The house that Weaver built

The House that Mr Weaver built.

Part of the live entertainment at the delightful West Coast National Park Restaurant certainly is watching the golden weavers. With spring in the air, building a new nest is now a frenzied affair. And not to ever forget that if Mrs Weaver does not approve, Mr will have no choice but to build another one, and another one and another one, until the wife is completely satisfied.

On the restaurant tables there are little bowls with envelopes of pre-packed sugar. Brown for brown sugar, white for white sugar (we humans need colour codes for we are not very smart) and red ones for artificial sweeteners. Mr Weaver when exhausted and in need of a little substance, it seems does not have the time to read either and quickly grabs in flight – a red one from the table! One or two of the finches have learned through experience that the brown and white ones are of more value and not to judge a sausage by its skin or in this case the envelope by its colour!

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/weaver_bird.aspx

Caracal

Cats of the Wild

Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire. ~Virgil

There must be something magical and magnificent about spring or even just thoughts of spring. Music to the soul.

Every year, just before the official ‘Spring date’ in people’s vocabulary, the West Coast of South Africa announces the coming of spring, sometimes in low tones with a few violins, sometimes with a full orchestra. (The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other. ~Arthur Rubenstein)

This year was no exception, but at the Wild Coast National Park not as splendid as 3 years ago.

There are many theories one being that in 2006 the winter rains were preceded by a period of drought. But be it as it may we were fortunate that we had a glimpse of the elusive Mr Rooikat (almost extinct now. He did not pose for long. He was gone again within a minute. Busy , busy, busy!