The year started off with a bang, and a puff of smoke! 

For the second time since the 210th anniversary of the Battle of Blaauwberg 1806, in collaboration with the local staff of the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve and with the kind permission and hospitality of the owners of Blaauwberg Farm, the Friends hosted a commemorative event on Saturday, 6th January 2018 at the Blaauwberg Farm.

Read more about it under Special Events.

Pssst..

This beautiful specimen was seen during a recent Archaeology Survey being done in the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve.  Nobody was prepared to put their pinkie next to it for size reference!

Spotted Harlequin Snake

On 16 Dec 2017, the FoBCA held its year-end function at Eerste Steen Resort, where Friends gathered to enjoy having their olfactory senses stimulated by the aromas from the braais wafting on the "gentle" Southeaster breeze. 

The occasion was marked by the launching of the newly published 2nd edition of the Coastal Walk Flower Guide.  This guide is for the novice to easily identify flora according to its colour on the Coastal Dune Trail in the Blaauwberg Nature Reserve (the 4.5km loop trail that starts opposite Eerste Steen Resort - map inside cover) and can be used on many other walking routes that have Cape Flats Dune Strandveld vegetation along the West Coast.  It contains beautifully clear colour photographs of approximately half the species recorded on the Dune Trail itself.  Here and there throughout the guide are little extra fun facts and at the back is a Quick Guide to the flowering months of each species. 

Get your copy for R100 each at Eerste Steen Resort, as well as at Starke Ayres, West Coast Village, Sunningdale.

With thanks to The Environmental Liaison Committee: Blaauwberg Development Area; CREW volunteers Kay Loubser, Petra Broddle and Jan Wicht; birdesign: Karen Venter, www.birdesign.co.za.

Since December, some Eland were released in the Reserve, and to everyone’s surprise, the one Eland cow was found to be pregnant.  The Reserve was blessed with the newcomer a few weeks ago. Keeping very close to mother all the time. 

For more information contact Jacques Küyler, Biodiversity Area Co-ordinator: Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, T + 27 21 444 0454.

These harmless giants are often negatively portrayed.

They are called baboon spiders due to their hairy appearance and the black scopulae pads on its "feet" resembling the pads on baboon feet.  They are not dangerous to man although they can inflict a painful bite.  South African species are terrestrial occurring in underground burrows or scrapes under rocks. The scrape is lined with thick silk, which is attached to the rock and keeps out troublesome insects such as ants.