Our disapproving new neighbour is proving to be rather camera shy. Pale Chanting Goshawks are common to our area, but being really shy, you wouldn't know there are so many. Every time the camera faces in his direction he takes to flight. It has been incredibly hot here. Summer took a while arriving. But now that it has arrived with scorching force we try to take shelter in the heat of the day. Not too easy when it hits 40C before breakfast. We decided to take an air-conditioned drive today. The valley is a picture of vibrant greens following the Heaven sent rains.
Dams and streams that have been dry for years are now filled and flowing. It has been a special time to reflect over the journey of the past years.
The skies are filled with low flying swallows. The pressure from approaching rain forces their insect snacks to the ground. The mountains are a riot of blooming cacti - the plate sized white flowers only bloom before the rains. Their scent is incredible.
From their lofty perch a magnificent pair of Pale Chanting Goshawk glare down on our slowly passing bakkie. I roll my window down and snap a photo ... as the beautiful predators take to the skies.
Part of the valley floor has washed away. It is hard to believe. Even the low lying bridges are under a layer of water. We stop to splash. A family of Klipspringer - small indigenous antelope - vanish up the cliff face. Dassies - rock rabbits - vanish into the hollows.
And from another nearby thorn tree the Pale Chanting Goshawk watches us. Surely they have the best view of the desert floor. Wouldn't it be wonderful to fly? The world is so beautiful but from that height all you see is the beauty. Not the ugliness, grief or suffering. Just perfection. Beauty.
What a wonderful time to be alive, watch the bush revive the animals happy and birds in flight enjoying the moisture from the sky.
Brilliant photography showcasing the desert coming back to enjoy, not so much the heat but we will survive.
Sometimes ones wishes rains would arrive to wash the sorrow and deceit out of life completely.
@tipu curate 2
Thank you Joan! Indeed a wonderful time to be alive!
"Sometimes ones wishes rains would arrive to wash the sorrow and deceit out of life completely." Beautifully put!
That bushveld is looking healthy, it must have carried a brilliant smell when the rain arrived, something one never forgets!
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I would gladly go into that temperature right now. People say that we had -10 °C today in the early morning, and we had -8 °C when I woke up. The current temperature is -5 °C.
Have a nice day and have a nice weekend.
All the best. Greetings and much love from Hungary.
Ouch! That is cold! We don't get too far below 0 C in winter.
Sending you some sunshine for a lovely week
Thank you. Our cold record so far is -35.50 °C. This was in the Bükk on 2021.02.13. Usually February is our coldest month.
I can't even imagine those temperatures!
Camera shyness seems to be a common trait among most of our beloved feathered friends! ;)
Which is probably why capturing a shot is so much more special