see if I could locate the Hartebeest, Hannes headed toward the mountain up the road near the main gate.

13:20 Hannes saw the Hartebeest at the foot of the mountain in the thornveld

13:50 Just on the other side of the dam I came across 4 x Zebras

14:00 The Hartebeest started moving in the direction of the Ryefield

14:20 Near Ryefield on the road 1 x Warthog boar

14:30 The 3 giraffes had moved up to the road near the mountain

14:45 3 x kudu bulls near the show lodge

15:00 I walked down the stream from the dam towards the river and about halfway down came across 3 x Spotted Eagle Owls

15:30 I headed back home to do yesterday's report


NIGHT DRIVE:

18:30 On road to mountain, close to house we saw a Spotted Dikkop in the road

18:45 Near the Donga on the way to mountain we saw some of the giraffes on the left side of the road and a Black-backed Jackal in the road ahead of us, they were very vocal last night

19:00 When we came back down we headed to the dam at the base of the mountain. There were only 2 Egyptian Geese on the dam

19:20 We headed toward the lodge and near the farm house we found the 6 released Zebras that usually hangs around in this area at night ( 3 foals, 2 mares and a stallion)

19:30 Halfway up to the show lodge on the right side of the road we saw a group of 8 Mountain Reedbuck in the grass

19:45 On the other side of hill near the lodge we saw a female Duiker lying in the grass.

19:50 Halfway between the lodge and big dip on our way back we saw another Duiker

20:00 We were on our way to the Ryefield when we saw a Small spotted Genet in the road, it ran across and into the field

20:10 Just at the turnoff to the Ryefield, by the stream we saw another Small spotted Genet in the road. It headed down into the dry stream and into a pipe going under the road.

20:20 On the Ryefield we saw 6 x Porcupines, a Spotted Dikkop, at least 2 Hartebeest and the usual group of Impalas. There were 2 Black-backed Jackals and 4 x Common reedbuck (1 ram, 1 ewe, 2 lambs) as well.


13/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 20*C Min Temp : 05*C

07:30 Yesterday and last night's report. Hannes and Mike took the Vehicle to change the oil and filter.

08:30 Hannes helped Mike burn the last of the firebreaks.

10:00 They went to Ethuleni School to see what can be done about the sports field.

10:30 Took a hike up towards the mountain and down one of the streams. Saw 3 Giraffes near the donga on the way up.

11:45 Saw a monitor Lizard in the stream I came down.

13:00 We put the signs on the vehicle. Looks very nice.

Monday, 9 July 2007

Weekly Report 2nd - 6th July 2007

02/07/2007

Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 15*C Min Temp : 04*C

07:30 Did some office work

07:50 07:55 Pond near the house
A Pied Kingfisher that seem to be in the area most of the time

08:20 We went to the Ryefield
There were about 40 Impala down there. They were lying in the grass. Also some hadeda ibis

08:30 2 ponds near main gate
A hammerkop and the brownhooded Kingfisher that is always at the pond

08:35 We went up towards the mountain-near gate
There were 9 Impala bachelors on our way up

08:45 On way back to main road
We saw 6 x Giraffes on our way back toward the main road. We saw the 2 older calves but not the new baby

08:55 We went to check on the zebra foal carcass. There was nothing left

09:20 Near big stream
Some Impala bachelors (youngsters) were mock fighting near the road by the stream

09:30 We drove up to the dam near the base of the mountain and only saw a female Duiker on our way there

09:50 On our way back however we saw 2 x Common Reedbuck near the Donga

10:30 We drove round the back of the mountain toward the show Lodge.

10:45 We saw a lone Hartebeest and a Gymnogene near the lodge

12:10 We went back to the Ryefield to see what other animals went down there to graze.

12:15 Near big stream
A small group of Impalas were drinking from the small pools in the stream

12:25 Ryefield
This time there were loads of Impala and an Impala bachelor group. They were fighting and chasing each other around. There were also 4 x Blesbok on the field and about 9 Warthog. The family of 5 was also there (1 female, 4 piglets)

12:45 We headed up the mountain to check on the blesbok and the zebra

13:20 On top right hand side
We saw 14 of the Blesbok on top of the mountain

13:30 On the left hand side
We saw a lone Blesbok on the other side of the mountain

14:00 We headed down the back of the mountain and toward the show lodge again. We only saw a male Duiker at the back of the mountain.

14:40 Near the show lodge
The lone Hartebeest was still in the area when we went past there

15:10 We were very fortunate to see a young Martial Eagle on our way back to the farmhouse

15:20 Went back home and did the report

03/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 16*C Min Temp : 04*C


07:30 07:50
We went down to the Ryefields again early. There were only 3 Impalas

08:05 Spotted Dikkop on the other side of the field

08:55 We spent most of the day on Geluk. Went down to the Lodge and up the mountain. We saw 3 x Egyptian Geese and a duiker near the lodge

09:05 We spotted another Duiker on top of the mountain and found a tree that we are still trying to ID. It is somewhat difficult identifying trees in winter

09:30 We saw 2 x Spoonbills at the dam on top of the mountain

11:30 We went by the Ryefield again and this time there were 36 Blue cranes on the field as well as a group of 39 Impalas, 48 bachelor Impalas and 4 x Warthogs.

11:40 We saw 5 of the Giraffes in a clearing close to the base of the mountain

12:30 We went up the mountain, down the back and all the way around

12:30 Road up toward mountain
5 x Zebras (3 foals) near the donga. We could not see the other one

12:45 Halfway up the mountain
On the side of the mountain we saw 4 more zebras.

13:40 Round the back of the mountain Here we saw 7 Kudu bulls. 4 of them were quite young and the other 3 were adult

14:00 We did not see anything else the rest of the day.

16:00 Report


04/07/2007

Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 15*C Min Temp : 04*C

07:50 08:05 On way round towards back of mountain
2 x Common Reedbuck

08:45 On our way to show lodge
We saw an adult Martial Eagle in a tree. Very beautiful. It was chased off some time later by about 5 Pied Crows

08:55 Near lodge
A group of 12 Impalas grazing near the road

09:20 Near big stream
There was a group of young bachelor Impalas grazing.

09:40 Ryefield
12 x Impalas (1 x ram) and another group further along the road

09:50 On the other side of the field
4 of the Blesbok came down to graze and relax on the Ryefield this morning

10:00 2 ponds near the main gate
A Hammerkop that usually spends it's time either here or by the pond near the house

10:10 We took a drive up toward the mountain again, near the main gate but were unable to see anything.

11:00 Went home and tried to identify 2 trees. We are still trying :)

12:30 Went to Cloustons and up the new road they are building there. Marked out the new road most of the day

13:00 Saw 2 x Warthogs in the road there.

15:30 We saw 10 Kudus while marking out the road

16:00 When we came back there was a group of Impalas at the 2 ponds near the main gate.


05/07/2007

Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 17*C Min Temp : 05*C

07:30 Did yesterday's report

08:00 08:00 Near the house
4 x Impala females

08:05 At the pond near the house
The resident reed Cormorant and Pied Kingfisher were in the tree early this morning

08:15 We took a look at some tracks in the big stream to find out if there were any dog tracks. We heard dogs the previous night and were concerned that they might have been on the farm. We only found some Black-backed Jackal tracks

08:25 Ryefield
There was a group of about 42 Impala females and 4 rams

08:30 We drove up towards the mountain. In the area near the main gate. Unfortunately we did not see anything

08:50 On our way back towards the road we did see a Gymnogene and some young bachelor Impalas near the road

09:00 We drove to the dam near the base of the mountain and only saw 2 x Egyptian Geese on the dam. On our way back we saw 4 Impalas near the kraal. (1 ram, 3 ewes)

09:20 We headed up the mountain to check on the Blesbok up top

09:45 Just on top of the mountain
There were 2 Kudu cows browsing next to the road

09:55 Right side of mountain top
The 14 Blesbok were at the usual spot and looking good

10:00 Left side of mountain top
The one Blesbok we saw there yesterday, still alone

10:25 We headed down the back of the mountain again, round the back and toward the show lodge.

10:30 Just before we started our descent we came across a group of 12 Kudus browsing near the road, 2 of them adult bulls and 2 calves

10:50 Down at the bottom we saw a duiker male in the brushes

11:05 We saw another duiker in the near the 2nd dam at the back

11:20 On our way toward show lodge
There were 9 x Kudu's here. 4 were adult bulls and 1 very young bull, as well as 3 adult females and a calf.

11:45 Near the show lodge
7 x Zebras

12:45 We drove up to the show lodge to see if we would be able to spot the giraffes. We found a few and I decided to go look for the rest of them

13:00 I set off from the farm house toward the mountain. We spotted some of the giraffes near the area. There were about 6 Zebras near them

14:00 I finally found 10 of the giraffes, this included the 2 older calves. I could not see the new calf or its mother, so I decided to look for the 2 of them. There were a group of 7 zebras near the 2 giraffes as well, which brings the number of zebras seen today to about 20

14:30 I found them quite near the base of the mountain. The mother was not quite at ease with me and kept moving away, but as far as I could tell, both the calf and the mother is doing well

14:55 I hiked in behind them and found them again on my way back towards the farm house. They were near the dam at the base of the mountain

15:30 On my way back near the donga that leads to the big stream I came across the 10 giraffes again. They were moving towards the clearing between the dam and the fence. Near them on the other side of the Donga were the 6 zebras.

16:00 I moved down the donga towards the big stream and then headed back. Near the farm house I spotted the 10 giraffes in the clearing followed by 6 Zebras

13:00 My brother went to Geluk to have a look around there

14:10 Spotted a Lazy Cisticola

14:35 Found some caracal tracks and followed them.

14:45 Found some caracal droppings but lost the tracks in the bushes. There were also some Duiker and Kudu tracks there

16:20 Went home and did today's report



06/07/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 19*C Min Temp : 05*C

07:30 Helped carry furniture for the lodge

08:00 08:00 Near house
4 x Impala ewes

08:10 Near big stream
a Group of bachelor Impalas browsing

08:25 Went to Geluk round the back to the border of UmPhafa

08:30 On way up the mountain
A duiker female

09:10 Round the back of Geluk
A Duiker female

09:55 At border fence round the back
A duiker female

10:25 We then went to Cloustons to check on the progress of the new road. They had done about 50m more since Wednesday

10:50 Near Mike's house
A family of 5 Warthogs (1 female, 4 piglets)

11:00 We headed toward the mountain near the main gate. We did not see anything on our way up, but on the way back we spotted some Hartebeest near the river close to the fence with the binoculars and counted 5

11:10 Ryefield
4 x Blesbok and 5 x Warthogs (4 piglets, 1 female)

11:15 Ryefield
34 bachelor Impalas, 37 ewes (1xram) only 5 of these were juveniles

11:30 near big stream, house side
a group of Impalas (about 20) only saw about 3 juveniles, but they were in the bushes and it was difficult to count all the impalas.

11:35 just a little further along
We saw 9 giraffes ( 2 older calves )

12:00 We went to the dam but only saw some Natal francolin

12:30 We headed up to the mountain
4 x Kudu's ( 2 cows, 1 young bull and a calf )

12:50 On top of mountain in the middle We saw the group of Zebras usually in this area. We were unable to count them, as they were in the bushes. (We counted 5, there should be 13)

12:55 On top of mountain
2 x Shelley's Francolin

13:00 Right side of mountain
The 14 Blesbok that usually stay here

13:45 Near 1st pool at back of mountain we saw a nice big Kudu Bull lying under a tree

14:30 On our way down from the show lodge we saw the giraffes again and counted 10 this time

15:00 I hiked toward the river through the veld and headed for the big stream.

15:20 Near the river I came across 3 Common Reedbuck

15:30 I walked up the big stream back towards the house. Found a lot of Black-backed jackal tracks, Kudu, Giraffe, and some cat tracks, either genet or serval and maybe both. Some mongoose tracks as well

16:00 Headed back home

15:10 Hannes took a drive down to the Ryefield. He saw 40 Impala there. 1 ram, 5 juveniles,34 females. 32 Impala bachelors, 3 x Warthog sub-adults (2 male, 1 female) and 5 Blesbok. Also a male and female Stonechat

15:20 Ryefield
An adult Warthog showed up on the field

15:30 Ryefield
The released group of 6 Zebras came down to the field to graze. 3 adults (1male,2females) and 3 juveniles

15:50 The zebras left the Ryefield again

15:55 Spotted a Brown-throated Martin

Monday, 2 July 2007

Weekly Report 25th - 29th June 2007

25/06/2007
Weather : Sunny / windy
Temp max: 19*C Temp min : 04*C

07:30 08:00 Ryefield
Group of Impalas

08:30 Monitor valley
1 x Common Reedbuck

09:00 Road to mountain
2 x Cape Vultures

10:00 Mountain
1 x Mountain Reedbuck

11:25 Top of mountain
4 x Blesbok

12:00 Top of mountain
15 x Blesbok, 1 x Blackbacked Jackal

12:45 Back of mountain
6 x Kudu's

13:40 Ryefield
80 x Impala's

14:30 Near Ryefield
4 x Red Hartebeest

14:45 Ryefield
20 x Blue Cranes, 5 x Warthogs

15:25 Geluk Farm
1 x Shelley's Francolin

16:00 Geluk Farm
5 x Grey-Winged Francolin / Scleroptila africanus

26/06/2007

Weather : Sunny / windy
Temp max: 19*C Temp min : 05*C

07:30 Left for Cloustens

08:00 Stopped at Geluk to drop of some fuel for the TLB.

08:30 Cloustens
Drove around on the farm, did not see anything, the wind blowing something awful, dropped of 2 of the game guards at the back of Clostens.

10:00 Ryefield
Small group of Impala grazing.

11:00 Main gate
3 x White-fronted Bee-eaters / Merops bullockoides

14:00 Home
Saw we had a flat tyre, so we changed it and put on spare tyre. Having tyre fixed.

15:00 Went to Ladysmith to fetch game viewer from workshop, had it serviced. Took Flat tyre to get it fixed.

16:00 Ryefield
4 x Blesbok, 38 x Impala's 3 x Warthogs

16:20 Near house
5 x Zebra, 2 adults, 3 juveniles, 27 x Impalas, 1 x Shelley's Francolin, 1 x Tawny-Flanked Prinia / Prinia subflava

27/06/2007

Weather : Cloudy / Raining
Temp max: 21*C Temp min : 04*C
Rainfall : 15mm

07:30 Was raining, so we didn’t see any animals while driving around on Elworthy farm. Saw the usual Impala groups lying down.

10:00 Stopped raining for a while, so we put up the sign for the office and lodge.

12:00 Got tyre back from Ladysmith, changed the tyre, so the truck is good to go again.

13:00 Drove up to the lodge to see the progress on the building, did not see anything on the way, all the animals are lying down
or under cover from the rain

14:30 Started raining sleet / ice

16:00 Office work / report.


28/06/2007
Weather : Sunny
Temp max: 17*C Temp min : 06*C

07:30 09:40 Pond near home
Pied Kingfisher / Ceryle rudis, Reed Cormorant

10:00 Ryefield
4 x Blesbok, 7 x Impala, 5 x Warthogs, Golden-Breasted Bunting

10:30 Cloustens
1 x Grey Duiker

11:45 Cloustens
3 x Greenspotted Wood-Dove, 1 x Malachite Kingfisher

13:30 Pond at foot of mountain
7 x Giraffes, 7 x Zebras

14:30 Top of mountain
15 x Blesbok

15:20 Back of mountain
7 x Red Hartebeest, 2 x Mountain Reedbuck

15:30 Back of mountain
1 x Kudu Bull

16:10 Foot of mountain
5 x Zebra


29/06/2007
Weather : Cloudy / Raining
Temp max: 21*C Temp min : 04*C

07:30 09:35 Pond near house
2 x African Black Duck, Pied Kingfisher

10:00 Next to road leading to house
2 x Warthogs, Group of bachelor Impala

10:10 Tugela River
2 x Egyptian Geese

10:30 Ryefield
3 x Warthogs, 6 x Impalas

10:40 Ryefield
16 x Black Crows harassing 2 x Gymnogenes in the sky over the field

11:30 Foot of mountain
1 x Red Hartebeest

12:10 Pond at foot of mountain
2 x Giraffes, 8 x Zebras

13:10 Road leading to house
6 x Zebras

14:00 2 Ponds near main gate
9 x Red Hartebeest

14:30 Showlodge
5 x Impala females

15:10 Back of mountain
2 x Mountain Reedbuck

15:45 Tugela River
2 x Egyptian Geese, think it is the same 2 we saw earlier

16:00 Fence at N3 Highway
Dead Barn Owl hanging from top wire of fence, must have flown into the fence.

Fact of the week : In the wild female leopards bear up to three young, but usually only one or two survive.