Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Winners 1 - 10 plus a few photos which received commendations... to the lovely sounds of Freshlyground!
With special thanks to Freshlyground for making available their music... it's such a lovely accompaniment to these beautiful birding images!
1st place winner - a Black-shouldered Kite by Brigina Barnard,
2nd place Gerrit Bastiaanse - The Catch - Caspian Tern,
3rd place Pied Kingfisher, All in a Days Work by Johan Mocke,
4th place Hennie Cilliers - Flavour of the Day - Malachite Kingfisher,
5th place Peter Hochfelden - White-fronted Bee-eater, Tuli Block, Botswana - Lucky 13,
6th place Mark Wiseman - Immature Black-breasted Snake Eagle - I am off, thank you for waiting,
7th place John Maarschalk - Here’s looking at you…!!! - Guineafowl,
8th place Richard Masson Displaying Weaver - Cape Weaver,
joint 8th place Per Holmen - Feed Me - Malachite Kingfishers,
9th place John Finch - Martial Eagle,
joint 9th place Awie Badenhorst - Southern double-collared sunbird,
10th place Michael McSweeney - Lunch - Little Egret with Catch
JUDGES 2011 Stanford Birding Photographic Competition
Philippa Elaine Castle and
Basie Van Zyl
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Winners 2011 Stanford Birding Photographic Competition (philippacastle.birds@blogger.com)
Google Docs makes it easy to create, store and share online documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
South Africa Portfolio Travel Blog | Thank you
Shortly information about the upcoming Stanford Stretton's Bird Fair 2011 will appear on this travel blog.
Philippa
Monday, August 22, 2011
Prizes for Stanford Birding Photographic Competition 2011
Marine Dynamics, a diving operation specialising in encounters with the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), is based in the fishing village of Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa. Six nautical miles away is Dyer Island, possibly the best place in the world to engage the Great White shark value R2700
Meet the mighty marine mammals...
http://www.dyer-island-cruises.co.za
Anyone who has had the joy of meeting a mighty whale face to face will tell you just how magical it is. Huge, gentle, mysterious, curious. Can you imagine a giant friend, like none other? As captivated by you as you are by him. A whale longer and wider than the boat in which you sit. value R1800
5 course dinner for two at "Red Indigo" Grootbos Forest Lodge!
A Rosie Breuer Book specialises in Nature books for children in 2 or more languages and other attractive books.
by Village Life, an imprint of Icon Communiations cc.
2 nights in Febuary 2012
Haus Giotto
Africa Birds and Birding
Win a tour with Hermanus Adventures for a
group of 4 kids on a tree top slide tour!! Value = +- R1700
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Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
STANFORD STRETTONS BIRDFAIR PROGRAMME 30th September – 2nd October 2011
STANFORD STRETTONS BIRDFAIR PROGRAMME
30th September – 2nd October 2011
12h00: Talk on Etosha, the Erongo Mountains and the Shoebill by Mike Graham
14h00: Presentation by Kate Robinson of the ADU at UCT on Waders, Nature’s International Globe Trotters, Monitoring Across the Hemispheres
12h00: Talk on “Fascinating Weaver Nests” by Dr Dieter Oschadleus of the Animal Demography Unit followed by an outing to view weaver colonies in Stanford
15h300: Talk by Zintja Wallar
17h300: Free Stretton’s Gin tasting and photographic competitions prize-giving at the Stanford Galleries Art Cafe
18h00-20h00: Bumper Stanford Farmers’ Market on Market Square
09h00: Hand puppet show for children at the Stanford Community Centre – free
09h00: Talk by Peter Chadwick – subject to be confirmed
11h00: “Eagle Encounters” live display of raptors at the Stanford Community Centre - free
14h00: Talk to be confirmed
15h30: Talk to be confirmed
10h00: Talk to be confirmed
11h30: Walk and gourmet picnic at Mosaic Farm’s Spookhuis (for pricing and bookings contact info@mosaicfarm.net)
Times of individual talks and outings are subject to change
BOOKINGS
All talks, which are free, will take place in the Stanford Hotel Conference Centre, 18 Queen Victoria Street, (028 341 0900)
Stanfordinfo is coordinating a variety of activities (including Eagle Encounters) during the weekend for children.
Birding boat trips daily 30th September – 2nd October at 07h00, 12h30 and 16h30 (+- 2 hours) @ R80 per person on the Klein River Departure from King St jetty and may be booked at Stanfordinfo www.stanfordinfo.co.za
All bookings to be made through Stanfordinfo during office hours
TEL: 028 341 0340
Email: ask@stanfordinfo.co.za
For further information contact Royd Frith
(roydf@mweb.co.za or 083 676 2282)
or Stanfordinfo during office hours
TEL: 028 341 0340
Email: ask@stanfordinfo.co.za
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Table Mountain Wizard by Rosemarie Breuer
A children's book and first bird book in one: Zettelwitz - Table Mountain Wizardby Rosemarie Breuer, in German and English
with 77 Illustrations by the author and 57 bird illustrations by Jill Adams
To order your own copy, for only R180, send an email to info@stanfordbirding.co.za
It's really great. The theme is original, the story exciting and the whole work can be appreciated on many different levels (a characteristic of great literature!)
Sinclair Wynchank
A new unique, imaginative and educational children's book. It has been written with a play on words, and provides a page for every letter of the alphabet.
Geraldine Mitton
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Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Runner-up Prize Winners Stanford Birding Photographic Competition 2010
Lesser double-collared Sunbird by Don MacIver


Dawn and it's freezing by Mike Graham
Flamingoes in Flight by Anna Tomlinson
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Winners Stanford Birding Photographic Competition 2010
2nd Prize Winner ~ Seagull Diving by Piet Smith
3rd Prize Winner ~ Fish with no chips by Mike Graham
Youth Category 1st Prize Winner ~ Green Pigeons by Francois du Plessis
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Stanford Birding Photographic Competiton 2010
Banners by Bruce & pONY eXPRESS sirstanford@gmail.com
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Stanford Birding Photographic Competition. former birding entries with Sylvia Schulman
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Friday, September 10, 2010
Prizes Stanford Birding Photographic Competition 2010

Is a full-size binocular in a smaller package. With 8X magnification, large 42mm objective lenses for superior light gathering and a fiber reinforced polycarbonate body with nitrogen-filled waterproof (JIS Class 6) construction, these are the smaller binoculars are perfect to use in tough weather and lighting conditions.
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Marine Dynamics, a diving operation specialising in encounters with the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), is based in the fishing village of Gansbaai, Western Cape, South Africa. Six nautical miles away is Dyer Island, possibly the best place in the world to engage the Great White shark
value R2700
Meet the mighty marine mammals...
Anyone who has had the joy of meeting a mighty whale face to face will tell you just how magical it is. Huge, gentle, mysterious, curious. Can you imagine a giant friend, like none other? As captivated by you as you are by him. A whale longer and wider than the boat in which you sit.
value R1800

Runner Up Prize, Adult Category
This voucher entitles you
to enjoy a 5-course Dinner
for 2 at “Red Indigo” at
Grootbos Forest Lodge!

Dinner for two at Joe's Restaurant & Bar
Runner Up Prize Quad Biking for 2 at Sir Robert Stanford Estate
Runner Up Prize Breakfast for two at Madrés Country Kitchen
Runner Up Prize 2 Full Colour copies of Annalize Mouton's "Portrait of a Village" first published in 2009 by Village Life, an imprint of Icon Communiations cc.
Runner Up Prize 1 Year Subscription to Stanford River Talk
Runner Up Prize 1 Year Subscription to Africa Birds & Birding
Recognition on http://www.stanfordbirding.co.za/ and affiliated marketing, where applicable.
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Sunday, September 5, 2010
International Vulture Awareness Day
End Date/Time: Saturday, September 04, 2010 3:30 PM
Recurring Event: One time event
Importance: Normal Priority
Description: Please Join the EWT, BirdLife South Africa and VULPRO Rehabilitation Centre for a Family Fun Day to celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day.
Bring your friends, family and picnic baskets and join us for a day of talks and and activities in relation to vulture conservation, pony rides, jumping castles and other fun activities for the whole family. Click here to see our programme.
Cost: R30 per vehicle
Address: Plot 121
Rietfontein
Boekenhoutkloof Road which becomes Kenneth Road
For more information please contact Tanya on 011 496 1102 or email tanyaf@ewt.org.za
Friday, August 27, 2010
Calling all bird photographers...
SELECT THE CATEGORY WHICH SUITS YOU BEST
•Professional Photographer
•Amateur Photographer
•Youth Photographer (U18)
SUPPLY THESE DETAILS
•Caption:
•Name of Bird:
•Location Photograph taken:
•Photographer Name:
•Photograher Email Address:
•Photographer Home Town:
•Attendance Friday, 1st October function: Yes / No
In order to receive the prizes, entrants are requested to preferably be present themselves (or send a representative) at the function on Friday, 1st October 17h00: Free gin tasting and photographic competitions prize-giving. Should this not be a viable option, please mention this clearly.
info@stanfordbirding.co.za
View terms & conditions at http://www.stanfordbirding.co.za/photo.html
Friday, August 20, 2010
Check out Albino calf highlight aboard Whale Whisperer | Whalewatchsa
I want you to take a look at: Albino calf highlight aboard Whale Whisperer | Whalewatchsa
There are pictures now of the African Jackass Penguin too... :-)
Monday, August 16, 2010
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Angel Lighthouse
Angel Lighthouse from Philippa Castle on Vimeo.
"Angel", lyrics and vocals by Johannes Basson.
I danced for Stanford Birding and for Stanford 150th anniversary celebrations... You may have missed it!
As a former Southern African Tour Guide of quite a number of years and manager of a guestfarm in Stanford... I am in a position to assist you with accommodation in the greater Overberg Area. This is the I.B.A. Important Birding Area...
So, wherever you want to stay and whatever you want to do, I can and will be of assistance to you. My fee is entirely negotiable, depends on your requirements and may, in fact, be free... i.e. paid by the establishment and activity operator... you may want to go shark-cage diving, or whale viewing by boat... take a trip on the African Queen or simply have a picnic at Klein River Cheese Factory.
Let me be your personal guide, I will make your stay in the Overberg and South Africa memorable beyond words... Email info@stanfordbirding.co.za or call 082 943 4327
Friday, August 13, 2010
STANFORD STRETTON’S BIRD FAIR 2010 1-3 OCTOBER
The tradition of the Stanford Bird Fair continues due to the generous sponsorship that makes this event possible. Edward Snell & Co are sponsoring all birding activities under the banner of their Strettons London Dry Gin brand.

BirdLife Walkerbay, assisted by Stanfordinfo, are hosting the event this year. We are putting together a fair that, apart from birds, will cover a variety of activities attracting a cross-section of people, young and old, to Stanford for what will prove to be a memorable weekend.
We are once again lucky to have access to an impressive array of birding experts who will be delivering talks, leading guided field outings and hopefully will be identifying local birding hotspots in the Overberg for those who wish to do their own thing. We are optimistic that these activities will allow our guests to acquaint themselves with the elusive Rock Jumper, the highly-endangered Bank Cormorant and a variety of other birds endemic to the Overberg. In addition, there will be talks on Overberg amphibians and bats as well as an outing to spot the Blue Crane. In addition, the organisers will pay special attention to arranging activities for non-birders and children. These will include items such as talks on Overberg amphibians, as well as South African bats, the ever-popular Eagle Encounters (raptors in flight), snakes and a variety of films. There will be continual birding river trips for the duration of the weekend as well as a mini-pelagic boat trip from Kleinbaai. Keep an eye on the program for up to date details of all events and outings.
The Stanford Birding Photographic Competition is becoming an ever popular part of the Stanford Bird Fair and this year we are pleased to inform you the 2010 STANFORD BIRDING Photographic Competition has begun!
The 2010 STANFORD BIRDING Photographic Competition is now open for submissions! Last year, the winner of the competition was Basie van Zyl with his Little Egret Feeding.

He won a Flight of the Giants with African Wings, to photograph both whales and birds!
So, you may be pondering why enter this competition - well you have the opportunity to bathe in much admiration and fame…
Basie made the front page of the Hermanus Times, but what else?
Prizes of course... all of which are certainly worth aiming for! What are the prizes you may well ask?

Pentax Binoculars from Foto First to the value of R2 800
Just remember entries must reach the moderators before 24 September 2010. Only e-mailed submissions will be accepted. The address is info@stanfordbirding.co.za. May the best photos win!
The judging of the popular photographic competition will be followed by a Strettons Gin tasting at the Stanford Evening Market.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
BIRDFAIR PROGRAMME
1st – 3rd October 2010
Times of individual talks and outings are subject to change
Friday, 1st October 07h30 Mini-pelagic boat trip on Apex Predator from Gansbaai
(3 hours – booking essential; price to be confirmed
07h30 Half-day self-guided field tours to identified birding hotspots in the Overberg
09h30 Overberg Amphibians talk by Naas Terblanche
11h30 Talk on Weaver Nest Building by Dieter Oschadleus of the ADU / Percy Fitzpatrick Institute
14h00 Presentation by Dave de Beer on the production of his
unique birding guide DVD
15h30 Talk by Sally Hofmeyr on Conservation Impacts of Environmental Change on Large Populations of Threatened Large Terrestrial Bird Species in Southern Africa
17h00 Free gin tasting and photographic competitions prize-giving
18h00-20h00 Bumper Stanford Farmers’ Market
Saturday, 2nd October 07h30 Half-day guided field trip by Dave de Beer on birds that may
be encountered in the Overstrand area. We are hoping to identify over 90 species on this trip. (Limited to 20 people, booking essential, price to be confirmed).
07h30 Guided walk around Grootbos Reserve with Brummer Olivier
11h00 Eagle Encounters
14h00 “Moving in on the Bats” by Sam Hockey
15h30 Phil Hockey presentation - “Life’s a Beach – the changing world of the African Black Oyster Catcher”
19h00 Stanford Festival “Barn Dance” at Weltevreden Farm (to be confirmed)
Sunday, 3rd October 08h00 Self-guided trip to Platbos Indigenous Forest
10h00 Guided Stanford Wandelpad bird walk ?
12h30 Gourmet picnic at Mosaic Farm’s Spookhuis (for pricing and bookings contact info@mosaicfarm.net)
Birding boat trips on the Klein River are available throughout the weekend and may be booked at Stanfordinfo along with any other activities that require booking.
Stanfordinfo is coordinating a variety of activities (including Eagle Encounters) during the weekend for children.
For further information contact Royd Frith (roydf@mweb.co.za or 083 676 2282) or Steph (ask@stanfordinfo.co.za or 028 341 0340)
Friday, July 23, 2010
STANFORD BIRDING PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION 2010
It is important that I ensure all entrants are aware that bird photos submitted for the competition are subject to the following rules, terms and conditions:
Email all entries to info@stanfordbirding.co.za
SELECT THE CATEGORY WHICH SUITS YOU BEST
•Professional Photographer
•Amateur Photographer
•Youth Photographer (U18)
SUPPLY THESE DETAILS
•Caption:
•Name of Bird:
•Location Photograph taken:
•Photographer Name:
•Photograher Email Address:
•Photographer Home Town:
•Attendance Friday, 1st October function: Yes / No
In order to receive the prizes, entrants are requested to preferably be present themselves (or send a representative) at the function on Friday, 1st October 17h00: Free gin tasting and photographic competitions prize-giving. Should this not be a viable option, please mention this clearly.
Email all entries to info@stanfordbirding.co.za
Legal Condition
By entering the competition the entrant explicitly agrees to waive any claims against Stanford Birding Photographic Competition, its associates, principals, and media, for any liability for any injuries, damages, loss, claim, action or demand of any kind whatsoever arising from or in connection with Stanford Birding Photographic Competition.
If for any reason Stanford Birding Photographic Competition is not capable of completing the competition, including as a result of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other cause beyond the control of Stanford Birding Photographic Competition that corrupts or affects administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of Stanford Birding Photographic Competition, the organisers reserve the right at their sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend Stanford Birding Photographic Competition.
General Rules
The competition is open to all photographers except employees and/or judges (including immediate family of the above) of the Stanford Birding Photographic Competition. All images must be original and be made by the entrant on photographic emulsion or a digital camera. By virtue of entering an image the entrant certifies the work as his or her own.
Individual photographs must include images taken in the 24 months prior to the start of the competition on 1 June 2010. Images may be entered in either colour or black and white.
Your entry into this competition constitutes your agreement to allow your photographs to be published (as a selected semi-finalist, finalist or final award winner) in any medium (print, digital or exhibitions, of whatever kind) owned by Stanford Birding Photographic Competition, its sponsors and media partners.
Entrants retain ownership of their images and all other rights to future use of these. Royalties will be paid for any commercial use of images.
Judging Process
Qualified local judges are appointed by Stanford Birding Photographic Competition to judge entries. Photographs will be uploaded onto Google to receive votes. This may or may not have a bearing on the final judging.
Unsuccessful entrants will not receive email notification.
Digital Manipulation
The Stanford Birding Photographic Competition does not allow any digitally manipulated images. In order to eliminate any confusion in this regard, photographic enhancements that are permitted include:
•minor cleaning up
•dust removal/spotting
•levels and curves adjustments
•colour, saturation and contrast enhancements (do not over-saturate images)
•dodging and burning
•enhancements employed while taking the image
•cropping (be mindful of the effect on file sizes)
•sharpening (use sparingly)
All winners may be required to provide proof of authenticity, either via submission of the original RAW files or, in instances where the RAW file is not available, further evidence will be required to substantiate authenticity.
Decisions by the organisers in this regard are final and by entering the competition the photographer implicitly accepts all rulings of Stanford Birding Photographic Competition.
Labeling
Clearly label your photograph with the name of the bird/s and the photographer.
Digital Submission Guidelines
Whether the original source of the image is colour or black and white negative film, slide film or a digital camera, only digital images in JPEG file format are accepted.
Note that:
•Images are to be resized to 1 400 pixels in the longest dimension
•No borders are to be added to images submitted
•Images to be saved as highest possible quality JPEG
Email all entries to info@stanfordbirding.co.za
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
FW: request from Dr Masuru Emoto re living creatures in Gulf of Mexico
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.851 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3018 - Release Date: 07/20/10 20:36:00
Philippa Castle
FIJN BUSH TELEGRAPH
Email ads@stanfordlocals.co.za
Website www.fbtelegraph.blogspot.com
Tel 082 943 4327
P Consider the environment - do you really need to print this email?
From: Melissa Krige [mailto:platbos@orcawireless.co.za]
Sent: 19 July 2010 08:20 PM
To: 'Shona'; 'Andree Bonthuys'; 'Maaike Heger'; 'Karlijn Heger'; 'Karl Geggus'; 'Leli'; 'Graham Saayman'; 'Nicole Rossouw'; 'Nicola Jenkin'; 'Dawn Myburgh'; 'hendrik,Jomien Rabie'; 'Sandra Slabbert'; 'Gabbi Cook'; 'Niël Jonker'; 'Gillian Eyre'; 'Philippa Castle'; 'Vanessa Nixon'; 'Lesley Morgan'; 'Merle Levin'; 'Shanti Mather'
Subject: request from Dr Masuru Emoto re living creatures in Gulf of Mexico
Dr. Emoto has proved the power of prayer in all his research on water. Let us help in the healing of the Gulf of Mexico due to contamination by the oil, by using the prayer below.
Please spread the word!
Dr. Masaru Emoto, whom many of you may remember as the scientist from Japan who has done all the research and publications about the characteristics of water and how the molecular structure of water can be influenced positively through loving thought/prayer, has asked that this information be passed on. Among other things, his research reveals that water physically responds to emotions.
Right now, most of us have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while certainly we are justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms, if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray according to the prayer that Dr Emoto, himself, has proposed.
"I send the energy of love and gratitude to the water and all the living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings.
To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, coral, algae, and all living creatures . . . I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you. "
We are passing this request to people who we believe might be willing to participate in this prayer, to set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming that we can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico.
We are not powerless. We are powerful. Our united energy, speaking this prayer daily...multiple times daily....can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening.
We don't have to know how......we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any power active in the Universe today.
Please join us in repeating this healing prayer of Dr. Emoto's.
And feel free to copy and paste this to send it around the planet.
Let's take charge, and do our own clean up!
And so it is! Please pass it on.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Melissa Krige
PO Box 1438
Gansbaai
7220
Cell: 082 4110448
info@platbos.co.za
www.platbos.co.za
Friday, July 2, 2010
Advertise on Stanford Birding

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