Redbilled Hornbill
Monteiro's Hornbill
Yellowbilled Hornbill
Red-eyed Bulbul
Rock Kestrel
Black Shouldered Kite
Groundscraper Thrush
Longbilled Crombec
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dusky Sunbird
Glossy Starling
Kori Bustard
Pale Chanting Goshawk
Red-billed Quelea
Marico Sunbird
Helmeted Guineafowl
Lilacbreasted Roller
Whitebacked Mousebird
Pririt Batis
Crimson-breasted Shrike
Whitebrowed Sparrowweaver
Crowned Plover
White-bellied Sunbird
Lappet-faced Vulture
Swainson's Francolin
Grey Lourie
Cape Turtle Dove
Double-banded Courser
Pied Crow
Black Crow
Northern Black Corhaan
Redcrested Corhaan
Secretary Bird
Double-banded Sandgrouse
Spotted Eagle Owl
Gabar Goshawk
Blacksmith Plover
Egyptian Goose
Red-billed Teal
Cape Sparrow
Southern White-Crowned Shrike
Namaqua Sandgrouse
Pearl-spotted Owl
Blue Waxbill
Violet-eared Waxbill
Grey-headed Gull
Fiscal Shrike
Short-toed Rock Thrush
Laughing Dove
Grey Hornbill
Purple Roller
Greater Kestrel
Burchell's Starling
Black-chested Prinia
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Red-headed Finch
Black-cheeked Waxbill
Scaly-feathered Finch
Ant-eating Chat
White-throated Canary
House Sparrow
Tawny Eagle
Red-billed Francolin
Common Moorhen
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver
Ostrich
Marico Flycatcher
Sociable Weaver
Wattled Starling
Namaqua Dove
Titbabbler
Black-throated canary
Masked Weaver
Acacia Pied Barbet
Hoopoe
Giant Eagle Owl
Rattling Cisticola
Hottentot Teal
White-crested Helmut Shrike
Little-banded Goshawk
African White-backed Vulture
Bare-cheeked Babbler
Stark's Lark
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Birding in Etosha
yes - that's right. We went to Etosha and twitched. Best Big Game Park in the world ( according to me) and we looked for lbj's, warblers and eromomelas!
I have to say though, that people who have the vaguest interest in birds - should do it this way. When you are sitting at the waterhole and "nothing" is there, or you are tired of craning your neck to see the Lions on the other side of the trees, then the birding comes in really handy. It keeps you at the waterhole for a few hours where you are more likely to see the big game, rather than rushing desperately from one waterhole to the next.
We were very excited and also a little proud of our extensive bird sightings and identifications. Collectively we saw 83 different species, and that is not counting males, females and also one notable "mellanistic form"! I won't exhaust you with the full list. (Well maybe I will, but in another post) I'll just give you the highlights for me. Although I think our number is very impressive considering that there are only 340 bird species to be seen in Etosha.
I think my absolute favourite was the Giant Eagle Owl. He was at the Okaukuejo waterhole, sitting perfectly still in a tree at dusk. We only knew he was there because he started screeching incessantly. Just as the book said, the juveniles frequently will make single piercing screams all night, and he did. We also saw a pearl spotted Owl, which is a tiny and adorable little thing. He flew across the waterhole in the middle of the day, and perched perfectly on a piece of wood for us. He had caught an lbj (unidentified) and was on his way to taking it home, but the lbj was almost the same size that he was so he was having some difficulty flying!
At a tiny and completely deserted waterhole, we had an absolute treat! A huge eagle had come down to drink. Ladydi tortured us by stretching out the 100& ID for a good half an hour, but we eventually agreed that it was a Tawny Eagle!
And of course there were a few tiny birds that I will always adore, no matter how many times I see them! Blue, violet eared and black cheeked waxbills all drinking from a pipe near our camp! Not to mention the delightful red-headed Finch!
I have to say though, that people who have the vaguest interest in birds - should do it this way. When you are sitting at the waterhole and "nothing" is there, or you are tired of craning your neck to see the Lions on the other side of the trees, then the birding comes in really handy. It keeps you at the waterhole for a few hours where you are more likely to see the big game, rather than rushing desperately from one waterhole to the next.
We were very excited and also a little proud of our extensive bird sightings and identifications. Collectively we saw 83 different species, and that is not counting males, females and also one notable "mellanistic form"! I won't exhaust you with the full list. (Well maybe I will, but in another post) I'll just give you the highlights for me. Although I think our number is very impressive considering that there are only 340 bird species to be seen in Etosha.
I think my absolute favourite was the Giant Eagle Owl. He was at the Okaukuejo waterhole, sitting perfectly still in a tree at dusk. We only knew he was there because he started screeching incessantly. Just as the book said, the juveniles frequently will make single piercing screams all night, and he did. We also saw a pearl spotted Owl, which is a tiny and adorable little thing. He flew across the waterhole in the middle of the day, and perched perfectly on a piece of wood for us. He had caught an lbj (unidentified) and was on his way to taking it home, but the lbj was almost the same size that he was so he was having some difficulty flying!
At a tiny and completely deserted waterhole, we had an absolute treat! A huge eagle had come down to drink. Ladydi tortured us by stretching out the 100& ID for a good half an hour, but we eventually agreed that it was a Tawny Eagle!
And of course there were a few tiny birds that I will always adore, no matter how many times I see them! Blue, violet eared and black cheeked waxbills all drinking from a pipe near our camp! Not to mention the delightful red-headed Finch!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Teaching is stressful
I just finished marking the History exam papers.
When I first saw the paper I thought it was reallllly difficult, even for me! They wrote the paper while I was cruising around Etosha, and when I returned there was a massive stack awaiting me and my red pen. Which, by the way, was empty from all the marking through the year.
I arranged myself at the dining room table where I could spread out, made tea and lined up my pink pen and my red pencil. I marked the first paper with the pink and the second with the pencil. Neither was satisfactory and the first two students did not even pass. This gave me an exceptional excuse to work avoid for another 24 hours.
Next day, Mom provided me with an excellent red pen; bright, roller ball, liquid gel, 0.5mm needle tip. I once again commandeered one end of the table and commenced. I marked all afternoon, with a pause for tea and another pause for washing. Some students passed, some even did quite well. After three hours I needed something else red. Red Wine, really gooood red wine. Delheim cabernet sauvignon shiraz. It was wonderful and I had to mark one of the students papers again today because after three glasses everything had taken on a pinkish tinge, and her 85% was generous from the bottom of the bottle.
This afternoon I marshalled my energy and necessary marking resources and finished the last of the lot. It took me a long time but now I am done and have reviewed their marks against homework marks and last term's marks to assess their progress or lack thereof. I don't need the better part of a bottle of red to induce the stress that this brings. Exams were always considered the ultimate test when I was at school. Teachers talked about them all term, and set them very carefully and as a teacher, I am no different. Except from this side you know that here is the way you will know whether you have got through to the students, whether the child who needed special attention got it, whether the child who always gets 90's with other teachers, gets them with you too, and many other nail-biting thoughts.
Thankfully it appears that most of those questions have been answered in the positive and I have to tell myself that for those that are negative, this is the information I need to adjust what I am doing with them. I also had a pleasant surprise on the last two papers. Students who always make the class average, this term have set the upper reaches of the marks.
When I first saw the paper I thought it was reallllly difficult, even for me! They wrote the paper while I was cruising around Etosha, and when I returned there was a massive stack awaiting me and my red pen. Which, by the way, was empty from all the marking through the year.
I arranged myself at the dining room table where I could spread out, made tea and lined up my pink pen and my red pencil. I marked the first paper with the pink and the second with the pencil. Neither was satisfactory and the first two students did not even pass. This gave me an exceptional excuse to work avoid for another 24 hours.
Next day, Mom provided me with an excellent red pen; bright, roller ball, liquid gel, 0.5mm needle tip. I once again commandeered one end of the table and commenced. I marked all afternoon, with a pause for tea and another pause for washing. Some students passed, some even did quite well. After three hours I needed something else red. Red Wine, really gooood red wine. Delheim cabernet sauvignon shiraz. It was wonderful and I had to mark one of the students papers again today because after three glasses everything had taken on a pinkish tinge, and her 85% was generous from the bottom of the bottle.
This afternoon I marshalled my energy and necessary marking resources and finished the last of the lot. It took me a long time but now I am done and have reviewed their marks against homework marks and last term's marks to assess their progress or lack thereof. I don't need the better part of a bottle of red to induce the stress that this brings. Exams were always considered the ultimate test when I was at school. Teachers talked about them all term, and set them very carefully and as a teacher, I am no different. Except from this side you know that here is the way you will know whether you have got through to the students, whether the child who needed special attention got it, whether the child who always gets 90's with other teachers, gets them with you too, and many other nail-biting thoughts.
Thankfully it appears that most of those questions have been answered in the positive and I have to tell myself that for those that are negative, this is the information I need to adjust what I am doing with them. I also had a pleasant surprise on the last two papers. Students who always make the class average, this term have set the upper reaches of the marks.
Monday, August 06, 2007
There were so many giraffe, especially browsing really close to the road, so that Keir always had to drive very slowly for fear of rounding the corner and finding another group munching on the trees along the roadside. Most of them were afraid of the car and sadly would gallumph off as soon as the car approached, but there was one who came over to inspect Hank in his fabulousnous and covered in dust.
LIONS IN ETOSHA
We were lucky enough to see lions almost every day that we were in Etosha, but no matter how many times we saw them we could never resist stopping to spend hours in the hot sunny car exclaiming in awe at their size, grace, beauty and also how similar they were to our little kitties we have at home! Until we got home and were reminded of just how teeny and miniscule Henry is in comparison to this handsome fellow!
Ongava Lodge
This is the area we spent allll day lounging around in chairs admiring the waterhole that was just a few meters away!
Some photos from Etosha to get started...
There are hundreds, but I have managed to select just a few.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Birds and Rhinos
The steam is pouring and swirling off my tea cup, caught in the small and chilly breeze that is also catching the dust out at the waterhole. I am sitting at SC’s place up north. His home is low and open and the line between his garden and the veld is only marked by the end of his lawn. This is our second day of sitting on his porch and looking out at the waterhole.
It has been birding heaven for us. Yesterday we spent the day identifying the tiny sunbirds settling in his lush green garden. Once we had those we transferred the lenses of our binoculars to the grey, brown and black birds that were camouflaged into the veld around the waterhole: helmeted guinea fowl bouncing across the gravel like soccer balls escaping small children, swainsons francolin peeking out from under bushes and around rocks and cape turtle doves perched in the trees cooing to us all day.
For those who are not as delighted by the birds as we are, there have been kudu, warthog, oryx, springbok, wildebeest, red hartebeest, porcupines and the excitement of a brown hyena, alone and thrilling. For us to see this amazing plethora of creatures, big and small all we have had to do is sit in SC’s comfy chairs, drink his tea and coffee and hold our binocs to our faces. When all of this has overwhelmed us, we simply place the binocs on the table and pick up our books. It has been idyllic idleness!
The night before last, as we arrived here, SC had us pack blankets and sandwiches and took us out for a full moon Rhino observation. We drove through the bush at dusk and watched the sun go down behind a dark southern giraffe. Then we settled in at the waterhole to wait for the rhino to appear. And appear they did!
The moon slowly rose, with the strength and beauty of the goddess that people worship her for. The landscape was lit eerily, like someone had thrown towels over the lamps. Throughout the night we had five rhino visit in about the same number of hours. They are massive animals, as though boulders grew legs and decided to eat, breed and be stately. They are also grey like the rocks in the region and when lit by moonlight they are large, intimidating ghosts. What I found amazing was how nimble they are, the rhinos were so light-footed, and twirled on the spot like ballerinas when spooked by the flash of the camera.
Last night as we were preparing for bed, but enjoying the last of the embers of the fire we had cooked on, we heard the deep-throated call of a lion. Suddenly the end of the lawn seemed very close indeed and us tourists scurried into the house to “brush our teeth”. Once safe and warm under our covers with books once again in hand and the lights firmly on, the continued bellowing of the lions was primal and yet somehow managed to be comforting. Perhaps because, as long as we could hear him out there, we knew we were safe in here!
More to come from Etosha at a later date, although how Etosha will outshine Ongava, I have no idea!
It has been birding heaven for us. Yesterday we spent the day identifying the tiny sunbirds settling in his lush green garden. Once we had those we transferred the lenses of our binoculars to the grey, brown and black birds that were camouflaged into the veld around the waterhole: helmeted guinea fowl bouncing across the gravel like soccer balls escaping small children, swainsons francolin peeking out from under bushes and around rocks and cape turtle doves perched in the trees cooing to us all day.
For those who are not as delighted by the birds as we are, there have been kudu, warthog, oryx, springbok, wildebeest, red hartebeest, porcupines and the excitement of a brown hyena, alone and thrilling. For us to see this amazing plethora of creatures, big and small all we have had to do is sit in SC’s comfy chairs, drink his tea and coffee and hold our binocs to our faces. When all of this has overwhelmed us, we simply place the binocs on the table and pick up our books. It has been idyllic idleness!
The night before last, as we arrived here, SC had us pack blankets and sandwiches and took us out for a full moon Rhino observation. We drove through the bush at dusk and watched the sun go down behind a dark southern giraffe. Then we settled in at the waterhole to wait for the rhino to appear. And appear they did!
The moon slowly rose, with the strength and beauty of the goddess that people worship her for. The landscape was lit eerily, like someone had thrown towels over the lamps. Throughout the night we had five rhino visit in about the same number of hours. They are massive animals, as though boulders grew legs and decided to eat, breed and be stately. They are also grey like the rocks in the region and when lit by moonlight they are large, intimidating ghosts. What I found amazing was how nimble they are, the rhinos were so light-footed, and twirled on the spot like ballerinas when spooked by the flash of the camera.
Last night as we were preparing for bed, but enjoying the last of the embers of the fire we had cooked on, we heard the deep-throated call of a lion. Suddenly the end of the lawn seemed very close indeed and us tourists scurried into the house to “brush our teeth”. Once safe and warm under our covers with books once again in hand and the lights firmly on, the continued bellowing of the lions was primal and yet somehow managed to be comforting. Perhaps because, as long as we could hear him out there, we knew we were safe in here!
More to come from Etosha at a later date, although how Etosha will outshine Ongava, I have no idea!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Narrec
Narrec is a bird sanctuary just outside WHK that I absolutely adore. They take in birds that have been injured in some way and rehabilitate them for release. They do have some birds that will permanently be there, mostly because of some human unkindness or stupidity.
There is an incredible Black Eagle, who is huge and plugs directly into your reptilian brain when she lands heavily and aggressively on the tree above your head. Her presence is incredibly aggressive and dominating when you are so close. There is no doubt in your mind as to who would win in a hand to talon fight. Unfortunately, she is going to a permanent resident of her aviary. She was taken from a nest as a chick and raised by a farmer who thought it was manly to have a pet eagle. The first time she preyed on his livestock, she immediately became considered a menace to him. Because she has been taught not to fear humans, and because she knows how to hunt livestock, she cannot ever feel what it is to fly completely free and make the decision to mate, hunt, or flow along an updrift from the desert, just a speck in the sky.
Of course, if she had not been rescued by Narrec, she would instead be dead. Which some would say was better than being caught in what is essentially a cage for the rest of her life.
Other wonderful things about Narrec, are two hornbills who followed us around the entire sanctuary, carefully avoiding the vulture aviary. They posed and they primped and they brought us seeds and stones. Which of course made for some fantastic photography.
Beauty in the Journey and the Destination
We recently went to Cape Town again. We were only there for three and a half days which is no time to appreciate the city, but the drive there and back takes two days so there is plenty of time to appreciate the journey.
I most enjoyed the drive back to WHK on this trip. At first you drive through the Cape where there are mountains and endless green fields punctuated by huge flowing trees. Then you drive through the Citrusdahl area, where you are in the mountains, and the road is followed by the canal used to irrigate hundreds of dark green orange trees.
The further north you go at this time of year the more of the famous wild flowers you see. They are streaks of luminous orange and 80's-like eyeshadow blue. And every now and then a voilent purple stands out against the rock. Eventually, on the other side of the border there appear the occasional Quiver Tree, standing alone amonst the gravel plains and dolomite extrusions.
It's a drive that I love to make and have made many times. Even though it is very long, I never tire of the interests that nature and man provide along the way.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Winter sun
Right now it is freezing cold here. The houses are not heated and they are built for the retention of coolness. BUT every now and then you can find a windless spot in the sun and it is a small segment of heaven to feel the warming rays reach your bones.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
a uniquely Namibian experience
I had a wonderful experience at the chemist the other day. As I was standing waiting for my credit card to go through, I was listening to the 4 ladies behind the counter having a chat.
Initially they were having a wonderful gossip about someone and how to handle that someone. This conversation was between three of them. One black woman and two coloured women, they were all speaking Afrikaans. Which, in my opinion, is the best language in which to gossip. It's a gutteral language that comes from the back of the throat and is full of onomatopioa and words and phrases that cannot be translated directly into English. Even the word for gossip sounds like what it is. Skinner - pronounced 'skunner', with the R at the end rolling around like the aftertaste of a Cabernet Suavignon.
While I was waiting, they were joined by a tall blonde woman who addressed them in German. Without hesitation and without thought, they all switched to German. Then two of them broke off to speak in Afrikaans again. At which point they were interrupted by a customer speaking English, and of course they responded to him in English. My credit card went through and the Blonde lady spoke to me in English too. All this swtiching between languanges happened without comment from them, and they were all flawless in all three. The whole conversation was fluid and lyrical in a way I have never heard.
It seems as though, in Namibia, you can pick the pieces of the three languages that best express your thoughts, and because almost everyone has the same smattering of those languages, they understand you. Having the choice of languages almost adds another language, one that only a small set of people in the world speak and it gives them intimate knowledge of what you mean to say.
Initially they were having a wonderful gossip about someone and how to handle that someone. This conversation was between three of them. One black woman and two coloured women, they were all speaking Afrikaans. Which, in my opinion, is the best language in which to gossip. It's a gutteral language that comes from the back of the throat and is full of onomatopioa and words and phrases that cannot be translated directly into English. Even the word for gossip sounds like what it is. Skinner - pronounced 'skunner', with the R at the end rolling around like the aftertaste of a Cabernet Suavignon.
While I was waiting, they were joined by a tall blonde woman who addressed them in German. Without hesitation and without thought, they all switched to German. Then two of them broke off to speak in Afrikaans again. At which point they were interrupted by a customer speaking English, and of course they responded to him in English. My credit card went through and the Blonde lady spoke to me in English too. All this swtiching between languanges happened without comment from them, and they were all flawless in all three. The whole conversation was fluid and lyrical in a way I have never heard.
It seems as though, in Namibia, you can pick the pieces of the three languages that best express your thoughts, and because almost everyone has the same smattering of those languages, they understand you. Having the choice of languages almost adds another language, one that only a small set of people in the world speak and it gives them intimate knowledge of what you mean to say.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Mom's Birthday
Yesterday was Mom's bday and we had such a lovely day. It started with the traditional brack of dawn present opening. We were all up for coffee before school started and Mom enjoyed her presents. In the evening we watched some absolutely fabulous tennis - Senea vs Henin. Go Henin! Which made us terribly late for dinner at the Taal. The Taal is the only Indian restaurant in WHK and the food is EXCELLENT, their menu is varied and has many vegetarian options. It was absolute heaven to enjoy all that deliscious food in the company of my family. NC joined us as one of Mom's extra daughters and luckily St could stay around for an extra day and joined us too. It made a very lively crowd but not big enough to be impersonal. Once we were all disgustingly full we rolled home and ended the evening with some West Wing. Such a lovely day!
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