Spring is from September to October. Depending on weather conditions, seasons and flowering times may be earlier or later than mentioned below. Much of our richly diverse flora are flowering at this time, including proteas and ericas for which the Cape is renowned as well as a host of other lesser known species. Many of these are in the daisy family, as well as geophytes and some interesting endemics, making it an ideal period for flower shows. Bring a warm jersey and waterproofs - you may need them.
Carpenter bees
With the warming weather the Carpenter Bees become active and may be seen busily collecting pollen from all the flowers belonging to the pea family
Many of the bulbous plants such as the dainty yellow ixia, pink oxalis and the blue geissorhiza are favourites of foraging baboons. Tall yellow spires of golden sceptre, Wachendorfia thyrsiflora, flower spectacularly along streams and seeps together with a number of other lovely wetland species.
Area Fauna
The Small Grey Mongoose, Chacma baboons, Porcupines and Cape mole rats, the Striped mouse the dainty little Pygmy mouse and the large chubby Vlei rat all inhabit this area.Two antelope species very seldom seen are the Grysbok and the Klipspringer. Also not often seen are the Rock dassies, which are a favourite prey item for the Jackal Buzzard and Verreaux’s Eagle sometimes seen soaring overhead.
Leopard, Water mongoose, caracal and Large spotted genet, are normally nocturnal so it is a very lucky person indeed who may catch a fleeting peep of one of these creatures, while Cape clawless otters make their homes on the banks and in the thick undergrowth of streams and hunt for frogs and crabs.
96 species of bird are recorded in the areas' bird list. A visit to the area makes a much greater list than this possible, including the African Penguin, because many other habitats such as sandy and rocky sea shores, estuaries and lakes are found in close proximity to Glen Craig.
The coastal vegetation supports a large variety of birds, mainly seed eating such as the Cape Bulbul, Rameron Pigeon, Speckled moosebird and Grass bird. You may be fortunate enough to see the rare Protea Seedeater or the charming but untidy Cape Grassbird, the Cape Rock Thrush and the Ground Woodpecker. the shy African Black Duck or the noisy Giant Kingfisher. the unobtrusive African Dusky Flycatcher, can often be seen at close quarters. The Sombre Greenbul is heard far more often than it is seen. In summer the striking dark-mantled, orange African Paradise-Flycatcher builds its beautifully constructed, well camouflaged nest in the branches.
One can almost always be rewarded with views of the brightly metallic-coloured male Orange-breasted Sunbird (a fynbos endemic), or the Southern Double-collared Sunbird and their cryptically coloured mates, darting about the ericas and leucospermums. The male Cape Sugarbird can be seen flirting his long tail to chase off competitors and attract a mate, who is usually more interested in foraging amongst the proteas for nectar. The Olive Thrush may be seen busily scratching amongst fallen leaves while the cocky Cape Robin-Chat can be seen nearly everywhere, especially where weeding or planting has taken place. The delightful tiny Swee Waxbills with their bright red rumps move about the lawns in small flocks.
During summer, snakes, especially the large-eyed Boomslang (Tree Snake), which, true to its name, spends most of its time in the trees, creates great anxiety and excitement among the breeding birds in the Garden. Many eggs and baby birds become food for these common reptiles. The noisy alarm calls of the Cape Bulbul, the Cape Robin-Chat and various other birds alert the curious visitor, who may then see one of these snakes. The alarm calls may also signal the presence of raptors such as the Black-shouldered Kite or the African Goshawk being mobbed by a number of the smaller birds. Also during summer several species of Swallow and Martin soar overhead. It is the best time for birding in the Garden, as a number of migrants such as the Paradise Flycatcher and the Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler may be seen, but a visit at any time of year is sure to delight even the most casual twitcher.
In summer the Dragonflies and Damselflies add colour and movement above the serene surfaces of the water bodies. So far a total of 11 Dragonfly and Damselfly species have been identified in the Garden and, with additional study, more are sure to be found. (See list below)
DRAGONFLY AND DAMSELFLY LIST FOR HAROLD PORTER NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN
(* = endemic to South Africa) Dragonflies Long Skimmer – Anax tristis Julia Skimmer – Orthretrum julia capicola * Little Scarlet – Crocothemis sanguinolenta Orange Emperor – Anax speratus Stream Hawker – Aeshna subpupillata * Damselflies Cape Sprite – Pseudagrion furcigerum Common Bluetail – Ischnura senegalensis Conspicuous Malachite – Chlorolestes conspicuous * Rock Malachite – Ecchlorolestes peringueyi * Sooty Threadtail – Elattoneura frennulata * White Malachite – Chlorolestes umbratus *
