We are all wondering what is so special about this year - and about the 23rd March -- wherever you went there were dragonflies.  Exquisite, intricate and delicate.  Graham shares some of the great photos he took yesterday.  

The terns have been massing on the beach - and they make some spectacular scenes which Dick shared​

The spotted dikkop (Burhinus capensis) -- well it is now a "thick-knee" in English but still a dikkop in Afrikaans - Gewone dikkop. These are found mainly in the drier parts of Rooiels.
The slightly smaller Water thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus) can also be found in Rooiels but usually on properties nearer the beach and river.

Above the pair would take turns to sit on their egg - they only had one.  The other would stand nearby and then a few times a day they would briefly meet and change positions.  The photo on the right was when it was born.  I thought that it had died at birth -- but no -- it took a few hours to resuscitate after its birth and then joined its parents.  We watched it grow until 2 weeks old - and then it disappeared (most likely the mongoose).  So sad.  But late July the pair returned and perhaps they will manage to keep it safe from the mongoose this time.

Thanks to Roy and his camera we get to share more of the magic that is Rooiels

Even for those of us not equipped to go diving in the deep - we are lifted by just knowing and seeing the magic of the underworld on our doorstep - thanks for sharing Piet

and a lovely video from last year with another of our visitors!

A favorite walk for seeing the iconic birds of Rooiels and getting up close to many of the most interesting and beautiful plants of the Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos.  Some of the flower photos shared by Jill Lockley and the Verreaux's (black) eagle by Mike Leresche 

Go to the Gallery to see more photos of Rooiels or to the Birds of Rooiels

This year there were no organised activities as we all adhered to social distancing - but many still went climbing, diving, surfing and rock pool gazing on our own.  These photos were shared by Georg van Reenen.  Please share any special photos you have of Nature in Rooiels