Pied Kingfisher…. What’s hiding in the reeds?

On my recent visit with “Boy” to Upington, work of course, I had an early morning photo session. I managed to get myself amid the reeds and the birds flew in mostly without seeing me….

This Pied Kingfisher landed three metres from me and was just not sure what the hell it could see… of course it was me…

“What the … is that the Bulldog sitting there?”

“I’m sure that is the Bulldog, but he has an odd eye…. big and black…”

“May be I should skedaddle…. but he is not moving….”

“Lets give him a portrait photo and then move… he looks as though he needs to take a breath….”

and then it flew off…..

The Long Road to Augrabies…(1)

We went to the “Oranjerus Resort” for two nights… it is a resort on the banks of the Orange River. From there it was a short drive to the Augrabies Falls, but this was to be our central accommodation for short journeys to see the area…

The road is flat and straight…….

And seems to go on forever…

But luckily the Social weaver, gives one a little respite with the nest forms and sizes they build on the telephone poles…

And when one stops to have a look, it is surprising the other little things that are there…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The area has had rain this year.. (not that it happens too often) and the veld flowers are out in magnificent shows…. the area actually is beautifully green..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first stop was at Keimoes to get a few forgotten provisions… like milk and such… the drinks were accounted for…

with a quick climb I managed to get a panorama of the small “dorp” (Afrikaans for village)..

(A close up that appears on the left of the panorama)

More to follow Tomorrow…