Early Morning Thieves - 14 Feb

On Valentine's day, the third day of the 2008 crush on Klein Constantia, the early morning harvesters came upon a harvest of another nature. This pair of resident African Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus Vocifer) were caught raiding some of Lowell’s precious trout in the dam on Klein Constantia. Fortunately Lowell is as happy to share the trout with them as he is when making our visiting European business associates catch and ‘braai’ their own fish. This typical South African ‘al fresco’ lunch is then enjoyed with some of the most magnificent views on the Peninsula.

Unusual Young Visitor - 8 Feb

This beautiful juvenile African Goshawk (Acipiter Tachiro) flew into Klein Constantia’s Back Cellar where the ladies were busy wax sealing bottles of Vin de Constance. It could have been due to unpractised hunting or being hunted himself. Too scared to take the dive out of the cellar again because of all the human movement below, he took refuge in the rafters. Fearing that he might be locked into the cellar, anxious staff called the Fitzpatrick Institute at UCT and Ann Koeslag, who regularly does Black Sparrowhawk research on the farm. Dr Andrew Jenkins and Ann responded immediately and the two of them arrived tools in hand to launch a rescue attempt (according to staff!, to the rescuers everyday stuff).

In no time at all the beauty was rescued, enticed down from the rafters by some doves in a double cage. The two knights in shining armour had the young Goshawk ringed, weighed, sexed and released in two ticks and went back to earning their daily bread, the turtle doves chortling happily and young Mr Goshawk continuing his daily search for food.