A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

BluTuna
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A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by BluTuna »

Stargazer was in the USA on business so I decided to spend a couple of nights camping on my own.

The trailer went to work with me on the Friday as it's already part of the way there. Two hours of driving and I was at the gate booking in. Another 30 minutes and I was relaxing in a chair, unfortunately without any beverages other than coffee because I'd left the beers in the fridge at home 0*\

After chatting to one of the other campers I decided not to worry too much about getting up early so I ended up taking my time and getting out at around 08:00. As it turned out, there wasn't very much to see.

All of the hides in the Nylsvlei reserve have been burnt down so it was really difficult to see any of the bird life - such as it was.

First up, a Roan Antelope.
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A Squirrel on top of a flowering Euphorbia.
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After a short drive, I went to breakfast at the restaurant - not the best value for money but it's the only place in the area so it's Hobson's Choice!

On one of the chairs, a beautiful moth.
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At the gate, I found some more bugs.
A Plume Moth.
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And a couple of Spiders.
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I drove around to the Vogelfontein side where I found the sole surviving hide but it wasn't worth the effort to go to it as the area was dry.

I did find a Dragonfly.
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And a Redbilled Firefinch - I don't think I've seen one of those before.
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As I drove back, I spotted a juvenile Fish Eagle in a very small vlei. It took off before I could get a picture but it did circle around a few times.
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Hunting cannot be considered a sport as all contestants in a sport should know they are playing the game!
BluTuna
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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

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The afternoon drive was also a bit sparse. The grass was very long so it was even difficult to see the larger animals.

A stretching Giraffe.
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More dragonflies.
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Tsessebee.
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Pearlspotted Owlet.
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Smaug.
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And a Kudu in the late afternoon light.
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And that was it! May was a month or so too late in the year as all of the migratory birds had left. Next time I go it will be in February!


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Richprins
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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by Richprins »

Very interesting, BT! Thanks!

Smaug! lol lol lol

And what a ridiculous moth, that plume one! 0-

Left his beers in the fridge... =O: =O: =O: =O: =O: =O: =O:

0*\


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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by Flutterby »

Oh well, you win some, you lose some! -O- Nice sighting of the Firefinch \O , and I like the squirrel. lol


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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by Toko »

Platysphinx piabilis (Measly Hawkmoth) :-?

The firefinch is cool and Roan, too.

Lovely dragonfly photos ^Q^ and the squirrel on Euphorbia is a first on AW forum, I think O/\


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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by BluTuna »

Richprins wrote:Very interesting, BT! Thanks!

Smaug! lol lol lol

And what a ridiculous moth, that plume one! 0-

Left his beers in the fridge... =O: =O: =O: =O: =O: =O: =O:

0*\
Hahahaha : at least I arrived on the right day! ^0^ =O: =O:


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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by BluTuna »

Flutterby wrote:Oh well, you win some, you lose some! -O- Nice sighting of the Firefinch \O , and I like the squirrel. lol
It was nice to get away for a couple of nights and it was a good test to see if I could operate the trailer on my own!


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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by BluTuna »

Toko wrote:Platysphinx piabilis (Measly Hawkmoth) :-?

The firefinch is cool and Roan, too.

Lovely dragonfly photos ^Q^ and the squirrel on Euphorbia is a first on AW forum, I think O/\
Thanks again for the ID! The dragonflies were taken with the Tamron 150-600 which focuses where I put the dot, not 1cm behind that point!


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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by Toko »

BluTuna wrote:
And a couple of Spiders.
Image
Do we declare this one a male Agriope trifasciata? :twisted:


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Re: A Weekend at Nylsvlei - 8-10 May 2015

Post by Toko »

BluTuna wrote:
And a couple of Spiders.
Image
... and this an Anyphops sp. -O-


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