Hello everyone,
I have not posted for quite some time. Last year was a busy one for me with big projects but more importantly a few holidays. I did little in Australia but had several trips overseas. The following report is from a trip to South Africa in November. I met my friend, Ted Cordery, in Johannesburg and we travelled to a few sites mostly in the north of the country. I will add more shots of these other sites to this post.
I arrived in Johannesburg at 5am but Ted was not due in from the States until the evening. I hired a car and then zipped out to Suikerbosrand Reserve. The reserve is roughly a 45 minute drive on fast roads from the airport. I've been to the reserve once before and found that it is a great place to spend a day. It feels far removed from the city and there is plenty to see.
Much of the reserve looks like the following photo. The higher hills are mostly covered with grasslands but there are places that are rocky and support Giant Tree Aloes, Proteas and the strange Cabbage Trees. Here is a shot of typical habitat:
habitat by moloch05, on Flickr
I explored this outcrop for an hour in the early morning and found several lizards. They were cool and basking early on so not hard to approach.
lizard habitat by moloch05, on Flickr
Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra):
This species was common in the reserve wherever there were rock outcrops. Breeding males were gorgeous with bright colours. Here are shots of a couple of males.
Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) by moloch05, on Flickr
Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) by moloch05, on Flickr
Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) by moloch05, on Flickr
This female was obviously gravid.
Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) by moloch05, on Flickr
Juveniles were quite drab when compared to the adults.
Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) by moloch05, on Flickr
Highland Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus)
These lizards were also frequent in rocky areas. In the early morning, they were not hard to approach but later in the day, they ran for cover when I was meters away.
Highland Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus) by moloch05, on Flickr
Highland Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus) by moloch05, on Flickr
I assume that the following was either a female or imm male.
Highland Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus) by moloch05, on Flickr
Here is a shot of the higher elevational habitat. It had been burned earlier in the year and the grass was regenerating.
habitat by moloch05, on Flickr
Yellow-throated Plated Lizard (Gerrhosaurus flavigularis)
I found two of these lizards in this upland habitat. Unfortunately, they both were in shade like this so hard to photograph.
Yellow throated Plated Lizard (Gerrhosaurus flavigularis) by moloch05, on Flickr
Skink (Trachylepis sp.)?
I saw a few skinks. I am not certain of the identity but think these to be a Trachylepis.
Skink (Trachylepis sp.) by moloch05, on Flickr
That is all for my reptile shots. I did not see any snakes at all but did observe quite a number of lizards.
Southern Masked Weaver
These were common weavers. The ploceids were well represented in the reserve.
Southern Masked Weaver 1_800 by moloch05, on Flickr
Pin-tailed Whydah
Pin-tailed Whydah by moloch05, on Flickr
Red-throated Wryneck
These are strange, woodpecker relatives. I've only seen them previously in the Wakkerstroom area.
Red-throated Wryneck by moloch05, on Flickr
Mammals
I did not see as many mammal as I did on my last visit, perhaps because of the fire. On this trip, I saw a few Eland and Greater Kudu but none of the smaller antelope. I don't have a photo but the most interesting animal was one of the Elephant Shrews. It appeared briefly on a rockpile while I was photographing a Southern Rock Agama.
mammals by moloch05, on Flickr
This grasshopper obviously carries toxins. It was slow moving and brightly coloured. I saw a few on the road in one area of the reserver.
Grasshopper by moloch05, on Flickr
November was spring in South Africa and many plants were flowering. Here are a few shots:
pea by moloch05, on Flickr
flower collage by moloch05, on Flickr
flower collage by moloch05, on Flickr
Does anyone recognize the family of this plant? I have no idea. The flower is beautiful but quite strange in form.
flower by moloch05, on Flickr
Lilies like this were numerous on the rocks where I photographed the crag lizards.
lily by moloch05, on Flickr
Hillside with Giant Tree Aloes
Giant Tree Aloes by moloch05, on Flickr
Giant Tree Aloes
Seems like there these would be good cover for some sort of gecko or other lizard.
Giant Tree Aloes by moloch05, on Flickr
These seedling was strange with the leaves all in the same plane. I don't know what it is but suspect that it is the seedling of a Cabbage Tree.
odd plant by moloch05, on Flickr
Proteas and Cabbage Trees were numerous in the reserve
habitat by moloch05, on Flickr
Suikerbosrand Reserve, South Africa. Nov 2014
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Suikerbosrand Reserve, South Africa. Nov 2014
I believe your strange plant is a Boophane sp. Cool plant!
David
David