This is a voluntary working relationship with the City of Cape Town and the Cape Bird Club since 1974.
During the preceding week there was an unusual storm weather from the SE. It was a cold front passing the country and was turned around and sent back down the south coast resulting in floods on the Agulas flood plains especially Struisbaai area, which had a large volume of hail too. Malgas is still isolated 3 days after the passing storm.
Not enough rain in the Cape Town catchment or surrounding areas though.
There was broken heavy overhead cloud above the height of the Table Mountain range and moving very slowly in a westerly direction. There was also a slight SE breeze at ground level all afternoon and the air was warm. The Scouts were enjoying the breeze in their yachts and rowing boats out in a full main waterbody. The estuary mouth was closed.
Insects were few except for Dotted border and Sliver bottom Brown butterflies which were present. The large Emperor Dragonfly was patrolling his territory along pathways. We found the Grysbok midden again and it is still being used. The chasmanathas are starting to come up and many bitou bushes are in bright yellow flower. Barry surprised us with a visit, he is feeling much better lately. Bert left his axe at home today and joined us where we cleared more small Port Jackson and Brazilian Pepper trees. The reeds in the fire burnt areas have doubled in height during the last month.
Robin found some beetle larvae in a dead piece wood stump and a large flaty spider of some specie neither of us knew.
There were 18 bird species seen this afternoon.
By the time we were back at the cars, the sky was blue with no clouds and bright sunshine.
See this link for the past reports of what we have done.
photographs by Gavin Lawson.
Gavin Lawson.
