African Purple Swamphen

As is evident from the first picture the Swamphen has a fairly formidable beak. Never realized it was quite as strong. The three pictures show the Swamphen approaching, biting through, and swimming away with a young, green reed. 

Steam Locomotive

Janine under power, coming at you!

Monkey

What is this ?

Beach

December holidays not far away now....

Sunset

Would prefer to have been here right now rather than sitting in suburbia in front of a computer screen wishing that I was here rather than sitting in suburbia in front of a computer screen. 

Steam train comming

A steam train coming into the steam depot at Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa. The guys are doing a wonderful job in maintaining these old steam locomotives in working order as an example of how things worked and were done back in the day.  

Church Window

One of the windows of the little church in Belvidere, South Cape. A pity that few churches are built with walls and windows like these these days.

15F Steam Locomotive

Janine, a class 15F steam locomotive built during 1949, Germiston, South Africa July 2013. 

Black Headed Heron

It is a rainy day in Johannesburg, South Africa. Normally we do not get rain during early August, the middle of winter. A good time to sit down and scroll through my saved photos. Came across this one of a Black Headed Heron. Should actually be working on an assignment. Amazing how one find all kinds of things that needs doing when an assignment becomes due.    

15F and 12AR Steam Locomotives

The two ladies, Janine and Susan, rolling forward from their shed. Susan was built during +/- 1919 and Janine during 1949.

Clouds at sunset

I liked the line that the clouds drew from where I was standing towards the horizon. South African South Cape, December 2012.

Class 12AR Steam Locomotive

Susan the Class 12AR locomotive mentioned in a previous post reversing to connect to her waiting train. She is technically not allowed to make black smoke this close to the shunting yard. The grey tower to the left is a water tower used to fill the locomotives' water tanks. From the side it is apparent that Susan's wheels are a bit smaller than some other locomotives' wheels. Susan was initially designed to haul heavy loads of coal from mines to the east of Johannesburg to Johannesburg for further distribution.   

Boat on lake

Just a nice peaceful scene of a boat and a lake. Not sure why but a rowing boat on a lake just seem to radiate tranquility. 

Steam Locomotives

I will be posting a few more pictures of the two ladies pictured above. The lady on the left is called Janine. She is a class 15F, built in +/- 1947. Back in the day she pulled the train used when Queen Elizabeth (then princess) visited South Africa. The lady on the right is called Susan. She is a class 12AR, built in +/- 1919. She is slightly smaller and is equipped with somewhat smaller wheels and short-stroke cylinders. She has put a number of newer, more powerful engines to shame when it comes to getting and keeping heavy trains moving. Probably because of her smaller wheels and shorter stroke.

  

Bedford View apartments

A block of apartments on the border of upmarket Bedford View, Gauteng, South Africa. Looking at these apartments brought the concept of being 'pigeonholed' to mind.  

Gerikes Point

Gerikes Point, Sedgefield, South Africa. This sandstone ridge can be reached after 1/2 an hour's walk. It is next to a rocky outcrop known as Lion Rock.   

Black-headed Heron

Black-headed Heron with yellow eyes indicating that this picture was not taken in the breeding season. Their eyes turn red during the breeding season. Fortunately it does not work like that for most other species, that could be scary. Photo taken near Knysna, South Cape, South Africa.

Eish! Would have liked to be here right now rather than in the city. Taken near Cola beach, South Africa.

The inside of the little church featured in my post dated March 2013. It is small but somehow special. I guess I just like small churches better than bigger ones.   

Flamingo

Referring to my previous post, my neck is now much better. A quick visit to the physio was all that was needed. 

Flamingo

It is fortunate that you can't see me. I have a neck similar to that of a flamingo. I tried this same move this morning, and now my neck hurts. Ouch! I took this picture early this morning at the Rondebult Bird Sanctuary. There are about six hides at the sanctuary. It comes down to the luck of the draw. You never know when the birds will be doing what at which hide.  

Cape Cormorant

Cape Cormorant - at the dentist, South Cape, South Africa

Castle Rock

This rock is called 'Castle Rock' due to its shape and resemblance to an ancient castle.

Dock Wreck

A wider view of the wrecked floating dock mentioned a few posts previous. As you can see it is quite big, considering it was wrecked almost 90 years ago.

Black Headed Heron

Guess who won the discussion on who should be sitting at the top of the tree?

Sunset at Sedgefield

Sunset near Sedgefield, South Africa. I liked the contrast between the dark clouds overhead and the white and red highlights towards the west. It is a special time of day, that short interval between day and night. The town of Sedgefield has officially declared itself to be a slow town. People walk in the streets and take their dogs with them to market, etc.

Belvidere Church

 

The little  church in Belvidere, South Cape. I attend a 'macro' church in the city. But this is what a church should look and feel like. 

Wrecked Dock

A Picture of the floating dock that was wrecked near Glentana during the 1920's. It is interesting to see how the sea is reducing the wreck over time. This is a section of the wreck, I will post a wider view in a next blog.

Cola Beach

I would prefer to be here right now rather than sitting in Johannesburg doing work on my computer.

Sedgefield Sunset

I took this picture near Sedgefield, South Cape. Wish I was there now rather than back in Johannesburg. The joy of having to work for a living! Still better than not being able to work though. 

Black Headed Heron

There are many trees around, but only one tree on the little island in the middle of the dam. The perch at the top of this tree belongs to the top bird. There is always competition for the honor. This time the Black Headed Heron won.

Buffalo Bay Waves

I took this picture at Buffalo Bay, South Africa. Various storm fronts moved around the coast resulting in strong wind and spectacular waves.

Coot building nest

I photographed this Coot building a nest near Sedgefield, South Africa. Its chick is growing up fast and it must be preparing for the next breeding season. The chick is still young and dependant on its mother. When eating etc. it learns by imitating its mother. It watched its mother building and would then go to the nest and also start 'building' while the mother was away gathering building material. The photo of the mother (above) was taken a few days after the picture of the chick. The original photo of the mother, taken at the same time as that of the chick, did not come out great. It is difficult to get detail into a picture of a black bird taken against a colourful background.

Coots are fairly common in all fresh water dams, swamps and lakes. They are aggressive and will chase away much bigger birds that comes too close to it's nest. While building three Egyptian Geese started what appeared to be a fight close by. The Coot and her partner chased all three of them from the little dam.