The difference

There is a great difference between taking wildlife / nature photographs and loving wildlife / nature.

The photographer sees with the eye and the nature lover sees with the heart.
The nature lover:
When you can feel the heartbeat of the smallest creature in your soul, hear the song in the wind, feel the rhythm of the earth, then you are a nature lover. If you soar with the hawk, your heart warming at the first rays of dawn, feel small at the sight of the stars, you are getting there.
The photographer:
Does not notice the babies of the mouse hidden in the grass, feels the wind as it brushes the skin or blows your hair, and the earth is just one more mile to travel over. He/she identifies the hawk, rubs his/her hands when the sun comes up and figures out the correct f-stop to use for the night sky shot of the moon.
So, my friends, which are you? Do you wonder at the sight of a baby deer trying to stand on its feet for the first time after birth, do you see yourself in the clowning of a monkey, have you thought of why the various animals are built the way they are?

Art of disguise - Part 3

One of the family of Cicadas but I am not sure which....

Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) family Bignoniaceae

The Jacaranda is one of South Africa's best known trees, but it is an invasive exotic that was originally introduced from Brazil and Argentina.
Pretoria is also known as the 'Jacaranda City' because of the prevalence of these trees on the city's streets and parklands. The jacaranda is most noticeable in spring when it flowers in bright displays of purple-blue.
The name jacaranda is derived from Portuguese meaning "to have a hard core, hard branch".
Although the purple-blue is the most well know, Jacarandas are found in 4 different colours, including white, yellow and pink. Pink Jacarandas are found further north in Zimbabwe.
They are also a popular tree in Florida, California and Australia.
These are some of the formal gardens from which I took some of the above photographs.
Even here in the distance are Jacaranda trees.

Art of disguise - Part 5

A Rock-hopper or Cicada perfectly disguised.....

The strangest eyes - Hover fly (Eristalinus taeniops)

This is a hover fly Eristalinus taeniops which feeds on pollen and nectar. They are bee mimics and although they buzz around aggressively, they are harmless.

Ivory

More than 20 years ago before the great storm over elephant ivory started, I used to collect it and have many wonderful pieces. This is a tusk of 1 meter (3 foot). Ususally these tusks are carved with elephants on them, but I found this unusual one with rhino. I am sorry if anyone looking at this is offended by these pictures.

Have you ever seen such a hairy fellow? Monkey Moth larvae

I have one in a fish tank and am waiting for it to develop so I can take pictures of it.

Butterflies and Lantana

Murphy has been at work again..... for more than a year now I have been wanting to buy a butterfly catching net and could not find one anywhere, then about two weeks ago I found a shop which had some and I was SO excited. At last!! I bought THREE, one for home, one for the office and one to keep in the car. There are so many butterflies which fly around but never settle on plants, NOW was my chance to catch them and get to take pictures!!

Well guess what? I have not seen even ONE butterfly since I got my net!! (Sigh!!) Well I guess there is always next season then watch out butterflies. :)

Although Lantana is an invasive species and is being sprayed with poison in many places, it DOES attaract a great number of butterflies, skippers and other nectar loving bugs so I am hoping that will never get rid of the Lantana. After all, what other plant woud they then use? It is such a fine balance messing around with nature and can mean the demise of a species if tampered with.

Common Dotted Border (Mylothris agathina) Spotted Joker (Byblia ilythia)

Common Hairtail (Anthene definita)

Painted Lady (Cynthia cardui)

African Monarch (danaus chrysippus)

Yello Pansy (Junonia oenone)
Now of course you are wondering what this Carpenter bee has in common with all the butterflies? Why the Lantana of course!! :) One of the many other species to enjoy the nectar too.

Cars in the Park - Part 8

Cheetah - Part 2

For interesting info on these beautiful cats please go to my first post CHEETAH. If you have any other question, please feel free to ask.