Oh whey...

 Good morning, dear Blogger friends. I have stopped apologizing for my absence. Believe me, they're not intentional; I am here; I am keen to keep in touch, but oh whey! Life just gets in the way.

But...

Here I am again.

A month ago, I went birding here in the Valley. The first time since we left Tanzania in 2015! 

Early that Saturday morning in April, I drove to the farm where a renowned birder was staying and who would guide a group of us enthusiasts. 

The glorious view from the veranda

The bird fundi explaining how he would guide our walk through the lands

I loved the way the dogs were engaged as well! 

As I walked closer to the group, and turned around, I noticed the quaint stance of each dog!

How precious are these two pooches - pointed toes and crossed feet! 

They know that there is soon a walk in the offing, so they were listening intently! 

The outing was most interesting. The farm we were walking on is owned by a local doctor who spends the first four months of every year practicing in Canada. When at home in the Drakensberg, he works tirelessly at creating a natural environment on his farm by planting indigenous trees and shrubs creating inviting forests which attract birds, wildlife, insects and amphibians. His grasslands (as seen in the photo below) are also meticulously chosen and planted to attract insects and small mammals as well as seed eating birds.

Sausage tree: Kigelia africana

Here the bird fundi holds away a branch as the doctor/farmer emerges from underneath a Paperbark thorn (Acacia sieberiana) 

After a bracing early morning walk, we arrived back at the house where we were

 treated to coffee and carrot cake

We saw several raptors, bee eaters, sunbirds, barbets and LBJ's (little brown jobs). These are the same birds I see regularly in and around my garden. However, the bird fundi gave us great information and told interesting stories about these birds. 

Not to put too fine a point on it, I was the only birder who has lived in remote African countries, and North African deserts, and sighted birds that no one, except the bird fundi, had heard of and many of which he had not seen either.

Afterwards I sent thank you notes to Kat (who arranged the outings) and Christine, married to Greg (doctor/farmer) 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL!