h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yesterday we had another outing to the Polokwane Game Reserve. This one was one for beginner birders, although there were some experienced ones there also. We arrived at the reserve just as the gate opened, at seven in the morning. The day was cool and somewhat overcast, which is actually good birding weather. We drove in, stopping first at a hilly region where we left our cars and walked about. We used this system over the course of the outing, driving a while and then stopping and walking around in promising spots. Some people were interested in the trees as well, so I did a bit of tree-identification coaching also! We saw animals other than birds as well, of course. I couldn’t photograph everything though. Highlights, bird-wise, were a spotting of a Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina; sightings of several cuckoos, namely Jacobin, Diederik and Red-Chested Cuckoos. These are all preparing for migrating now, these cuckoos all heading up north for tropical Africa for the winter. Other migrants we saw included large swarms of barn swallows, some Amur falcons, and several red-backed shrikes. We also saw starlings, thrushes, hoopoes, sparrow-weavers, scalyfeathered finches, warblers, tits, and had a fleeting glimpse of Cape penduline tits.

After the day’s official proceedings were over, I walked and drove around a bit on my own; I managed a few more nice sightings such as a few violeteared waxbills (one of our country’s most beautiful birds), a Sabota lark, and a red-billed woodhoopoe. Mammals I saw include wildebeests, impalas, tsessebes, kudus, nyalas and waterbuck.
Here are a few photos.

1. We came across this injured cattle egret. I don’t think it’s going to make it, but I’ll hope for the best.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Injured%20Cattle%20Egret_zpsfd2nn9xt.jpg

2. There were dung beetles at work amidst large piles of antelope droppings; here’s a little fella I managed to snap,

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Dung%20Beetle%202_zpswzrnsfh2.jpg

3. and here’s the hole it (or another beetle) dug for safe storage of its dung.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Dung%20Beetle%20Hole_zps06qd5gje.jpg

4. This is a tiny succulent plant, an Anacampseros, I’m not sure which species. It is significantly smaller than the other local Anacampseros plants I’ve seen, and its leaves are smooth rather than hairy. This one is rooted in a crack in some bare rock sheets.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Anacampseros_zps444nr6nd.jpg

5. Here you see the view from the rocks over the surrounding savannah. You also see one of our new members, appreciating the view.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/View_zps63ldhfjz.jpg

6. The Velvet Bushwillow, Combretum molle, is found almost exclusively around these rocky regions.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Combretum%20molle_zpsaylbcmxb.jpg

7. A view of the top of the rocky ridge, with more bushwillows and other trees like wild pears.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Rocky%20Ridge%202_zpsmfwuapft.jpg

8. At the bottom of the ridge grows the only Carrot Tree, Steganotaenia araliaca, that I’m aware of in the wilds surrounding Polokwane. This tree has fresh green foliage with a sort of carroty or parlsey-ish scent.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Carrot%20Tree_zpsuhx4th05.jpg

9. This is the Tinderwood, Clerodendrum glabrum, a common tree of our region that few people know about at all. Its soft wood has been traditionally used for getting fires started.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Tinderwood_zpsfzqb7uji.jpg

10. The Stemfruit, Englerophytum magalismontanum, is a tree that also grows on rocky ridges or hills. It bears delicious fruit directly on its trunk and branches.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Stemfruit_zpsxplvjn1a.jpg

11. Here’s a Nyala Ewe. Not the best of photos, but it gives you an idea. Nyalas are very beautiful antelopes, and there’s a good number of them in the reserve. Locally they are quite tame. I hope to soon get a really good photo of one.

http://i360.photobucket.com/albums/oo45/WillemvdMerwe/Nyala%20Ewe_zpsrpyb5mwd.jpg

Lovely pics, Willem. Your group is lucky to have such a knowledgable plant guy to identify the plants. What does the fruit of that one bush taste like? It is unusual for fruits to grow off stems like that. I bet the animals appreciate it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that poor egret. They are so lovely. Thanks again for sharing your expeditions with us.