VeldTalk welcomes photos of the unusual creatures and plants you spot on your place.  Send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The photos of the bullfrog trying to swallow a boomslang, sent by Malcolm Pitman, and the pic of the exquisite Flower Mantis taken by Dennis Weinand (May VeldTalk) have all since featured on 50/50.

Jaco Etsebeth, Hills and Dales
While driving home recently I was confronted by a magnificent snouted cobra.  It stood swaying in the middle of the track, seeming to challenge me as I stopped to grab my camera.  Then it suddenly shot off into the long grass and to my surprise, another cobra slithered over the road after it.

Andrew Kock, Kyalami 
I regularly cycle through the Schurveberg area and found these clear tracks in a patch of dried clay.  After asking verious experts, they concur that these are brown hyena tracks “due to the difference in size of the front and back spoor”.  My cell gives an indication of size.  What is really amazing is that the location of these tracks is within 700m of the first house in a suburb of Erasmia.

Editor's note:  The brown hyena spotted by Lee Dormer in Doornrandje (VeldTalk 51) was found dead next to the R511 on 23 July.  It must have been hit by a vehicle. 

Eileen, Hills and Dales
I found this fascinating pattern on the trunk of a Karee tree severely burnt in a veld fire.  Karees are hardy and this one will probably survive but the damage done by fires every year is heart-breaking. 

 
Annelize de Klerk, Crystal Mist, Doornrandje
Hierdie yslike groot skilpad het naby ons huis oor die pad geloop.  Nog ’n bewys van die wonderlike natuur en die verskeidenheid van diere en inseklewe om ons.  Gelukkig is daar min verkeer op ons pad maar watter kans het sulke skilpaaie wanneer ons velde so brand in die winter?

Editor's note: The winter veld fires hit the Conservancy hard this year.  While some fires got out of hand when fire-breaking was attempted during the day, others were deliberately set alight at night.  Those residents who regularly respond to fight fires report a considerable cost in cut tyres, damaged vehicles and firegreens.

VeldTalk welcomes photos of the unusual creatures and plants you spot on your place.  Send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Martin Williams of Hills and Dales found an injured hedgehog in the road.  Fearing it would be run over he took it home and cared for it until it was ready to be released into the veld. 

Editor's Note:  Get advice on handling injured animals and birds from FreeMe (011 807 6993) or take the patient to them for treatment.  For fascinating pics of animals subscribe to  FreeMe's Photos of the Week.  Contact them on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Visit.www.freeme.org.za.

MmaRitha, Hennops River
We discovered brown hyena droppings in two places on the slope of the Schurveberg recently.  We checked it with Pretoria University's Mammal Institute and they confirmed that it was a brown hyena.

Audrey Smith, Hills and Dales
I watched a programme on TV about the dangers threatening bees.  My sister Maureen took this photo to let me know that the bees are still humming in Hills&Dales.  It would be interesting to know whether there are any bee hives and industries in our area.  After all, who doesn't love honey!

Editor's Note:  While the bees benefit, take note that various Prickly Pear species are Category 1 Invaders.  Category 1 includes Pom pom, Lantana, Queen of the Night, Yellow Bells, and Bugweed, and all have to be removed. Landowners face fines if Category 1 weeds are not dealt with.  Read more and see photographs in www.rnc.za.net.

VeldTalk welcomes photos of the unusual creatures and plants you spot on your place.  Send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Malcolm Pitman, Ferndale
During December I was in the Kruger Park and came across a Giant Bullfrog with his mouth over the head of a Boomslang. The snake was over a metre long and the frog had his mouth fully over the head.  There was a lot of jumping by the frog or thrashing by the snake – I couldn't figure out which!   Suddenly they parted and the snake shot across the road. The frog sat for about half a minute and then hopped of into the bush, looking rather dazed!

"This should not take long...There's more to this morsel than I thought...I've changed my mind..."

The best description for this behavious comes from Afrikaans:  “Sy oë was groter as sy maag”  Ed.

Nick Dale, Rhenosterspruit 
My friend Dennis Weinand took this pic of a Flower Mantis on a Wild Basil plant near White River.  It is the most exquisite camouflage I've ever seen!

Nature's exquisite art - a Mantis copying a flower.

Close-up of the Mantis's head.

VeldTalk welcomes photos of the creatures you spot on your place.  Send it to Helen Duigan 

Jeannied du Plessis, Moreleta Park, Pretoria
I visit the reserve at Moreleta Kloof two or three times a week and took pictures of these lovely flowers – nature at its best. So few people take time to look at the small things!

Mma-Ritha, Hennops River
A room with a view! I took this pic from my bedroom window of a whopper of a water monitor casually striding over our lawn.

Winner!

Tom van Niekerk of Buffelsdrif Conservancy wins R100. He was the first to identify the plant in the photo (March VeldTalk) as a broken aloe leaf. Congratulations, Tom. It won't cover your Eskom charges but at least buy a few beers!