In Touch with Nature – Cape Buffalo or ‘Black Death’
Posted: July 22, 2026 Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 40 Comments
I’m kicking off today’s post with my poem called Cape Buffalo or ‘Black Death’. This poem features in Story Chat Digest Where Stories Meet: An Anthology of Short Stories & Poems (Story Chat Series Book 3) compiled and edited by Marsha Ingrao. You can purchase this book from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Chat-Digest-Where-Stories-ebook/dp/B0GRKS8QDD/
Cape Buffalo or ‘Black Death’
Don’t be fooled by my mild expression
or mislead by my delightfully curious look
Know I’ve never been domesticated
due to my unpredictable temperament
I’m not a wild yak or wild water buffalo
my attitude is cantankerous and bad
nicknamed ‘Black Death’ or ‘Widow Maker’
I am dangerous and extremely aggressive
fiercely protective of my young and herd
I will charge you with surprising speed
my ferocity will horrify you. Respect me!
Weighting up to 2,000 pounds
my massive frame is supported by
sturdy and muscular legs. Boy, can I move!
I’ll charge you at 56 kilometers per hour
My horns, a hard shield called a ‘boss’
cover my entire head. I use them for defence
against my natural predators including lions,
African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles
You are nothing – you have no teeth and no fur
I will use my horns to toss you with intention
your fall to the ground knocking the air from your lungs
effectively disabling you. Then, I will gore you
while trampling you with focused determination
If you hunt me, don’t miss.
Don’t leave me wounded.
I will deliberately and consciously
hunt you down. Lying in wait for your return
I am a dangerous adversary, and I will kill you.
My painting of a Cape buffalo inspired the above poem. I wasn’t entirely happy with the yes so I repainted them and this is the updated photograph.
Interesting facts about Cape Buffalo
Calf-feeding hack – mother buffaloes have a unique adaption that allows their young to suckle from between their hind legs. This allows the calf to feed while its mother and the rest of the herd are on the move.
Watch my YouTube video to see a Cape buffalo calf feeding from between its mother’s hind legs.
Helmet of bone – Male and female Cape buffalo have horns but older bulls develop a fused, hardened shield across their foreheads known as a “boss”. This helmet acts as a crash helmet during intense territorial fights between the males.
Watch my YouTube video to see a set of magnificent Cape buffalo horns:
The “Dagga Boys” – older male buffalo leave the main breeding herd to live alone or in small bachelor groups called dagga boys. Dagha is the Zulu and Xhosa word for mud. Older male bulls are well known for their fondness for wallowing in mud to protect themselves from the sun and biting insects.
Unmatched defense – Cape buffalo are very protective of their herds and have been known to actively mob and chase off lions to rescue injured calves or herd-mates. They were nicknamed ‘black death’ by big game hunters in Africa due to their aggressive and highly unpredictable natures when threatened or wounded. Cape buffalo have killed more hunters in African than almost any other large animal. Unlike other animals that run away when injured, wounded buffalo are known to circle back and hide in the thick, tall grass. When the hunter tracks the buffalo into the bush, it ambushes him.
I was especially pleased with the following two photographs of a male Cape buffalo taken in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The buffalo was very close to the vehicle and the winter sun was shining on his horns and coat.
About Robbie Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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In Touch with Nature – Tailor Ants, Fire Ants, and Army Ants
Posted: June 24, 2026 Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #armyants, #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, #tailorants, In Touch With Nature, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 78 CommentsBlogging friend, Barbara Harris Leonhard and editor of MasticadoresUSA, recently published a few of my micro poems that focused on tailor ants.
This is the first poem of three:
angry ants
fiercely protect nest
painful bite
You can read the other two poems here: https://masticadoresusa.wordpress.com/2026/06/08/a-trio-of-haiku-by-robbie-cheadle/
Several of the comments referred to fire ants that are found in the USA and, while tailor ants also inflict a nasty bite and are aggressive, they are not the same creatures. I decided to write this post and set out the differences between tailor ants and fire ants.
I’ve always been interested in army ants so I decided to include them in this post as well.
Primary differences between tailor ants, fire ants, and army ants
Nesting habits
Tailor ants live in trees. They ‘tailor’ or weave living leaves together to create nests. Worker ants form long chains to pull the leaf edges together while others carry ant larvae in their jaws and use the silk the grubs secret as a natural ‘glue’ to bind the leaves together.
Fire ants build nests that appear as irregular mounds of loose soil or flat patches ranging from flat piles to domes up to 45 cm high. The nests have no obvious entry or exit holes. Ants emerge from underground foragers or swarm out of the sides when disturbed. Fire ants nests are usually found in warm, open, and sunny areas such as lawns, garden beds, near water sources, and on newly disturbed ground.
Army ants do not construct permanent nests out of soil, wood, or leaves. Instead, they assemble temporary, living nests called bivouacs. Bivouacs are const-shaped structures that house the queen and larvae and are built from the living bodies of the worker ants by interlocking their legs and mandibles. Bivouacs have internal chambers and tunnels to control temperature and humidity. As army ants colonies are constantly on the move, a new bivouac is assembled nearly every night. The colony stays in a fixed location for several weeks while the queen is laying eggs and the larvae are developing.
Foraging and hunting
Tailor ants are aggressive and defend their canopy territories by biting and spraying formic acid. Tailor ants are omnivores and hunt and eat a wide variety of crop-destroying insects and other small arthropods. They ‘farm’ sap-sucking insects like scale buys and mealybugs, protecting them from predators in exchange for their sweet, carbohydrate-rich liquid excretions. Tailor ants also consume floral and extrafloral nectar, fruit juices and plant wound secretions.
Fire ants are highly aggressive, opportunistic omnivores that hunt and scavenge using complex underground tunnel networks that extend up to 10 metres from the central mound. Individual scouts explore the surface and when a large prey is found, the scout lays a chemical pheromone trail as it returns to the nest. The pheromone acts as a biochemical alarm and recruitment trigger. The resting ants (about two thirds of the nest) awaken and follow the trail forming a dense trail of thousands of ants that overwhelm and subdue the prey. Fire ants consume live and dead insects as well as immobile, sick, or helpless animals including baby birds and reptiles. Like tailor ants, fire ants ‘farm’ sap-sucking insects like aphids to harvest their sugar-rich secretions. Fire ants also collect and eat seeds.
Army ants are ground-dwelling, mass-raiding predators. During their massive daily foraging raids, the colony can overwhelm hundreds of thousands of prey to feed their queen and growing larvae. Army ants eat insects and arachnids including spiders, scorpions, crickets, beetles, caterpillars and termites. Army ants also raid the nests of other ant species and consume their eggs, larvae and pupae. Sometimes, army ants will overwhelm slow-moving or trapped smaller animals such as baby birds, lizards, and frogs. Army ants use their powerful, scissor-like jaws to slice their prey into transportable fragments which they carry back to their bivouacs.
Physical traits and defense
Tailor ants workers are uniformly sized and have excellent eyesight for navigating tree branches. The aggressively defend their canopy with painful bites combined with spraying formic acid directly into the wound.
Fire ants workers range in size from 2 mm to 6 mm. If a fire ants mound is disturbed or vibrated, workers immediately rush out and release alarm pheromones into the air to alert the entire colony to defend the nest. Fire ants immediately swarm vertical surfaces and will rapidly climb up legs, tools or structures in vast numbers. Fire ants sting in a highly synchronized, two-stage maneuver whereby the ant latches onto skin or clothing using its strong mandibles. The ant then tucks its abdomen under its body and inserts its stinger, injecting a toxic venom called solenopsin. The ant pivots its head in a circular pattern repeatedly stinging the victim multiple times from a single anchored bite site.
Many species of army ants are completely blind and they rely heavily on complex pheromone trails. The have highly developed mandibles for tearing prey apart. There is an extreme size difference between the workers and the much larger, scissor-jawed soldier ants used for defense.
The gallery below features my photographs of tailor ants taken at Cape Vidal in Kwa-Zulu Natal in January this year.
This is my YouTube video fo angry tailor ants. They shake when they are disturbed.
About Robbie Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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In Touch with Nature – The Animal Performance (Cabaret)
Posted: May 27, 2026 Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Leopards, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read 80 CommentsThis month’s In Touch With Nature post is a little different. It is a re-write of Willkommen to Cabaret and is also an entry into Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge 2026. To this end, some of the photographs set out below are from Dan’s challenge. I’ve attributed those photographs in the picture captions.
You can join in Dan’s challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/
The song incorporates a few phrases in Afrikaans and Zulu. The order in these instances, is Afrikaans, Zulu and then English.
Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub!
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
Oppasser, Umlondolozi wezilwane, animal carer
Bly om jou te sien, ngijabule ukukubona, happy to see you
Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay
***
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance
***
Dames en here, manene namanenekazi, ladies and gentlemen
Goeie aand, sawubona, good evening
Voel jy goed? uzwa kahle? do you feel good?
I’m sure you’re excited
Ek is jou gasheer, mina ngingowakho, I am your host
Just saying
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance
***
Leave your preconceptions outside
You’re in for the time of your life
Everything is interesting here
Here nature is at its best
The animals are beautiful
Even the predators are beautiful
You see? I told you the predators were beautiful
***
And now presenting the Performing Herbivores
Speedy (Speedy’s name is due to her speed coming down a tree)
Paws (Paws is always ready to shake you by the hand. He’s such a friendly tree squirrel)
Shadow! (Shadow likes to hide behind trees
It makes her really difficult to spot in the bush)
Patches! (Patches is a young male tsessebe.
One of the fastest antelope in Africa, he can run at speeds up to 90 km/h)
Alice! (Alice is the most beautiful girl in the show
She has the longest eye lashes you’ve ever seen
She’s great to look at but she isn’t much of a conversationalist)
And Jemimah! (Jemimah is the baby of the show. She is very shy and doesn’t like being photographed.
She runs away and I only get her backside
It’s a pity as she’s really such an adorable little thing)
***
Speedy, Paws, Shadow, Patches, Alice and Jemimah
Each and every one important to the eco system. You don’t believe me? Hmmm?
Well don’t take my word for it. Do your own research!
***
Outside its autumn and the trees are decked in auburn finery
The veld is a rich orange interspersed with yellow
Inside its lovely too. We are showing off some amazing creatures
Today you are gaining more appreciation
***
Just saying
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance
***
We are here to educate you!
And now presenting the Performing Carnivores!
Here they are!
Koning, Mufasa, and Leo
They are a trio
Male pride
Koning or King is the dominant male of the pride
He is the alpha male
Biff (Don’t be fooled by his innocent look!
Biff is the most efficient killer in the Bush with a 90% kill rate)
Peter (Peter is extremely dangerous with bone crushing jaws
His bite force exceeds 1,000 PSI
And, finally, the toast of the Bush, Esmerelda the Cheetah
Fastest animal in the world!
Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
That’s Koning
Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
Oppasser, Umlondolozi wezilwane, animal carer
Hello Animal Carer!
It’s a great pleasure to see you here
Enchanted Madame
Happy to see …
You!
Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay!
We say
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
Oppasser, Umlondolozi wezilwane, animal carer
Bly om jou te sien, ngijabule ukukubona, happy to see you
Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay!
We say
Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome
Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance
***
Thank you!
Koning, Mufasa, Leo, Biff, Peter, Speedy, Paws,
Shadow, Patches, Alice and Jemimah, Esmerelda, and Me!
Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub!
If you would like to watch the original song from the movie featuring Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli.
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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In Touch with Nature – The magnificent male leopard
Posted: April 22, 2026 Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Leopards, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read 47 CommentsCharacteristics of male leopards
Leopards are powerful big cats and are closely related to lions, tigers, and jaguars.
The easiest way to tell the difference between a male and a female leopard is its size. Adult males typically weigh between sixty and seventy-five kilograms and are significantly larger and broader than females.
Male leopards establish large territories covering between thirty and one hundred kilometres and have a distinctive dewlap (loose skin under the neck). The heads of male leopards are broader and larger than the heads of females. The footprints of the males are also typically larger with a more rounded outer edge to the rear pad.
Males are solitary, coming together with females for only six or seven days to mate. The territory of a single males may overlap with those of several females.
Young male leopards leave their mothers to become independent at around eighteen to twenty four months of age. Males stay with their mothers longer than females in order to fully master hunting and territorial skills before leaving to live on their own. Male leopards become dominant at between four to six years of age and usually have to fight other males for control of territory.
In South Africa, leopards generally inhabit the same areas as lions and hyenas and compete with them for food.
Male leopards live for between ten and fifteen years, provided they survive their early, vulnerable years.
Slide the bar below to see the male (first picture) and the female (second picture) leopards.
Gallery
The gallery below sets out some of the photographs I took of a male leopard.
Picture captions: The pictures in the gallery above are of a female leopard. Her kill had fallen from the tree and she was picking at the remains. She then went up the tree and was resting on a branch and cleaning herself just like a house cat. The last picture is a dead baby zebra in a tree. It was dragged up there by a leopard which then left it to go and get a drink of water. It was a very tiny zebra so a little sad but leopards have to eat.
Into the Light: Leopard – artwork
Picture caption: Into the Light: Leopard in watercolours. An original artwork by Robbie Cheadle.
Exotic Pets (Double Ennead)
The poem below is extracted from my book ‘Lion Scream‘.
Bought as exotic pets
We are rescue cubs
Our owner didn’t know we could never be tamed
Our play is boisterous
We chew everything
***
Just over three months old
We have all our spots
And our denim-blue eyes have turned bright yellow
Play fighting each other
Teaches hunting skills
***
Everything is brand new
Exciting to us
A spider in its web, an experience
For our sister, who snaps,
And tries to eat it
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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In Touch with Nature – Leopards
Posted: March 25, 2026 Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Leopards, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read 78 CommentsIntroduction and fun facts
Leopards are my husband’s favourite animal. They are very difficult to see in the wild because they are nocturnal, they are rare, and they are solitary. The best game reserve in South Africa to see leopards is Sabi Sands and this is where we went for our wedding anniversary last year to finally get good sightings of leopards.
We were at the reserve for 48 hours and went on 4 game drives during that time. We had two wonderful sightings of leopards. The first was of a mother and her juvenile youngster. The second was of the father.
Here are a few initial facts about leopards:
- Most leopards are light coloured and have dark spots called rosettes on their fur. There are also black leopards which also have spots, but the spots are hard to see against their dark fur. Black leopards are called melanistic leopards;
- Leopards are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, Northeast Africa, Central Asia, India, and China;
- Unlike lions, leopards are extremely solitary animals and they mark their territory with scratches, urine, and feces to warn other leopards to stay away;
- The only time you’ll see two adult leopards together in a single territory is if they are a male and female looking to mate;
- Leopards can achieve a running speed to nearly 60 kilometers per hour and can leap up to 6 meters forward;
- Leopards make a wide variety of sounds from coughing to growling. Leopards also purr when they are happy;
- Leopards carry their prey into trees to eat. Leopards eat a wide variety of animals from monkeys to rodents to birds to antelopes. Leopards also eat cheetah cubs;
- Leopards have very long tails to help them balance when climbing, running or changing direction;
- Leopards have specially adapted retinas that enable them to hunt in the pitch black of the jungle; and
- The English name ‘leopard’ emans ‘spotted lion’ in Latin.
Gallery and You tube videos
The gallery below sets out some of the photographs I took of a female leopard.
Picture captions: The pictures in the gallery above are of a female leopard. Her kill had fallen from the tree and she was picking at the remains. She then went up the tree and was resting on a branch and cleaning herself just like a house cat. The last picture is a dead baby zebra in a tree. It was dragged up there by a leopard which then left it to go and get a drink of water. It was a very tiny zebra so a little sad but leopards have to eat.
This is my You tube video of the leopard nibbling on its kill:
This is my You tube video of the female leopard grooming herself in the tree:
Leopard in a Tree – artwork
Picture caption: Leopard in a Tree – original charcoal artwork by Robbie Cheadle.
The Watcher (freestyle)
Dear Ranger
I am sorry
I didn’t oblige you
And make an appearance
For your paying guests.
You can’t blame me
For being wary
Of people.
After all
The guest farm
Right next door
Allows canned hunting
By wealthy tourists.
The lions are bred
And raised by hand
In captivity
Then,
Their caregivers
Release them
Into a caged enclosure
To be hunted down
As trophies.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Leopards are not spared
This barbaric treatment
Although fewer of us
Are murdered this way
Our dead heads removed
To grace the walls
Mouths gaping open
In a humiliated grimace
Called a fierce pose
By the false hunters.
Run off our traditional land
By grasping humans
Who have the right
To life and liberty,
Freedom from slavery
And torture,
Freedom of opinion
And expression,
The right to work
And to education.
What about me?
Here in the reserve
I’m relatively safe
Provided I don’t follow
My natural instincts
To travel and
Stay within the fences
Built by you
I know you’re a good one
But frankly,
It still grates me.
Then you bring
Truckloads of visitors
Who chatter
Point
And gawk
While rattling chip packets
And taking photographs.
SNAP! RATTLE! SNAP!
Nothing is sacrosanct,
You invade
Every part
Of my life
… Eating
… Sleeping
… Mating
My babies
Fodder
For prattling spectators
Hooing and cooing
Making fools of themselves.
And so, I hide
Deep within
The long grass
Or up high
In a tree,
Dreaming away
The long, quiet days.
Sometimes
I shake a whisker
Or twitch an ear
Sending the viewers
Into a frenzy
Hopefully anticipating
A leopard sighting
I lie
And grin
Thinking
And now
Who’s watching
Who?
From
The Leopard in the tree
The artwork and poem above are extracted from my poetry collection, Square Peg in a Round Hole available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Square-Peg-Round-Hole-Creativity-ebook/dp/B0CW1H3SQV
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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In Touch With Nature – Common Buzzard
Posted: February 24, 2026 Filed under: Animals, Bird Watching, Birds, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: African Wildlife, Animals, Common Buzzard, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Robbie Cheadle, Writing to be Read 54 CommentsNothing common about this buzzard
What a thrill to see you perched atop a tree
scanning the area; you have exceptional vision
head rotating, your eyes pass lightly over me
irrelevant in the context of your meal decision
I watch you staring at the mound filled earth
seeking signs of movement, either mouse or mole
your wings gracefully spreading once prey is found
the effort rewarded; of rodents there is no dearth
their silhouettes outlined as they emerge from a hole
in stealthy pursuit you soar gracefully to the ground
seizing your unsuspecting prey with grasping talons
tearing it apart with your sharp, hooked beak
one creature must die in order for another to live
one of nature’s most effective mammal assassins
your quarry succumbs without so much as a squeak
you, the victorious combatant, your prey unresistive
***
Tourist bird, I enjoy your annual visits to these shores
in migrating flocks of up to twenty of your comrades
gliding effortlessly over large expanses without pause
with a predetermined flightpath, you aren’t nomads
though your arrival may be met with strong resistance
from smaller birds who view you as a potential threat
mobbing you repeatedly until you relent and fly away
not much of a welcome after covering such distance
your feathery bulk the cause of much upset
an illusion to disguise how little you really weigh
a monogamous creature, you usually mate for life
your partner smaller, and suited to hunting prey
while for three weeks your chicks you brood
working as a team, you experience little strife
knowing he’ll deliver small morsels without delay
until they fledge and you join the search for food
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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Birdwatching: My Best Bird Photos
Posted: February 16, 2026 Filed under: Bird Watching, Birds, Nature, Photography, Wildlife | Tags: Birds, Birdwatching, Kaye Lynne Booth, Nature Photography, Writing to be Read 5 Comments
For many years I have been a birdwatcher, mostly due to the fact that there are so many different kinds of beautiful and fascinating birds that visit my yard and make the surrounding forest their home. But one thing about my flighty little friends is that many are skittish and don’t willingly do photo ops. But, every once in a while, the perfect opportunity arises and I get a really good picture. The rest of the time, the photos I get may be barely passable, if at all.
The good ones, like the one above of a red-tailed hawk, each have a story behind them, or at least the birds featured in them do. The story behind the photo above is a sad one. The only reason I was able to get close enough to get that photo was that the hawk had run into some power lines and electrocuted itself, disabling it from taking flight. I took several photos while waiting for the rescue workers from a local bird sanctuary to arrive. Unfortunately, they were unable to save him. He was a beautiful and majestic bird.
The young flicker in the photo below was another rescue that I made one spring day. The baby bird somehow ended up in my water garden pool, which is only has a small amount of water in the winter. In the photo, you can see its wet feathers, which were preventing him from flying back out, so it huddles by the drainpipe, cold, wet and afraid. I donned a pair of gloves and removed him gently, setting him on the ground to dry.
Not all my photo opportunities result from rescues and not all result in good photos. Flickers are in the woodpecker/sap sucker family of birds. Other birds in that family visit my mountain home, such as the downy woodpeckers, shown in the photos below. These guys just stop by from time to time for a bite to eat from my suet cakes. The one on my trellis must have been during mating season as he was flying from spot to spot on the trellis making strange clicking sounds to attract a mate.
Then we have my resident ravens, who are very camera shy, but I manage to snap one every once in a while. The ravens are characters. They fly by and yell at you, “Caw! Caw!” and I’m just crazy enough to caw back at them. They watch the activity around my yard, often fly by real low to tease the dog, and steal things that you leave lying about, especially if it is shiny. One watches from the trees when I walk the dog, and wait until we are right below, then screams out a caw and flies away, thinking it a pretty good joke he played.
They are social birds. They frequently gather in large groups in neighboring horse fields, sometimes with their crow cousins, and jump up and down, cawing and acting silly. I call these little bird parties Raven Raves. Ravens mate for life, and at first, I had four resident birds, but a neighbor kid shot one down with a bb gun one summer. Those ravens flew madly, cawing and cawing for days afterward. They were in mourning. 😦
Most of the photos I get of the ravens are in flight, and they appear as small specks of black against a sky of blue and white. They don’t sit still often when they know you are watching. But I did get one nice photo of a pair perched in my tree, and a carefully placed game camera near my feeders caught a single raven swooping in to steal a bite.
Another bird rarely caught on camera except in flight are turkey vultures. As carrion eaters, turkey vultures have gotten kind of a bad rep. Their role in nature isn’t pretty, and neither are they, with their bald red heads, which actually serves a purpose of cleanliness for the birds. Just think how bad they would be if their bloody meals stuck to the feathers on their heads. They are commonly seen riding the wind currents on blustery days. I am not a fan of wind, but they truly enjoy the weather that makes me want to stay inside.
Other resident avians include juncos, chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays, which are her year round, and robins make their appearance each spring. Visiting birds include evening grossbeaks, colorful western tanagers, rock doves, and western bluebirds.
The blue jays are the neighborhood bullies. They fly in in flocks and take over the trees, chasing the littler birds such as juncos and chickadees away while they devour all the food I put out. They are a noisy bunch. That’s for sure.
The chickadees are what I call my little forest bandits, with their little black masks around their eyes. They are bold little birds, as the picture of the chickadee on the deck shows. That little guy was about an inch away from my foot. I have had them land on my hand and one summer, I sat and read in a sombrero with birdseed in the brim and the chickadees came and landed on the hat. They are real characters, and the inspiration for my children’s book, Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home.
Nuthatches are my little acrobats, able to go down the tree trunk headfirst or even navigate branches completely upside down. Their black and white coloring reminds me of formal dinnerware. They are so cute. They are the inspiration for the character Nicholas Nuthatch in the above-mentioned book.
Juncos are mostly winter birds, although I see one or two occasionally in the summer. In the winter they flock in, feeding mostly on the ground rather than hitting the feeders in the trees, although they certainly are able.
I feel like I have raised several generations of robins. I watch the babies grow up each spring, then I see them return and have their own brood the following spring. I know because I get to know their markings.
But my favorite seasonal residents are the hummingbirds that stop by on their tract up from South America. These tiny birds are really amazing when you think about the massive distances they travel. I have two different kinds of hummingbirds that visit my mountain home. First arrivals in the spring are the rufus hummingbirds. Then, mid-summer we see the Allen’s come in, which are louder and more aggressive than the rufus, and the skies around my home become an ariel warzone as the Allen’s guard all the feeders. Apparently, they don’t like to share, but their arial antics never cease to amaze me. And of course, they are the inspiration for my children’s book, Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend.
Hummingbirds mate twice a year, so I get to welcome in two sets of new generation youngsters, and twice a year I get to enjoy their amazing courting dance as the males dive and swoop in their arial courting dance. They build their nests of grass and bark, and they are very well camouflaged. In fact, even with hummingbirds by the dozens every year, I’ve only once been able to spot a nest.
One fall we had a really early snow which caught us all by surprise, including the hummingbirds, which were huddled on snow cover branches, stuck and unable to fly in the storm. I placed a feeder under my porch so they could get to nourishment in a sheltered area and boy was it a big hit, as you can see in the video below.
Then there are the birds which just drop by occasionally to say hi and partake in the seed and suet cuisine at my bird sanctuary. Frequent visitors include Rock Doves, Bluebirds (which are much smaller than Blue Jays), Western Tanagers, and Sparrows.
Although they do not appear in my yard, the waterfowl in the area is pretty amazing, too. Below, are photos from my many trips to nearby Lake DeWeese, Canon City’s Centennial Park, or Salida’s Sand Lake.
I also see wild turkeys in the area, and they have wondered onto my property on occasion. They travel in flocks and roost in the treetops.
That’s what I have to share for this month. Are any of you at there birdwatchers? Tell me about the birds in your area.
Until next time…
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
_______________________________
This post is sponsored by the My Backyard Friends Kid’s Book Series and WordCrafter Press.
The My Backyard Friends kid’s book series is inspired by the birds and animals that visit the author Kaye Lynne Booth’s mountain home. Beautiful illustrations by children’s author, poet, and illustrator, Robbie Cheadle, bring the unique voices of the animal characters to life.
Get Your Copy Now.
Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-HeatherHummingbird
Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans (Ages 3-5): https://books2read.com/MBF-TimothyTurtle
Charlie Chickadee Gets a New Home (Ages 6-8): https://books2read.com/MBF-CharlieChickadee
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In Touch With Nature – Marbled Reed Frog
Posted: January 28, 2026 Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, Nature, South Africa, Wildlife 55 Comments
This frog is important!
Tiny little creatures
only 2.5 to 3.5 centimetres long
but so very pretty
their skins marbled
in gorgeous patterns
of green, brown, and white
that change as day
shifts into dark night
slender, with large eyes
on either side of its head
females are bigger than males
but males have a yellow throat patch
used for vocalisation
to advertise their presence
and reproductive readiness
the distinctive evening call
of the marble reed frog
signals approaching rainfall
and seasonal change
they are sensitive
to environmental change
so declines in their numbers
indicate deteriorating habitat conditions
they are also important
in controlling insect population
especially the annoying mosquito
These frogs must be protected
from habitat encroachment
and the global chytrid fungus
a pathogen affecting amphibian populations
This frog is important!
The gallery below shows three different marbled reed frogs we saw in the Isimangaliso Wetlands during our January 2026 trip to St Lucia, South Africa.
You see these frogs in unusual places:
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
___________________________________________
Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
__________________________________________
This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
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In Touch With Nature – 12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa
Posted: December 24, 2025 Filed under: Holidays, In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Nature Photography, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 50 CommentsI am ending my “In Touch With Nature” year with a Southern Africanised version of 12 Days of Christmas.
12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa
On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
A leopard in a great tree
On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eleven buffalos drinking
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Twelve guinea fowl running
Eleven buffalos drinking
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
Happy Holidays!
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In Touch With Nature – Wildebeeste, the Clown of the Veld
Posted: November 26, 2025 Filed under: Africa, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #poetry, #RobbieCheadle, #Wildebeest, #wildlife, Nature, South Africa, Wildlife 47 CommentsLast month I wrote about warthogs, one of the Ugly Five animals of Southern Africa. This month I have written about another Ugly Five animal, the wildebeest. I have written a poem using the format and rhyming scheme of another very famous poem. Can you guess which poem it is?
Wildebeest, Clown of the Veld
In the game park we’d just arrived, after a long and difficult drive
Despite being fatigued, my eyes were quick and eager to see
The animals I love, anything and everything from lion to dove
I happened to see a mom and calf, running along wild and free
“Look,” I cried, “a baby wildebeest, running along wild and free”
The calf sighting filled me with glee
***
It was early summer, and the temperatures couldn’t be hotter
When we had this chance encounter with the “clown of the veld”
Also known as gnu, these ones were black not East African blue
Such a funny looking creature, not sophisticated and svelte
Even its erratic and playful behaviour was far from svelte
The joker of the veld
***
A joy to watch, they looked like they’d had a go at the scotch
As the vehicle approached, they pranced, leaping up and down
Kicking their heels into the air, an entertaining dancing pair
Running in circles for no reason, the world was their playground
Suddenly stopping, looking back, over their world and playground
Amusing and fun veld clowns
***
Wildebeest, the name, means wild beast, although on grass they feast
Unlike their blue Eastern relatives, black wildebeest don’t migrate
They have a long, horse-like tail, and the darker ones are always male
These creatures must drink water daily or they’ll quickly dehydrate
As a result you’ll find them near waterways so they don’t dehydrate
During droughts, death their fate
***
Driving further down the road, several more gnu became exposed
Many more adults and calves grazing with zebra in a mixed herd
My camera was quickly snapping, so fast my pictures overlapping
On their backs and heavy forequarters feasted the ox-pecker bird
Wildebeest have a symbiotic relationship with the ox-pecker bird
Although this pairing looks absurd
***
Often a gnu’s life depends, on hanging around with its zebra friends
This relationship heightens their awareness of any potential carnivores
In the bush the cats must also eat, the only escape being quick and fleet
This is the way of life in the wild and animals comply with the bush laws
One creature must die to give another life in terms of the bush laws
Part of experiencing the great outdoors
You can see my Youtube videos of wildebeest here:
About Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.
Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).
Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.
Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.
Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5
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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil
