White-rumped Swift

White-rumped Swifts visit South Africa from equatorial Africa during our warmer months (August to May, though a few stay through the winter). They’re usually seen on the wing, catching flying insects over open country, often close to water and commonly in towns and cities. Usually seen in small flocks of around a dozen, they migrate in larger groups of up to a hundred.

Monogamous pairs of White-rumped Swifts often breed in colonies throughout spring and summer, usually in nests hijacked from other kinds of swifts and swallows. Clutches consist of 1-3 eggs and are incubated for about 3 weeks. Compared to many similarly-sized birds the chicks develop slowly and only fledge shortly before reaching two months old. Adult White-rumped Swifts measure 16cm long and weigh around 24g.

The IUCN lists the White-rumped Swift as being of least concern.

White-rumped Swift

White-rumped Swifts

White-rumped Swift

Speckled Rock Skink

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Trachylepis punctatissima

The main population centre of the Speckled Rock Skink, a common and very adaptable lizard, encompasses Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa (Free State, Gauteng, western Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and the eastern reaches of the Northern Cape) with a seperate population along the borders of Zambia and Malawi. They are diurnal, enjoy basking in the sun, feed on small invertebrates and inhabit a wide range of rocky grassland and savanna habitats, as well as urban landscapes. Speckled Rock Skinks become very tame around houses, especially where marauding pet cats are not a threat. In the colder, high-lying parts of their range they may hibernate through the harshest winter months. Females give birth to litters of 3-9 babies in summer. Adults measure around 19cm in length (including the tail).

The Speckled Rock Skink is closely related to the Striped Skink, was originally considered a race of that species, and is listed as being of least concern by the IUCN. It is also known as the Montane Speckled Skink.

Speckled Rock Skink

Mating Speckled Rock Skinks

Speckled Rock Skink

Speckled Rock Skinks

Speckled Rock Skink

Speckled Rock Skink in Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Speckled Rock Skink

Speckled Rock Skink (photo by Joubert)

Speckled Rock Skink

Speckled Rock Skink inside a tree stump

Baby Speckled Rock Skink

Speckled Rock Skink

Jackal Buzzard

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Buteo rufofuscus

The Jackal Buzzard is a large bird of prey (wingspan up to 1.4m, weight up to 1.7kg, females being the larger sex) found only in Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa. While they do occur over arid scrublands, open grasslands and agricultural areas they are most common in hilly and mountainous areas where they are usually the most numerous and conspicuous large raptor. They feed mainly on small mammals, birds, reptiles and carrion and occasionally insects and frogs.

Outside of the spring & summer breeding season they’re usually seen singly, though pairs do seem to be monogamous and share a territory. Nests are built atop large trees or rocky ledges and are often re-used in consecutive years. The female incubates the clutch of 1-3, eggs, while the male brings food to her over a 6 week period, with the chicks staying in the nest for up to 2 months after hatching before attempting their first flight. Last hatched chicks are often much smaller than their sibling and frequently dies as it cannot compete for food. The chicks stay with their parents for quite some time after leaving the nest.

The Jackal Buzzard gets its name from its call, which could easily be confused for that of the Black-backed Jackal. It is considered of least concern by the IUCN, though unintentional poisoning may be a concern. They have a life expectancy of around 25 years.

Jackal Buzzard in flight

Jackal Buzzard

Jackal Buzzard in flight over Thendele

This Jackal Buzzard (photographed by Marilize) was our first sighting just in at the gate at Giant’s Castle

Jackal Buzzard

Jackal Buzzard in flight over Giant’s Castle

Jackal Buzzard

Jackal Buzzards

Common Blue Butterflies

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Leptotes species

We have four-species of Leptotes butterflies that are so similar to each other that they’re impossible to distinguish in the field. Three of these, the Common Zebra Blue (L. pirithous), the Babault’s Blue (L. babaulti) and Short-toothed Blue (L. brevidentatus) are widely distributed over the country, while Jeannel’s Blue (L. jeanneli) occurs only in the Lowveld.

The Common Blues inhabit a wide range of natural vegetation, cultivated fields and gardens all over the country throughout the year. They’re also familiar over most of the rest of Africa, Madagascar, the Near East and southern Europe. Adults often congregate at wet mud and have a wingspan of 2-3cm.

The larvae feeds on Plumbago and plants from the legume family. Adults are on the wing year-round, though much more numerous in the warmer months. Their complete life-cycle spans about 2 months.

Common Blue (Leptotes sp)

Common Blue (Leptotes sp) (photo by Joubert)

Common Blue Butterfly

Common Blue (Leptotes sp)

Mating Common Blue butterflies

Common Blue Butterfly

Common Blue butterfly

Mating Common Blue butterflies

Cape Turtle Dove

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Streptopelia capicola

The Cape Turtle Dove, also known as the Ring-necked Dove, is one of South Africa’s most common and widespread birds, occurring in every corner of the country in a wide range if habitats, both natural and man-made. They feed on seeds, fruit and small invertebrates, foraged predominantly on the ground.

Cape Turtle Doves breed throughout the year and the monogamous pairs may raise up to 5 broods annually. They construct flimsy stick platforms for use as nests in which 2-4 eggs are incubated for about two weeks. The chicks are looked after by both parents and leave the nest when they’re about two weeks old, after which they may stay with the parents for as long as three weeks before becoming fully independent. Though they’re mostly seen singly or in pairs the Cape Turtle Dove may congregate in large flocks numbering in the hundreds, especially at waterholes or feeding grounds.

Adult Cape Turtle Doves measure about 27cm in length and weigh around 150g. Their peaceful song is a welcome addition to the playlist in any garden. Apart from South Africa, Cape Turtle Doves are also to be found over all of Africa south of the equator and extending to Ethiopia and Somalia in the north-east. The IUCN lists the species as being of least concern, and it is probably expanding both its distribution and population.

Cape Turtle Dove

Cape turtle dove

Cape Turtle Dove

Cape Turtle Dove (Photo by Joubert)

Cape Turtle Dove

Cape Turtle-Dove

Cape Turtle Dove

Cape Turtle Doves drinking from the waterhole at Elephant Sands

Cape Turtle Dove

River Lily

20 Replies

Hesperantha sp.

The River Lily is a much-loved plant in gardens the world over, but it grows wild here in saturated soil along the mountain streams of South Africa’s Drakensberg Range. These bulbous plants stand about 50cm high, grow and flower in full sun during summer with the beautiful blooms being carried from December to April. Apart from the pink form shown here there’s also white and bright red varieties growing wild, while cultivated forms with much wider petals than the wild forms are normally sold at nurseries. The flowers are pollinated by butterflies and flies, and the whole plant goes dormant in winter.

River Lilies

Beautiful wildflowers at Golden Gate: River Lilies

River Lily

Red River Lilies

Golden-breasted Bunting

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Emberiza flaviventris

A species of open woodland and savanna, the beautiful Golden-breasted Bunting feeds mainly on seeds and other plant material, with invertebrates foraged on the ground being an important supplementary food source especially during the breeding season. They’re rather dependent on a reliable source of drinking water, and increasingly gardens, farmyards and exotic plantations is also being utilised as habitat. They’re usually encountered singly, in pairs or small groups.

During spring and summer, monogamous pairs of Golden-breasted Bunting nest in untidy nests built by the female close to the ground in a thick shrub or other dense growth. Clutches of 2 or 3 eggs are incubated, also by the female, for around 2 weeks, with the chicks fledging at about the same length of time after hatching. Adults measure around 16cm in length and weigh approximately 20g.

Golden-breasted Buntings are considered of least concern by the IUCN. They occur patchily over sub-Saharan Africa, with the main centre of their distribution falling in southern and central Africa. In South Africa they are found in all provinces with the exception of the Western Cape.

Golden-breasted Bunting

Olive Thrush

29 Replies

Turdus olivaceus

Olive Thrushes are usually seen singly or in pairs, searching for worms, insects and other invertebrates (and occasionally fruit) on the floor of indigenous woodlands and forests and increasingly in well-planted parks and gardens. Adults weigh around 65g and measure about 23cm in length.

Olive Thrushes breed throughout the year, though there appears to be a peak in nesting during spring and early summer. Pairs are monogamous and territorial. Females build cup-shaped nests high up in trees and shrubs and incubate the clutch of 1-3 eggs over a two week period. The chicks grow quickly and leave the nest when they’re around 16 days old, but they will remain with their parents for up to two months.

Olive Thrushes occur patchily in Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa (Western Cape to escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo). The IUCN regards it to be of least concern. The Karoo Thrush was previously considered to be a subspecies of the Olive Thrush and it is possible that the two species may interbreed on occasion.

Olive Thrush

Olive thrush

Olive Thrush

Easter at Marakele

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If you thought we were a bit quiet over the Easter Weekend you’d be right, as we disappeared into the Marakele National Park in the Waterberg Mountains of the Limpopo Province, celebrating the cornerstone of our Chrisitian faith with good friends and family surrounded by awesome scenery and beautiful wildlife.

Welcome to Marakele National Park

The full moon rising over the Waterberg (photo by Joubert)

Early morning at Marakele

The view from the road to the top of Lenong Viewpoint on the mountain

Everlastings thrive on the mountain

Marakele scenery

Impressive cliffs looming over Thutong

Marakele scenery

The view from the top of Lenong Viewpoint on the mountain

Marakele scenery

The plains and Tlopi Dam below Mbidi Loop

Marakele afternoon sun

Common Sugarbush bud (photo by Joubert)

View over the valley and Waterberg range from Thutong

Marakele’s such a treasure chest of diverse wildlife that it is hard to decide what to show and what to leave out. Let’s start then with a few of the “creepy crawlies” that we encountered while exploring the Park.

Adult Blotched Antlion

Broad-bordered Grass Yellow

Guinea-fowl Butterfly

Common Orange Tip butterfly (male)

Zebra White butterfly

Large moth

Praying Mantis

Two-spotted Tyrant Beetle

A Velvet Ant female – the females are flightless

Flattie Spider against a bathroom wall

Grass Funnel-web Spider

Red Toad

Baby Turner’s Giant Gecko

Turner’s Giant Gecko

Speckled Rock Skink (photo by Joubert)

Western Stripe-bellied Sand Snake

WIth Autumn now in full swing in South Africa most of the summer visiting migrant birds have departed for warmer environs already, but bird watching at Marakele over Easter was still a special treat!

Black-crowned Tchagra

Cape Bunting

Cape Robin Chat

Cape Rock Thrush (male)

Cape Vultures in flight over Marakele – the Park is home to the world’s biggest colony of these birds.

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Familiar Chat

Fork-tailed Drongo

Freckled Nightjar

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Lesser Striped Swallow

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah (shortly before molting)

Mocking Cliff-Chat male

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Rock Kestrels in flight

White-fronted Bee-eater

Yellow-fronted Canary

What would a National Park be without some charismatic large mammals? Marakele certainly didn’t disappoint on that score, even though the lush vegetation following the rainy season did make game-viewing a bit trickier than usual.

Blue Wildebeest

Cantankerous Buffalo bull

Dassie (Rock Hyrax)

Elephant visiting us at Thutong one night (caught on our camera-trap)

Elephant teenager showing off!

This elephant cow didn’t appreciate our presence one bit, even though we gave her plenty of space!

Giraffe bull

Impala ram

Impala lamb

Klipspringer ewe

Klipspringer pair

Kudu bull

Kudu calf

Kudu cow close-up

Majestic Kudu Bull

Juvenile Kudu

Kudu cow

Lioness (photo by Joubert)

Young male lion at Marakele

Nyala calf

Plains Zebras

Plains Zebra close-up

Vervet Monkey (photo by Joubert)

Warthog

White Rhinos

Altogether we spent 4 nights in Marakele on this trip, arriving late on the 18th and departing again on the morning of the 22nd of April 2019. When visiting Marakele in a big group there’s no better option than to stay at the Thutong Environmental Education Centre (as we did) in a remote corner of the Park.

Special friends and family sharing a beautiful piece of our country

Thutong Environmental Education Centre, Marakele NP, April 2019

We’ve covered Marakele extensively in previous posts on de Wets Wild, so why not have a read through all of them if you are interested to learn more about this magical piece of our country.

Drakensberg Malachite

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Chlorolestes draconicus

Occurring along sunlit, rocky, high-altitude mountain streams flowing through forested and other densely vegetated habitats, the Drakensberg Malachite is a beautiful damselfly that is found only in the Drakensberg Mountain Range along South Africa’s border with Lesotho – as most of its distribution falls within the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, the IUCN considers the species to be of least concern. Nymphs live under water on rocks and roots, the eggs having been laid on vegetation overhanging the water and the larvae then dropping into the stream below after hatching. Both adults and nymphs feed on insects.