14/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20*C
Max temp: 29*C
Weekend rainfall: 25mm
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him out.
07:30 Did report and emails.
08:00 Took sprayers to spray fence line leading from main gate to top of mountain.
09:30 Headed for the dam at the base of the mountain. Roads still wet from rain.
09:50 1 x Water Monitor at the dam.
10:00 Went to the lodge for a check up.
10:05 1 x Zebra stallion along the road back from the dam.
10:20 Nothing on the way to the lodge, all fine there.
10:35 On the way back from the lodge, saw a Common Reedbuck ewe.
11:20 On the road to the Ryefield 3 x Waterbuck and a lamb.
11:25 3 x Blesbok on the Ryefield (Bes, Les, Sean)
11:35 At the 2 ponds near the main gate a Spurwinged goose, 1x Hammerkop,
2 x Yellowbilled ducks and a Yelloweyed Canary.
13:00 Did some fact file on the trees.
14:15 On the main road, 2 x Kudu cows, 1 Waterbuck ewe, group of Impalas with 12 lambs.
14:20 Big stream leading to the Tugela, 2 x Dikkop (looks like a breeding pair).
14:30 Had some people here to have a look at the roof and quote us for the repair.
15:45 Went to fetch the sprayers from the fence.
16:15 Saw a baby Puff adder in the road, about 15cm long.
15/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 32*C
Rainfall: 55mm
Had a really heavy thunderstorm the previous night with lots of rain.
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him out.
07:30 Did report
08:00 Took sprayers to Vertrek to spray, too wet to go up mountain.
09:00 Got everything ready at the lodge.
10:00 Went and looked how the things were done at the electric fencing at the main gate
13:45 Went to get the sprayers at Vertrek.
16:45 Filled the AFTW vehicle with diesel and had it washed.
16/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 23*C
Max temp: 32*C
Rainfall: 3mm
Went to fetch Anthony from the airport and pick up some things at Pietermaritzburg for the electric fence.
17/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 21*C
Max temp: 32*C
Rainfall: 32mm
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him out.
Had meetings today with Anthony and Hans, in connection with the Rhino.
18/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 30*C
Rainfall: 2mm
06:30 Took Squirt out and fed him.
Took Hans and Jana out around Elworthy. Had some meetings with Anthony.
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Weekly Report 7th January - 11th January 2008
07/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 20*C
Max temp: 32*C
Weekend rainfall: 38mm
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Did report and emails
08:30 Headed for the lodge for a check up after the weekend. Saw 2 x Kudu cows and a calf on on the way up.
11:20 Headed towards the big dip at the back from the lodge. Got some photos.
11:40 Headed for the Ryefield. Lone bachelor Impala on the Ryefield.
12:15 Went back home to try and sort the ordering of books from FGASA.
13:45 Took a quick hike to the dam at the base of the mountain. Saw some Zebras on the way there, but nothing at the dam.
14:30 Came back home and worked on FGASA some more.
16:30 Got some things sorted and will continue tomorrow.
HANNES DAY
08:00 Greased TLB for work.
08:30 Left for Geluk to take out alien trees for practice with TLB.
12:30 Lunch
13:15 Cleaned up the trees taken out by TLB.
14:20 Went to dig up shale for roads with the TLB
16:15 Back home.
08/01/2008
Weather: overcast
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 24*C
06:30 Fed Squirt.
07:30 Did report
08:00 Took the guys to the back near the N3 for spraying.
08:40 Headed for the lodge and Ryefield for a check up.
10:00 Got back and fed lamb. Got some things sorted for the books from FGASA
11:00 A local farmer brought a wildebeest calf in. She was apparently trapped in a dam.
She had some water in her ears and we think in her lungs. Also a bad wound o
Her gums at the two front lower teeth. She was not taking any milk and seemed a
bit unstable on her legs. I spent the next 2 days looking after her and trying to get
some milk into her. She only had about 200ml in the end. By Wednesday
morning she was unable to stand without support and unfortunately at about
15:00 she collapsed and died. The stress and injuries was too much for her.
HANNES DAY
07:30 Took TLB to dig up shale for fixing loading ramp and to load tractor with shale.
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Getting more shale to fix the loading ramp with.
16:15 Back home
09/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 14*C
Max temp: 21*C
Looking after Squirt and the Wildebeest Calf that unfortunately did not survive.
HANNES DAY
08:00 Took the sprayers to the back of the mountain near the N3 to spray fence.
10:00 Did some grass ID – Ratstail Dropseed
- Common Bristle Grass
- Eragrostis (Broad) curly leaf.
- Iron Grass
- Pintail Grass
- Signal Grass
- Saw-toothed love Grass
- Turpentine Grass
14:00 3 x Kudus and a group of Impalas near the gate. They have been around for
about 2 days now.
15:00 Went to fetch the sprayers
16:20 Back home.
10/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 15*C
Max temp: 24*C
06:30 Fed Squirt.
07:30 Did the last 2 days reports.
08:00 Spent the day doing the fact file on insects and trying to id some new ones.
11/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 27*C
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Did report
08:00 Also worked on the fact file most of the day.
08:00 Took sprayers to the top of the mountain.
08:30 Halfway there – group of zebras with 5 foals.
- group of bachelor Impalas. 3 x Blesbok (Les, Bes and Sean)
08:45 Top of the mountain 8 x Kudu bulls, 3 x cows and 15 Blesbok with the 7 lambs.
09:00 Headed back down.
09:05 Pintailed Whydah cross indigo bird hybrid male.
09:30 At the 2 ponds near the main gate – 2 x Yellowbilled ducks and 2 x Hammerkops.
10:30 Big stream leading to Tugela, took a hike down towards river.
11:00 2 x African black ducks at Tugela.
12:20 Cape Vultures over the Ryefield.
13:30 Left for the dam at the base of the mountain.
13:50 Nothing at the dam except Cape Weavers, Red Bishops, Pintailed Whydah and thickbilled weavers.
14:05 At the lodge there were 9 x Giraffes and a group of Impalas.
14:20 Back valley near the lodge – 5 x Hartebeest, a group of Impalas and 1 xKudu bull
14:30 Near the N3 at the back, 7 Impala rams and 2 Kudu cows
14:40 7 x Kudu (5 cows, 2 bulls) near the Tugela.
14:45 Along the Tugela on the mountain side, 3 x Mountain Reedbuck.
15:30 Went to Estcourt to fetch the lawnmower.
17:00 Back home.
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
31st Decebmer - 4th January 2008
31/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 16*C
Max temp: 32*C
06:30 Fed Squirt.
07:30 Did report.
10:00 Took a drive around Gevonden for a check up. Headed to mountain and down towards the back, round and along the Tugela.
10:15 6 x Zebras near the donga on the way to the mountain.
11:00 Top left hand side of the mountain. Saw the Blesbok. All 7 lambs still fine.
11:35 Went down to the back of the mountain. Did not see anything on the way down.
12:30 7 x Kudu bulls near the 3rd dam at the back and 1 x cow.
13:00 Near the N3 close to the Tugela there was a bachelor group Impalas and a lone Kudu Bull.
13:35 Headed to the lodge for a check up. All ok. Saw Impala crèche near the lodge.
14:00 Headed back and did some fact file.
02/01/2008
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 17*C
Max temp: 35*C
06:30 Fed Squirt.
07:30 Did report and emails
08:30 Went to Ladysmith to get the Landcruiser's new number plates Michael saw the following today: 16 x adult Blesbok, 7 lambs : 12 x Hartebeest, 2 lambs. Did not see any zebra foals today.
14:00 - 16:00 Tried to sort out something for the internet. Did some insect id in between
03/01/2008
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 18*C
Max temp: 32*C
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Headed to Geluk for a look around. 4 x Bachelor Impalas near the big stream.
08:10 Saw 8 of the Giraffes (adults) near the turn off to the Ryefield.
08:15 There was an Impala crèche on the Ryefield. The lambs were lying down so I could not count them.
09:00 Headed to the lodge on Geluk. There were only some red-knobbed coots on the dam.
10:35 Back on Gevonden, saw the Giraffe calves near the big stream on the house side as well as 4 x Waterbuck (1 male, 4 x female)
12:30 Headed to the lodge for a check up. All looked ok.
13:00 Took a hike towards the mountain and took Squirt with me.
14:15 6 X Zebras about halfway to the mountain.
14:35 Another group of Zebras near the mountain.
15:30 Headed back to the house.
04/01/2008
Weather : Overcast with some rain.
Min temp :15*C
Max temp : 32*C
Rainfall :16mm
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Loaded some tyres that need to go back to supplier (landcruiser)
08:00 Did yesterday's report.
09:00 Roads still wet from previous night's rain, have to wait till they dry out more. Worked on the insect fact file most of the day.
12:30 Group of 8 Zebras near the Ryefield. Impala crèche opposite the road.
14:20 4 x Waterbuck near the dams close to the house and a big Impala group (crèche and bachelors)
15:00 Headed for the lodge for a check up. All seem ok.
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 16*C
Max temp: 32*C
06:30 Fed Squirt.
07:30 Did report.
10:00 Took a drive around Gevonden for a check up. Headed to mountain and down towards the back, round and along the Tugela.
10:15 6 x Zebras near the donga on the way to the mountain.
11:00 Top left hand side of the mountain. Saw the Blesbok. All 7 lambs still fine.
11:35 Went down to the back of the mountain. Did not see anything on the way down.
12:30 7 x Kudu bulls near the 3rd dam at the back and 1 x cow.
13:00 Near the N3 close to the Tugela there was a bachelor group Impalas and a lone Kudu Bull.
13:35 Headed to the lodge for a check up. All ok. Saw Impala crèche near the lodge.
14:00 Headed back and did some fact file.
02/01/2008
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 17*C
Max temp: 35*C
06:30 Fed Squirt.
07:30 Did report and emails
08:30 Went to Ladysmith to get the Landcruiser's new number plates Michael saw the following today: 16 x adult Blesbok, 7 lambs : 12 x Hartebeest, 2 lambs. Did not see any zebra foals today.
14:00 - 16:00 Tried to sort out something for the internet. Did some insect id in between
03/01/2008
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 18*C
Max temp: 32*C
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Headed to Geluk for a look around. 4 x Bachelor Impalas near the big stream.
08:10 Saw 8 of the Giraffes (adults) near the turn off to the Ryefield.
08:15 There was an Impala crèche on the Ryefield. The lambs were lying down so I could not count them.
09:00 Headed to the lodge on Geluk. There were only some red-knobbed coots on the dam.
10:35 Back on Gevonden, saw the Giraffe calves near the big stream on the house side as well as 4 x Waterbuck (1 male, 4 x female)
12:30 Headed to the lodge for a check up. All looked ok.
13:00 Took a hike towards the mountain and took Squirt with me.
14:15 6 X Zebras about halfway to the mountain.
14:35 Another group of Zebras near the mountain.
15:30 Headed back to the house.
04/01/2008
Weather : Overcast with some rain.
Min temp :15*C
Max temp : 32*C
Rainfall :16mm
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Loaded some tyres that need to go back to supplier (landcruiser)
08:00 Did yesterday's report.
09:00 Roads still wet from previous night's rain, have to wait till they dry out more. Worked on the insect fact file most of the day.
12:30 Group of 8 Zebras near the Ryefield. Impala crèche opposite the road.
14:20 4 x Waterbuck near the dams close to the house and a big Impala group (crèche and bachelors)
15:00 Headed for the lodge for a check up. All seem ok.
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Weekly Report 24th - 28th December 2007
24/12/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 25*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside. He was very playful today. He is also on the normal strength milk solution.
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Tried taking some photos of insects and to ID them.
10:30 Found a Lesser Striped swallow chick on the ground and stuck it back in the nest. About half an hour later Hannes found another chick outside the nest and we put it back again. The third time it happened I took the chick in. About an hour later we found another chick out of the nest and kept it out as well. By this time I had realised that a Sparrow was attacking the chicks in the nest and throwing them out. I found the 3rd chick half an hour later. 2 of the Chicks were badly injured and one died shortly after. The other one was eating, but also had a badly injured leg and died on the 26th. I had a look at the nest on Wednesday again and the swallows were still hanging around the nest. I could not see the sparrows anywhere so I popped the 3rd chick back. The parents immediately started feeding it again and it was not thrown out of the nest again that day.
27/12/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 14*C
Max temp: 31*C
Rainfall : 12mm
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside.
07:30 Did the report.
08:00 Checked up on the swallow nest and everything still looked fine.
08:30 Just waited a while, for the roads to dry out a bit as it rained last night. Did some fact file.
13:45 Had a drive around Gevonden. Headed to the mountain. Could not go up the mountain as the roads were too wet still.
14:15 Near the Donga saw 6 x Zebras and a crèche Impala group with more than 20 lambs. A little further on 3 x Blesbok (Lez,Bez, Sean) another group of Zebras and the 5 Giraffe calves. The road to the mountain seemed to be very busy today as there were loads of animals. Also saw 3 x Zebras with foals
14:45 Headed to the dam at the base of the mountain.
15:00 There were only some Egyptian Geese.
15:15 Went to the lodge for a checkup. All ok. Headed towards the back and back along the Tugela river.
15:30 Saw a Kudu bull on the way to the back.
15:45 Another 3 x Kudu bulls along the Tugela.
16:00 Back home.
28/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 18*C
Max temp: 30*C
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Took the guys to the back near the N3 to spray fence line.
08:40 Kudu Bull at the back of mountain near N3
08:50 Went back via the lodge, but did not see anything. Took some photos
10:00 Fed Squirt
10:30 Downloaded some photos from camera.
11:30 Headed to the mountain.
11:40 The giraffes, a group of zebras and some kudus the way to mountain.
12:15 Top right hand side of the mountain saw 4 x Kudu bulls and 13 x zebra
12:20 Also saw a Black-backed Jackal nearby and 2 x Steppe Buzzards.
12:30 Saw 14 x Kudu bulls on the top left hand side of the mountain. All adult. The Blesbok also close by and saw all 7 lambs. The zebras had moved to the left side.
13:25 On the way back saw 3 x young Kudu bulls, 2 of last year’s calves and 4 cows
14:20 Headed for the Ryefield for a check up.
14:30 Impala crèche near the Ryefield with 12 lambs.
15:00 Headed back.
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 25*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside. He was very playful today. He is also on the normal strength milk solution.
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Tried taking some photos of insects and to ID them.
10:30 Found a Lesser Striped swallow chick on the ground and stuck it back in the nest. About half an hour later Hannes found another chick outside the nest and we put it back again. The third time it happened I took the chick in. About an hour later we found another chick out of the nest and kept it out as well. By this time I had realised that a Sparrow was attacking the chicks in the nest and throwing them out. I found the 3rd chick half an hour later. 2 of the Chicks were badly injured and one died shortly after. The other one was eating, but also had a badly injured leg and died on the 26th. I had a look at the nest on Wednesday again and the swallows were still hanging around the nest. I could not see the sparrows anywhere so I popped the 3rd chick back. The parents immediately started feeding it again and it was not thrown out of the nest again that day.
27/12/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 14*C
Max temp: 31*C
Rainfall : 12mm
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside.
07:30 Did the report.
08:00 Checked up on the swallow nest and everything still looked fine.
08:30 Just waited a while, for the roads to dry out a bit as it rained last night. Did some fact file.
13:45 Had a drive around Gevonden. Headed to the mountain. Could not go up the mountain as the roads were too wet still.
14:15 Near the Donga saw 6 x Zebras and a crèche Impala group with more than 20 lambs. A little further on 3 x Blesbok (Lez,Bez, Sean) another group of Zebras and the 5 Giraffe calves. The road to the mountain seemed to be very busy today as there were loads of animals. Also saw 3 x Zebras with foals
14:45 Headed to the dam at the base of the mountain.
15:00 There were only some Egyptian Geese.
15:15 Went to the lodge for a checkup. All ok. Headed towards the back and back along the Tugela river.
15:30 Saw a Kudu bull on the way to the back.
15:45 Another 3 x Kudu bulls along the Tugela.
16:00 Back home.
28/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 18*C
Max temp: 30*C
06:30 Fed Squirt
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Took the guys to the back near the N3 to spray fence line.
08:40 Kudu Bull at the back of mountain near N3
08:50 Went back via the lodge, but did not see anything. Took some photos
10:00 Fed Squirt
10:30 Downloaded some photos from camera.
11:30 Headed to the mountain.
11:40 The giraffes, a group of zebras and some kudus the way to mountain.
12:15 Top right hand side of the mountain saw 4 x Kudu bulls and 13 x zebra
12:20 Also saw a Black-backed Jackal nearby and 2 x Steppe Buzzards.
12:30 Saw 14 x Kudu bulls on the top left hand side of the mountain. All adult. The Blesbok also close by and saw all 7 lambs. The zebras had moved to the left side.
13:25 On the way back saw 3 x young Kudu bulls, 2 of last year’s calves and 4 cows
14:20 Headed for the Ryefield for a check up.
14:30 Impala crèche near the Ryefield with 12 lambs.
15:00 Headed back.
Weekly Report 17th - 21st December 2007
17/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 13*C
Max temp: 19*C
Rainfall over weekend: 25mm
Squirt was very sick over the weekend and we have spent most of the time looking after him. Today we will stay with him and try to keep him hydrated and warm. Went to Ladysmith to get some antibiotics and glucose/electrolytes for him. He is very weak and we are force feeding him at the moment. Also gave him some penicillin as it might be a bug.
18/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 16*C
Max temp: 20*C
Rainfall : 6mm
07:30 Did emails and report.
We had spent most of the day and night feeding Squirt and just keeping an eye on him. He looks a little better after the meds and seems to be taking the solution easier. He is even drinking it himself now. We are adding biorem which is a lactobacillus culture for the treatment of diarrhoea in lambs.
08:30 Hannes went out to have a look around. The roads are wet from the rain. Went to the lodge - one Impala group neat there.
09:00 At the dam near the lodge there were a group of bachelor Impalas.
09:10 On the road back from the lodge saw a Jackal Buzzard in a tree.
09:25 On the Ryefield the only animal seen was a female Warthog.
09:35 At the 2 ponds near the main gate 18 Impala (1 male, 17 female) and a Red-billed oxpecker as well as a yellow-billed duck.
09:50 Went to the dam at the base of the mountain and on the road there saw some Giraffes and the 4 young calves. Vera is getting quite big now.
09:55 At the dam there were 2 x White-faced ducks, 2 x Yellow-billed ducks, 2 x Red-knobbed coots and a Black-headed heron.
11:10 Near the house - 6 x Zebras and 26 Bachelor Impalas.
11:30 Headed toward the back of the mountain via the lodge and through the big dip but were unable to see anything.
12:00 The Giraffes (11) were moving towards the main gate.
13:20 Headed towards the mountain but could not go up because of the roads being so wet. Saw 26 Zebras (4 foals) and a group of about 25 Impalas.
15:40 At the 2 dams near the house there were 35 Impala and 21 lambs.
15:50 Main road to Ryefield 13 Impala ewes and 11 lambs.
Michael has reported that another Blesbok lamb has been born, but it seems to be getting some trouble from the Zebras, who are taking shots at it. We are not sure why this is. The zebras have not actually made contact but the Blesbok female don’t seem to be very protective.
16:30 Took the staff back to Colenso
19/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 15*C
Max temp: 22*C
06:30 This morning early one of the Impala crèches were in the yard at home. We have been giving Squirt some fluids every 3 hours during night to keep him hydrated. He really is looking stronger and we hope it keeps up.
06:45 Hannes went to pick up the staff from Colenso
07:00 Did yesterday's report.
08:00 Dropped staff where they needed to go. 2 x Spur-winged Geese near the dams close to the house
09:50 Road to the dam at the base of the mountain, 4 x Kudu males.
10:00 At the dam near the base of the mountain there were - 2 x White-faced ducks, 2 x Yellow-billed ducks, 2 x Red-knobbed coots and a Watermonitor.
10:30 Headed to the main gate. 7 Impalas and 2 lambs
10:55 At the lodge - 3 x Large grey mongoose
11:10 Took the road leading to the mountain, 3 x Blesbok (Bez, Lez and Sean) and 6 x Zebras.
11:20 Halfway up to the mountain saw 3 x Zebras and 9 Giraffes.
13:00 - 14:00 Took some of the staff to their places again.
14:10 10 x Kudus near the house.
15:15 Went to fetch the guys who sprayed at the back near the N3 (fence line)
16:30 Took the staff back.
20/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 14*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:30 Fed Squirt. He is much better thankfully. Took him for a walk outside. He is back on milk, but thinned down and we are still giving him some electrolytes.
08:00 Dropped the spraying team off to spray under the fence line.
09:00 Headed up to the mountain to check on the Blesbok.
09:10 Saw a Steppe Buzzard along the way.
09:15 We saw the Giraffes about halfway towards the mountain. There were some Kudus and a group of Zebras near them.
09:35 Top right hand side of the mountain we saw a group of 13 Zebras and the Blesbok group. We could however unfortunately only see 7 lambs and we fear that the new one might not have made it. We had a look around but could not see anything.
10:10 On the way back down we saw 4 x Kudu cows. Headed back to feed Squirt some liquids
10:30 Changed the AFTW bakkie (vehicle)'s diesel filter.
11:45 Helped with the fence posts for a while.
13:00 Headed back to feed Squirt
13:15 There were 6 x Zebras near the house.
13:30 Tried to ID some insects.
15:00 Went to the lodge to take a photo of a Spider.
15:15 8 x Zebras and a group of Impalas near the lodge.
16:00 Went to pick up the Spray team from the back.
21/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 18*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:00 Fed Squirt and took him outside. His tummy was looser today than yesterday but not runny.
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Took the guys for spraying the fence line.
10:00 Hannes went with Mike to Winterton just to go see where they sell the chemicals for the alien plant control. I stayed and kept an eye on Squirt. Did some fact file.
12:00 Went to pick up the spray team from near the N3 round the back.
13:25 Saw 2 x Kudu bulls on he way back.
14:00 Fed Squirt. Starting to make his milk solution a little stronger.
14:15 Did some fact file the rest of the day.
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 13*C
Max temp: 19*C
Rainfall over weekend: 25mm
Squirt was very sick over the weekend and we have spent most of the time looking after him. Today we will stay with him and try to keep him hydrated and warm. Went to Ladysmith to get some antibiotics and glucose/electrolytes for him. He is very weak and we are force feeding him at the moment. Also gave him some penicillin as it might be a bug.
18/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 16*C
Max temp: 20*C
Rainfall : 6mm
07:30 Did emails and report.
We had spent most of the day and night feeding Squirt and just keeping an eye on him. He looks a little better after the meds and seems to be taking the solution easier. He is even drinking it himself now. We are adding biorem which is a lactobacillus culture for the treatment of diarrhoea in lambs.
08:30 Hannes went out to have a look around. The roads are wet from the rain. Went to the lodge - one Impala group neat there.
09:00 At the dam near the lodge there were a group of bachelor Impalas.
09:10 On the road back from the lodge saw a Jackal Buzzard in a tree.
09:25 On the Ryefield the only animal seen was a female Warthog.
09:35 At the 2 ponds near the main gate 18 Impala (1 male, 17 female) and a Red-billed oxpecker as well as a yellow-billed duck.
09:50 Went to the dam at the base of the mountain and on the road there saw some Giraffes and the 4 young calves. Vera is getting quite big now.
09:55 At the dam there were 2 x White-faced ducks, 2 x Yellow-billed ducks, 2 x Red-knobbed coots and a Black-headed heron.
11:10 Near the house - 6 x Zebras and 26 Bachelor Impalas.
11:30 Headed toward the back of the mountain via the lodge and through the big dip but were unable to see anything.
12:00 The Giraffes (11) were moving towards the main gate.
13:20 Headed towards the mountain but could not go up because of the roads being so wet. Saw 26 Zebras (4 foals) and a group of about 25 Impalas.
15:40 At the 2 dams near the house there were 35 Impala and 21 lambs.
15:50 Main road to Ryefield 13 Impala ewes and 11 lambs.
Michael has reported that another Blesbok lamb has been born, but it seems to be getting some trouble from the Zebras, who are taking shots at it. We are not sure why this is. The zebras have not actually made contact but the Blesbok female don’t seem to be very protective.
16:30 Took the staff back to Colenso
19/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 15*C
Max temp: 22*C
06:30 This morning early one of the Impala crèches were in the yard at home. We have been giving Squirt some fluids every 3 hours during night to keep him hydrated. He really is looking stronger and we hope it keeps up.
06:45 Hannes went to pick up the staff from Colenso
07:00 Did yesterday's report.
08:00 Dropped staff where they needed to go. 2 x Spur-winged Geese near the dams close to the house
09:50 Road to the dam at the base of the mountain, 4 x Kudu males.
10:00 At the dam near the base of the mountain there were - 2 x White-faced ducks, 2 x Yellow-billed ducks, 2 x Red-knobbed coots and a Watermonitor.
10:30 Headed to the main gate. 7 Impalas and 2 lambs
10:55 At the lodge - 3 x Large grey mongoose
11:10 Took the road leading to the mountain, 3 x Blesbok (Bez, Lez and Sean) and 6 x Zebras.
11:20 Halfway up to the mountain saw 3 x Zebras and 9 Giraffes.
13:00 - 14:00 Took some of the staff to their places again.
14:10 10 x Kudus near the house.
15:15 Went to fetch the guys who sprayed at the back near the N3 (fence line)
16:30 Took the staff back.
20/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 14*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:30 Fed Squirt. He is much better thankfully. Took him for a walk outside. He is back on milk, but thinned down and we are still giving him some electrolytes.
08:00 Dropped the spraying team off to spray under the fence line.
09:00 Headed up to the mountain to check on the Blesbok.
09:10 Saw a Steppe Buzzard along the way.
09:15 We saw the Giraffes about halfway towards the mountain. There were some Kudus and a group of Zebras near them.
09:35 Top right hand side of the mountain we saw a group of 13 Zebras and the Blesbok group. We could however unfortunately only see 7 lambs and we fear that the new one might not have made it. We had a look around but could not see anything.
10:10 On the way back down we saw 4 x Kudu cows. Headed back to feed Squirt some liquids
10:30 Changed the AFTW bakkie (vehicle)'s diesel filter.
11:45 Helped with the fence posts for a while.
13:00 Headed back to feed Squirt
13:15 There were 6 x Zebras near the house.
13:30 Tried to ID some insects.
15:00 Went to the lodge to take a photo of a Spider.
15:15 8 x Zebras and a group of Impalas near the lodge.
16:00 Went to pick up the Spray team from the back.
21/12/2007
Weather : Sunny
Min temp : 18*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:00 Fed Squirt and took him outside. His tummy was looser today than yesterday but not runny.
07:30 Did report.
08:00 Took the guys for spraying the fence line.
10:00 Hannes went with Mike to Winterton just to go see where they sell the chemicals for the alien plant control. I stayed and kept an eye on Squirt. Did some fact file.
12:00 Went to pick up the spray team from near the N3 round the back.
13:25 Saw 2 x Kudu bulls on he way back.
14:00 Fed Squirt. Starting to make his milk solution a little stronger.
14:15 Did some fact file the rest of the day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)