Large-spotted Genet

This poor genet has lost its foot. It had found a very cozy niche up in the rafters of this building.

Recognised by the black-tipped tail which distinguishes them from the Small-spotted Genet.

Under stress, they will emit a musky odour from an anal gland.

They are capable of catching birds flying overhead by jumping into air to catch them.

Their food consists mainly of rats, mice, locusts, beetles, birds and wild fruits.

They are only seen at night when they come out to hunt so seeing this one during the day and being able to get pics of it was a real treat.

Autumn Leaf Vagrant (Eronia teda)

Family Pieridae Pierinae

 Large butterflies with a wingspan of up to 5.5cm.

 They are found along the eastern and northern borders of SA in savanna woodland.

 Can be seen all year.

Info: Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa (Steve Woodhall)

White-barred Acraea - Female (Hyalites encedon)

Family Nymphalidae Heliconiinae

As with many butterflies, the females of these are more colourful than the males.

 They prefer wooded savanna and open coastal forest from East London along the eastern coast and from Gauteng northwards.

Info: Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa (Steve Woodhall)

Old Man’s Beard - moss (Usnea barbata)

This species of moss is only found in areas where the air is very clean and pure such as in Addo Elephant Park because of the Porkbush.

Can find no further information on this except that it is similar to Spanish Moss.

Yellowbilled Stork

This is a non-breeding migrant bird found in the central, north and north-eastern regions.
Their habitat includes inland dams, rivers and floodplains.
Food consists of frogs, fish, crustaceans and insects. They walk in shallow water with their beaks held open and partly immersed catching prey by feel.

Winged Predatory Katydid (Clonia wahlbergi)

FamilyTettigoniidae

I came across this katydid who was laying her eggs right in the middle of the gravel road.

As you can see, her tail end is buried deep in the ground.

They are very large katydids with silver markings on their bodies.
Their food consists of large insects and they are mainly active at night.
They are found around the eastern, northern and western borders of SA.
Info: Field Guide to South African Insects

Red-spotted Spittle Bug (Locris arithmetica)

Family Cercopidae

About 2cm in length and found in all but the arid regions.
 They are seen in small groups and sometimes confused with the Red Spittle Bug which is more orange in colour and fewer spots.

Hampson’s Salad (Mittonia hampsoni)

Family Pyralidae

What a lovely name. It looks like salad. :)

A smallish moth with about a 2cm wingspan.

Natal Francolin

For some reason an idiot here decided that we now have to follow the American way of naming birds and have changed this species to Spurfowl instead of Francolin!!!! Why they think we should do so beats me and a whole lot of other birders I have spoken to!!


These birds make a lot of noise in the early evenings and dawn.



They are common in the northern and north-eastern areas and are found in small groups in all kinds of habitats.



Their food consists mainly of insects, fruit and seeds.

Setaro's/St. Lucia Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion setaroi)

Family Chamaeleonidae
THIS SPECIES IS LISTED AS ENDANGERED!!

They can grow up to 12cm in total length and are found near the St. Lucia estuary up towards Mozambique.


Their habitat is trees of the costal dune forests.

Info: Chameleons of Southern Africa (Tolley & Burger)