A wedding under the thermals

29 - 31 March 2024 - Magaliesberg

We spent a most enjoyable weekend in the Magaliesberg to celebrate the wedding of Shannon Fraser (daughter of our good friends Gary and Brenda) to Marius van Vuuren at Leopard Lodge.

We stayed in a quaint cottage around 15-minutes away from the wedding venue. There weren't too many birds on offer in the grounds of the cottage, but I managed to photograph a few species on some early morning walks. A pair of Crowned Lapwing in the grassland between the Pecan Trees

Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)

Along with a Black-headed Heron

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)

However, there was a lot more invertebrate action and I managed to find butterflies, like Eastern Dotted Border backlit which I really like

Eastern Dotted Border (Mylothris a. agathina)

A Marsh Patroller along a small stream leading into the property. I have tried long and hard to get the image of a Damselfly with the eyes on either side of the stalk it is perching on - finally I managed on this weekend and was thrilled with the result

Marsh Patroller (Brakefieldia p. perspicua)

This stream was a magnet for a number of Damselflies which I find fun to photograph - I still battle to ID these buggers, but will endeavor to do so. There are probably two species below and a mixture of male and females.

Damselfly sp.

I have tried a long time for this image

Only one Dragonfly - but one I had not seen before

Dragonfly sp.

These interesting spiders had made their web across the stream and quite close to the water's surface

Spider sp

The wedding venue at Leopard Lodge was at the base of the Skeerpoort Cape Vulture breeding colony. This colony supports 71% of the breeding population for the 3 Magaliesberg colonies. The other 2 are Nooitgedacht (28%) and Roberts Farm (1%). I managed to photograph these magnificent endangered and endemic vultures from our cottage 

Skeerport Cape Vulture Colony

And later in the afternoon, just before the wedding festivities started.

Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

It was a great wedding, in a stunning setting that was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Wishing Marius and Shannon all the very best as they embark on this new chapter in their lives!