To the Lighthouse

Here is the ALBUM. For captions or info click on i on the top right-hand side. A good way to go - the Slideshow is found at the top of the page on the rt hand side by clicking on the 3 dots. Featured this week – Leaky Dam Circuit via Pepsi Pools with MCSA, iNat course at NMU, St Blaize Trail with WAGS and Gourikwa Private Nature Reserve to monitor “The Beautiful One”.

iNaturalist Course
Dr Tony Rebelo came up from Cape Town last Monday to give an iNat course at NMU as part of Science Week. It was a collaborative effort between the University, Garden Route Botanical Gardens and CREW. It was hugely successful, great fun and a very good learning experience.

The scope of this interactive website for naturalists is enormous and we are just scratching the surface. At the click of the mouse, you can produce species lists and Field Guides and catalogue all the flora and fauna in your local neck of the woods. It is going to be such a valuable tool to measure the effects of man and climate change on the environment in the years to come. It is huge fun and provides an excellent forum for your photos. I am hoping that it will help my aged brain from disintegrating completely, although I had to ask Sally at the end of the session, ”What did I remember from the course”? She told me…………………….. At the age of (almost) 80, all this new technology is very challenging!

HAT Evie’s report for -Circuit/ Pepsi Pools, Leaky Dam, Tierkop Hut
On Sunday 29 July Hat Evie joined the South Cape MCSA on a circular hike starting and ending at NMU George campus. Initially passing through some indigenous and plantation forest to Pepsi Pools- thereafter good forest cleared path in evidence. Good views of pink flowers on Agathosma ovata - both as shrubs and trees, growing near the streams and forest edges, all the way up to the Dam. Some Agathosma planifolia on the upper side of the dam. Lovely pink Erica cubica coming into flower- while Erica triceps and Erica fuscescens are obvious all along the path. Erica lehmannii -seems to be scarce. Also, some Erica Intermedia subsp intermedia.

On the higher steeper slopes above the dam - wonderful looking, numerous, strong plants of Mimetes pauciflorus (VU)- currently at their flowering peak. While a little higher up pretty trees of Leucospermum glabrum (EN) share space in amongst the Mimetes. All the hikers enjoyed taking numerous photos of the golden Mimetes and the pretty L. glabrum! Two yellow peas much in evidence above the dam- Liparia hirsuta and the second – still to be confirmed. A super hike in some of the best Fynbos of our area.
Evie

To the Lighthouse
The famous novel by Virginia Woolf “To the Lighthouse” was a critical success as soon as it was published and won Woolf the Prix Femina in 1928. Initial reviews and criticism focused on the novel's stylistic innovations, praising Woolf’s artistic refinement of the stream of consciousness narrative. There is very little in common between this famous novel and the St Blaize Trail, except that they are both dominated by a real lighthouse and that I couldn’t resist the title. Also, my grandson who is at Stellies doing Maths is on a mission to educate Tanniedi, at least as far as literature is concerned – he’s given up on the Maths. He insists that I read the whole collection of Virginia Woolf’s writings. I am ploughing through them with the odd sortie into something lighter to keep me sane. I rejected outright his suggestion of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Proust, having succumbed to Nabokov and Flaubert. However, Flaubert alienated me for life when all the characters in the short story died including the parrot.

As always, Bill and I started early and ahead of the main pack where the trail begins on the Dana Bay side. We were rather startled to encounter some light rain, which soon dissipated, but was the preface to a rather chilly wind for most of the day. I love the St Blaize Trail, but on this occasion it was not looking its best. There was very little in flower, probably because of the very dry Winter we are experiencing. The burnt patch shows little sign of regeneration and all the plants are taking strain. The only “rare” we saw all day was Freesia leichtlinii ssp alba (Near Threatened) and we only saw one in flower. Wags spotted a skewbald Dassie dressed in black, grey, brown and white, a colour combination which nobody has ever seen before. It has been posted on iNat, so that we can get some expert opinion on this strange colour variation.

The seep below the Mossel Bay Golf Estate is worsening. White slime now covers the whole slope above it. The disclaimer on the notice on the one side is fooling nobody. If it isn’t sewage, what is it? It is certainly not a natural seep, which is the impression they try to create. It’s a real blot on the landscape on this trail, which is highly frequented by tourists.

Bill and I made excellent time, completing the trail in 6 hours. This was despite Bill’s little rock-climbing sortie, which he couldn’t resist. At Pinnacle Point he went down the steps, along the beach and then scrambled up to the cliff path to join me. It was a very tricky scramble, particularly for an ancient of 84 with 5 joint replacements. But we were both satisfied - he got his adrenaline fix and I got an opportunity to take some photos and to do a site sheet, at the same time keeping an eye on his progress. Finally reaching the St Blaize Lighthouse, we trotted off for Fish and Chips at Delfinos – a good way to end a very pleasant day on the Southern Cape Coast.
Tanniedi

The Beautiful One
It was time for a repeat visit to Gourikwa on Friday. We wanted to show Helena Lobostemon belliformis(Critically Endangered) in full and riotous bloom and we were hoping for a glimpse of Erica baueri ssp. gouriquae (Critically Endangered). We were both relieved and delighted to find the “Beautiful One” in full bloom. Flowering times this year have been up the creek, no doubt due to the ongoing drought. Now, for the first time in years, we are feeling optimistic about the future of this stunning plant. Helena is full of plans to clear the Rooikrantz sympathetically. She will consult NMU and is planning to get various conservation agencies to do the clearing under good supervision. Just sending in a contractor is not the solution. If it isn’t carefully done, the Lobostemon will be damaged when the trees are felled. Also she will see that the access to the plant is made easier, but also not made obvious to any stray collectors. She will consult with some of the owners, who were visiting this weekend. I will sleep easier at night, if I know that this plant is safe for future generations. So “Baie dankie” Helena and the new owners of Gourikwa.

Our “Mad HATters, Dave and Evie discussed options with Helena and decided on the exploration of a perimeter firebreak and an investigation of any sandstone kopjes in the area. They were hoping to find more of the Lobostemon, but had no joy. SIM and LOT started their search for the Gouriquae Erica on the road verges, where we found it last year. As always, the place is teeming with rares, but of the Erica there was no sign. Considering that last year at the same time we had seen it whilst driving past and that it stands over 2m high, we were totally flummoxed. It looks as if it’s either not flowering this year, or is doing so right out of season. Very puzzling indeed!

But there was still plenty to enthall. Here are some of the Rares we saw.
Protea susannae – Near Threatened
Protea obtusifolia – Near Threatened
Carpobrotus muirii – Near Threatened
Cliffortia schlechteri – Near Threatened
Aulax umbellata – Near Threatened
Leucospermum praecox – Vulnerable
Metalasia luteola - Vulnerable
Gnidia chrysophylla – Near Threatened
Satyrium carneum – Near Threatened
Agathosma muirii – Vulnerable
Lachnaea axillaris – Near Threatened
Agathosma eriantha – Vulnerable
Cullumia carlinoides – Near Threatened
Leucadendron galpinii - Vulnerable
Euchaetis albertiniana – Endangered
Lobostemon belliformis – Critically Endangered
Erica dispar – Near Threatened
In the next few weeks, we will be posting them on iNat. Here is the link - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/gouriqua-private-nature-reserve#page=1
Tanniedi
Ps. Mike is pretty sure that he found some resprouting Lobostemon belliformis amongst the plants we saw - an interesting observation.

Forthcoming Field Trips
On Friday we are hoping to visit Spioenkop again. While Lobostemon belliformis (Critically Endangered) is still in flower, our chances of spotting it are more than doubled and we would like to increase the tally found to more than three. We would also like to continue our exploration of the north-east corner, keeping an eye out for Dioscorea burchellii (Vulnerable)
Hamba Kahle
Groete en dankie
Di Turner
Outramps CREW Group
Southern Cape

All id’s subject to confirmation by Doc Annelise and Jan Vlok, Steven Molteno, Dr Tony Rebelo, Nick Helme, Prof Charlie Stirton, Dr Robert Archer, Dr Robert McKenzie, Dr Ted Oliver, Dr Christopher Whitehouse, Adriaan Grobler, Prix Burgoyne, Dr Kenneth Oberlander, Dr Pieter Winter, Dr David Gwynne-Evans and Mattmatt on iNat. Thank you all for your ongoing help and support.

Cola Conservancy - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/cola-conservancy
Dune Molerat Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/dune-molerat-trails
Featherbed Nature Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/featherbed-nature-reserve
Gouriqua - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/gouriqua-private-nature-reserve
Heaven in the Langkloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/heaven-in-the-langkloof
Herolds Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-herolds-bay
Kammanassie - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kammanassie-reserve
Langeberg Grootvadersbosch - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/grootvadersbosch-nature-reserve
Kranshoek - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-kranshoek-
Masons Rust - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/masons-rust-32-ptn-4-gezwinds-kraal-41-ptn-0
Mossel Bay Diosma Reserve - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/diosma-reserve
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-14072
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/erf-19201
Mossel Bay - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/st-blaize-trail
Natures Valley - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/nature-s-valley-south-cape-south-africa#page=2
Outeniquas Bobbejaanberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-bobbejanberg-in-the-outeniquas
Outeniquas Camferskloof - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-camferskloof
Outeniquas East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-eastern-outeniquas-from-bergplaas-to-gouna
Outeniquas Flanagans Rock - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/flanagans-rock-rsa
Outeniquas Lange Berg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/lange-berg-112
Outeniquas Paardepoort East - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-east
Outeniquas Paardepoort West - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-paardepoort-west
Outeniquas Southern Traverse - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-outeniqua-southern-traverse
Rooiberg - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-rooiberg-reserve
Spioenkop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/ruigtevlei-plantations
Strawberry Hill - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/strawberry-hill-7-passes-road-wilderness-south-africa
Swartberg Spitskop - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/outramps-crew-spitskop-to-meiringspoort-swartberg
Uitzicht Portion 39 - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-portion-39
Uitzicht - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/uitzigt-216-ptn-65
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-1-buffalo-bay
Western Head – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-2-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/walker-s-point-215-portion-3-buffalo-bay
Western Head - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/western-head-knysna
White Heather - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/white-heather
Wilderness Brown Hooded Kingfisher Trail – https://www.inaturalist.org/places/brown-hooded-kingfisher-trail
Wilderness Kingfisher Trail - https://www.inaturalist.org/places/kingfisher-trails
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Abbreviations Glossary

MCSA – Mountain Club of South Africa
MSB - Millenium Seed Bank based at Kew in the UK
WIP – Work in Progress
HAT – High Altitude Team
LOT – Lowland Team
SIM – Somewhere in the Middle Team
WAGS – Wednesday Adventure Group
VB – Vlok Boekie “Plants of the Klein Karoo” and our Plant Bible
ITRTOL – Another thread “In The Rich Tapestry Of Life”(It describes a challenging situation, usually to do with the Buchu Bus)
ITFOT – In the fullness of time
WOESS – Fair Weather Hiker
FMC and JW – too vulgar to translate, but the equivalent is “Strike me Dead” - An expression of surprise and delight on finding a new “Rare”
Kambro – same as above
Fossick – A meter per minute, scratching around looking for rares
SIDB – Skrop in die Bos – Another name for a field trip, this one coined by Prix
BAFFING – Running round like a blue-arsed fly
SYT – Sweet Young Thing - Anyone under the age of 40
TOMB – Get a move on
Mayhem - Needless or willful damage or violence
SESKRYNG – “Sit en staan kry niks gedaan” ,with thanks to Brian
SOS – Skelms on Scramblers
FW – Idiot
BOB – Another name for the Buchu Bus when she’s misbehaving.
CRAFT – A symptom of Old Age
DDD - Metalasia tricolor (Damned Diabolical Daisy)
VP – Vrekplek – Retirement Village
Qàq – Self-explanatory Inuit word describing some of our local problems
Mr Fab – Our Fabaceae specialist, Brian Du Preez – originally Boy 1
Muisvoel -The Mathematician – Peter Thompson
Boy 2 – Kyle Underwood who works on Orchids and is still at school
Sharkie – Finn Rautenbach – Our latest SYT is a surfer in his spare time
Sicko – Someone who suffers from Car Sickness. With 4 in the Group, allocating seating in the Buchu Bus is tricky
VAG – Virgin Active Garage, which is our meeting place when we head north
MATMUE – Meet At The Mall Under E - Meeting place when we head West
WG – Waves Garage in Wilderness East. - Meeting place when we’re going east.
VU- Vulnerable
DDT – Data Deficient and Taxonomically ?
NT – Near Threatened
EN – Endangered
CR – Critically Endangered
PE – Presumed extinct
LC – Least Concern
TBC – To be Confirmed
TLC – Tender loving care
JMS – An expression of absolute disdain
FOMO – Fear of Missing Out
Milk – the fruit of the vine
Condensed Milk – Scotland’s finest export
Full Cream Milk or Fat Milk – Any product of Humulus lupulus eg. Milk Stout
Milk of the Gods – Rooibos and Brandy
Milk Shake - Sparkling Wine
NS – Species of conservation concern new to the Outramps
PS -Priority Species allocated to the Outramps by our CREW Cape Co-ordinator , Ismail Ebrahim
iNatFD – iNaturalist for Dummies as compiled by Sally
Mizzle – Mist and drizzle combined. A regular feature of George in the ”good old days”.
FE – Fire Ephemeral – only appears immediately or after a couple of years after fire
Squirrel – aka President Ramaphosa
WOG – Wrath of God – eg. incurred when you put a young Pine tree on iNat as Leucadendron album
Skedonk - A banger - old, battered motor car more than 30 years old
Hoedown - redneck gathering, usually involves shouting catchy phrases like "yee-haw" and "the south will rise again"
VHF - Vat Hom Fluffie - our nickname for furry or woolly plants
OTL - Out To Lunch is used to describe the Buchu Bus when she's taking a break after she's behaved badly

Publicado el agosto 13, 2018 04:42 MAÑANA por outramps-tanniedi outramps-tanniedi

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