For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Vacation Time - Day 5 Part 2

When I would be sitting at my computer, this little Grey Duiker male would come and sit outside my window. I took the picture so you could see the bars and know how close it was. It was not frightened of me and I could move around as I wanted and he stayed where he was. These buck are about 2 feet in shoulder height. They mate for life and have one young per year. The young males go off to find mates when they are about 2 years old.
On my walk I passed this little dam and liked the reflection of the reeds in it.
Now here was an astonishing fellow!! He is less than ½ an inch in body length and fitted in so well with the stones in the road. It even looks as if his skin is made of them. This is one of our Burrowing Grasshoppers and they use their long middle leg for digging in soft soil when disturbed.
This is a Bushveld Lizard (Heliobolus lugubris) and about 9 inches in length. Most of the time when lizards discard their tails, they grow new ones which look different but that is not the case with this one, the whole species have tails different to their bodies.
They dig burrows in the sand in which to lay their eggs in summer. This one gave me a good laugh - the sand was hot and he would walk a few steps then raise one foot and waggle it around, then walk a few more and raise another. So he gave each foot a periodic rest from the heat. It looked quite funny. In this picture you can see the front, right hand side foot raised. I have seen many lizards do this and it always makes me smile.
Here he decided to try to climb over a PVC pipe which was much too slipper even with those long nails of his. He sure does have good muscles in his legs.
A pretty flower growing on a wild bush.

22 comments:

Diane said...

I have watched our lizards in France, they pick up one foot and then the other working around all four. I presumed it was because of the heat but I was not sure, I did not know that the grey duiker mates for life. Does that go for all the duiker family? Great photos. Diane

MadSnapper said...

the lizard made me laugh, i can see him shaking off he heat, that is what i do when the deck gets to hot. stand on one foot. at least he has 3 more to stand on. love that grasshopper, i am surprised you saw him since he is the master of diquise. love the bug

Dejemonos sorprender said...

Nice pictures.. i liked

Andrea said...

Astonishing is realy the right word for the grasshopper...
It seems a far parent from the one I found in Augrabies,isn't it?

Unknown said...

I love the top composition of the lovely duiker!

Gaelyn said...

That sure sounds like a perfect combination, internet and wildlife.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

The lizards are always fun to watch Diane. Yes, most of the smaller buck species mate for life and if one of the pair is killed, they do not take another mate for a long time.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I sometimes wonder what people think of me when I sit and laugh while watching the antics of some animals. People must think me crazy. I get so much enjoyment at beng in the bush and seeing these things Sandra.

I almost missed that grasshopper.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Than you Dejemonos sorprender. There are so many interesting things to take pictures of in nature.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You are right Andrea, these are amazing things to find.

When I saw it I also wondered if it was the same family as your one, but I do not see anything like this in my book although it has one similar to yours so I do not know. How I wish I was more knowledgable!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jose. At first I wanted to take it without the bars on the window, then I though that they gave the picture a different perspective.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It was so different for me Gaelyn. It is the first time I have been able to take my computer with me into the bush as usually there is no signal at these places and I must say I definitely enjoyed the experience of the combination. Got to do it again soon!! :)

Craig Glenn said...

I am afraid I would never want to leave once I was out there. If I ever get rich we are just buying gear and all headed for the bush for the rest of our lives. You in?

Craig

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I think you would really love the bush Craig. Of course I'm in!! No one is allowed to go and live in the bush without me. :)

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

It must be really a happy feelinmg seeing that little guy coming to keep you company outside your window.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You will not believe the feeling I get when something like this happens to me Jonker and it happens quite often. To know that these animals are not scare of me and trust me is very, very special.

Rambling Woods said...

So much wildlife in a few photos and you give them personality too. I wonder how many folks look at wildlife especially insects differently because of you Joan...

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

A good question Michelle. I have such a love for all of these creatures of ours and maybe see a side to them most people dont and hope to convey this over to people who visit my blog. There is so much out there which is wonderful to be enjoyed.

Becky said...

I like Lizards. They are so cool.
Good thing you spotted that grasshopper, or yu might have stepped on him. He sure does blend in.
Pretty flower too.
That little deer is so cute.
B.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Me too Becky. They are almost as cute as squirrels. :)

If that grasshopper had not moved, I probably would have stepped on him and not even noticed as he was so well hidden amongst the sand.

Mary said...

You always seem to have something new in your posts that I haven't seen before. All of these were neat shots and interesting information! I love that little deer.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Mary. So much happens in this part of the world that it seems like I am always finding new stuff. :)