African Penguin, Betty's Bay

Back in 2009 we visited Boulders Beach to take a look at the African penguin colony - this time it was the turn of the only other mainland nest site, Stony Point.

Needless to say the penguins have much appeal, and the varying states of moult provide much "oohs" and "aahs" from birder and non birder alike.

Check out how much fatter the youngsters are compared to the adults!

Keeping feet cool in the rock pool!

Piles of moulted downy feathers...

Security was tight with this Rock Hyrax on guard at the ticket office!

Birding at the site was good - bank, crowned, cape and white-breasted cormorant, grey heron, hartlaub's gull, cape gannet, swift tern, speckled mousebird, cape wagtail and black oystercatcher were all noted.

Table Mountain

Neddicky

Lizard Sp. (Southern Rock Agama?)

Red-winged Starling

Rock Hyrax

Orange-breasted Sunbird

The 30th December saw us hike up part of Table Mountain, walking from the lower cable car station via Platteklip Gorge. It was a great walk and provided some lovely views of Cape Town - some pictures will no doubt follow at some point.

From a birding perspective it was moderately successful, with neddicky and rock kestrel noted near the lower cable car station, familiar chat, african black swift, cape robin-chat, cape siskin and orange breasted sunbird nearing the table top.

On the top of the mountain, three plus white-necked raven patrolled, with red-winged starling, speckled (rock) pigeon and african black swift were abundant. A couple of orange breasted sunbird provided photograph opportunities, but the weather soon turned as thick cloud shrouded the mountain, dropping the temperature too. I failed to locate any cape grassbird - an annoying dip for the holiday as none were seen at the Cape of Good Hope either.

There were plenty of odd coloured lizard "species" - can anyone id the one in the photograph?, and rock hyrax were also present, no doubt enjoying scraps from the upper cable car station cafe.

We took the easy option for our descent, travelling in the comfort of the cable car.