Solifuge

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

The summer temperatures are slowly climbing as we move into the New Year, and so the camel spiders or solifuges are coming out to prowl in the heat.

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

This hairy fellow looks frightening, and he is frightening and very fast as they run across the ground hoping to bump into something to eat, but rest assured they have no venom.

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f8, ISO160, flash

Then again, with jaws as powerful as these you don't need any venom to overpower your prey.  These are fascinating creatures, not spiders, not scorpions but a species somewhere in between - there are over 1000 different types of solifuges.

Merry Christmas !

Spring day hike

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/100, f7.1, ISO160

 While hiking on the Pat Busch Private Nature Reserve recently, I snapped a few photographs of what late spring had to offer from ferns....

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/200, f8, ISO250

 ...to these beautiful blue flowers...

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/320, f8, ISO160 

...and these wild iris-like flowers growing along the stream...

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/250, f8, ISO160 

...to the amazing warm texture of this driftwood washed down from the forests...

Pentax K5, Tamron 17-50mm, 1/180, f13, ISO160

...to this gnarled & stunted tree pushing up through a pile of enormous boulders.

Tiny Thief

 Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f7.1, ISO800

Pentax K5, Tamron 90mm Macro, 1/160, f7.1, ISO800

A few days ago I heard feeble scratching coming from somewhere in the pantry, after a careful search I found this tiny thief in the dog food bag.  He is seriously diminutive, compare him to the size of the cubes and you'll see what I mean.  I took him outside and let him go in the garden safe & sound, I even gave him a few cubes to take home :)

Never a dull moment on the farm with Cape cobras on one side and tiny shrews & mice on the other.

BULL !

Pentax K5, Tamron 18-250, 1/250, f10, ISO160

Just another day in the country, watching our Nguni herd grazing under the mountains while the setting sun splashes the valley with colour.  Who needs a fish tank, these Nguni are so beautiful to watch as they move through the grasslands, just like tropical fish swimming in a kelp filled tank.