Cormorants

A couple of cormorants sunning themselves on the rocks at Sardinia Bay

Teenage gannet

Alien bird? No, its got nothing to do with the lights that have apparently been spotted around town lately. Its a teenage Gannet on rehabilitation at the South African Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre (SAMREC) in Cape Recife.

Oysters catchers on a rock

The sign on the rocks at the Knysna Heads says "No Diving", "No Swimming" and "No something else I couldn't make out", so the only ones making use of the rock are the Black Oyster Catchers who would just walk along and pull oysters off the rocks. No diving or swimming necessary.

No Entry

This Fiscal Shrike was sitting on the No Entry sign in the Addo Elephant National Park. It was as if he was guarding it and saying, "Don't you dare pass me!"

Knysna Loerie

I photographed this juvenile Knysna Loerie (Tauraco corythaix) at Birds of Eden outside Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route. The difference between the juveniles and adult birds is that the adults have white tips along the top of their crests and more white below the eyes. The loeries blend in very well in their forest environment using … Continue reading Knysna Loerie →

African Penguins

One of the main reasons SAMREC was established is the close proximity to the African Penguin breeding colony on St Croix Island. The African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus), formerly known as the Jackass Penguin due to the fact that they bray like a donkey, is found on the south-western coast of Africa living in colonies on 24 … Continue reading African Penguins →

Greater Flamingo

This Greater Flamingo was standing sleeping on one leg in the middle of the pathway at Birds of Eden. He wasn't bothered at all when I squeezed past him and sat down on the path to get a couple of close up shots.

Perched on a rock

One of the many marine bird species we find in Port Elizabeth is the kelp gull. This one parked himself on a rock at low tide next to Hobie Beach and kept a watchful eye on me as I slowly sneaked around him to get the sun behind me.

Birds of Eden revisited

Birds of Eden just outside Plettenberg Bay is one of the most awesome attractions on the Garden Route. I used to visit it quite often when I was a tourist guide and recently had an opportunity to pop in there with a couple of friends. This is the second visit to Birds of Eden that … Continue reading Birds of Eden revisited →

Burchell’s Coucal

When we first moved into our house seven years ago I was very glad to hear the Burchell's Coucals (known in Afrikaans as Vlei Loeries) - (Centropus burchellii) in the mornings. The have a very fast and distinctive doo-doo-doo-doo-doo call which I love. But although I often hear the birds in the mornings, I rarely … Continue reading Burchell’s Coucal →