Grietjie Private Reserve

[Pumbaa]

WoW to the porcupine sighting and shot and even sable

Stunning shots, Sprocky

[Sprocky]

Hi all. No sightings to post today, just the grim reality of fire.

Yesterday around midday, news broke of fire on Grietjie. Almost the entire Grietjie community responded and tried to fight the fire. The wind was howling and the flames were getting the better of us. I now see where that phrase, "running like wild fire" comes from. About 1/3 of the reserve burnt, luckily no damage to houses. A couple of sheds were destroyed and an old derelict house that building contractors stayed in. No reports of human casualties, which is surprising, regarding the speed and size of the fire.

Here are some images of the devastation...

20200711_0002.jpg (310.87 KiB) Viewed 425 times

20200711_0007.jpg (268.29 KiB) Viewed 425 times

20200711_0011.jpg (283.06 KiB) Viewed 425 times

20200711_0029.jpg (335.51 KiB) Viewed 425 times

More to follow...

[Lisbeth]

When Nature decides to hit....... I hope that it was not criminal

[Sprocky]

Lis, it sounds as if it started at an Eskom pole that had a short.

Here are a few more...

20200711_0036.jpg (325.42 KiB) Viewed 423 times

20200711_0039.jpg (236.03 KiB) Viewed 423 times

20200711_0042.jpg (217.83 KiB) Viewed 423 times

20200711_0043.jpg (278.18 KiB) Viewed 423 times

We were out this morning checking on smouldering logs, trying to contain them, as the wind was predicted to start again. Well the winds are here again, waiting now for reports of more fires. Let's hope it doesn't flare up again.

Until next time...

[Klipspringer]

[Lisbeth]

Fire & wind is not a good company, just look what happened to Australia last year

I hope that you have managed to extinguish it completely and that most of the animals have been able to escape.

[Richprins]

Ai, Sprocks!

One good thing is it looks like a good community setup!

And no serious damage, holding thumbs.

The wind was terrible for fire yesterday here too.

[Flutterby]

So sorry Sprocky, just glad no-one was hurt.

[Sprocky]

With all the fire, I still managed to get a few shots this past weekend before it started. In fact, on my way home today it had flared up again in one area. A team of guys were busy containing it.

Well. here are pics before the fire. I had another Pearly in a tree next to the house, this one was being mobbed by White-creasted Helmet-Shrikes...

20200705_0014.jpg (269.14 KiB) Viewed 389 times

On Friday afternoon, I got this young Giraffe alongside the old airstrip...

20200710_0004.jpg (316.83 KiB) Viewed 389 times

Down at the river, the colours were vibrant. Here a Goliath Heron and a Black-winged Stilt share the same patch of water...

20200710_0007.jpg (377.41 KiB) Viewed 389 times

The Heron seems to have his own colour coded water...

20200710_0009.jpg (296.54 KiB) Viewed 389 times

Cheers all, hopefully the fires are done...

[Richprins]

Great colours and rare owl mobbing shot, Sprotjie!

Good luck there, wind blowing here too!