Thanks to Willie and Pierre for sharing their finds --- and to 

Rooiels has been working closely with the Cape Leopard Trust with the cameras that Wolfgang Steinbach and Jill Lockley visit every few months and collect photos.  See the Leopard Blog for some of these photographs and videos.

Here is a link to an interesting article published by the Trust in June 2021

Pierre and Willie share their beautiful Rooiels greeting of photos on Woman's day

In June Madeleine shared photos of the Sentinel Rock Thrush -- which is known to occur -- but seldom seen.  Madeleine also shared an unusual view of the more commonly seen Ground Woodpecker.  They are often on the boulders - and tend to follow the sun.  So early birding in winter is not as rewarding for the rockjumpers, thrushes and woodpeckers that seem to be more active when the sun reaches the road.  But in summer, the early bird catches the worm!

We have had several babies in the baboon troop these last few months.  But unfortunately the R44 continues to be lethal.  Joselyn Mormile's research shows that 44 percent of the infants die before they are a year old and almost all caused by cars.  The baboons seem to learn as they get older with 75% of the car deaths being infants.  The baboon mothers will usually carry around their dead infants, sometimes for up to 10 days as they mourn their loss.  And we all feel that sense of loss.  Please drive carefully!