When you look at this picture, you might think, now where would one find dragonflies here?
The mountains are surrounded by farms and a nature reserve and most of them have dams. So, I will take you to one of my favorite spots.
We went to the local nature reserve to see if there was life after the severe fire last year. That fire damaged the area severely and hundreds of large protea bushes and trees were burnt down.
But nature in these areas has seen many fires over the years, and nature always restores itself. Green foliage was now gallantly making an effort to grow again and we found some beautiful new life.
Come and see.
This below is a Broad Scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea).
The dam in the nature reserve withstood the fire, although the wooden walkways around it were destroyed. Note that there are no trees yet.
The next 2 photos have 2 species of dragonflies in them.
The one at the top left is a Broad Scarlet and the one at the bottom left is a male, Red-veined Dropwing dragonfly.
Standing at the dam that is on a high mountain foothill, one can see beautiful views all around.
Now this beauty below is a female Red-veined Dropwing (Trithemus arteriosa).
I have this and another 2 photos of her in different places.
A couple of Blue billed ducks also made an appearance.
This little beauty below is a Citril Damselfly (Ceriagrion glabrum).
And finally I was excited to see a female Cape Sugarbird that came in to have a look for a possible nesting place.
Sadly there were no available nesting spaces for the sugarbird yet, as all of the trees are still black and bare from the fire and it is going to take many years for the protea bushes to grow back up in size again.
I have many photos in my files that show the lush green growth prior to the fire and I have also posted many of them before, but things are steadily improving in this area and then it will teem with life again.
I continue to be amazed at the recovery powers of nature, and it always strengthens me to think that even after severe illnesses we as humans can also recover, even if it is against the odds. We have several friends that were severely struck by illnesses such as Covid, and other ailments, and by grace they have recovered.
So nature always gives me hope with its demonstrations.
And That's All Friends.
Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon Powershot SX70HS Bridge camera.
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