tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12716519116470357692024-03-14T02:18:59.560-07:00Kelp Gull ProjectThis blog follows the journey of my MSc undertaken during 2013-2014 as I investigated the lives, loves and loathings of Kelp Gulls, Larus dominicanus vetula, breeding in Plettenberg Bay.Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-15721733867359906832015-09-12T23:59:00.000-07:002015-09-12T23:59:05.840-07:00So longWell, I have been quite quiet these past months! And so much has been happening!<div>
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The most important of it all is that my MSc is finished, and I graduated with Distinction! Yay! Since then I have been doing all sorts of bits and pieces, the most recent being a tour guide / office assistant at Ocean Blue Adventures. </div>
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Doing this MSc has been a roller-coaster ride. There have been ups and downs and sudden direction changes but I have learnt so much, and experienced so much! Unfortunately, it seems that my time working in the Kelp Gull colonies of Plettenberg Bay have come to an end. Perhaps that will change, but for now, I'm signing off. </div>
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So long, and thanks for all the fish!</div>
Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-44126823420804774792014-11-22T09:47:00.000-08:002014-11-22T09:47:53.678-08:00Caspian TernsAfter returning from Blue Hill Escape, Mark, Selena and I made a quick trip to Keurbooms Peninsula to hopefully ring an especially exciting bird. On a <a href="http://kelpgullproject.blogspot.com/2014/11/im-back.html" target="_blank">previous trip</a> with Felix searching for entangled gulls, we came across the Caspian Terns fiercely defending.. something. I was hesitant to disturb them anymore than our presence already had but managed to take some photos from afar. Once home and the photos were downloaded and magnified, what appeared to be two fluffy bundles were the objects of the tern's protection. So, more than a week later found us on the peninsula to ring Caspian Tern chicks.<br />
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Mark went to the nest to assess the contents. There was no certainty about the status of the nest, if there were in fact chicks or whether the chicks (or chick) was of ringable age. Selena and I got the wave and we headed over eagerly! There were two chicks! Perfect size for ringing!<br />
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Mark and I each ringed a chick, and after a quick photo shoot we vacated the area. I feel so privileged to have been able to ring one of these amazing birds! Hopefully these two cuties will fledge and soon join the breeding population of this threatened species!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelp Gulls unhappy with the intrusion of a human!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyUWWKOhtDcl-uPKmI_mOpaWj-lvj1JUIM0fDseL7QlEhrwBFLxSa_1j-PKCKfl1seIx3hP9fU5KdydaZpIsluRE3AZM0k0CEg9-LaIqNO8CubG-VxtFqQ-Ksg98n0xfAXdq3eHpjsBo/s1600/IMG_0327+(1024x762).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyUWWKOhtDcl-uPKmI_mOpaWj-lvj1JUIM0fDseL7QlEhrwBFLxSa_1j-PKCKfl1seIx3hP9fU5KdydaZpIsluRE3AZM0k0CEg9-LaIqNO8CubG-VxtFqQ-Ksg98n0xfAXdq3eHpjsBo/s1600/IMG_0327+(1024x762).jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a cutie!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q2kIX84hIbPAcf_ERbQrbflmDgC0deJrpHnjniiFpq3tIGXM8vYHOpF3kHGn1gMA491ZCL1L-VH_jnPx5lnIdB9hmAvceJU1rRmxEwaSmO4hPWthcHg3HhDpOVxvWtnwRARmbJv2SAU/s1600/IMG_0330+(1024x769).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Q2kIX84hIbPAcf_ERbQrbflmDgC0deJrpHnjniiFpq3tIGXM8vYHOpF3kHGn1gMA491ZCL1L-VH_jnPx5lnIdB9hmAvceJU1rRmxEwaSmO4hPWthcHg3HhDpOVxvWtnwRARmbJv2SAU/s1600/IMG_0330+(1024x769).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They do appear to blend in very well with the nest bowl.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and I, very chuffed with the days ringing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvu-tHqyTFXYmC2ZB9mGqEojT4VeIxTLPTg1maqwWQ4seAjWCZrLEI6Ez1xnSuYGbe0V8tq-q0zgUNikGcpVqOHP7bQowPgfaQeN-4_xxfubvt49s788DwJDTAfOYvAUC0d0MZyUoX3bc/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvu-tHqyTFXYmC2ZB9mGqEojT4VeIxTLPTg1maqwWQ4seAjWCZrLEI6Ez1xnSuYGbe0V8tq-q0zgUNikGcpVqOHP7bQowPgfaQeN-4_xxfubvt49s788DwJDTAfOYvAUC0d0MZyUoX3bc/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG" height="640" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My, what a large mouth you have!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're so cute when you're angry!</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-47915061130956227432014-11-18T12:09:00.001-08:002014-11-18T12:09:02.659-08:00Blue Hill EscapeMore recently I had the privilege of staying at <a href="http://www.bluehillescape.co.za/">Blue Hill Escape</a> in order to assist Alan Lee with his Cape Rockjumper project. The aim of the weekend was to capture these spectacular fynbos-endemic birds to ring, take blood samples and potentially attach GPS transmitters. Our team arrived at Alan's Friday afternoon for a brief orientation slide show and run down on our weekend plans. After orientation we headed out on Friday afternoon to 'set the line' for Saturday morning's trapping attempt.<br /><br />Catching Rockjumpers is not an easy feat. Using mistnets won't work, you can't use walk-in traps as with the gulls, instead you use springtraps. This is made more difficult by the territorial nature of Rockjumpers, which live in family groups. Thankfully, Alan has prior knowledge of the family groups at Blue Hill and knew where territories were, and where best to set the traps. Blue Hill is a collection of valleys and ridges; the wrinkles on a wise man's face. 'Setting the line' involves hiking up a ridge and setting up the springtraps along the ridge contour line, where each trap is on a collection of large rocks.<br /><br />So Friday afternoon we set out, firstly for a bumpy 4x4 drive to the site and then a hike up to the ridge. Here we split into two teams, Kellyn and myself went left to a lookout spot on a higher ridge, while Daniël, Chrissie and Alan went to the opposite ridge to set the traps. Each trap needed to be visible from the lookout spot so a bird that was could could be easily seen and extracted, to assist in identification of trap locations a bright pink ribbon was tied to an available piece of fynbos a few meters away. The traps were merely placed, baiting them with super worms was Saturday mornings first order of business.<div>
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Saturday morning 3:30am came all too soon! We had a 4:00am meet time and breakfast needed to be had and lunch packed for a long hot day in the field. Unsurprisingly, everything looked different in the early morning so Kellyn and I had trouble finding our lookout spot, and finding the traps was even more challenging despite their identifying pink ribbons for Daniël and Chrissie. While we were busy with the trap line set up on Friday, Alan and Jessey set up another line of traps on a neighbouring ridge. We ended up with two teams, and each trap line needed to be actively checked every hour, and it took roughly an hour to walk the line and back to the lookout spot (depending who walked the line of course!). Chrissie and I took the first check of our line and were rewarded with two birds and an Armadillo Lizard, which we really struggled to get out of the netting with all its spikes! That, unfortunately, was our catch for the day! The guys fared slightly better with four birds and two lizards. By 1pm it was hot and quiet, and time to call it a day. We collected the traps and hiked to the bakkie for the bumpy trip back. After a refreshing shower, a nap was in order! As the site Alan wanted to trap at on Sunday was a full hour drive away we were going to set the line on Sunday morning and ended Saturday with a braai.</div>
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Sunday morning saw a bleary-eyed team meeting at 4am again for a bumpy ride to our trapping site. This time we broke into three teams, and Chrissie and I had the most successful morning catching four birds, while the others caught nothing.</div>
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Although we were unsuccessful in our attempt to trap Rockjumpers I ringed 5 lifers in two mornings, not bad! And the area is spectacular, truly. To sit up on a ridge overlooking fynbos covered valleys and peaks as far as the eye can see, feel a cool breeze upon sun warmed skin and breath crisp mountain air, life couldn't be better in that moment. Hiking up is another story, especially in my current horrendously unfit state, but once there, every drop of sweat and muscle complaint is totally worth it!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8u_a68biw4rABT17zfIndurVZJsrs2GMu10g580Ft1sirKd7d6NREaV705gX2-qjYx8yGh1xRq41DcRGWAEahadZWBpZhIk-COGhGjxxb0SBbsh9hNBqCtKmRJ3wqcKvVx6tSl7fFBU/s1600/IMG_0302+(827x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8u_a68biw4rABT17zfIndurVZJsrs2GMu10g580Ft1sirKd7d6NREaV705gX2-qjYx8yGh1xRq41DcRGWAEahadZWBpZhIk-COGhGjxxb0SBbsh9hNBqCtKmRJ3wqcKvVx6tSl7fFBU/s1600/IMG_0302+(827x1024).jpg" height="640" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Familiar Chat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPb93oljykaxyBrL3DsYH3qOkaxlNKQf3ee6Wf_EQkz2xb8dTn-rwOs8t-A2fAV7FreeEAcg8JEr033n5gfyU8IjF6VSMVvpwBnw6LVNsBfcZE-TmVkxreiouIT-yYm0-JhblQi6XDJM/s1600/IMG_0297+(1024x748).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPb93oljykaxyBrL3DsYH3qOkaxlNKQf3ee6Wf_EQkz2xb8dTn-rwOs8t-A2fAV7FreeEAcg8JEr033n5gfyU8IjF6VSMVvpwBnw6LVNsBfcZE-TmVkxreiouIT-yYm0-JhblQi6XDJM/s1600/IMG_0297+(1024x748).jpg" height="466" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Clapper Lark.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh301mipBj150ZEpdXIxc6eg6xlDgvZobEYbGyNqKwptbHUkafv8BHkNBeudl-AGWWadzjdQdw5DELTzoMP3azf2z9syUnGgycvcBUXc1Fx6UxiNG377nECsqWLTu8Fkxbf0Qn0R6tdlHk/s1600/IMG_0292+(770x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh301mipBj150ZEpdXIxc6eg6xlDgvZobEYbGyNqKwptbHUkafv8BHkNBeudl-AGWWadzjdQdw5DELTzoMP3azf2z9syUnGgycvcBUXc1Fx6UxiNG377nECsqWLTu8Fkxbf0Qn0R6tdlHk/s1600/IMG_0292+(770x1024).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sentinel Rock Thrush.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCNzJcJU-2Cweex9WEAdlkZyYPq5pAHd2p6fuJbjTGkG3IOP2lyJVWMgj9GEBkjpnoM3poU3KA5ni9BI_cUpL3xYUcVO62ICdfebx5WPBxVPyU34253s4PorUvbhWFg_i-09zkm1awlc/s1600/IMG_0205+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCNzJcJU-2Cweex9WEAdlkZyYPq5pAHd2p6fuJbjTGkG3IOP2lyJVWMgj9GEBkjpnoM3poU3KA5ni9BI_cUpL3xYUcVO62ICdfebx5WPBxVPyU34253s4PorUvbhWFg_i-09zkm1awlc/s1600/IMG_0205+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Bunting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheORkjYtNKBmwOivtmyn3FTRQuFssMvCCtarJtcPQL69CctXjqrXBjKRU8NhDxnk7BqIzjhKkVuliLn4OeetrB29OrpAjuM5LPBQzg75TnyOOGhrASIR36lYpYuHphbisRj4Ab7Z3h-Lk/s1600/IMG_0199+(1024x724).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheORkjYtNKBmwOivtmyn3FTRQuFssMvCCtarJtcPQL69CctXjqrXBjKRU8NhDxnk7BqIzjhKkVuliLn4OeetrB29OrpAjuM5LPBQzg75TnyOOGhrASIR36lYpYuHphbisRj4Ab7Z3h-Lk/s1600/IMG_0199+(1024x724).jpg" height="452" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Pipit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPDcxzJxmcNO_vKeLyr9jEMiSVXP42R7SfmOpd-IdPpgMbo084XaH-kJSL1GX60AnGljo9_IsRXSzRmzH3t2vvS6Vu117IsN4W5vx4IGJnm1R-abGkLIEjtyRMPPybDEBICtUE2psRc4/s1600/IMG_0215+(1024x766).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPDcxzJxmcNO_vKeLyr9jEMiSVXP42R7SfmOpd-IdPpgMbo084XaH-kJSL1GX60AnGljo9_IsRXSzRmzH3t2vvS6Vu117IsN4W5vx4IGJnm1R-abGkLIEjtyRMPPybDEBICtUE2psRc4/s1600/IMG_0215+(1024x766).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Armadillo Lizard by-catch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v1gj7xmbhwosyT9nIuqucKW_Sxyxhh65TCG3h-KeSi1piLa7c6B4CcQLqlWTTojCTGm_03OoB6Jo5aRCOtdtVaFqYir3RUiCZhyphenhyphendauwKdxjAeynkzNBjksvZzCpJE65D94D1wFpuR54/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_v1gj7xmbhwosyT9nIuqucKW_Sxyxhh65TCG3h-KeSi1piLa7c6B4CcQLqlWTTojCTGm_03OoB6Jo5aRCOtdtVaFqYir3RUiCZhyphenhyphendauwKdxjAeynkzNBjksvZzCpJE65D94D1wFpuR54/s1600/IMG_0218.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the lookout rock onto the ridge where the trap line was set. Spot any pink ribbons?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chutney the Meerkat, a furry friend to come home to.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-53049943518484963802014-11-04T08:47:00.000-08:002014-11-04T08:47:22.520-08:00I'm back!Felix Zundel is an internship student at Nature's Valley Trust from the Netherlands, from the same university as Shirley, also doing a 5 month project in South Africa. The focus of his project is investigating the effects and status of recreational and subsistence fishing along the garden route, from Natures Valley to Robberg. He interviews fishermen along the coastline, and does beach cleanups looking at the predominance of fishing waste. Another aspect is looking at the occurrence of entanglement, so into the breeding colony we went! It has been SO long since I was last at the colony, and man was it good to be back! Unfortunately, I don't think the birds felt the same joy that I did.<br />
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The breeding season is in full swing! The early layers have chicks, the oldest I would put at 2 weeks, but most birds were on eggs. As we entered the colony we came across our first entanglement case. An adult gull incubating 2 eggs stood up and struggled to walk as it had a piece of driftwood attached to it's leg by what appeared to be fishingline. Not a good start for our outing. Luckily the bird managed to loosen the piece driftwood but the fishingline was still wrapped around the leg. That was thankfully the one and only entanglement case that we saw. We did however find 2 dead gulls, one with a ring from November 2008. 5 dead terns and 1 dead Cape Cormorant were also added to our list of fatalities for the day.<br />
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On the positive side, it appears the Caspian Terns are breeding, and we hope this clutch will be successful! Little Egrets are also breeding on the colony, as well as African Black Oystercatchers but no Egyptian Geese were seen.<br />
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All in all I thoroughly enjoyed being back in the colony, all the poo attacks and divebombs included (it's part of the experience!). We will be back in a month to do another walk through the colony, and hopefully will be able to ring some of the larger gull chicks at the same time!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07UqjRt_a6N9YLsejYWeginibnGdkPzU5t_85kdTfKEg9f9-krQyH5YWaHZw9kRUKooc7ExyZOeRHtUhCx_JxxRRG-avhqmpjDQ15_WHV11QXIByk6MfbSwuErVbDx9NKANUjHkEZyCY/s1600/IMG_0156+(1024x767).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07UqjRt_a6N9YLsejYWeginibnGdkPzU5t_85kdTfKEg9f9-krQyH5YWaHZw9kRUKooc7ExyZOeRHtUhCx_JxxRRG-avhqmpjDQ15_WHV11QXIByk6MfbSwuErVbDx9NKANUjHkEZyCY/s1600/IMG_0156+(1024x767).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entangled bird flying with a piece of driftwood attached to its foot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtp_l7h-oi4fAkp2iNVpB4KkALo1eay5Joxl-L6QVh16UdGoBgub1otB0SPUUUUmsIaBM3CNhjRkuMYc60EO1neWDH4jT6L8SpJYsaA9JqrWtT2xTXVA_MJwyGZmIIz0MIA3j8M7-zjg/s1600/IMG_0165+(1024x767).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtp_l7h-oi4fAkp2iNVpB4KkALo1eay5Joxl-L6QVh16UdGoBgub1otB0SPUUUUmsIaBM3CNhjRkuMYc60EO1neWDH4jT6L8SpJYsaA9JqrWtT2xTXVA_MJwyGZmIIz0MIA3j8M7-zjg/s1600/IMG_0165+(1024x767).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kelp Gull colony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LCpUo6su-68fvfvihmfO0RT7QEfstkWqyUie0iUx47EKGbx8GKcDK5uWaULQk9EQOYk2K3uEugM0331IdPInynmTAz4lcmAzjNWRykYb3i80BrRs4wlodZJW8-CQ2bcd23DG2GUMH1k/s1600/IMG_0169+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LCpUo6su-68fvfvihmfO0RT7QEfstkWqyUie0iUx47EKGbx8GKcDK5uWaULQk9EQOYk2K3uEugM0331IdPInynmTAz4lcmAzjNWRykYb3i80BrRs4wlodZJW8-CQ2bcd23DG2GUMH1k/s1600/IMG_0169+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of Sacred Ibis also calling the colony home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIkmQe7t5iUCO31ZacbAlYOZVEF2dZZLGTDiiLbGO7LYbsqaN0eNCfTNnoEEoCOxhZRuhiUFdt6Wp2Oy8ikxgPI7YPseK77PK5O_FCpZQpbh-h4dZ7uWuzc9OtXA3KmAX6A7iva_7gSE/s1600/IMG_0174+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIkmQe7t5iUCO31ZacbAlYOZVEF2dZZLGTDiiLbGO7LYbsqaN0eNCfTNnoEEoCOxhZRuhiUFdt6Wp2Oy8ikxgPI7YPseK77PK5O_FCpZQpbh-h4dZ7uWuzc9OtXA3KmAX6A7iva_7gSE/s1600/IMG_0174+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caspian Tern croaking it's defense.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuhv_K6LpKP8OgHBRwV1lp8raVR1rPHckkhyoP9EDnDLLeCa20BApxVrHaNEy11xxIdXAFN0UVaX5zy-I1UwgzgdTxvUDeuZrLPfO44XxWDSue8FkhKKiwwJdYSIVANtUgYHEl7jNDmg/s1600/IMG_0179+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuhv_K6LpKP8OgHBRwV1lp8raVR1rPHckkhyoP9EDnDLLeCa20BApxVrHaNEy11xxIdXAFN0UVaX5zy-I1UwgzgdTxvUDeuZrLPfO44XxWDSue8FkhKKiwwJdYSIVANtUgYHEl7jNDmg/s1600/IMG_0179+(768x1024).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Egret.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx_Oy_WnSiJu2ltYMVeWGajccoUUomxRVysXBL_4vvfrN609N5QaCizGjLNMnqnon1K5kNb4-NU9fsDQsnxdRcUA5AdJvsJY9DZqvrrn8DbSnNUpKH78wUkPTLOcf2rSMZHJsylcKEbA/s1600/IMG_0180+(727x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWx_Oy_WnSiJu2ltYMVeWGajccoUUomxRVysXBL_4vvfrN609N5QaCizGjLNMnqnon1K5kNb4-NU9fsDQsnxdRcUA5AdJvsJY9DZqvrrn8DbSnNUpKH78wUkPTLOcf2rSMZHJsylcKEbA/s1600/IMG_0180+(727x1024).jpg" height="640" width="454" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiding under mom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Phil Whittington's colour-ringed gulls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQEny_XtSuRUbLTQ1MLOw6D3lXnQgei4kRSYCrrRC5d474IaTUzrUbx1zvxMdqugoFY8Cvu4m4gWIZHPGpgbYNfJwTxUGCm0jnEKPQYE8cv4dlDIjxdqr2n2VKEBZmCvBWNKi5WnVUqU/s1600/IMG_0157+(1024x770).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQEny_XtSuRUbLTQ1MLOw6D3lXnQgei4kRSYCrrRC5d474IaTUzrUbx1zvxMdqugoFY8Cvu4m4gWIZHPGpgbYNfJwTxUGCm0jnEKPQYE8cv4dlDIjxdqr2n2VKEBZmCvBWNKi5WnVUqU/s1600/IMG_0157+(1024x770).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Newly hatched!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming out!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtdzi1Qtc4b-KgcTehOz0A0gMOpOd2rZp0D6wv313O_e-SD3wrziAhlWJVghTXLIFw3OIipX50QoijtBohus1LmvajLGAkcStfzvlRk9yMtYwQtQhHsZ7fBINqBQARakjSBu9Lp-En1o/s1600/IMG_0192+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtdzi1Qtc4b-KgcTehOz0A0gMOpOd2rZp0D6wv313O_e-SD3wrziAhlWJVghTXLIFw3OIipX50QoijtBohus1LmvajLGAkcStfzvlRk9yMtYwQtQhHsZ7fBINqBQARakjSBu9Lp-En1o/s1600/IMG_0192+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon to be sibling.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-13771606848732576572014-05-25T11:19:00.000-07:002014-05-25T11:19:48.382-07:00Keurbooms River MouthArriving in Plett in January a year ago, I had to wade at least waist deep to get across to Lookout Beach, and since then Lookout Beach has slowly become more accessible, and now you can remain entirely dry getting to Lookout Beach, which was a popular gathering spot in December. Lookout Beach has an interesting history, and while I have been desk-bound working on writing up my thesis, specifically details about the study sites, Lookout Beach and Keurbooms Peninsula, I found this interesting page about Keurbooms River mouth. At long last a chronologically ordered and graphically recorded account of how Keurbooms River mouth has moved over the years, and how Lookout Beach has changed. Go check it out!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.turtlesa.com/Keurboommouth.html">http://www.turtlesa.com/Keurboommouth.html</a><br />
<br />
Geoff Fairman has graciously allowed me to share this, and it is all copyright to him. Thanks Geoff!Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-9398643071425616322014-05-07T01:04:00.000-07:002014-05-07T01:04:03.700-07:00Days in De HoopAs we only went to the cave every third day, and trials were run at night when the bats were active, I had a lot of spare time on my hands. For some of the day I did the responsible thing and worked, but I also took the opportunity to see what De Hoop was all about.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyUSGhaSB3TsH4LTETi01E9K6f5BAOCkXzR1vsFjZUw3FbLlQnD73VJY9y05SH2PrKURsEseq7uFV9ZFl1JnhsGnI-YbKhfMsaiCG4_9ez4OAMuANWAKkPjt1njKdNqfZhOtr0hr4p9s/s1600/IMG_9560+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyUSGhaSB3TsH4LTETi01E9K6f5BAOCkXzR1vsFjZUw3FbLlQnD73VJY9y05SH2PrKURsEseq7uFV9ZFl1JnhsGnI-YbKhfMsaiCG4_9ez4OAMuANWAKkPjt1njKdNqfZhOtr0hr4p9s/s1600/IMG_9560+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeffrey, the four-striped field mouse that shared our kitchen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0D4W1rcwwsuM7TdM0NRhT_O6JsLAf2AmSUP9KU9BFV06PFGMNM0fdlS9h-_DboAEHH6GvJyoHL5YCIEvIrehh0QY9Q0vXshOiFaLSiJldLYCJsgZyixwLAgNlODn6tGRl2F9kBRnltI/s1600/IMG_9410+%25281024x721%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0D4W1rcwwsuM7TdM0NRhT_O6JsLAf2AmSUP9KU9BFV06PFGMNM0fdlS9h-_DboAEHH6GvJyoHL5YCIEvIrehh0QY9Q0vXshOiFaLSiJldLYCJsgZyixwLAgNlODn6tGRl2F9kBRnltI/s1600/IMG_9410+%25281024x721%2529.jpg" height="450" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common House Martin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4MKfe11Wli3OCQzuNNmeGc_-ZqwJVu6uyKuJ0pB-OIBMw40yOwpyxqTXFLTdyHAra9wnqg3qGxGXM66_SMwJlgcw_f85BGiJJIq3uMjR_KFN6qPPgJOGlnATSIffALlxdzHFGtURkdM/s1600/IMG_9412+%25281024x715%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4MKfe11Wli3OCQzuNNmeGc_-ZqwJVu6uyKuJ0pB-OIBMw40yOwpyxqTXFLTdyHAra9wnqg3qGxGXM66_SMwJlgcw_f85BGiJJIq3uMjR_KFN6qPPgJOGlnATSIffALlxdzHFGtURkdM/s1600/IMG_9412+%25281024x715%2529.jpg" height="446" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capped Wheatear.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ty4FYDgIABfPKXxEueybuQ4fOusegKfQ4Ao5WUxYAiR-fugYFHdNou-9ioxiLHy_P7YF56W11DJ92_GY70ESdeNsqn_7kOrWxComoHB1hean9d5Y7Vw4OZCQhnZVVOEj5cqldNQtAMQ/s1600/IMG_9443+%25281024x702%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ty4FYDgIABfPKXxEueybuQ4fOusegKfQ4Ao5WUxYAiR-fugYFHdNou-9ioxiLHy_P7YF56W11DJ92_GY70ESdeNsqn_7kOrWxComoHB1hean9d5Y7Vw4OZCQhnZVVOEj5cqldNQtAMQ/s1600/IMG_9443+%25281024x702%2529.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Crested Grebe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2rbacOcsBySjOPnNdXQeTg17VMdUuh_lcpr_ErvGB2zfAKX_stHs0bWdOPR9Hd6kaS4-nQU2NOgfifiEJ2LbqbMpKAYTF8w40XdPY1MGLql4HcxJ6QRF5tdo79vM6k3nqZqE0WkQWkQ/s1600/IMG_9418+%25281024x710%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2rbacOcsBySjOPnNdXQeTg17VMdUuh_lcpr_ErvGB2zfAKX_stHs0bWdOPR9Hd6kaS4-nQU2NOgfifiEJ2LbqbMpKAYTF8w40XdPY1MGLql4HcxJ6QRF5tdo79vM6k3nqZqE0WkQWkQ/s1600/IMG_9418+%25281024x710%2529.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bokmakierie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnaVOsLcdm6gVuoSL61UV4UCkUPHt_qk6egZMbeJCY0ngg2KqXLq_weWnmnilkEXlQ9emq-M7FIHBRGUfdixn4nthcQqxzhsuOVXXxSkC_0iCXUNaq-lXQlX07Jl9AhRAguzuKM4Hi7Y/s1600/IMG_9478+%25281024x694%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnaVOsLcdm6gVuoSL61UV4UCkUPHt_qk6egZMbeJCY0ngg2KqXLq_weWnmnilkEXlQ9emq-M7FIHBRGUfdixn4nthcQqxzhsuOVXXxSkC_0iCXUNaq-lXQlX07Jl9AhRAguzuKM4Hi7Y/s1600/IMG_9478+%25281024x694%2529.jpg" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had some windy days! Ostriches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIFmZXSzDqgY2zElmp8VBR_J8o3YR_7BJKjN92dSCwwjOVo-L26LqizpPoeZ5jxC5LqDM6Z77clOoV73C_FpRkgH4_u0O09QMgaCvUISh9T_GftxJVu0BOevE9KALj2GEc9Wym0gHN7U/s1600/IMG_9564+%25281024x693%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHIFmZXSzDqgY2zElmp8VBR_J8o3YR_7BJKjN92dSCwwjOVo-L26LqizpPoeZ5jxC5LqDM6Z77clOoV73C_FpRkgH4_u0O09QMgaCvUISh9T_GftxJVu0BOevE9KALj2GEc9Wym0gHN7U/s1600/IMG_9564+%25281024x693%2529.jpg" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Heron.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-Vwuz_wlKzXn5jbxooKNSqcyyt9B5s0IctQp4rDzNgCGBBEWrR08ugmIbnZH3dIyPXcTmhpg12a9xhBn3H17FvRdTcXzzrfXgeXXaDnSQdcpxeWV7xvhGhDAWHJ_krphp5f0UF4v3BI/s1600/IMG_9558+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-Vwuz_wlKzXn5jbxooKNSqcyyt9B5s0IctQp4rDzNgCGBBEWrR08ugmIbnZH3dIyPXcTmhpg12a9xhBn3H17FvRdTcXzzrfXgeXXaDnSQdcpxeWV7xvhGhDAWHJ_krphp5f0UF4v3BI/s1600/IMG_9558+%25281024x681%2529.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelp Gull.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8Pbz_bnk86UufL9vaCP4T8LQEYfMSDFE70AnH8t_NUYTKyKusEFK7hmh-twDw0MFvui_ZMUOLhlLS-NPHJYfKRsswjTpytDz2Mv2cWGKrDcsS38rVwm-21Bit8QD2jTaKvjShedUlL8/s1600/IMG_9454+%25281024x751%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8Pbz_bnk86UufL9vaCP4T8LQEYfMSDFE70AnH8t_NUYTKyKusEFK7hmh-twDw0MFvui_ZMUOLhlLS-NPHJYfKRsswjTpytDz2Mv2cWGKrDcsS38rVwm-21Bit8QD2jTaKvjShedUlL8/s1600/IMG_9454+%25281024x751%2529.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Spurfowl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_85Px-V9-nAQygi2iZUgmcqPag0nvsbmA8P98Nho9pXPaKALEcXK4Hzja8rdkWH_8AdPJ0xKbO9-3fx4cFZLZdy5lSMbidOuMdQSxUCIHfotf6ZiNu2aEZKAGxyrf54X_F1MdbK7k9UI/s1600/IMG_9594+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_85Px-V9-nAQygi2iZUgmcqPag0nvsbmA8P98Nho9pXPaKALEcXK4Hzja8rdkWH_8AdPJ0xKbO9-3fx4cFZLZdy5lSMbidOuMdQSxUCIHfotf6ZiNu2aEZKAGxyrf54X_F1MdbK7k9UI/s1600/IMG_9594+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Starling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mFrbv-JlXRLu8fghCNG70FH6IIAtEXVEqCwAi_99TzAdUEY8G2Gp2_XjjeKTv_2sPFmG3FtUrRL7h64JSHa3_72P3QuKS-TMZ3ZGuipwot1PtBtx2Q_7hjDhmlXg2NHvRqGXPw5nsJc/s1600/IMG_9606+%2528739x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mFrbv-JlXRLu8fghCNG70FH6IIAtEXVEqCwAi_99TzAdUEY8G2Gp2_XjjeKTv_2sPFmG3FtUrRL7h64JSHa3_72P3QuKS-TMZ3ZGuipwot1PtBtx2Q_7hjDhmlXg2NHvRqGXPw5nsJc/s1600/IMG_9606+%2528739x1024%2529.jpg" height="640" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping myself occupied on a rainy day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZD2aPaAePFA0S-feXGvvk6ykljYfsP1oki90paXig5v9Yb8rLuquqI4A8ZhrxGcq2PnNZOMDYusdX19eWfcutsSK1nD4gdoVANtmYsjJnQv9RelmV9yS2sbOc1HABH-s2chtMDjobGM/s1600/IMG_9388+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZD2aPaAePFA0S-feXGvvk6ykljYfsP1oki90paXig5v9Yb8rLuquqI4A8ZhrxGcq2PnNZOMDYusdX19eWfcutsSK1nD4gdoVANtmYsjJnQv9RelmV9yS2sbOc1HABH-s2chtMDjobGM/s1600/IMG_9388+%25281024x682%2529.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bontebok.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvT_XY5yBTQGw-9IrhPPBmtIzWlayRP61j1GZuTwSJUYSQQbr4fzTuucDkxsRQjXGfpX2h6BcyhU0nYIkpa1djAPAtuUx_u2hYWCM4BoeOxM4w243bPPgpIm3ohLG8wgUf3k5xHvevnc/s1600/IMG_9574+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvT_XY5yBTQGw-9IrhPPBmtIzWlayRP61j1GZuTwSJUYSQQbr4fzTuucDkxsRQjXGfpX2h6BcyhU0nYIkpa1djAPAtuUx_u2hYWCM4BoeOxM4w243bPPgpIm3ohLG8wgUf3k5xHvevnc/s1600/IMG_9574+%25281024x768%2529.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eland.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc_pWmnCtFrv4MbJs6HVOf9L8Vy_DRpA6u0yGpCB8bOHovBaK8cwgpKNtMnDgWccK3IE9TRWqqgCe95Y5kdFEcjQqld48wMALjhjDY4VaTYjfsC4jPMQkgKLn5P9NDGhQw4KD8f0uYiQ/s1600/IMG_9428+%25281024x575%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPc_pWmnCtFrv4MbJs6HVOf9L8Vy_DRpA6u0yGpCB8bOHovBaK8cwgpKNtMnDgWccK3IE9TRWqqgCe95Y5kdFEcjQqld48wMALjhjDY4VaTYjfsC4jPMQkgKLn5P9NDGhQw4KD8f0uYiQ/s1600/IMG_9428+%25281024x575%2529.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good fertilizer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTSPn9LjWupNcxtKshaTi-Q36psjlpWBCcUcKo3aMNDgR6dRuWpwZo7FTVxxFJFBEwv-PoNCntBzF0IfWntYxnHeNimp3fZnv-yYYvkwNqfEGH8p_9JikZ6HHMrA2Aq6SfWsZfs0vjh4/s1600/IMG_9437+%25281024x767%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTSPn9LjWupNcxtKshaTi-Q36psjlpWBCcUcKo3aMNDgR6dRuWpwZo7FTVxxFJFBEwv-PoNCntBzF0IfWntYxnHeNimp3fZnv-yYYvkwNqfEGH8p_9JikZ6HHMrA2Aq6SfWsZfs0vjh4/s1600/IMG_9437+%25281024x767%2529.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hyrax.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67I3keRWjccEjTRb7MMeJlGYVKCPJccDAWiUMC0_AAkit41zolI7AyA5fD1Ajhi_PkdEmZZSlcCG-uwwJw-c7gCy2MFAwl2QrG2iDMVP0h4dVkVt8TDL5qwlNkeZLK-ihwaq3basSPzo/s1600/IMG_9517+%25281024x851%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67I3keRWjccEjTRb7MMeJlGYVKCPJccDAWiUMC0_AAkit41zolI7AyA5fD1Ajhi_PkdEmZZSlcCG-uwwJw-c7gCy2MFAwl2QrG2iDMVP0h4dVkVt8TDL5qwlNkeZLK-ihwaq3basSPzo/s1600/IMG_9517+%25281024x851%2529.jpg" height="530" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tony Phelps treated us to a snake show. Cape Cobra.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAYOA2fJMxVX6MkSpBX8Yi4Z1MmWEhHz0xdAlbn3mUGg3HbA3430OLdNw-_mSvM7OVs5scQtY3z74r5ep0FroLBdou2kKQdW2HQvvcgzuDRrRImGDDfbqDD3hVjtBv83As8wPFO21fGw/s1600/IMG_9534+%25281024x392%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAYOA2fJMxVX6MkSpBX8Yi4Z1MmWEhHz0xdAlbn3mUGg3HbA3430OLdNw-_mSvM7OVs5scQtY3z74r5ep0FroLBdou2kKQdW2HQvvcgzuDRrRImGDDfbqDD3hVjtBv83As8wPFO21fGw/s1600/IMG_9534+%25281024x392%2529.jpg" height="244" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Clawless Otters seen on the paddle to the cave.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTf6NhWjkiOkBKlTHfpaXgMCHoMl8z0VPCR1kPbIbHZhssaMXiyipbfMLmzPoQgBZ1DtaSXeycyIySHSZdCSBHRAzFMSETCqOiGx4xcucebUwl6bj8d3F1FPgi4a_OqkJQEW6aq-e4Rc/s1600/IMG_9533+%25281024x396%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTf6NhWjkiOkBKlTHfpaXgMCHoMl8z0VPCR1kPbIbHZhssaMXiyipbfMLmzPoQgBZ1DtaSXeycyIySHSZdCSBHRAzFMSETCqOiGx4xcucebUwl6bj8d3F1FPgi4a_OqkJQEW6aq-e4Rc/s1600/IMG_9533+%25281024x396%2529.jpg" height="246" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were really awesome!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sdlfDyv3cJQq-pS2VoVw8k5vEOPnlHbpGEajw8Y6YRZI1qUHMI8-CmLLM0aXrm9Mivjo4bWgzqXGqLbfZgSiutqEUyCe8glyNxY-cqw3rFK61dr6MyUOCsAyx-q9GKjvxFkZjj9gYT0/s1600/IMG_9480+%25281024x762%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sdlfDyv3cJQq-pS2VoVw8k5vEOPnlHbpGEajw8Y6YRZI1qUHMI8-CmLLM0aXrm9Mivjo4bWgzqXGqLbfZgSiutqEUyCe8glyNxY-cqw3rFK61dr6MyUOCsAyx-q9GKjvxFkZjj9gYT0/s1600/IMG_9480+%25281024x762%2529.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluebottle at the beach.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-8115220215849878412014-05-04T02:09:00.000-07:002014-05-04T02:09:01.020-07:00Gone battyRob Raw, a PhD candidate from UCT needed field assistance at De Hoop Nature Reserve working on bats. With my fieldwork done I was keen for some different experience and agreed to join him for 2 weeks. It was indeed an experience working with these amazing little creatures! His focus for this trip was Geoffroy's horseshoe bat <i>Rhinolophus clivosus.</i> I arrived on Monday evening, joining Rob and his girlfriend Alicia to bring the team up to three, and straight after supper got stuck into one aspect of my job, feeding the bats. The bats were kept in a flight room in the research house which had a heater and a humidifier to keep the bats in a more natural roosting environment. Rob would go into the room and catch the bats and our work began. Bats were sexed, weighed, and had a wing measured before being marked using nailpolish on their claws; then it was time for food and experimental trials! These little guys are insectivorous and they were fed a steady diet of mealworms. A starter of 10 mealworms before the trials began, a snack of 10 mealworms midway through the trials and then an eat-as-much-as-you-can buffet of mealworms once the trials for the night were done. Depending on the bat, they could eat easily being held in the hand, or they could close their mouths and turn their heads like children refusing to eat vegetables, going so far as to spit the mealworms out! But to get an individual which would eat with gusto was wonderful! They would stuff their cheeks like hamsters, except their cheeks are not meant to be stuffed! They could become vicious little jack russels, snatching the worms from the tweezers and chewing with gusto! The sound made while chewing, a grating of teeth, added to the vicious image. We had up to 9 bats at the house at a time and, depending on the bats, it seemed to be a continual rotation of feeding. While we were feeding there was a bat undergoing trials. This aspect of Rob's research was focussing on behavioural reactions to artificially created versions of their calls, shifting the pitch or other aspects of the species call. How late we stayed up working all depended on the bats: whether they ate easily and how quickly they settled in the chamber Rob used for trials. In the chamber was an infrared camera which allowed him to watch them, he needed to wait for them to settle in the chamber before trials began and sometimes he could wait more than 30 minutes while they groomed! I really enjoyed watching them groom, they are very sweet little creatures! As a result, bed time could be anywhere from 9pm to midnight, but we had the entire day to recover, and explore the reserve, while the bats slept before trials began again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWueNFp5_3MxpXzOoTlC_5K7gT2bMKSeqby_WEnwDibbHfcxr8C6UG-kTnexnCwu0ZpLiLXerqrlt5VMqQjHfqti1ZE8CdCkhUQfAzw7qHmJ0j9MRUKyeYyJtFV7SbMISs5HwoNhuNJM/s1600/IMAG1057_1+(750x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWueNFp5_3MxpXzOoTlC_5K7gT2bMKSeqby_WEnwDibbHfcxr8C6UG-kTnexnCwu0ZpLiLXerqrlt5VMqQjHfqti1ZE8CdCkhUQfAzw7qHmJ0j9MRUKyeYyJtFV7SbMISs5HwoNhuNJM/s1600/IMAG1057_1+(750x1024).jpg" height="640" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geoffroy's horseshoe bat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt14uxZC39Y-6q1waFzPZ94JQ57TfJChm1W6gPXQwxijbhMCX6-pIPhxnflue-hcK09LzFIYBmY7nj8bQjb93qne7aSPKrFqps-rUDtTmDNgIJaO6UjIYXjSZ18r_7KBEr9YHY5aqHPIs/s1600/IMAG1062+(536x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt14uxZC39Y-6q1waFzPZ94JQ57TfJChm1W6gPXQwxijbhMCX6-pIPhxnflue-hcK09LzFIYBmY7nj8bQjb93qne7aSPKrFqps-rUDtTmDNgIJaO6UjIYXjSZ18r_7KBEr9YHY5aqHPIs/s1600/IMAG1062+(536x1024).jpg" height="640" width="334" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh no! See the painted nails..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySZBTUBejHH6CR3ErMnX9VFgxznrJRP0i2GYrsWQZMZBmQWwWQtWw1qw1xA3-eFkdx9o7VXXDY3jMod8h3S-6oWpIEnzdpY5yJflD96s5Qm5IIws41oHMrN7KyUxYMeNpoQHFsIVS3uE/s1600/IMAG1067+(733x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySZBTUBejHH6CR3ErMnX9VFgxznrJRP0i2GYrsWQZMZBmQWwWQtWw1qw1xA3-eFkdx9o7VXXDY3jMod8h3S-6oWpIEnzdpY5yJflD96s5Qm5IIws41oHMrN7KyUxYMeNpoQHFsIVS3uE/s1600/IMAG1067+(733x1024).jpg" height="640" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weighing the bats.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaWw6p9PX3EAOv9gxIG-X2LgtI_rjzY65C8DntUWqlayJIo3wqJ5fnwt9hlYMgAkTGq3KF1Q6ZmzITDWtsR9HBRPPDUoaiyjDQfS0MTfxEh_jV8DTDIlcxAKWoUF3GlbKHHTZR_OC6Yg/s1600/IMAG1072+(954x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaWw6p9PX3EAOv9gxIG-X2LgtI_rjzY65C8DntUWqlayJIo3wqJ5fnwt9hlYMgAkTGq3KF1Q6ZmzITDWtsR9HBRPPDUoaiyjDQfS0MTfxEh_jV8DTDIlcxAKWoUF3GlbKHHTZR_OC6Yg/s1600/IMAG1072+(954x1024).jpg" height="640" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omnomnomnomnom!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of mealworms!</td></tr>
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The other aspect of my job was to help Rob catch the bats. We went to the cave every third day which I must admit was the best part of the trip! Getting to the cave was no simple matter. First a 45min 4x4 drive bouncing around, then a serious paddle with all the gear in an inflatable rafting boat of sorts and finally a short but steep hike to the cave entrance. Once there we tended to spend a moment gathering ourselves and preparing the gear. Going into the cave we had to wear respirators due to a fungus that grew in the cave, and so we tended to sound like Darth Vader, added to that we moved in the cave using red light as it disturbed the bats less, so I could imagine giving anyone who may have stumbled across us quite a scare and as highly unlikely as this was it did keep me highly entertained! As amusing as I thought we looked and sounded it was not a comfortable get-up. Moving through the cave that first day was surreal, not being able to see quite clearly and breathing through the respirator was very strange. The cavern where we caught the bats was quite a trip into the belly of the cave, and it was not a simple journey. There were areas where I was squatting down waddling through smaller tunnels - I hadn't thought to bring long pants to wear in the cave and I was not keen on putting my knees down on a guano covered floor to crawl through the tunnel! All the while as we missioned deeper into the cave were bats flying around us, sometimes in large numbers but sometimes just one or two. Another factor that I had not really expected was the humidity! The only other caving experience I had was at Cango Caves which was quite cool. Guano Cave (named for the guano mining that occured there many years ago) was hot and humid! Rob had once measured the humidity in the cave and it was around 99% and did I feel every little bit of it! Once we reached the cavern where we caught the bats I was covered in sweat. Rob caught the bats using a butterfly net as they dropped from the walls with our presence disturbing them and I stood ready to bag them as he checked they were of the <i>Rhinolophus</i> genus. As we turned around and started the trek back to the cave entrance it often felt as though someone had turned the aircon on. As hot as it may have been outside it was nothing compared to the humidity in the cave and it was so refreshing to reach the cave entrance and pull the respirator and headlamp off my sweaty face. Before we could begin the trip back to the house we had to check the bats we had caught. We may come out of the cave with a good haul of bats but we couldn't take them all home. There are two species of <i>Rhinolophus</i> that live in the cave and they look identical, the only way to tell them apart is by their calls. <i>Rhinolophus clivosus</i> (the bats we wanted) echolocate at a frequency of 85 kilohertz while <i>Rhinolophus capensis</i> echolocate at a frequency of 92 kilohertz (on average). Rob used a handheld detector that picked up the echolation calls of the bats and so we separated the two species, thinning the number of bats we had to take back. This number was further dropped by checking that all the bats were adult (done by looking at wing bone fusion) and checking that none of the bats had nailpolish on (we didn't want to take bats that had already been through the trials). Bats were taken back to the house and that evening was the first night of trials, and the second night after trials they were released. We got back to the house filthy and after releasing the bats had a shower and lunch, and it is amazing how the simple pleasures of a hot shower and food can revive a person!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj7YhrZ3Rvp_jj67aQL8uBMwBDHgRVYah0zmWWJAdfHg7PrIDmrx_AnwqWCyr5Of8h-I5XmigSVytXoPQOgDXElBVn2Wo-9jL5aEidknSy2DtbCGr9aqcIpNKIAhqZd41L86aAvftppY/s1600/IMG_9548+(1024x914).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj7YhrZ3Rvp_jj67aQL8uBMwBDHgRVYah0zmWWJAdfHg7PrIDmrx_AnwqWCyr5Of8h-I5XmigSVytXoPQOgDXElBVn2Wo-9jL5aEidknSy2DtbCGr9aqcIpNKIAhqZd41L86aAvftppY/s1600/IMG_9548+(1024x914).jpg" height="570" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our catch from the cave.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEGpyZUvlr1t57a8R47TTMmQVO2Y2G0Lt_8KvWkO-YKPxRLHuoKdu0WrMKzElKOCNLhGZ3YdnIqYmF3NvNAyAGQdeSUzA9husZ8Ug52xEjOLTgYvGeqPgyuXQE8DDi6iaeGMfF0tMFGo/s1600/IMG_9551+(1024x668).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEGpyZUvlr1t57a8R47TTMmQVO2Y2G0Lt_8KvWkO-YKPxRLHuoKdu0WrMKzElKOCNLhGZ3YdnIqYmF3NvNAyAGQdeSUzA9husZ8Ug52xEjOLTgYvGeqPgyuXQE8DDi6iaeGMfF0tMFGo/s1600/IMG_9551+(1024x668).jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking the echolation call.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvijKM24N-gTD8kKtR6_LmYFVoC-Qk9I1G5dnhgWKLX309yKL9mxQkyKw0Jpy9IBDbm3elnmqTUSz8aFH3JaucCkCpObBcg_ttzw0u1_8m8wC8npORLquwL52i18FnIU06PC7q1qnPDWQ/s1600/IMG_9615+(1024x767).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvijKM24N-gTD8kKtR6_LmYFVoC-Qk9I1G5dnhgWKLX309yKL9mxQkyKw0Jpy9IBDbm3elnmqTUSz8aFH3JaucCkCpObBcg_ttzw0u1_8m8wC8npORLquwL52i18FnIU06PC7q1qnPDWQ/s1600/IMG_9615+(1024x767).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roosting miniopterans.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuIp7IdIecG7UgCtv81jkHb1178_sLXX53Wv4BWDe5VyFxRnVzxCGUATYZgMJjOn4g3i-CXETJupXmXrOya2eJ8DW3MGs3Nf6RroJFoI6gbxXYWLo6BQquoJEhjyMAa4BMLa4LDfWN5g/s1600/IMG_9616+(1024x845).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuIp7IdIecG7UgCtv81jkHb1178_sLXX53Wv4BWDe5VyFxRnVzxCGUATYZgMJjOn4g3i-CXETJupXmXrOya2eJ8DW3MGs3Nf6RroJFoI6gbxXYWLo6BQquoJEhjyMAa4BMLa4LDfWN5g/s1600/IMG_9616+(1024x845).jpg" height="528" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was an incredible experience going into the cave!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYtwbPTS3JZAFfjrARRxF01mXK_mYjbEP_D5lPLcOgiejjyNTNPIHwdb5MOQy0AYFdd0VjVQvfCpafb2w1TN7-Lp5EhrJPKO-Rr0eNoko4xpUiy_GuDtMbvqonqLC8vNgjex4ZPleMcs/s1600/IMG_9617+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYtwbPTS3JZAFfjrARRxF01mXK_mYjbEP_D5lPLcOgiejjyNTNPIHwdb5MOQy0AYFdd0VjVQvfCpafb2w1TN7-Lp5EhrJPKO-Rr0eNoko4xpUiy_GuDtMbvqonqLC8vNgjex4ZPleMcs/s1600/IMG_9617+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The abandoned track used when the cave was mined for guano, note the small tunnel behind.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot-hole, another cave where bats roost with a 7m drop to the floor, thank goodness we didn't go in there!</td></tr>
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All in all it was a great trip and a fantastic opportunity to learn more about these bats and behavioural research! Thanks Rob!Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-7356804011606888362014-04-28T11:05:00.004-07:002014-04-28T11:05:58.905-07:00ScubaAfter a long break from scuba diving I did two boat dives within a week. The first was to a site called Grootbank to do the first dive of my Advanced Course. This was a deep dive, meant to go down as close to 30m as possible. Michael and I dropped down and hit the reef at 21m, in pitch black. We expected a dim, dark dive but to not be able to see more than 30cm with a dive torch was horrid! Darkness in water is far worse than darkness on land I have since discovered, immediately my mind turned to all the creatures that we couldn't see but could probably see us. It was a short dive, but it was still good to be back in the water in scuba gear!<br />
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The second dive was just for fun. This time to a site called Jacobs Reef, where I have dived before. Unfortunately the visibility was again shocking and so we ended up surfacing quite quickly and moved to a shallower site, Blinders. It ended up being a pleasurable dive, it is always so wonderful to spend time hovering just about the reef looking at the corals, nudibranchs, fish and anemones, swaying with the current.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A happy diver I am.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-16656908564555266452014-04-27T09:42:00.000-07:002014-04-27T09:42:01.037-07:00Flower powerAnother side project that I have been working on is looking at the pollination syndrome of <i>Brunsvigia orientalis</i>. Monica from Offshore Adventures has been running this project, supervised in part by Mark and I have been assisting with a lot of the fieldwork. Besides locating as many populations as possible and counting the number of flowers in each (sometimes ranging up to and over 1000 plants!) we have been bagging flowers and measuring nectar volume and concentration. We have also been doing pollinator observations, and it seems that sunbirds are the primary pollinators. We are hoping to publish the data we have collected, which would be awesome!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amethyst Sunbird on a <i>Brunsvigia </i>plant.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagged flowers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpGVSsw9U2FgeYONcPLK3zkaH83WERVqjDGttSOafMtADiCz1F_ZnbS8tRZGyQyHKhkQKrw009YAuN3BQQtJdXaljohyphenhyphen8O4pLmOxQWcVyGvpB2p8TMVohuUB9jNJzvV0zaBgLV1KwV2g/s1600/IMG_9338+(1024x767).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpGVSsw9U2FgeYONcPLK3zkaH83WERVqjDGttSOafMtADiCz1F_ZnbS8tRZGyQyHKhkQKrw009YAuN3BQQtJdXaljohyphenhyphen8O4pLmOxQWcVyGvpB2p8TMVohuUB9jNJzvV0zaBgLV1KwV2g/s1600/IMG_9338+(1024x767).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the fields we were working in, and our faithful fieldwork companion.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full anther contact on a Greater Double-collared Sunbirds head.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-74933417558258296672014-04-27T06:47:00.000-07:002014-04-27T06:47:20.744-07:00Natural and human hazardsWhile out on the boat with <a href="http://offshoreadventures.co.za/" target="_blank">Offshore Adventures</a> collecting seal behavioural data I have seen some interesting things. One being a seal that had miraculously escaped death by shark but bore the marks of the encounter. A half moon bite mark, seeming severe but seals are resilient creatures and will survive this, but the next seal may not be so lucky.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvekfhy-Sda-SNsuPXkLIE0oy5Q6EU-pftsGrgvPBWuyS-y5EjceXbtRCzrVEuP3yUtFoCJo0TEJycPWCn3taytrd0kvQjjkew3IwiGRCdTs7Ezlu6h90b7PUry_iwIJ5lRoliFFlo9I/s1600/IMG_9364+(1024x640).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvekfhy-Sda-SNsuPXkLIE0oy5Q6EU-pftsGrgvPBWuyS-y5EjceXbtRCzrVEuP3yUtFoCJo0TEJycPWCn3taytrd0kvQjjkew3IwiGRCdTs7Ezlu6h90b7PUry_iwIJ5lRoliFFlo9I/s1600/IMG_9364+(1024x640).jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once bitten twice shy?</td></tr>
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The other sighting of note was a seal with what appeared to be netting or twine wrapped around it's neck. The seal didn't seem to be in great discomfort but the noose was a little too tight for my liking. Unfortunately I have not spotted this individual again, and not for lack of trying! I can only hope that it somehow managed to free itself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Human hazards.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-67882038613720766352014-04-27T06:27:00.003-07:002014-04-27T06:27:42.931-07:00Swimming with sealsOne morning Mark and Jesse joined me on a seal swim with <a href="http://offshoreadventures.co.za/" target="_blank">Offshore Adventures</a>. Jesse was very taken with the pups, and them with him, perhaps due to his small size. We all had an awesome time and I got another session of data collection done, I am going to miss this once all the data has been collected!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Jesse.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse and I.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hu9Pf61JFDtfNrXNxVNilUEs-4OU-2gJ8fIyE-H6RPrjxn54j3Tl4WwabNbDc2xZbUpnXMX0kuukcTKGbBuUSdsoBr_DdTKYlPIuhHmKVvKSZkzGhnRdmmwtXanQIOOT0uTYebkfRr4/s1600/G0058457+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hu9Pf61JFDtfNrXNxVNilUEs-4OU-2gJ8fIyE-H6RPrjxn54j3Tl4WwabNbDc2xZbUpnXMX0kuukcTKGbBuUSdsoBr_DdTKYlPIuhHmKVvKSZkzGhnRdmmwtXanQIOOT0uTYebkfRr4/s1600/G0058457+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monica from Offshore Adventures.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse greeting the seals!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y1YRIzagmt4GtNvb9kIOghQPurAXYTEZfIt8wR1xiBibmmawpy-WIfv3lA-2k6kZAy9HyIsMpgkbFJIgN5XAVdQE13mfWM6rGUNkuuujdFWbshTojfo5Nmq139ruWbDVy30epKp8fdk/s1600/G0058911+(1024x678).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y1YRIzagmt4GtNvb9kIOghQPurAXYTEZfIt8wR1xiBibmmawpy-WIfv3lA-2k6kZAy9HyIsMpgkbFJIgN5XAVdQE13mfWM6rGUNkuuujdFWbshTojfo5Nmq139ruWbDVy30epKp8fdk/s1600/G0058911+(1024x678).jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They come very close, and are often interested in the dive slate that I use to record data.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-76821374742488531562014-04-27T06:11:00.001-07:002014-04-27T06:11:50.949-07:00Sleek sealsWhile doing boat observations with <a href="http://offshoreadventures.co.za/" target="_blank">Offshore Adventures</a>, I took the opportunity to take some photos of the seals that I am spending so much time watching. They really are such cute creatures!<br />
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-460343917920436222014-04-27T06:07:00.002-07:002014-04-27T06:08:25.453-07:00Offshore AdventuresAlthough the kelp gull breeding season, and my fieldwork, is finished I have managed to not be confined to my desk for too long! Mark has set me up as a research assistant with <a href="http://offshoreadventures.co.za/" target="_blank">Offshore Adventures</a> doing seal behavioural observations. Observations need to be done from land, from the boat, and from the water looking at the seals reactions to swimmers in the water. Robberg is home to a colony of roughly 5000 Cape Fur Seals and I got into the water with them. At this time of year, the pups are testing themselves and learning their limitations, and they are exceptionally friendly! Luckily, the first excursion into the water was for me to familiarise myself with the seals and their behaviour. I was far too taken with these incredible animals to do any data collection! If you have the opportunity to swim with seals, take it! It is a most incredible experience!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to jump in!</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-260523993604127862014-04-27T05:53:00.000-07:002014-04-27T05:53:59.740-07:00Fynbos ringingRinging in the fynbos near Nature's Valley is progressing regularly, and this week was an interesting one. A new species for me was the Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher. A pleasurable catch was a pair of Cape Siskins.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaj1l1CE0TpOTsFbS418XlXflr7GeKQvHWM4kaELOem5XWbJRyLqRW0cYTpQuk_P3ODNnN6Dzl-YUWAsrFHrzgiio_0rURcjTkPrFI5G2gsuaSpTNO9z5jhL0aM-jkost-IY2FDURY8I/s1600/IMG_9303+(1024x827).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaj1l1CE0TpOTsFbS418XlXflr7GeKQvHWM4kaELOem5XWbJRyLqRW0cYTpQuk_P3ODNnN6Dzl-YUWAsrFHrzgiio_0rURcjTkPrFI5G2gsuaSpTNO9z5jhL0aM-jkost-IY2FDURY8I/s1600/IMG_9303+(1024x827).jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCj2Mjo6cqHdcAeBcyVlIUoCcA6-zI1VY4pqnGl7puGGYskL5pYZHppB6yklxOlWXxl085TxGXIRx4FuPqmkfKq88OCXb3la5chc4w6mALXEvtCJ8-cKozA8xxNy0g4QUM9tyKdMxT7w/s1600/IMG_9306+(1024x840).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCj2Mjo6cqHdcAeBcyVlIUoCcA6-zI1VY4pqnGl7puGGYskL5pYZHppB6yklxOlWXxl085TxGXIRx4FuPqmkfKq88OCXb3la5chc4w6mALXEvtCJ8-cKozA8xxNy0g4QUM9tyKdMxT7w/s1600/IMG_9306+(1024x840).jpg" height="524" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babalwa is doing well in her training.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXU4Q1OZvUtUxrGVAlLxp9u1HydTuqqn06JFFjIRm_JzzDIKIrqqxAbFF4rz2slkSgHDq7z184U2ic95FhbTgRvdOcZDaivoNYORnz5BdfOCdTuo2jBRc7O808uRKuogCe0pFl9aAP-Q/s1600/IMG_9309+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXU4Q1OZvUtUxrGVAlLxp9u1HydTuqqn06JFFjIRm_JzzDIKIrqqxAbFF4rz2slkSgHDq7z184U2ic95FhbTgRvdOcZDaivoNYORnz5BdfOCdTuo2jBRc7O808uRKuogCe0pFl9aAP-Q/s1600/IMG_9309+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of Cape Siskins, male on the left.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-55094143915799255602014-04-27T05:48:00.002-07:002014-04-27T05:48:38.233-07:00White-fronted PloversWe were made aware of some White-fronted Plover chicks in Nature's Valley and so a trip was made to go and ring them, a new species for Mark to add to his ringing list! There were two pairs and we ringed a total of three chicks. They are very difficult to find, and a mission to catch, but with 4 of us we managed to get them, putting both metal and colour rings on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH0Nl6ZrZy_U2bqhEwFAXaifiU5q6syrCrEd_3jf3R-3Wf7RIo1oCgh8Ss_Jg-yD_TJM6a3qnbcXpPaI-zfnfiBx8kbuGKopQBKSaPjQW6c4FwWxcy8GJzX3Pnz4hRDMyTUBSxQMsBzU/s1600/DSC_0546+(1024x759).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuH0Nl6ZrZy_U2bqhEwFAXaifiU5q6syrCrEd_3jf3R-3Wf7RIo1oCgh8Ss_Jg-yD_TJM6a3qnbcXpPaI-zfnfiBx8kbuGKopQBKSaPjQW6c4FwWxcy8GJzX3Pnz4hRDMyTUBSxQMsBzU/s1600/DSC_0546+(1024x759).jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a cutie!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbqBHhaeq4alBMo4LgDvLD-teChZMf8vQHefmgf4Rl9rF64RE3I3UyYsSWhm0r4BwjLFNRxJgXy9CXAOgvatY0HnjOJO3gCagqAO7mekdS752wsyTHL1pzLe4CfHQo3c29dwJOfocR7M/s1600/DSC01185+(769x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbqBHhaeq4alBMo4LgDvLD-teChZMf8vQHefmgf4Rl9rF64RE3I3UyYsSWhm0r4BwjLFNRxJgXy9CXAOgvatY0HnjOJO3gCagqAO7mekdS752wsyTHL1pzLe4CfHQo3c29dwJOfocR7M/s1600/DSC01185+(769x1024).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs0L-DKMaUqpKrYl8ruyJsfiGpGSuQdtK1wOhFvwVeBF1nJi1jNAWll5jpG9Up-s1p5VZRWqhEvYKQKUJQclw8uBZqhtixKxnk7CZRkuOpdHUVHTAh6VRdt_cWywDRPTMllidqXUh5h0/s1600/DSC_0564+(683x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgs0L-DKMaUqpKrYl8ruyJsfiGpGSuQdtK1wOhFvwVeBF1nJi1jNAWll5jpG9Up-s1p5VZRWqhEvYKQKUJQclw8uBZqhtixKxnk7CZRkuOpdHUVHTAh6VRdt_cWywDRPTMllidqXUh5h0/s1600/DSC_0564+(683x1024).jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bwqOq48SZpxp6ujuZWrc4M-kKU2aoE44NdPjLSLngGRMva6_6W9-QC9559G1Pu3mwa4sPJh3sHtSibG4LzbBBp-eoet4RjoK9CNzifXejRg27Oj2EFl6NIokwonOAKnCdgjCpQO7YWA/s1600/DSC_0557+(952x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1bwqOq48SZpxp6ujuZWrc4M-kKU2aoE44NdPjLSLngGRMva6_6W9-QC9559G1Pu3mwa4sPJh3sHtSibG4LzbBBp-eoet4RjoK9CNzifXejRg27Oj2EFl6NIokwonOAKnCdgjCpQO7YWA/s1600/DSC_0557+(952x1024).jpg" height="640" width="594" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lightweight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81uas5YgnZ6miqlonsExT-kx0ERDj0KKECBmCTmwAmFPNvDMQNXejexhaux9Adi0mCVbs9EPDs-Fb17DZjsS4UktLzUGtneGCLdJv9-KcDjoxORUSuwn9VxkY1ic0j8QCRO9WPU4Dfvg/s1600/DSC01207+(1024x453).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81uas5YgnZ6miqlonsExT-kx0ERDj0KKECBmCTmwAmFPNvDMQNXejexhaux9Adi0mCVbs9EPDs-Fb17DZjsS4UktLzUGtneGCLdJv9-KcDjoxORUSuwn9VxkY1ic0j8QCRO9WPU4Dfvg/s1600/DSC01207+(1024x453).jpg" height="282" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get it OFF!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2hfGlUP7ipJk9KQpq85c0MzgNI5auetRJ99R3_KxB14YmLrzRDOk4_-NBaIa_ypIQSqOjl7dT2MLN7Dp5IftOx6X4mcLFjYo9koVzc-1pmYDpBXFvU-PEfeLifxEMiLheh4FVfNTX2I/s1600/DSC01253+(1024x225).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2hfGlUP7ipJk9KQpq85c0MzgNI5auetRJ99R3_KxB14YmLrzRDOk4_-NBaIa_ypIQSqOjl7dT2MLN7Dp5IftOx6X4mcLFjYo9koVzc-1pmYDpBXFvU-PEfeLifxEMiLheh4FVfNTX2I/s1600/DSC01253+(1024x225).jpg" height="140" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD_uDNTskYTkmE6BlwPkFF8hsgiHOehF0aCp0qIQ7o_y1acA8IW-z-DBp7fDZSr4zkrr-WemeK1cOufADGvNAp_7-pTl34yqHitWyaGL9PEoAvqfspQd24krAUAvvFiGjWMND2hpTr18/s1600/DSC01328+(1024x884).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdD_uDNTskYTkmE6BlwPkFF8hsgiHOehF0aCp0qIQ7o_y1acA8IW-z-DBp7fDZSr4zkrr-WemeK1cOufADGvNAp_7-pTl34yqHitWyaGL9PEoAvqfspQd24krAUAvvFiGjWMND2hpTr18/s1600/DSC01328+(1024x884).jpg" height="552" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colour-ringed and ready for resightings.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-22033409707428498232014-04-27T05:36:00.000-07:002014-04-27T05:36:36.687-07:00Bird in the handOn the way back from Robberg after fieldwork, I spotted a Forest Buzzard on a light pole. A quick dash home was made to collect mice and the raptor trap. We made the drop, and before I had even managed to turn the car around the bird was on the trap! As we were so close to home we went home to do the ringing so Jesse and Kate could also see the bird. It's not every day that you have a buzzard in your living room!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBO4U9SqmxFTutXMt92Piw3x8d089ghEOdgrXfUE8Erf83LvP94qBqKRQ5Nqk2Jsm-_-KZmMX6VCV1Dm2Ut739QOHPjAliAaA78mw_MQ2Wl1pL4hxBj9dPcUs-OirtcHeIR01JQYBNuZc/s1600/DSC01020+(1024x931).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBO4U9SqmxFTutXMt92Piw3x8d089ghEOdgrXfUE8Erf83LvP94qBqKRQ5Nqk2Jsm-_-KZmMX6VCV1Dm2Ut739QOHPjAliAaA78mw_MQ2Wl1pL4hxBj9dPcUs-OirtcHeIR01JQYBNuZc/s1600/DSC01020+(1024x931).jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interesting deformed talon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuX9sNAqMnzD8HPEi3Vp-IA7Z-f2pGt8CANwt9AxXZm529ggPn6FHoVR4yesWBrg3Y6S2_fIl6x05vRlBUYGDjTACpXAoxnJdp3VFDxM-PXGo00Q2PSIpL9Jozz4X-FUmfuKr7nyovYY/s1600/DSC01029+(1024x854).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuX9sNAqMnzD8HPEi3Vp-IA7Z-f2pGt8CANwt9AxXZm529ggPn6FHoVR4yesWBrg3Y6S2_fIl6x05vRlBUYGDjTACpXAoxnJdp3VFDxM-PXGo00Q2PSIpL9Jozz4X-FUmfuKr7nyovYY/s1600/DSC01029+(1024x854).jpg" height="532" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking measurements while Selena gets more handling experience.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhxStFkIA6sXABLnTnhWa1k70obv1zSuO-0w8gqdj38hyphenhyphenA3i9K3JmsQkGgr9sB8rZ-enNeNXFGO5ecSgIduMM1Q94jrM78z062iUAX3KFby1CR2K3X5veoip1ZsTFv5mT82w5nDCshi4/s1600/DSC01042+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhxStFkIA6sXABLnTnhWa1k70obv1zSuO-0w8gqdj38hyphenhyphenA3i9K3JmsQkGgr9sB8rZ-enNeNXFGO5ecSgIduMM1Q94jrM78z062iUAX3KFby1CR2K3X5veoip1ZsTFv5mT82w5nDCshi4/s1600/DSC01042+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a beauty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZBvxt1tR_PGjJh3q4M-OQhNct51wFQV4sOrY-dGJBudaJRabPXV6nGA-gtAHHHTWMd5G4IDB3mLqGNW9SY8yY7poUP8FqSA9zT6zGLTyioJyPNvM258yBOED9Q3uR-OVrd-nNjH2D1c/s1600/DSC01054+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZBvxt1tR_PGjJh3q4M-OQhNct51wFQV4sOrY-dGJBudaJRabPXV6nGA-gtAHHHTWMd5G4IDB3mLqGNW9SY8yY7poUP8FqSA9zT6zGLTyioJyPNvM258yBOED9Q3uR-OVrd-nNjH2D1c/s1600/DSC01054+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shirley releasing the buzzard at the capture site.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-65511497462350517282014-04-27T05:30:00.002-07:002014-04-27T05:30:34.940-07:00Girl powerShirley and I, along with Selena a visiting potential MSc student, decided to spend a morning roaming the roads to do some raptor ringing. Unfortunately we only managed to catch the one Common Buzzard, but one in better than none!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfD-rwDk3_zLfOvFIDypgBmg8784V2YVAshUhTWNbMmmR1RjJpHmwvGTKK-KTfbRivg5CfbCxmZ3pgZEVM48GUCwdh2sXg6O5wJpEWelMsRpRVHqxS-ZndKwczlx8-ao2hykahlAKWpo/s1600/DSC_0352+(1024x758).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfD-rwDk3_zLfOvFIDypgBmg8784V2YVAshUhTWNbMmmR1RjJpHmwvGTKK-KTfbRivg5CfbCxmZ3pgZEVM48GUCwdh2sXg6O5wJpEWelMsRpRVHqxS-ZndKwczlx8-ao2hykahlAKWpo/s1600/DSC_0352+(1024x758).jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9XqGZaN87DPvQLwHjT-7v5NUXbbhdTjrvYfNPfreXi3OOS1dqYHrBXffHPIcr2DCtxlmQgvBGYnk5Eko6F7jE-2YrLlfMXHDpu4LpWJS2pBnodKziwGEZ5xHE8W6yG4VhvU-bBUzXYY/s1600/DSC_0356+(1024x851).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9XqGZaN87DPvQLwHjT-7v5NUXbbhdTjrvYfNPfreXi3OOS1dqYHrBXffHPIcr2DCtxlmQgvBGYnk5Eko6F7jE-2YrLlfMXHDpu4LpWJS2pBnodKziwGEZ5xHE8W6yG4VhvU-bBUzXYY/s1600/DSC_0356+(1024x851).jpg" height="530" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selena holding her first buzzard!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNvQC9xSWB7cq57NWoPC40i9pa1ECE8Ci-PlcbUkmWRyrhLI2AjelOGLVQGwaWjX-n0sArbZIw8R3NHC4L-6VhNCSJnnhdMjNDdMRZWdTp6gbSJfc6waFuGIkEE4-XeVHycs28sG1UTc/s1600/IMG_9095+(751x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNvQC9xSWB7cq57NWoPC40i9pa1ECE8Ci-PlcbUkmWRyrhLI2AjelOGLVQGwaWjX-n0sArbZIw8R3NHC4L-6VhNCSJnnhdMjNDdMRZWdTp6gbSJfc6waFuGIkEE4-XeVHycs28sG1UTc/s1600/IMG_9095+(751x1024).jpg" height="640" width="468" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amur Falcon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVCpMKsflsC5Fnvh7CmPHZnBF8jpluF72VaZ7x5JQNgrr5DSv6xyB6ht8glV-c3WTrcWkkXc3R7Vtt5KcTv2-RGlo1gbRGMImPMZrKR3OPDEeZ2cT6xSMUAtEQR0rhI0qPs_XKk8OLSg/s1600/IMG_9099+(1024x716).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVCpMKsflsC5Fnvh7CmPHZnBF8jpluF72VaZ7x5JQNgrr5DSv6xyB6ht8glV-c3WTrcWkkXc3R7Vtt5KcTv2-RGlo1gbRGMImPMZrKR3OPDEeZ2cT6xSMUAtEQR0rhI0qPs_XKk8OLSg/s1600/IMG_9099+(1024x716).jpg" height="446" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European Roller.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvFkbzlEF6W1QYgSDbeanP1Q7bcF7eKgnfzAMc5l-jmCspGEom2N6JXIHvzDgqNuOivtXNY2OL9XS9rG2PJ2uROKd0m77J7ZA0uCY1pfkhG0hyZdsf5nCShWcuq0CKOxLCHhhpgtfdwI/s1600/DSC_0326+(795x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvFkbzlEF6W1QYgSDbeanP1Q7bcF7eKgnfzAMc5l-jmCspGEom2N6JXIHvzDgqNuOivtXNY2OL9XS9rG2PJ2uROKd0m77J7ZA0uCY1pfkhG0hyZdsf5nCShWcuq0CKOxLCHhhpgtfdwI/s1600/DSC_0326+(795x1024).jpg" height="640" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Kingfisher.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-80678714110720679432014-04-27T05:19:00.000-07:002014-04-27T05:19:08.410-07:00Awesome owletMark received a concerned phonecall regarding an 'abandoned' owlet suspected to be sick, and so Mark, again with Shirley and I in tow, headed to a housing estate in Plett. Many people do not realise that owl chicks often roost on the ground during the day and are not accompanied by the parents. This little owlet, a Spotted Eagle-owl, was in fine fettle and big enough to ring. Luckily this bird did not need to be taken to a rehab centre and was released where it was caught, with reassurance to the residents that the parents would find it and continue to look after it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucYPC1jdt2o9mFzeECbMNIsJOKvWxI9AIU4nqL_L-zXF8CnG9bSBrrVKj9ICDWzAGtH5sUY_tL2xQQ9mQLJv_THkpiBwvdbgGCLg_kLHbMlGwC6qg9ogtInexEfIIwuGPVE0CkF0L06k/s1600/DSC08595+(768x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucYPC1jdt2o9mFzeECbMNIsJOKvWxI9AIU4nqL_L-zXF8CnG9bSBrrVKj9ICDWzAGtH5sUY_tL2xQQ9mQLJv_THkpiBwvdbgGCLg_kLHbMlGwC6qg9ogtInexEfIIwuGPVE0CkF0L06k/s1600/DSC08595+(768x1024).jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't even think about it! A grumpy little owl.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-F8pckE4EPi75M-Wo6TNira0AFweSzQp6OOtqjM3YL9RNHNATwgLK1WltaBWVzCk5Y0CZKvQIn_Csk2ACHRT0Hg8uX1jA7p7zk_ZzITiJsg3S5GFJhOtVM1SMh7ESanSuJqkcGu7XGM/s1600/DSC08601+(884x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-F8pckE4EPi75M-Wo6TNira0AFweSzQp6OOtqjM3YL9RNHNATwgLK1WltaBWVzCk5Y0CZKvQIn_Csk2ACHRT0Hg8uX1jA7p7zk_ZzITiJsg3S5GFJhOtVM1SMh7ESanSuJqkcGu7XGM/s1600/DSC08601+(884x1024).jpg" height="640" width="552" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotcha!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2mw8FjZtQiguzxYZgEQSTn-lqQ5QaXZCptcyIAvPL9IyRkOBIVvUVH-eZJK4AZZOdxBY-PIb7Y7hlyL2brVni-4l1PCwFgWP6Py9UnCkHWluSGFAb0LkedabyO7sQpcl1SqiR4v4wbE/s1600/DSC08604+(811x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2mw8FjZtQiguzxYZgEQSTn-lqQ5QaXZCptcyIAvPL9IyRkOBIVvUVH-eZJK4AZZOdxBY-PIb7Y7hlyL2brVni-4l1PCwFgWP6Py9UnCkHWluSGFAb0LkedabyO7sQpcl1SqiR4v4wbE/s1600/DSC08604+(811x1024).jpg" height="640" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NVT to the rescue! </td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-5023392530371060162014-04-27T05:07:00.001-07:002014-04-27T05:07:52.154-07:00Black Harriers and raptor ringingAlan Lee, a ringer in Baviaanskloof, knew of a Black Harrier nest and invited Mark to come and ring the two chicks. Shirley and I were very quick to agree to accompany him and so we set out early one morning to get to the site where the nest was. Of course we made sure to leave a little earlier than necessary to do some raptor ringing along the way! We managed to snare both a Jackal Buzzard and Forest Buzzard in the first hour on the road, and we were chuffed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUYJ_b44ycIRQeXDH75pBH0w8YmNt9zanoWx1zoGh2AEe5p5SF0mVGc0eDynvLHNw6o_jdG_Ur5_jlsDF_r4wri61kqaJKxoRknMNFIsj3LiM-rtWmPq9kzQQIq_-DjIvpRACnYdEsmg/s1600/DSC08220+(1024x998).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUYJ_b44ycIRQeXDH75pBH0w8YmNt9zanoWx1zoGh2AEe5p5SF0mVGc0eDynvLHNw6o_jdG_Ur5_jlsDF_r4wri61kqaJKxoRknMNFIsj3LiM-rtWmPq9kzQQIq_-DjIvpRACnYdEsmg/s1600/DSC08220+(1024x998).jpg" height="622" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringing the Jackal Buzzard, our first catch!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVxUHEHTq0RX9BxHlqJlf3H_6RbDHNFljgP6G1hCe88TrTscschfmqB48uQR0ZXytXRGfFnxMmExa2AWdMCgbuThwuWrDF-y26ZhNxC2zyvOIeh82yFPUB6j38BMCoMW6uJc2j6Z8cpY/s1600/DSC08240+(984x1024).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVxUHEHTq0RX9BxHlqJlf3H_6RbDHNFljgP6G1hCe88TrTscschfmqB48uQR0ZXytXRGfFnxMmExa2AWdMCgbuThwuWrDF-y26ZhNxC2zyvOIeh82yFPUB6j38BMCoMW6uJc2j6Z8cpY/s1600/DSC08240+(984x1024).jpg" height="640" width="614" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very happy Shirley with the buzzard.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianZVUXBroM3g-0Ueqj_hlh5VUmjvKsDvVdG98QvhPWc-6M_6rdCifcFrDyqCxxFN7_v6fJWec68rfaeHEUirKtWf8CdYCFS9VGRzFtQRm6MFXoZ2LdND0GpWB8ptCIQvaklQ3ZDmqdcU/s1600/DSC08265+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianZVUXBroM3g-0Ueqj_hlh5VUmjvKsDvVdG98QvhPWc-6M_6rdCifcFrDyqCxxFN7_v6fJWec68rfaeHEUirKtWf8CdYCFS9VGRzFtQRm6MFXoZ2LdND0GpWB8ptCIQvaklQ3ZDmqdcU/s1600/DSC08265+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest Buzzard.</td></tr>
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We continued our journey, and met up with Alan and a guide. After a bumpy 4x4 journey to the nest we were met with destruction. The nest holding the two Black Harrier chicks was predated, the little half eaten bodies still warm indicating an early morning attack.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfOpe5UuD22_KJHISgXLDSiMu_55-HAXDPv19MRllj8GGKHvAZhI-W5II4IRteWfiz0GHYtfQfNVFUYgnJwWS_FU3vHvKNDuWdouypHo3YNJQWmS6XJoyxDp3hhu2WyLOSjmaMsHGsig/s1600/DSC08300+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfOpe5UuD22_KJHISgXLDSiMu_55-HAXDPv19MRllj8GGKHvAZhI-W5II4IRteWfiz0GHYtfQfNVFUYgnJwWS_FU3vHvKNDuWdouypHo3YNJQWmS6XJoyxDp3hhu2WyLOSjmaMsHGsig/s1600/DSC08300+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the adult Black Harriers.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_wA-Q8gWGLCopK6QBMCspaWFMzOyOYmk95OkTBWhXZX9fN8gWWGrcdvoM6fRbYbUtxwwB_9_rEECgNK77q0AloIzMsaLQU3x4GqnGZ30t_ztwuouPaNMWXShe4DfvooCCdYVGsxW2TA/s1600/DSC08340+(1024x766).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_wA-Q8gWGLCopK6QBMCspaWFMzOyOYmk95OkTBWhXZX9fN8gWWGrcdvoM6fRbYbUtxwwB_9_rEECgNK77q0AloIzMsaLQU3x4GqnGZ30t_ztwuouPaNMWXShe4DfvooCCdYVGsxW2TA/s1600/DSC08340+(1024x766).jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The predated nest.</td></tr>
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We turned around and began the trip home, and of course did some raptor trapping. A first for me was to catch TWO Pale Chanting Goshawks at the same time, it was very cool!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn3fSuYdq0ijzg6S-sac5SiiTuC4hczuAl1V5TueB6boNagOYp8axLj1LL2rD5MVG8wBFkg1SXFwlxB99c6GkiOOVIGiAWq4YXgUfrRiG0A5nzfd8R3RzYoVPZ_tgoTVxhQgQBGoNOqo/s1600/DSC08448+(1024x719).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn3fSuYdq0ijzg6S-sac5SiiTuC4hczuAl1V5TueB6boNagOYp8axLj1LL2rD5MVG8wBFkg1SXFwlxB99c6GkiOOVIGiAWq4YXgUfrRiG0A5nzfd8R3RzYoVPZ_tgoTVxhQgQBGoNOqo/s1600/DSC08448+(1024x719).jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Shirley with the two goshawks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-9B6YTA0D2w5phS_F2SjyN-p7PXMK7II5n5cqhZtFg2ZF4c6ydHqw6xMTIDNo8lcjafLvTyfFoDFGi5TlJWrmBPZxEtamgmVOsKIbN05SWnMYzsVw0XCEek4Ovnr0u3ahB41m53hCM8/s1600/DSC08452+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-9B6YTA0D2w5phS_F2SjyN-p7PXMK7II5n5cqhZtFg2ZF4c6ydHqw6xMTIDNo8lcjafLvTyfFoDFGi5TlJWrmBPZxEtamgmVOsKIbN05SWnMYzsVw0XCEek4Ovnr0u3ahB41m53hCM8/s1600/DSC08452+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me releasing one of the goshawks.</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-70186255274776856152014-04-02T11:34:00.001-07:002014-04-02T11:34:33.747-07:00Fly me awayJason, King of the Sky, once again came to the peninsula to do the last drone count of the season. Here are some of the amazing aerial photos he took. All photos are copyright Jason Van Greunen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylMOD-8lzbZwuqAsvUANIPa918p-wFMxdeIRipf7gDDCuM39bqZW9RwuVAMaTV03aDxs4ETvohLFiHNoGCiKTdD5zsfUxBKMRIoODcEx4J4pRC3YDYbLRXm8yZTAYWdPHNoo8UItSi2w/s1600/G0016136+(1024x768).jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylMOD-8lzbZwuqAsvUANIPa918p-wFMxdeIRipf7gDDCuM39bqZW9RwuVAMaTV03aDxs4ETvohLFiHNoGCiKTdD5zsfUxBKMRIoODcEx4J4pRC3YDYbLRXm8yZTAYWdPHNoo8UItSi2w/s1600/G0016136+(1024x768).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-12958067078854870502014-04-02T11:31:00.003-07:002014-04-02T11:31:43.164-07:00RobbergWhen the two surviving oyc chicks were big enough to ring, Daniel joined me for the trip to Robberg to ring the little ones. Firstly I was quite disconcerted to not find them anywhere near the original nesting site, but we found them a fair distance away on some rocks, hiding in a crevice. We ringed the two chicks and put them back in their hidey hole.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their handy hidey hole.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't see me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to get the little ones out to ring.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel holding the two ringed chicks, keep your eyes open!</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-72765097804325850072014-04-02T11:26:00.000-07:002014-04-02T11:26:02.357-07:00RobbergThe oystercatcher population at Robberg has been doing better than the gulls that I have been surveying, and it was a day of mixed feelings when I went to go and check on the Robberg oycs. Of the four chicks that had hatched, two were alive and doing well, and I was able to get some cool photos. The other two were not doing so well. One had disappeared and the other was dead, most likely from drowning.<br />
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-68217939021528271582014-04-02T11:22:00.001-07:002014-04-02T11:22:18.426-07:00Cango Wildlife RanchAs part of our holiday in Oudtshoorn we visited Cango Wildlife Ranch; we were taking in the sights. It is a very commercialised setup, but taking that in stride it was one of the better facilities I have been to. You see much of the facility by taking a guided tour, which in a way chaffed at my snails pace but was very well done, having a good mix of education, humour and was interactive in a non-invasive way. Of course I got distracted with all the amazing and interesting animals and ended up missing most of the talking as I lagged behind. It is worth a visit, especially with younger children; Jesse and Kate had a blast!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pucker up!</td></tr>
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-17530564174104528122014-04-02T06:58:00.001-07:002014-04-02T06:58:35.615-07:00Cango CavesThe Brown family generously invited me to join them on a long weekend holiday break to Oudtshoorn and our first stop was Cango Caves. I can definitely say that the caves renowned reputation is well earned. We went on the basic guided tour through the caves but an 'adventure tour' is also available. The tour was informative and pointed out the more notable aspects of each 'room' of the caves we visited. The use of lighting emphasised the rock formations and made taking photos a little easier but at times a little less light could have been used! Although only a guided tour is available, I could easily have spent hours roaming the caves, feeling the weight of their ancient walls and the silent testament of their witness to time. In one of the smaller caves our guide began an echoing rendition of shosholoza, which was picked up by some of the crowd familiar with the song. It was incredibly moving. I was so reluctant to leave the caves, being one of the last to step blinkingly into the bright afternoon sunlight, for a moment understanding part of why people would risk life and limb to explore the depths of undiscovered caves.<br />
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1271651911647035769.post-22622875936734687662014-04-02T06:29:00.000-07:002014-04-02T06:29:40.562-07:00MonkeylandI was privileged to join the Van de Voorde family on a trip to both Monkeyland and Birds of Eden, and of course had an utter blast!<br />
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Minkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14349073012351151288noreply@blogger.com0