Category: cape agulhas

Slip one in

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Between a horse show with the rich and infamous this morning, and a Matric Dance this evening, I’m a bit pushed for time.

I can’t share any Matric Dance photos because it hasn’t happened yet and I can’t really share any horse show photos because I don’t have permission from the horses the riders, so let’s quickly look for a Quota Plover.

Ah, here we go.

This one is your stock standard White-Fronted Plover (Charadrius marginatus), taken on the beach near Suiderstrand back in June. Just look at that Winter light.

And that’s going to have to be your lot for today. Tomorrow: a lie-in and a braai.
Probably in that order.

Pretty fly for a… fly.

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A long run on the beach and a bit of tidying up the garden way down south cleared up my head after last night’s football and rugger drama – and that bottle of Saronsberg Shiraz.

Now showered, suited and booted – well, t-shirted, shortsed and flopsed – I spotted this guy in the kitchen window and decided to shoot him.

Not easy to get to with a sink in the way, a dirty window from last night’s wind and rain, and some iffy dark background to avoid. It’s not going to win any awards, but, meh – it’s an ok shot for ID purposes.

And I’m fairly sure that this is a Cape Needlenose Fly (Philoliche rostrata). Fine on a kitchen window, not so great on the back of your leg on the beach. Indeed, we’ve had to abandon trips and walks locally on a few occasions when there are a few of these guys around. Very painful bite. Would not recommend.

We’re back to just 6000 miles from civilisation… later today. Hold thumbs for very limited traffic, please.

BTG

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Britain’s Talent Got.

No. Bar-Tailed Godwit – a nice spot at the lagoon in Agulhas yesterday.

Unedited (aside from the crop) pic, because we’ve been busy walking, cleaning, gardening and generally doing a quick spring clean on the cottage ahead of the upcoming summer season, where I’m hoping for a lot more trips down here.

That is going to be problematic as far as journeys are concerned, though. The washed away roads from the recent floods are pushing all the traffic onto smaller (and sometimes also damaged) routes, which simply aren’t going to be able to handle it in holiday season. It was already iffy yesterday.

It will be horrible. But it will be worth it.

Just bring snacks and patience.

Just in case

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Heading down to Agulhas, Apparently connection has been sketchy down there due to flood damage so I’m popping this one up just in case.

(but you can probably expect more later)

Nogulhas

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We gave up on going down to Agulhas this weekend. The thought of having to do the detour through Hermanus on the first weekend of the school holidays, together with my not shaking this damn virus (it’s not that virus, by the way, I did check), was just too much. Add to that the upcoming final exams and the thought of sharing a car for a few hours with an upcoming final examinee: it just seemed silly.

There’s also the issue of whether the Struisbaai road is open yet. No, says the municipality. But everyone’s using it. Including one guy in a Chevrolet Spark. And if one of them gets through, then you know it’s ok.

We’ll make a plan when we can make a plan.

So instead, we’re stuck at home, watching another “good, but not good enough” performance from United and not going to horse riding (not me), because it rained again last night and there’s just nowhere left for that water to go. I can’t really say that I was looking forward to going out though, so maybe not such a bad thing.

Another early night then, and let’s see if I can get myself mended.