The Last Day of 2012… Happy New Year..

As the sun sets on 2012… the future 2013 hopefully will be one of happiness, prosperity, and fun and laughter.

The beauty of 2012 will carry over to 2013… the visits to Augrabies, the Orange river, the Kalahari and so many other places are planned to continue….

and as the birds fly West towards the sunset let tomorrows sunrise bring us all everything we wish for…..

Tomorrows Sunrise will see the start of 2013… HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL… may it be a good one…

Will be back soon … two more weeks on a walk about in a hot Kalahari…. wonderful…..

Happy Christmas.. to you all.

Tis the time to be jolly….

For the sun to rise and bring on a day of joy, that we may remember the birth of Christ.

To look back over the past year and be thankful for small mercies, good friends and new ones.

To look for new horizons, to explore those we do see….

To laugh in the face of adversity….

and to wish you all a very Happy Christmas, a prosperous New Year, and may all you wish yourself and your fellow man, may it all come true…

This I send you from the Kalahari… where all of the family wish you the same… specially this darling grand daughter of mine….

Marabou Stork..

Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus).

A massive bird, large specimens are thought to reach a height of 152 cm (60 in) and a weight of 9 kg (20 lb.). A wingspan of 3.7 m (12 ft.) was accepted by Fisher and Peterson, who ranked the species as having the largest wing-spread of any living bird.

The Marabou Stork is a scavenger, and the naked head and neck are adapted for this, as it is with the vultures with which the stork often feed. This large and powerful bird eats mainly carrion, scraps and faeces but will opportunistically eat almost any animal matter they can swallow. So do not give this bird a kiss…

It is sometimes called the "Undertaker Bird" due to its shape from behind: cloak-like wings and back, skinny white legs, and sometimes a large white mass of "hair."

One photo for you… not my favourite bird…

Where’s the Bulldog going.??

Kalahari here we come.!!

On Saturday the 15th I’m off to the Kalahari for almost a whole month. The Internet is not of the best… so please miss me… but let me give you a little taste of what you can expect when I return… or rather what I’m going to take photos of……

I don’t know how much blogging time I’m going to get, but it will not be a lot… so… to you all I say, “have a Happy Christmas, may it be a joyful time and may the New Year bring you all that you wish for….” 

When I return I will not attempt to catch up as it will just be too much .. what with 200 odd blogs that I follow .. Soooooo..

I’ll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through.

I’ll be seeing you
In every lovely summer’s day;
In every thing that’s light and gay.
I’ll always think of you that way.

I’ll find you
In the morning sun
And when the night is new.
I’ll be looking at the moon,
But I’ll be seeing you.

And then for the cream on the top…..

Or if the rain keeps on falling… maybe this…

African Fish Eagle.. the call of Africa..

African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer).

This bird is the most recognised bird in Africa, similar to the American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) it is very easy to ID, and that call has every one looking to the skies to capture a glimpse of this magnificent bird as it sails past… here is a sample of the call ….

I just love this bird and it gracious manner of flight. If I could only capture a bird catching it’s food….

The African Fish Eagle is a large bird, and the female, at 3.2-3.6 kg (7-8 lbs.) is larger than the male, at 2-2.5 kg (4.4-5.5 lbs.). Males usually have a wingspan of about 2 m (6 feet), while females have wingspans of 2.4 m (8 feet). What a magnificent bird…..