Roodeplaat Nature Reserve - 10 October 2015

This past weekend I thought I'd write up another short post with photographs, just to find out that I hadn't done so since last year September; that was 10 months ago! I also realised that there were many sets of photographs that I hadn't processed yet. That set me on a quest to do processing on photographs that I took months ago.  

 

Last year in October I visited the Roodeplaat Nature Reserve (RNR), and although it isn't one of my favourite photographic spots, I did get a few photographs. When you visit RNR, you have to be VERY patient.

I arrived shortly after sunrise, and the light was a beautiful golden colour; indeed the golden hour!

The zebra above stared at me very intently, but it didn't seem like he was much bothered with my presence.

I came upon the Kudu above nibbling on the grasses. He looked at me for a short while, and then turned to his left and bolted out of there!

The rest of the photographs of this outing can be found here.

1st Photos of 2015–Rietvlei Nature Reserve–New Year’s Day

Well, who would’ve thought that I’d start this year with photographs from Rietvlei Nature Reserve (RNR)? To tell you the truth, I hoped that the opportunity would come up, and it did! Initially I wasn’t going to be in a position to go do a photoshoot. The day started off a little gloomy and the plan was to go visit my mom for New Year’s Day at the Alzheimer’s home where she is being cared for. We packed a picnic and arrived there at midday. We had a lovely time, but because we were up on New Year’s Eve through to 01:30 on New Year’s Day (NYD), we were somewhat tired.

Originally, we were going to have an evening braai (barbecue) at our home when we got back from visiting my mom, but on the way home my wife said that she was too tired to bother with the braai and that she was going to have a nap when we got home. Did you hear that? That was opportunity knocking and I grabbed it with both hands. Even though I was awake before everyone on NYD, I just couldn’t let this opportunity go! Sure I was also tired, but “hey!,” I had an opportunity to go hang at RNR for a couple of hours. So, I spent more than two and a half hours there from 16:00 to around 18:40.

I didn’t get to see or photograph a lot of birds or animals, but I enjoyed it nonetheless! So, without further delay here they are…

European Bee-eater

 

Pied Starling

 

Unknown bird – Any ideas?

 

African Wattled Lapwing

 

Zebra shaking its head

 

Diederik Cuckoo

 

Created with flickr slideshow.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve–2014-11-22

Back in April, for the first time in my life, also at Rietvlei, I saw the European Bee Eater. I immediately fell in love with this beautiful bird. At the time, I only had a 55-300mm lens, and the birds were fairly far away from where I was, and unfortunately, I couldn’t get closer. I took a couple of photographs, and that was it! By the end of April these migratory birds had left, and at the time there was no chance to see them again. Then, one day (I think it was somewhere in October), while I was outside in my garden, making sure the swimming pool was in good order, I suddenly heard this sound that I knew so well. Prrrrt, prrrt, prrrt! I looked up, and there I saw a whole flock of these Bee Eaters flying right over our house. They were coming in from the north, on their way to Rietvlei.

That very Saturday, after this event, I took my camera and the Sigma 150-500 lens that I had bought in the meantime, and headed for the reserve. I couldn’t find the birds. It took me a couple of visits before I eventually saw them on 22 Nov 2014. I was very happy. When I saw them, I was actually heading out, since it threatened to rain and some drops had already started to fall. For a short while the threat subsided and I could sit in the car just watching them and waiting for an opportunity to photograph them. I was very happy.

Anyway, here are some pictures of them, and some other creatures that I photographed.

European Bee Eater

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/9
Shutter:	1/1250
ISO:	800
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Zebra Foal

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/5.6
Shutter:	1/1600
ISO:	400
Focal Length:	150mm (35mm Eq = 225mm)

Blesbuck family

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/4000
ISO:	400
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Whiskered Tern

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/3200
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

 

More pictures can be found in the slideshow below. There are more photographs of the European Bee Eater, a Pied Starling, and African Darter, a White Throated Swallow, more Zebras, etc.

Created with flickr slideshow.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve–2014-11-09

After the weather was really gloomy the previous day, I decided to visit one of my favourite places in the Pretoria area, Rietvlei Nature Reserve. There are all kinds of wildlife in the reserve, and at R45 per adult for entry to the reserve, it is well worth the visit. Here are some photos from my visit on that day.

Meerkat

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/2500
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Red Bishop

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/7.1
Shutter:	1/2500
ISO:	800
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Red Bishop

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/7.1
Shutter:	1/4000
ISO:	800
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Donkey with pyjamas on… er, a Zebra!

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/4000
ISO:	800
Focal Length:	400mm (35mm Eq = 600mm)

Nature meets progress!

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/2000
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	200mm (35mm Eq = 300mm)

Meerkat

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/1000
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	250mm (35mm Eq = 375mm)

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Hardware
Camera:	Sony SLT-A37
Lens:	Sigma DG 150-500mm 5-6.3 APO HSM
Photo Settings
Aperture:	f/6.3
Shutter:	1/1250
ISO:	200
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm Eq = 750mm)

Back at Rietvlei, a favourite haunt

A couple of weeks ago (17 May 2014), I once again visited the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. It is one of my favourite places to visit, especially for wildlife photos. I didn’t stay long this time. I have visited the reserve many times, as it is only 6Km away from home. Yet, this was the first time I was able to photograph a jackal! Shortly after I took the sunrise shots, I could hear the yelps and screams of the jackals, but they were too far into the bush. But, as I drove slowly along, I came across one that crossed the road right in front of where I was.

I arrived before sunrise so I could take some sunrise shots.

I took one of the shots and converted it to black & white. My wife says it looks eerie!

To see the rest of the pics, see the slideshow below.

Enjoy!

Rietvlei Nature Reserve–4 Jan 2014

I visited the Rietvlei Nature Reserve yesterday. I go there so often because there are so many animals. They have all kinds of animals, from buck, to zebra, to rhinos. They have an array of birds that can be seen at the bird hides.

With the pic below I played a bit with my in-camera HDR. Interesting detail that popped up!

You can see some of the photos I took there yesterday in the slide show below.

I ran into some zebra with a foal. Cute little thing! I was also lucky to pass three huge rhinos. They were within 3 meters from the car.

Enjoy!