Mavimet's Weblog

Each time I go back to this beautiful Nature Reserve, I explore a little bit more and this time was no exception.

Some of the photos are cropped by WordPress to fit, but you can see the full photo by clicking on it.

A pair of Mallard Ducks and a beautiful (& very tall) dead tree

A beautiful Wood Duck and an American Wigeon (a first time for me)

Here we are at the Vedder Rotary Trail – and the same map, but with the red dot in the Nature Reserve.

I turned left to walk a bit on the Rotary Trail, but I still had exploring to do in the reserve.

First there was a bridge to cross – so I did that & walked until I came to the trees in the middle of the path. My thoughts immediately took me to Kruger National Park, where some of the roads had trees in the middle. In South Africa, you drive on the left hand side of the road – so I walked on the left side and went around the trees and headed back. Next time I’ll follow that trail further.

I turned off onto the Tower Trail. I had walked it once before, but when it came out to a spot I didn’t know, I retraced my steps back. This time I walked it from the opposite direction without having to retrace my steps. I stopped at a little overlook where I saw a beautiful Great Blue Heron on the other side of the water.

I am guessing that this is the same Great Blue Heron that a man had decided to get a photo of earlier by walking right up to where he was. He only had a phone for taking photos. So – he scared the Heron off and I think where I found him is the same place that he flew to for safety. It was the same direction anyway. With all the bushes in front of me and a whole bunch of water, he had no idea I was snapping photos and he (or she) provided several photos.

As I was heading for my car, I had to cross a bridge and I stopped for one more Great Blue Heron Photo.

I was almost back to my car when I noticed the above sign and the girder bridge panel – so got a couple more photos.