Posts
All Comments
7-9-2008
Spring is in the air, in spite of the winter weather outside.
We saw lots of ducks with little ducklings swimming around in the flood-pools. We even saw a Moorhen with chicks.
The daisies are out on the field, but at Rietvlei, which is a wetlands reserve, there are hardly any daisies yet. Other indigenous flowers show a spectacular yellow carpet.
When we got back, after a short absence from home, today, we saw the ill fated Masked Weaver nest lying on the ground. The chicks are nowhere in sight. We hope they left the nest and Boytjie (male Weaver) broke the no-longer-needed nest down.
Yesterday in spite of the cold wet weather conditions, a cape weaver also started building his nest among the many nests of the Masked Weaver. It is amazing that they tolerate each other. I thought “Boytjie” would be more territorial.
They build their nests differently.
This morning I do not see any activity from his half built nest.
Last year our Cape Weaver got killed.
This morning our cat came from the yard licking her chops. I hope she did not develop a taste for bush-meat again.
19-08-2008
The daisies are blooming on the field behind our house. There seem to be quite a lot of them. I want to go and check on Rietvlei to see if their removal of all the trees resulted in the expected fynbos paradise.
So it is official. The fynbos regards Aug. 19 as the first day of spring this year.
My mask weaver, in our front garden, has three females in nests. This morning I heard the sound of baby birds coming from one of them.
Yes Spring starts on Aug. 19 in Cape Town from now on.
20-08-2008
My garden
One of the Weaver chicks emerged from the nest this afternoon. I saw its mother feeding it while it sat on the edge of the feeder flapping its wings. It is a nice big fat chick; we must have put enough food out. I must admit the sounds coming from the nests when it is full of chicks always spurs me on to put a bit of extra whole wheat bread out a bit more frequently. I must do this quietly; because my husband say it is not fair to spoil the birds. I just can’t help feeling motherly towards them.
Even the female looks well fed, not as thin as one would expect a bird that spent the last few weeks sitting in the nest.
It is a lovely sunny (spring-August) day here in Cape Town.
=====================
19-08-2008
The daisies are blooming on the field behind our house. There seem to be quite a lot of them. I want to go and check on Rietvlei to see if their removal of all the trees resulted in the expected fynbos paradise.
So it is official. The fynbos regards Aug. 19 as the first day of spring this year.
My mask weaver, in our front garden, has three females in nests. This morning I heard the sound of baby birds coming from one of them.
