Life Wonderings of a Nature Lover: December 2016 Sitamani Country Diary

Sultry hot days with thunderstorms have produced a vivid green landscape, however there has not been enough rain to raise the water table significantly; although there is water in the well it is a fraction of what is usually there in December.

Clouds obscured the full moon rise; however early the next morning it was visible through scudding clouds.

Summer solstice was a glorious day, ending in a beautiful sunset.

Already many grasses are seeded, the red tinge of Themeda triandra softening the green.

There are still many wildflowers in bloom, some that I saw were:

Agapanthus campanulatus;

Aristea woodii;

Berkheya setifera;

Clutia monticola fruit;

Craterocapsa tarsodes, which I usually associate with the mountains grows here too on rocky clay patches;

Dipcadi viride;

Epilobium capense seeds;

Gladiolus ecklonii;

Haemanthus humilis;

Lobelia erinus;

four orchids,

Eulophia hians var. nutans;

Eulophia ovalis var. bainesii;

Eulophia zeyheriana

and Satyrium longicauda;

Papaver aculeatum;

Pelargonium luridum;

Rubus ludwigii;

Senecio subrubriflorus;

Strigia bilabiata

and Zantedeschia albomaculata.

An unusual fungi was growing in stone gravel.

In the lush foliage I found some delightful insects:

two Bee Fly species,

a Foam Grasshopper

and a lucky sighting of a Giant Forest Cicada!

Most mornings the birds find the night flying moths before I do, but I did see a few,

including the wings of a Wounded Emperor, Neobunaeopsis arabella;

then a rather spectacular first for me, a day flying moth,

a Superb False Tiger, Heraclia sp. which at first I thought must be a butterfly!

After a misty night I saw a water-beaded spider web.

Long-crested Eagles catch thermals between waiting and watching patiently from perches.

Two discarded eggshells, one from a Spectacled Weaver

and the second from a Village Weaver prove that some of the nests were acceptable.

The Striped Swallows have selected a new site to build a nest, I hope this one works out. A pair of Cape Wagtails have recently taken up residence in the garden. Occasionally I hear Spotted Eagle-Owls calling at dusk and dawn.

One morning I discovered a newly excavated Antbear hole, as it was in the middle of the driveway we had to fill it in.

Sadly I will have to live-trap and relocate the Lesser Savanna Dormice that have taken up residence in the house; a hole in a carpet, wooly slippers and clothing where they have selected bedding material, and they devour any food left out…

Drawers are their favoured places to make nests. I love their chirrups as they move through the house and occasional sightings as they scurry across the floor and furniture.