18/02/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 19°C
Max temp: 32°C
07:30 Report
08:30 Welding rhino fence at N3 side, along Tugela river.
13:10 Did E-mails and photos on computer.
14:45 Went to ryefield, saw 25 Impala rams, 2 Blesbok, 21 Zebras.
15:10 Went to the ponds at the main gate, saw a mother Warthog with 2 very small babies.
15:35 Drove to the pond at the foot of the mountain where I saw another sounder of Warthogs, 1 mother with 4 babies, I also saw a lone Impala ram not far from them.
16:00 Went up to the lodge to check on things, on the way I saw 6 Giraffes at the pond near the lodge, and a group of Impala ewe’s with lambs.
16:30 Home.
19/02/2008
Time Area and details of animal Weather: Sunny/overcast
Min temp: 22°C
Max temp: 33°C
Rainfall: 1½ mm
07:30 Report
08:30 3 x Zebras on the road leading to mountain (S28°43.989 – E29°40.776)
08:35 6 x Zebras and a group of Impala ewes with lambs also on the road that leads up to mountain (S28°43.801 – E29°40.601)
08:40 1 x Common Duiker on road to mountain (S28°43.602 – E29°40.462)
09:10 2 x Mountain Reedbuck and 2 x Blesbok at pond 9 on top of the mountain
(S28°42.487 – E29°40.465)
09:50 Went to the other side of the mountain to see if I can spot the rest of the Blesbok, saw the Blesbok, but they were far away and in very tall grass.
11:00 Got home, help Ed offload the office furniture.
12:30 Went to pond at foot of mountain to see if there might be some animals, nothing
13:00 Did computer work, e-mails and sorting photo’s
14:25 Went to Ryefield to see what animals are grazing there, just when I got there it started to rain and all the Blesbok, Impalas and Zebras moved to the shelter of the bush, then I saw 8 x Kudus among them in between the trees.
15:15 Went to Lodge, saw 8 Giraffes at the pond near the lodge. Walked around lodge to see if everything is still fine, checked inside, the bathroom roof of bedroom 2 got some water damage.
16:00 Home
20/02/2008
Time Area and details of animal Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22°C
Max temp: 30°C
07:30 Did Report
08:00 Took a drive around the farm, taking photos of birds and identifying them
09:30 While taking photos I saw all 15 Giraffes near the house, Vera was standing next to the house fence chewing on bones.
11:00 Went with Mike to Weenan Game Reserve to talk to Abe the head ranger of Weenan
Game Reserve about the training for Michael and Mandla involving Rhino Monitoring.
15:30 Went to pick up staff with Mike at back end of farm near the N3 Highway
16:30 Home.
21/02/2008
Time Area and details of animal Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22°C
Max temp: 30°C
07:30 Drop Michael and Mandla of at Cloustens
08:20 Did Report
09:00 Went to the school for a meeting with Cindy the headmistress
10:00 Went to Ladysmith to pick up wire rope clamps and cutter bar oil for chain saw
12:25 Send some e-mails and then went out to take some photos of different animal
species.
13:40 Saw 6 Waterbuck, 5 females and 1 baby (S28°44.504 – E29°41.368)
14:30 At the ryefield I saw 13 Giraffes, 28 Zebra, 3 Blesbok, group of bachelor Impala and a big group of Impala ewes with lambs.
15:00 Back at office sorting photos
16:00 Went with Mike to pick up the staff
16:45 Home.
22/02/2008
Time Area and details of animal Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22°C
Max temp: 30C
06:45 Took AFTW Vehicle to Ladysmith for service
13:30 Took staff to N3 highway to electrify fence after they cleared a way at Tugela
river for rhino fence.
14:30 At office trying to send e-mails
16:00 Fetch staff at N3 highway
16:30 Took staff home.
17:00 Home.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Monday, 25 February 2008
Weekly Reports 11 - 15th February 2008
11/02/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 21°
Max temp: 29°C
Weekend Rainfall:3½mm
07:30 Did report
08:00 Took sprayers to Cloustan’s fence to spray.
09:00 Went to Ladysmith to get cement for fence.
12:00 Got home, did e-mails
13:30 Went to do some welding on the rhino fence till 15:30
15:30 Went to fetch sprayers at fence.
16:30 Back home.
12/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 28°C
07:30 Did report and got sprayers ready for spraying.
08:00 Took sprayers to Geluk Fence to spray.
08:15 On the way saw 5 Waterbucks (2 females, 3 babies) near Ryefield.
09:30 Saw 5 Giraffes at the stream leading to Tugela River.
09:50 Got to the ryefield, saw 15 Zebras, group of Bachelor Impala, group of impala ewes with young.
10:00 Just as I got to the road from the ryefield, I saw a swarm of honey bees making their way towards the mountain.
10:20 At the 2 ponds near the main gate I saw the 2 White-faced Ducks with their 6 ducklings. Their also were 3 Kudus in the bushes near by.
11:30 Got to the pond at the foot of the mountain to see if that Waterbuck female was there that I saw on numerous occasions there. She was not, only a flock of Weaver birds.
12:10 Left the dam to go to the top of the mountain.
12:30 Saw 25 Zebras, could only see 2 foals.
13:00 Went to weld the support beams on, on the corner posts for the rhino fence at ryefield next to the river.
15:30 Finished welding.
15:40 Dropped of the welding equipment to go and fetch the sprayers at Geluk fence line.
16:30 Back home.
13/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 26°C
07:30 Did Report
08:00 Trouble starting the truck, had to recharge battery and give it a jump start.
09:00 Took Michael to Geluk to patrol the fence and check on the animals.
10:30 Went with Mike to drop reinforcing pipes for the Rhino fence corner posts to be able to support the cable.
11:30 Started to weld a frame for the cable, to make it easier and faster to pull the cable.
15:45 Finished the frame, went to pick up staff at the N3 fence line.
16:30 Took staff home.
17:00 Back home.
14/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 21
Max temp: 28°C
07:45 Took staff to N3 fence line to put up electric fencing.
10:10 Saw 5 Giraffes in the road going to the ryefield.
10:15 Saw 5 Waterbuck, 2 Females with 3 Babies next to Ryefield ( S28°44.544 – E29°41.560)
10:20 Saw 21 Zebras, 3 Blesbok, 26 Impala rams, 41 Impala ewes with babies and Waterbuck baby standing with the Impala’s.
10:45 2 x Kudu calves at the 2 ponds near the main gate.
11:00 On my way back I saw 3 of the baby Giraffes standing next to the road near the Ryefield with 13 Zebras standing near them.
12:00 Sorted photos out of animals I photographed.
14:00 Meeting
15:00 Went to pond at the foot of the mountain, saw nothing there.
15:35 Drove up to lodge, saw 2 Mountain Reedbuck, 1 Female with a baby (S28°44.581 E29°40.880)
15:55 Arrived at lodge, saw nothing there.
16:00 Went to ryefield again with Michael and Mandla to show them the waterbuck Baby, couldn’t find it, only saw the mother looking for it.
16:30 Home.
14/02/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22°C
Max temp: 31°C
06:45 – 16:00
Took AFTW Vehicle for service, spend the whole day in Ladysmith waiting for the vehicle.
16:30 Home.
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 21°
Max temp: 29°C
Weekend Rainfall:3½mm
07:30 Did report
08:00 Took sprayers to Cloustan’s fence to spray.
09:00 Went to Ladysmith to get cement for fence.
12:00 Got home, did e-mails
13:30 Went to do some welding on the rhino fence till 15:30
15:30 Went to fetch sprayers at fence.
16:30 Back home.
12/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 28°C
07:30 Did report and got sprayers ready for spraying.
08:00 Took sprayers to Geluk Fence to spray.
08:15 On the way saw 5 Waterbucks (2 females, 3 babies) near Ryefield.
09:30 Saw 5 Giraffes at the stream leading to Tugela River.
09:50 Got to the ryefield, saw 15 Zebras, group of Bachelor Impala, group of impala ewes with young.
10:00 Just as I got to the road from the ryefield, I saw a swarm of honey bees making their way towards the mountain.
10:20 At the 2 ponds near the main gate I saw the 2 White-faced Ducks with their 6 ducklings. Their also were 3 Kudus in the bushes near by.
11:30 Got to the pond at the foot of the mountain to see if that Waterbuck female was there that I saw on numerous occasions there. She was not, only a flock of Weaver birds.
12:10 Left the dam to go to the top of the mountain.
12:30 Saw 25 Zebras, could only see 2 foals.
13:00 Went to weld the support beams on, on the corner posts for the rhino fence at ryefield next to the river.
15:30 Finished welding.
15:40 Dropped of the welding equipment to go and fetch the sprayers at Geluk fence line.
16:30 Back home.
13/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 26°C
07:30 Did Report
08:00 Trouble starting the truck, had to recharge battery and give it a jump start.
09:00 Took Michael to Geluk to patrol the fence and check on the animals.
10:30 Went with Mike to drop reinforcing pipes for the Rhino fence corner posts to be able to support the cable.
11:30 Started to weld a frame for the cable, to make it easier and faster to pull the cable.
15:45 Finished the frame, went to pick up staff at the N3 fence line.
16:30 Took staff home.
17:00 Back home.
14/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 21
Max temp: 28°C
07:45 Took staff to N3 fence line to put up electric fencing.
10:10 Saw 5 Giraffes in the road going to the ryefield.
10:15 Saw 5 Waterbuck, 2 Females with 3 Babies next to Ryefield ( S28°44.544 – E29°41.560)
10:20 Saw 21 Zebras, 3 Blesbok, 26 Impala rams, 41 Impala ewes with babies and Waterbuck baby standing with the Impala’s.
10:45 2 x Kudu calves at the 2 ponds near the main gate.
11:00 On my way back I saw 3 of the baby Giraffes standing next to the road near the Ryefield with 13 Zebras standing near them.
12:00 Sorted photos out of animals I photographed.
14:00 Meeting
15:00 Went to pond at the foot of the mountain, saw nothing there.
15:35 Drove up to lodge, saw 2 Mountain Reedbuck, 1 Female with a baby (S28°44.581 E29°40.880)
15:55 Arrived at lodge, saw nothing there.
16:00 Went to ryefield again with Michael and Mandla to show them the waterbuck Baby, couldn’t find it, only saw the mother looking for it.
16:30 Home.
14/02/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22°C
Max temp: 31°C
06:45 – 16:00
Took AFTW Vehicle for service, spend the whole day in Ladysmith waiting for the vehicle.
16:30 Home.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Weekly Report 4th - 8th February 2008
04/02/200
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19°C
Max temp: 24°C
WeekendRainfall: 5mm
07:30 Did report and emails.
08:00 Power cut from Eskom. Dropped sprayers at back of mountain for fence.
10:00 Took a hike towards mountain. Turned towards the dam at the base of the mountain, where I made a horrible discovery. I found Squirt in the grass. It seems that the Jackals had gotten to him the previous night.
10:30 Hannes went with Mike to help with the Rhino fence.
13:00 Came back and worked on the fact file and photos.
15:00 Went to pick up the sprayers from the back at the fence.
16:00 Back home.
05/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 24°C
07:30 Getting everything ready for fencing.
08:00 Drove towards mountain.
09:40 Saw the 4 baby Giraffes on the way to mountain (S28°43.867 – E29°40.684 )
10:00 Saw 1 lone Kudu Bull just as I got to the top of UmPhafa Mountain (S28°43.006 - E29°40.140 )
10:20 Saw only 1 Blesbok male at the top of the mountain near pond 9 (S28°42.487 - E29°40.465 )
11:00 Saw 1 lone Kudu cow on my way back from mountain (S28°43.796 – E 29°40.465 )
13:30 Went to help with the fencing till 15:00
16:00 Released an African Rock Python that we got from a local farmer. He caught the snake in his chicken pen eating his chickens. The snake is about 3m long, a bit bigger than the first one we released. We released it at the same spot as the first one. (S28°44.331 – E29°39.205 )
06/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 25°C
Rainfall: 3mm
07:30 Did report
10:00 Went to Winterton to pick up Chemicals for the spraying of the fence. Arrived back home at 12:30.
13:30 Went to Geluk to check on all the dams and their water level. Saw nothing on the way, only a European Roller on the power line. The dams looked good and almost full on Geluk.
15:20 Went to the pond at the foot of the mountain, saw 2 Common Reedbuck on the way.
16:00 At the pond I saw 1 Female Waterbuck.
16:30 Back home.
07/02/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 19°C
Max temp: 28°C
07:30 Got everything ready for sprayers to go and spray at Cloustan’s fence
08:00 Took sprayers away to go and spray at Cloustan’s fence line.
10:20 Went to dam at foot of mountain, saw the same Waterbuck female as the previous day (S28°43.721 – E29°41.024)
11:00 Drove to ryefield, saw 18 Impala males, ± 40 Impala females with lambs, 15 Zebras and 1 Warthog male on the ryefield (S28°44.555 – E29°41.808 )
11:20 Just as I made my way to the main road from the ryefield 8 Kudus ran across the field, 7 females and 1 young male.
11:45 Went to check on the lodge, everything is fine there. On my way back I heard 2 Black-eyed Bulbuls making a big noise, when I stopped to investigate the problem, I saw one of their new born chicks fell out of the nest. Went back home to fetch a ladder, to put the little bird back nest.
12:10 Put the little bird back in his nest.
13:10 Went to Ladysmith to get washing machine part.
15:45 Went to pick up sprayers at Cloustan’s fence line.
16:30 Back home
07/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 31°C
07:30 Report
08:00 Took sprayers to Cloustan’s fence line.
09:00 Welding Rhino fence.
11:00 Pick up staff, started to rain.
12:40 Took staff back to N3, to continue fencing.
13:55 Went with Mike to test electric fence to see if there is any fault on the line along the Tugela river. Saw a Pygmy Kingfisher sitting on fence.
15:30 Went to pick up sprayers at Cloustan’s fence.
15:45 On the way saw 2 White-Faced Ducks with 5 ducklings at the 2 ponds at the main gate.
16:30 Back home
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19°C
Max temp: 24°C
WeekendRainfall: 5mm
07:30 Did report and emails.
08:00 Power cut from Eskom. Dropped sprayers at back of mountain for fence.
10:00 Took a hike towards mountain. Turned towards the dam at the base of the mountain, where I made a horrible discovery. I found Squirt in the grass. It seems that the Jackals had gotten to him the previous night.
10:30 Hannes went with Mike to help with the Rhino fence.
13:00 Came back and worked on the fact file and photos.
15:00 Went to pick up the sprayers from the back at the fence.
16:00 Back home.
05/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 24°C
07:30 Getting everything ready for fencing.
08:00 Drove towards mountain.
09:40 Saw the 4 baby Giraffes on the way to mountain (S28°43.867 – E29°40.684 )
10:00 Saw 1 lone Kudu Bull just as I got to the top of UmPhafa Mountain (S28°43.006 - E29°40.140 )
10:20 Saw only 1 Blesbok male at the top of the mountain near pond 9 (S28°42.487 - E29°40.465 )
11:00 Saw 1 lone Kudu cow on my way back from mountain (S28°43.796 – E 29°40.465 )
13:30 Went to help with the fencing till 15:00
16:00 Released an African Rock Python that we got from a local farmer. He caught the snake in his chicken pen eating his chickens. The snake is about 3m long, a bit bigger than the first one we released. We released it at the same spot as the first one. (S28°44.331 – E29°39.205 )
06/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 25°C
Rainfall: 3mm
07:30 Did report
10:00 Went to Winterton to pick up Chemicals for the spraying of the fence. Arrived back home at 12:30.
13:30 Went to Geluk to check on all the dams and their water level. Saw nothing on the way, only a European Roller on the power line. The dams looked good and almost full on Geluk.
15:20 Went to the pond at the foot of the mountain, saw 2 Common Reedbuck on the way.
16:00 At the pond I saw 1 Female Waterbuck.
16:30 Back home.
07/02/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 19°C
Max temp: 28°C
07:30 Got everything ready for sprayers to go and spray at Cloustan’s fence
08:00 Took sprayers away to go and spray at Cloustan’s fence line.
10:20 Went to dam at foot of mountain, saw the same Waterbuck female as the previous day (S28°43.721 – E29°41.024)
11:00 Drove to ryefield, saw 18 Impala males, ± 40 Impala females with lambs, 15 Zebras and 1 Warthog male on the ryefield (S28°44.555 – E29°41.808 )
11:20 Just as I made my way to the main road from the ryefield 8 Kudus ran across the field, 7 females and 1 young male.
11:45 Went to check on the lodge, everything is fine there. On my way back I heard 2 Black-eyed Bulbuls making a big noise, when I stopped to investigate the problem, I saw one of their new born chicks fell out of the nest. Went back home to fetch a ladder, to put the little bird back nest.
12:10 Put the little bird back in his nest.
13:10 Went to Ladysmith to get washing machine part.
15:45 Went to pick up sprayers at Cloustan’s fence line.
16:30 Back home
07/02/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 20°C
Max temp: 31°C
07:30 Report
08:00 Took sprayers to Cloustan’s fence line.
09:00 Welding Rhino fence.
11:00 Pick up staff, started to rain.
12:40 Took staff back to N3, to continue fencing.
13:55 Went with Mike to test electric fence to see if there is any fault on the line along the Tugela river. Saw a Pygmy Kingfisher sitting on fence.
15:30 Went to pick up sprayers at Cloustan’s fence.
15:45 On the way saw 2 White-Faced Ducks with 5 ducklings at the 2 ponds at the main gate.
16:30 Back home
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Weekly Report 21st - 25th January 2008
21/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 28*C
Weekend rainfall: 7mm
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him out.
Spend the day testing and working the GPS and getting coordinates for
Gevonden logged on the GPS.
22/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 29*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him out. (40days here)
07:30 Did reports and emails
08:00 Went to check on lodge and do some cleaning. Impala crèche at the lodge as well as the 3 Blesbok.
10:00 Saw a Mountain Reedbuck ewe and lamb on the way back from the lodge.
11:00 KZN Wildlife (Waldo) here for the check on the Rhino fence.
Eskom Load shedding power cut: 8pm-10pm
23/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 29*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside.
07:30 Did yesterdays report.
08:00 We have received a Rock Python from KZN Wildlife, which we released at the back of UmPhafa, near the 1st dam (S 28º44.331, E 029º39.205) N3 side. The release went smooth and we have spotted loads of Hyrax in the area.
09:10 We headed up towards the mountain from the back. Spotted 1 x Kudu bull back near the 4th dam.
09:20 We drove towards the mountain logging some more spots, especially the dams along the way.
09:35 Saw another Kudu bull on the way up the mountain.
10:00 On the road back from the top of the mountain heading towards the farm house a group of Zebra, we managed to spot a foal there as well and also some bachelor Impala
10:15 Near the Donga the rest of the Zebra group (6), and an Impala crèche.
11:05 3 x Kudu near the Tugela on the road.
11:15 8 x Kudu Bulls at the Big Stream leading towards the Tugela near the main road.
11:20 Helped a bit on the Rhino fence.
13:15 Headed to the top of the mountain to log the dams on the GPS.
14:25 While logging the dams, found a Mountain Reedbuck male dead in the water. We removed it and brought it down for closer inspection.
15:30 It seems that the Reedbuck was chased into the water, but we are not sure by what. It has bite marks on and claw marks. Some wounds on the underbelly. It seemed to have drowned in the water. Terrapins ate the tongue. Must have happened the night before. Will go out tomorrow morning for an inspection of the area to see if people might have been involved with dogs. (S 28º42.490, E029º40.670)
Eskom Load shedding power cut: 5am-6am
10am-12am
4pm-6pm
24/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 29*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside.
07:30 Headed up the mountain to have a look at where we found the Mountain Reedbuck in the water. We could only find some Caracal tracks and jackal tracks, no people. We think it was a caracal that chased it into the water.
09:00 3 x Blesbok and a Zebra group on the top left hand side of the mountain. We could not see the rest of the Blesbok on top.
10:00 Took GPS locations for the dams (S28º44.008, E029º40.812)
10:30 2 x Male Giraffes and a female that looked to be in heat near the big stream leading to the Tugela. (S28º44.373, E029º41.323)
10:40 7x Giraffes near the Ryefield, (S28º44.394, E029º41.668)
11:00 At the Ryefield 9 x Impala rams (S28º44.555, E029º41.808) As well as 3 x Blesbok rams
11:15 Took GPS location of the loading ramp (W28º44.306, E029º41.727)
11:45 Near the 2 ponds at the main gate, 3 x Kudu,2 x Whitefaced Ducks and 2 x Red billed Ducks. (S28º44.320, E029º42.095)
11:50 Main gate 2 x Kudu cows (S28º44.326, E029º42.232)
12:45 Near the stream leading to the Tugela saw 6x Zebra. (S28º44.373, E029º41.323)
13:00 3 x Zebra near the pond at the lodge. (S28º44.450, E029º40.795)
13:05 Marked the road at the back on GPS.
13:05 3 x Impala rams on the way towards the back via the lodge (S28º44.374 E029º39.959)
13:30 Took a GPS of the dam near the N3 (S28º44.443, E029º39.283)
13:45 Took GPS of the 2nd dam near the back (S28º44.260, E029º39.110)
14:00 Took GPS of the 3rd dam near the back (S28º43.861, E029º38.881)
14:45 Headed back, had a short meeting with Mike.
15:40 Went to pick up sprayers from the fence.
Eskom Load shedding power cut: 6:20am-8am
2pm-4pm
25/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 21*C
Max temp: 31*C
06:30 Fed Squirt, took him out.
07:30 Did yesterday’s report.
08:30 Headed out into the field to take some photo’s. Headed towards the mountain and down the big stream towards the Tugela. Saw a group of Impalas in the big stream on the way towards the main road.
08:50 At the dam near the base of the mountain (S28º43.721, E29º41.024) 2 x African
Black Ducks
09:00 3 x Kudu Bulls on the road back from the dam, (S28º44.084, E29º41.059)
09:05 At the 2 dams near the house, (S28º44.379, E29º41.117) 2 x Blesbok
09:10 6 x Zebras at the 2 dams near the house. (S28º44.436, E29º41.149)
09:20 At the Ryefield, (S28º44.555, E29º41.808) 14 x Impala rams.
09:45 2 x Mountain Reedbuck with a lamb (1xmale, 1 x female) on the road towards the valley at the back. (S28º44.349, E29º40.592)
10:00 2 x juv. Kudu bulls at the back valley, (S28º44.149, E29º39.713)
11:20 17 Zebras on the road towards the mountain. (S28º43.733, E29º40.553)
11:40 9 x Kudu bulls at the top left hand side of the mountain at pond nr 6. (S28º43.400, E29º39.848)
11:50 Top of the mountain 2 more Kudu bulls (S28º43.031, E29º40.131)
12:00 White-throated Swallow at the top of the mountain (S28º42.541, E29º40.378)
12:00 Top of the mountain 1 x Blesbok. (S28º42.541, E29º40.278)
12:05 14 x Blesbok with all 7 lambs still there at the top of the mountain. (S28º42.656, E29º40.670)
12:50 At the dam near the N3 at the back of the mountain.3 x Kudu cows (2 juv) (S28º43.380, E29º38.922)
12:55 At the fence by the N3 1 x Kudu bull (S28º43.769, E29º38.842)
13:30 1 x Hartebeest at the back valley. (S28º44.379, E29º39.975)
14:30 Fetched the game guards from Geluk so we can start on the training for the reports on the PC.
15:20-16:30 Did training with Michael and Mandla on the computer so they can type
up their own reports and report to AFTW directly.
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 28*C
Weekend rainfall: 7mm
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him out.
Spend the day testing and working the GPS and getting coordinates for
Gevonden logged on the GPS.
22/01/2008
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 29*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him out. (40days here)
07:30 Did reports and emails
08:00 Went to check on lodge and do some cleaning. Impala crèche at the lodge as well as the 3 Blesbok.
10:00 Saw a Mountain Reedbuck ewe and lamb on the way back from the lodge.
11:00 KZN Wildlife (Waldo) here for the check on the Rhino fence.
Eskom Load shedding power cut: 8pm-10pm
23/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 29*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside.
07:30 Did yesterdays report.
08:00 We have received a Rock Python from KZN Wildlife, which we released at the back of UmPhafa, near the 1st dam (S 28º44.331, E 029º39.205) N3 side. The release went smooth and we have spotted loads of Hyrax in the area.
09:10 We headed up towards the mountain from the back. Spotted 1 x Kudu bull back near the 4th dam.
09:20 We drove towards the mountain logging some more spots, especially the dams along the way.
09:35 Saw another Kudu bull on the way up the mountain.
10:00 On the road back from the top of the mountain heading towards the farm house a group of Zebra, we managed to spot a foal there as well and also some bachelor Impala
10:15 Near the Donga the rest of the Zebra group (6), and an Impala crèche.
11:05 3 x Kudu near the Tugela on the road.
11:15 8 x Kudu Bulls at the Big Stream leading towards the Tugela near the main road.
11:20 Helped a bit on the Rhino fence.
13:15 Headed to the top of the mountain to log the dams on the GPS.
14:25 While logging the dams, found a Mountain Reedbuck male dead in the water. We removed it and brought it down for closer inspection.
15:30 It seems that the Reedbuck was chased into the water, but we are not sure by what. It has bite marks on and claw marks. Some wounds on the underbelly. It seemed to have drowned in the water. Terrapins ate the tongue. Must have happened the night before. Will go out tomorrow morning for an inspection of the area to see if people might have been involved with dogs. (S 28º42.490, E029º40.670)
Eskom Load shedding power cut: 5am-6am
10am-12am
4pm-6pm
24/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 29*C
06:30 Fed Squirt and took him outside.
07:30 Headed up the mountain to have a look at where we found the Mountain Reedbuck in the water. We could only find some Caracal tracks and jackal tracks, no people. We think it was a caracal that chased it into the water.
09:00 3 x Blesbok and a Zebra group on the top left hand side of the mountain. We could not see the rest of the Blesbok on top.
10:00 Took GPS locations for the dams (S28º44.008, E029º40.812)
10:30 2 x Male Giraffes and a female that looked to be in heat near the big stream leading to the Tugela. (S28º44.373, E029º41.323)
10:40 7x Giraffes near the Ryefield, (S28º44.394, E029º41.668)
11:00 At the Ryefield 9 x Impala rams (S28º44.555, E029º41.808) As well as 3 x Blesbok rams
11:15 Took GPS location of the loading ramp (W28º44.306, E029º41.727)
11:45 Near the 2 ponds at the main gate, 3 x Kudu,2 x Whitefaced Ducks and 2 x Red billed Ducks. (S28º44.320, E029º42.095)
11:50 Main gate 2 x Kudu cows (S28º44.326, E029º42.232)
12:45 Near the stream leading to the Tugela saw 6x Zebra. (S28º44.373, E029º41.323)
13:00 3 x Zebra near the pond at the lodge. (S28º44.450, E029º40.795)
13:05 Marked the road at the back on GPS.
13:05 3 x Impala rams on the way towards the back via the lodge (S28º44.374 E029º39.959)
13:30 Took a GPS of the dam near the N3 (S28º44.443, E029º39.283)
13:45 Took GPS of the 2nd dam near the back (S28º44.260, E029º39.110)
14:00 Took GPS of the 3rd dam near the back (S28º43.861, E029º38.881)
14:45 Headed back, had a short meeting with Mike.
15:40 Went to pick up sprayers from the fence.
Eskom Load shedding power cut: 6:20am-8am
2pm-4pm
25/01/2008
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 21*C
Max temp: 31*C
06:30 Fed Squirt, took him out.
07:30 Did yesterday’s report.
08:30 Headed out into the field to take some photo’s. Headed towards the mountain and down the big stream towards the Tugela. Saw a group of Impalas in the big stream on the way towards the main road.
08:50 At the dam near the base of the mountain (S28º43.721, E29º41.024) 2 x African
Black Ducks
09:00 3 x Kudu Bulls on the road back from the dam, (S28º44.084, E29º41.059)
09:05 At the 2 dams near the house, (S28º44.379, E29º41.117) 2 x Blesbok
09:10 6 x Zebras at the 2 dams near the house. (S28º44.436, E29º41.149)
09:20 At the Ryefield, (S28º44.555, E29º41.808) 14 x Impala rams.
09:45 2 x Mountain Reedbuck with a lamb (1xmale, 1 x female) on the road towards the valley at the back. (S28º44.349, E29º40.592)
10:00 2 x juv. Kudu bulls at the back valley, (S28º44.149, E29º39.713)
11:20 17 Zebras on the road towards the mountain. (S28º43.733, E29º40.553)
11:40 9 x Kudu bulls at the top left hand side of the mountain at pond nr 6. (S28º43.400, E29º39.848)
11:50 Top of the mountain 2 more Kudu bulls (S28º43.031, E29º40.131)
12:00 White-throated Swallow at the top of the mountain (S28º42.541, E29º40.378)
12:00 Top of the mountain 1 x Blesbok. (S28º42.541, E29º40.278)
12:05 14 x Blesbok with all 7 lambs still there at the top of the mountain. (S28º42.656, E29º40.670)
12:50 At the dam near the N3 at the back of the mountain.3 x Kudu cows (2 juv) (S28º43.380, E29º38.922)
12:55 At the fence by the N3 1 x Kudu bull (S28º43.769, E29º38.842)
13:30 1 x Hartebeest at the back valley. (S28º44.379, E29º39.975)
14:30 Fetched the game guards from Geluk so we can start on the training for the reports on the PC.
15:20-16:30 Did training with Michael and Mandla on the computer so they can type
up their own reports and report to AFTW directly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)