Passing storm...

Storm passes...

The wonder of kite surfing - we went down to Tableview to watch them...

 Whose that??  The Darter has spotted something in the grass...

If you look carefully you can see it - its a Cape Clawless Otter which we watched swim across the Pond and then exit onto the grass and wander round before hurrying back into the water.Off course the Egyptian Goose spends her days here with her two chicks, and would be just the kind of meal the Otter is looking for.  I was amazed at just how agile and quick the Otter is - the chicks just wouldn't stand a chance and Mama Goose would have no way of defending them.

After swimming around, he was gone.  Another wonderful sighting, which we've not often seen down this end.  Sometimes we see a family of Otters in one of the channels, and they're quite curious and will come and swim round our canoe to investigate us.

Early morning

Good Morning beautiful dawn.
After the gale force wind of the last few days, this morning's calm Pond was too amazing to behold - complete with setting moon.

Sometimes we can't believe that we actually live here...

We decided to make the most of the lovely morning, so my man paddled down to the beach  and I met him there for an early morning sea swim.  The water in False Bay is still warm and the waves were just right - a nice size and frothy and foamy:)  And to think heaven is going to be even more beautiful than this...

The Spurwing Goose stayed until the evening and we haven't seen it again...

Amazing birds this morning - unusually so

This Fiscal Shrike frequents our lawn, and may be the youngster we saw last summer, now full grown.  He loves to perch on the dead branches we put in the garden for the birds.  Somehow, in the dry grass, he manages to find an array of things to eat.  He seems to stay for a few weeks and then disappears, to re-appear sometime later.

I don't recall having a Spurwing Goose visit us - what a magnificent specimen!  Our neighbour called this afternoon to say that he'd not see one here in front of our home since he's lived here.  They have been seen in the area and on Zandvlei but haven't visited our front lawn - what a blessing.

Just flapping, not going anywhere...

Spot the four species - Darter, Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Goose and Pied Kingfisher on the perch.

Howling South Easter this morning

Gale force SE today - you can effects of the wind on the water.  It's been blowing for the past 3 days now.

Mama Egyptian Goose is sheltering out of the wind with her 2 chicks.  Her gander is "Limpy" who hasn't been here this morning.  We presume he was injured in a territorial fight - this is the second time now.  The first time his leg was slightly injured but this time we thought he'd lost the use of it, but time has healed and its a lot better.  The foot still hangs under the leg, but he's  managing much better.  Their first clutch of eggs realised 7 goslings, with 3 gone missing during one night and the four went another. Now they're trying to raise a second clutch this summer.  We've seen a family of otters in the Pond, and we reckon that's where the chicks go.

Trying again

I'm going to try and be diligent to capture some of the natural going's on  On the Edge...
I made a feeble attempt last year, and didn't continue, and now when I go back and read the little I did write, I wish I'd captured more...


Well, here goes...


Let's see what tomorrow brings!

A walk in the forest...

My man was going for a mountain bike ride so I decided to join him in the Forest - except I'd be walking and he'd be riding...

I kept up a brisk pace and got up to Level 4 in half an hour and broke out on the edge of the forest looking east towards Silvermine and the False Bay.

 The wind was strong, as seen by the cloud over the mountain and the blowing grass in the foreground

I took this picture because it reminded me of the saying: "You can't see the wood for the trees..."

Alice says you should always hug a tree - this is me attempting it - just so that I can make her happy :)

Helpful plaques ensure the way is clearly marked

The path coming down just below Level 2 (these are names given to the gravel roads in the forest)

Ring barking of exotics to kill the tree

As I came down, at about 6:00pm, the sunlight filtered onto the path, and a perfect shadow of me formed - I couldn't help but take a photo:)

In the lower reaches of the forest, many varieties of trees were planted to see which were commercially viable.  I only found a few labelled, but I'll go back and explore further another time.  The bark of this one caught my eye.

Surface roots  intersect the path

This gracious tree leans to the left

Unusual leaves and an attractive trunk caught my eye...

Cork oak - the cork is used/or was used for wine bottles

I think this is a Pin Oak - it has a lovely spreading nature

Lovely shape

There is a lot of evidence of nature taking it course and tree trunks decaying

The path continues on through interesting trees

Yellowwood tree

The ribbed trunk of this tree fascinated me, because not only was it ribbed, but the bark was almost papery

Close up of the paperlike bark

The elegance of the stance of this tree was delightful - especially the way its trunk widened at the bottom - like the feet of a ballerina

Who lives here?

Gnarled and curly branches

This was a most beautiful multi coloured tree trunk

Close up of the russet shades of the trunk

This little boy was out with his Dad for a walk...

The tea room near the entrance to the Arboretum

On weekends this car park is PACKED with cars of mountain bikers...

The end of a lovely evening's walk