Kevin Cockburn did some sterling work recently, digging up a large and as far as we knew, untapped forest near St Faiths on the northern bank of the Umzimkulu. I posted some pix on Photocamel:
photocamel.com/forum/macro-close-up-phot...dweshula-forest.html
Rats! Just found out I can't attach a Google Earth placemarker! Here are the co-ordinates if any of you are keen to go.
30°32'16.51"S 30°16'44.29"E
Kevin, Stella and I went in there with Alexandre Viossat. We only scratched the surface and I for one can't wait to return!
Here are some more pix to look at:
Kevin contemplating the deep forest
The entrance to the track leading several km into the interior of the forest. Look at those awesome trees!
There were lots of Small Orange Acraea
Telchinia serena about. I can never resist shooting the females; no two are alike!
I found this little limacodid larva on
Grewia occidentalis; I brought it home to see what emerges (probably a wasp knowing my luck with these!)
This is the upper side of the male Albatros White
Appias sabina phoebe I found there.
Here's a different shot of that Beautiful Tiger
Amphicallia bellatrix; not sure I don't prefer the black BG to the one I posted on the Camel.
We found Large Flat
Celaenorrhinus mokeezi mokeezi as well, a low altitude record I think in KZN.
As usual in these forests there were several Bush Bronzes
Cacyreus lingeus about; this female posed nicely.
Google Driving really is a rewarding thing to do; this is the second awesome new place we've found during SABCA surveys. I was talking to someone in Ezemvelo Honorary Officers the other night and he knew the place - thought it may have been called the Murchison area in the olden days. I wonder if any of the old Natal guys went in there - must ask Clive Quickelberge!
Cheers
Steve
