Not a very nice reason.

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This will show you why we have only one adult squirrel visiting our front garden lately.
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Look what the African Harrier Hawk (Polyboroides typus) had in its claw. A baby squirrel.

I don't get angry anymore, as I understand how nature works, but the first time when I saw this a long time ago, I wanted to kill that bird.
Some say that nature is cruel when this happens, but the birds of prey also have babies to feed. I will not show it here, but it's not nice to see the bird tearing the baby apart.
I heard the noise and had to jump into our car to drive down the road to see what it was all about, and there he was, high up in a tree in someone's property. The gates were locked, but no problem as I took the photos from the road on my zoom.

This is what Wikipedia had say about the diet of the African Harrier Hawk.

Diet
The African harrier-hawk is omnivorous, eating the fruit of the oil palm as well as hunting small vertebrates. Its ability to climb, using wings as well as feet, and its long double-jointed legs, enable this bird to raid the nests of cavity-nesters such as barbets and woodhoopoes for eggs and nestlings. It has been known to prey on introduced species such as feral pigeons, house sparrows and eastern gray squirrels.

Source

It opened its wings and took off with the squirrel in its claw.
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Now for something much nicer.

We saw this fancy chicken up in another tree, and I was happy to also make a video of him.
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It is in fact a male Peacock and he had an irregular ear-splitting call, that I just could not get in the video.
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I wish that I had more time on hand to capture his call, but we had to go.
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I hope that you will enjoy the video that I made.

And that's it for now as I have a new PC, and transferring documents, apps, pictures, and everything else from the old to the new is a sure nightmare. Not only that, but the new PC also has a different operating system that I am not used to yet.
Now I am searching for all of my January 2024 photos, as I can only find the last 4 days, and the rest are hiding somewhere.
But I will get up to speed soon again (I hope), and that's the reason that this post is a bit on the short side, photo-wise. But I think that it's a quality post and that's good enough for me.

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Photos and video by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon PowershotSX70HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting this post.

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Man, you get all of the good shots! I dream of getting these settings and moments. Lucky you!

Nature is cruel, as one death means the life of another. They say that the disappearance of these big birds of prey will mean the end of life, as this will mean there are no more small animals to prey on, and the ripple effect through nature will be unheard of... Eish, but it is never nice to see a small helpless animal go like that...

Thanks for sharing these awesome images!

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I listen to bird calls down here, and I know the Harrier Hawk calls very well. So, follow the noise, and you will get him.

I also thought that nature was cruel, but then read up on it, and now I understand it, as it is all an entire revolving food chain. At the same time, it is also population control. Can you imagine a thousand birds of prey flying around in the sky every day?
But in saying this, mankind's hand also sows destruction of habitats, pesticides and a whole lot of other evils.
Somebody, I think that it was Einstein said that, if the last bird sings, it will be the end of mankind.

Never nice to see the little ones taken.

!BEER

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Oh yes for sure. I am sure the mouse birds are mocking me because if I hear their calls and grab my camera they fly away. But as soon as I do not have my camera with me, they just look at me with glee on their faces!

That is a depressing thought. And so true as well. The whole eco system is such a delicate balancing act we humans come along with our selfish tendencies. We want the perfect lawn, so we spray herbicide and pesticides, killing the insects which feeds the mice, which feeds the birds of prey and so on.

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Hahaha, I also have the same fun out there. Standing at our front gate and talking to a contractor, Sparrow hawk came slowly cruising past, and I am convinced that he stuck his tongue out at me, as my camera was in the house !LOL

It is what it is, and all that we can do about it is to make a noise. The cloak and dagger stuff that the pesticide manufacturers play, and the lack of laws, banning the really bad ones, just continues and nature suffers.
Such is life.

Btw. When do we meet again?

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Such is life, and sometimes we feel (or at least I know I feel this way) so useless in the bigger scheme of things. We can only do so much. Such is life.

Oh for sure. I cannot fathom the amount of beautiful photographs I missed due to me not having my camera. They know for sure!

Oh yes, I talked with @urban.scout yesterday about this. She is flying back to JHB on the 17th of Feb. So we need to do something before then. I will WhatsApp you a some possible dates and times then we talk there about meeting up.

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(Edited)

As I walked out of the house this morning, a saw a small plane flying right over the face of the moon. What a great shot that would have been.

Min days, so yeah, we will have to meet rather soonish. Maybe we must go and show @urban-scout the work at the Imibala center?
She might want to do a post about it.

!BEER

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So many good photographs go to waste because we do not have our camera on hand! Such a shame really. But you are more aware of these moments than I am, with your camera ready. I am very slow and sluggish, forgetting my camera too much.

Thanks again for the lovely meet-up! It is always such a pleasant surprise and experience what our conversations hold.

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My camera happens to be my second wife !LOLZ
So after you have been married for 10 years or so, you will also make your camera your second wife.

It was really a great meeting and glad that you guys enjoyed it. Sorry that I had to sit down eventually at the art center, but I am having trouble with my left leg.
So now let's pray for the Hive Community Bakery to materialize.

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I need to buy a new camera soon, as the one I have is already 15 plus years old, and has seen many things! I am pushing the limit; there are some signs that the end is near. The next investment in the camera will for sure be the one that will become my second wife hahah.

Is the leg okay? I saw that and you mentioned something. I hope that it is nothing too bad. And sorry again about the previous "almost-meet-up" that did not materialise. The next one will have some bread in store!

Yes, I am hoping for that as well. I think there are many life lessons hidden in the art of baking (especially sourdough) that can help so many people if they attend bread-baking lessons, especially younger folk.

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Sorry the hear about your camera, and yeah, the latest cameras don't last as long as the old ones did. I have some ancient cameras here in my collection that still work, but they don't make film for them anymore. Just you wait and see and remember that your second wife doesn't moan or talk back to you !LOL

The knee is kaput and a worse problem is that a spider bit me a time ago on a very strategic spot. I have a skin graft on the leg, and it bit me on the thin skin of the graft. So, I can't use the strong cortisone cream, that I normally use, as it thins the skin, and know I use an Iodine cream. After a walk, the bit burns profusely, and it forces me to rest the leg.
But I am slowly getting it better.

Not to worry and I am amazed that you have never been to the farm. I will do a post soon about our visit and the next time we will invite you to come along.
Would you be the big 30 soon on our birthdays?

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The power of resting should never be underestimated. I hope that the leg does not flame up again. I know all about the cortisone cream thinning one's skin. My late grandmother always used, and their pet bird always caused such bad bruises on her arms when they still had the bird.

Thank you so much! I am looking forward to that visit. I will bring my first and second wife hahah.

Eish, yes I am halfway to 60 then! Such a crazy though, entering my 30s or adult life in its entirety. No turning back now. But I will always remain 20 in my heart haha.

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For a change I did the right thing, as the Iodine really works on the leg, and it is slowly improving.

You will really enjoy the visit to the farm, and while our first wives can sit and have some cake and tea, you and I can take a stroll with our second wives !LOLZ

Well, I will be 30 away from a 100, so we will have something in common, and I am also still in my twenties :))

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I hope that the leg is still healing? And that everything else is also good.

Oh that sounds fantastic! I really need a photography break, as I photographed birds when I was still in the Drakensberg mountains in 2023!

I also remain in the twenties, even though I am still in them! My mind still tries to convince me that I am 18 and that I know nothing.

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Slowly, slowly healing, but we are still searching for the correct cream. All else I can cope with at this stage, thank you.

Well I think that you will love that farm, and it is close enough to you, so that in future you could go there to find some peace and calm.

So, you are 18 and you know nothing? Soon you will be the youngest doctor of philosophy in the country. A real record buster you are methinks.

!BEER

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True! Hahaha, when I walk into the examination rooms when the student write exam, the invigilators always want to give me a paper as well, but when I tell them I am the lecturer, they do not always believe met at first. So luckily the internal youth somewhat resembles the outside as well!

I really hope that you find the right cream! I am not in the same boat, but I know the struggles of finding something that works.

And for sure, I am really going to need that! I am already going to fly to Pretoria in the next couple of weeks again, so travelling lifestyle is back with me. Some people romanticise travelling, but it is really awful after a while.

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I can imagine the confusion and the surprise on the invigilators faces when you tell them that you are the lecturer. !LOLZ

Not to worry, as I am hopefully starting to master it with the cream that I have.

It depends on the mode of travelling, as at one stage in my life, I was also often on a plane between the cities, and you are right, as the novelty soon wears off. The last time that I was on a plane, I picked up a virus and that was it. No more planes for me.

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If I could drive, I would rather do that. Even though it is much more risky, the other benefits far outweigh the pros of flying. I would have loved to travel by car the whole country. Now, it is so expensive, risky, and some of the places are not worth visiting either. But there are still some places worth visiting! Me and the girlfriend might visit Dullstroom in the coming weeks.

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The cost of driving is tremendous, what with the toll gates and the petrol prices, and flying is also more secure. Better to drop out of the sky, than having a gun in your neck and your car stolen !LOL
Some years ago, I was contracted to do a refurbishment of the signal tower at the top of Mauschberg mountain, and I often popped into Dullstroom. I wonder if it's still the same, as in those days it was a beautiful place. I really hope that you two lovers will enjoy the visit.

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Thank you so much! After many failed attempts at getting a place, we are pushing it to the winter. For some reason, the booking websites are so slow and shows available spaces on inquiry they are already full. It seems like business is booming in Dullstroom, so it should still be nice... But we will see only in the Winter.

For sure, and if you compare the prices of flying with driving then flying becomes relatively cheap in the bigger scheme of things. But it remains a hassle!

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Best idea is to go out of season, and yes, Dullstroom was very busy even in the old days, so by now it must be cooking. Winter is a good time to visit.

Yep, flying has the habit of becoming boring, as the first few times it's cool, but then the novelty wears off and it becomes same old, same old. But boring for 2 hours is much better than taking your life in your hands, by driving for a whole day.

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We will definitely find out! Managed to get a nice place close to the town I grew up in, so I will be showing that to my girlfriend.

So true. Unfortunately, there was an hour's delay! So the two hours turned into a sluggish three. But as you said, probably better than driving. I will be on the roads easter day, I think, not looking forward to it but will keep it slow and safe. Roads and cars are death traps.

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Good to return to the roots from time to time, and I suppose that the town that you grew up in is near Dullstroom?

Even 3 hours are bearable compared to the many hours that one spends over that distance on the roads. Please be very careful on Easter day, and remember, it's not the way that you drive that's the problem, it's the way that the others drive that is the real danger.

!BEER

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Thank you so much! We made a successful, much-needed, and safe trip. Going back to our roots are so important, and can be a funny thing.

Nope, I grew up in Vanderbjilpark, down south close to Sasolburg and Parys. We could not find accommodation in Dullstroom so we decided to go to my old hometown to see how things were going. I love the golf course in Vanderbjilpark so I always wanted to play it again.

The roads were not that bad after all. Some people drove recklessly but I kept a safe distance as always.

Sorry for only replying now, it was with all the travels and deadlines (and online meetings) a hectic week.

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My roots have been sold out and there's nothing left for me to return to. Everything has changed and it's all strange to me. You are a good driver 👍

I've been through Vanderbijlpark, but it was mainly on my way to a great fishing spot at the Vaal river, and it looked like a nice place. So, you are actually a Vaalie !LOL

No need, and no worries about apologizing.

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Yes! I am a vaalie hahah. Oh yes, there are many great fishing spots. And my girlfriend also said that she liked the town as I took her to all the places I still have a memory of. But as you said, things change and it becomes a strange thing to witness. I went to the house in which I grew up, and it changed completely. All that remains is the vague memories that return when I think of the old place. As time moves on, I might also lose the roots that were there. The only constant is change, right?

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We are all what the locals call "imports", and more of us arrive in the Cape every day !LOL
There is a place called Heaven on Vaal, near Vanderbijl and I have had some great successes there in the past. We also got trapped there one year in a very bad flood. Since I have taken up photography, my fishing gear is rusting away, as I don't fish anymore.
Constant changes and our roots are getting eroded, so much so, that one is starting to feel like a stranger in the country. But such is life.

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Oh for sure. I am busy with African philosophy, and for obvious reasons, I cannot call this my home. But since doing this, I have slowly been losing my "Afrikaans" roots, just because I transitioned to English and due to the content of my work. Funny thing, this feeling of being in-between something that excludes you and something to which you cannot fully return.

Oh my, that must have been a scare. I know my parents always talked about the many flooding of the vaal, I think we experienced one but I was too little to remember it all.

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A difficult scenario that we all face and I at this stage, according to what some of the current hopeful politicians are saying before the elections, it could get much worse. So we might have no homeland anymore and people are already leaving in droves. But such is life, and we are survivors.

It was a very bad experience and thankfully we managed to get out. Many houses and farms below the dam wall were simply washed away, and it was as if they had never existed.

!PIZZA

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And now the winds have blown us away! If it is not the rains that threaten to flood us, it is the winds that blow everything down in its path.

I hope that you did not suffer much damage?

So true. But for time being, if our safety is relatively fine, I will remain. I love this place, and I will for as long as possible remain.

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Yep, the wind formed a partnership with the rain and the fire, and that's never a good thing. So many damages all over, and I have only posted a minimum of it. Fortunately we had no damages.

We are the same and too old to go anywhere in any case, so we will just continue to stick it out.

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Oh yes, but in all of the damage, I am seeing so much new growth as well. The plants that got badly damaged in my garden are again flourishing in the colder weather. We are just waiting for the winter rains to arrive now.

Same here. I just need to somehow traverse adult life, find a stable job, and begin the settling down process. Neither me nor my girlfriend wants to travel for work, we want to travel for fun!

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Thankfully nature recovers itself after every fire and storm, and I am sure that the rains will come soon.

Settling down is never an easy thing, but you have the right ideas and a stable job will for sure be a start. So, now you have a girlfriend and a fiancée ? That's going to work out very costly in your future as to keep both happy will keep you bankrupt !LOL

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So true. It is wonderful to see nature recover so well after all the fires and even this wind storm; the garden is flourishing.

Haha, that is the problem hey! But hopefully, as I mentioned in the other comment, there might be some nice things happening soon. Nothing permanent, but good (international) exposure. @urban.scout also finished her copy-editing course with mostly flying colours! So proud of her.

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Yep! Nature knows how to take care of itself. Not like us dumb humans.

International exposure is always good, and we are delighted that @urbanscout is doing so well. Send our congrats to her please.

!BEER

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There are things in life that are so simple but hard to understand and explain, like this scenario with the hawk, the thing that sets us apart from animals is our feelings and reasoning, its because of this that we might feel bad and angry about it before we give it a bit more thought, in real life is similar the case why some ppl go through different "bad" experiences, probably is just the way of nature balance itself, but yeah rough time to watch a hawk kill the baby squirrel, heart braking 😓

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I see that you have summed it up very well. So many judge a book by its cover, without digging deeper into the real facts. It is nature's ways that we oft don't understand, and I have seen some people setting bee hives alight in their gardens. Just because they regard bees as pests.
Nature does indeed balance itself and yes, it is never nice to see an innocent and fragile little baby taken. But such is life.

!PIZZA

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No, it's not nice to see that act, but that's nature. Your photos are spectacular. Many congratulations.😄

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Thank you, and I am merely trying to explain the ways of nature. !LOL

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Just like that, some birds find it very difficult to make a living because they are hunted by other birds in the sky. If the birds fly away while making, then the person is suffering a lot. I myself am such a person that I myself have a lot of love for such beautiful birds.

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It's the circle of life! At least we humans can choose to be less cruel, but not everyone takes that option.

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The full circle of life indeed. It is all those that prefer the choice of being less cruel, that makes this world such a sad place.

!BEER

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Balance, you brought that here. That's how nature works and we have to learn from it.

By the way, I often talk to peacocks. 😁

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Thank you and nature holds many lessons for mankind and for those who want to learn.

Nothing wrong with talking to peacocks, as they really appreciate it !LOLZ

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This reminded me of a testimony of a National Geographic photographer who spent weeks going to see the lions and could not take a picture of a zebra being killed and eaten. It certainly must have been shocking, but if you think about it a bit, humans do worse things out of self-centeredness and pride and vanity... they do it out of a natural survival instinct.

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(Edited)

Great that it was brought back to your memory, as it really a gruesome sight to experience.
I have seen the raptor birds a few times now with prey and I got used to the ways of nature. The only thing that still gals me, is when I see a well-fed house cat kill a little sunbird and it doesn't even eat it. I know that it is the hunters instinct, but I just cannot get myself to like it.
You are so right about pride and vanity, as it destroys one's soul.

!PIZZA and !LUV

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