African Rail.. not the steam type..

African Rail (Rallus caerulescens)

Now this is not a bird I see everyday, in fact this is the first time I’ve been able to take a photo of one. So I count myself lucky this time…

Its breeding habitat is marshes and reed beds across eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa. The African Rail nests in a dry location in marsh vegetation, both sexes building the cup nest. African Rails are secretive in the breeding season, but are easier to see than many other rail species, especially in the morning. They are noisy birds, with a trilled whistled treee-tee-tee-tee-tee call.

These birds probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects, crabs and other small aquatic animals.

Indian Myna Birds.. a family tiff..

Common Myna or Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

The range of the Common Myna is increasing at such a rapid rate that in 2000 the IUCN Species Survival Commission declared it one of the world’s most invasive species and one of only three birds in the top 100 species that pose an impact to biodiversity, agriculture and human interests.

Yet it still amuses me… imitating the sounds of so many other birds…

Back at Last.. and a day off..

Got back from a hectic trip to Natal.. a very rewarding one though and with a lot learnt… took a day off with my Son and Grand daughter at the Johannesburg Zoo.

So many emails from blogs I’ve missed.. which I hope with time to catch up… but this big boy got my attention, and with a little eye contact he got his message across…

My Grand daughter was as astounded as I was at this Gorilla… he is impressive and I would rather have him on my side in a bun fight, than against …

We are off and running…and boy are we running..

Having just returned from a two day “Talking Turf” Golf Industry Show… where I worked the floor to introduce “terratry”, my software package, I find an inbox of emails that would keep me busy for a day, if not longer… and now I will be flying out to Natal, a province of South Africa, to introduce the software.

So I apologise for not being able to read all you beautiful blogs, and just not having the time to upload one of my own. But now is just too busy a time to be able to do anything other than prepare all the necessary things for the up coming trip and launch of the software in Natal… it went so well at the show, I expected a little excitement, but not what I received.

So for a little while now I’ll be missing… so please all miss me… but in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger… I’LL BE BACK… by the way we chose this logo …. thanks to you all for your feed back… it was a real head scratching exercise, and as this came in only a few points below the other… and on expert advice we went for this one… now all that’s needed is to have it tattooed across my forehead and arm…

White–throated Swallow.

White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis)

Tired of being the focus of attention? Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of all the photographers? Sick and tired of the paparazzi? 

Then build your nest in the local bird hide, next to the dam….

The White-throated Swallow builds a bowl-shaped mud nest with a soft lining of grass or hair. It is usually near or over water, and is built on a ledge under an overhang on a rock face or on a man-made structure such as a building, dam wall, culvert or bridge. Uninhabited buildings are preferred to houses. The nest may be reused for subsequent broods or in later years. (kindly supplied by Wikipedia)