Here is my contribution go this week’s Fun Photo Challenge from Cee
Free and Easy Lifestyle – Fishing on the lake at Sani Valley Lodge
Magpie Geese swimming free and easy – Australia 2014
Free and Easy Fun on the Rocks – Cape Agulhas 2010
Free and Easy on the beach – Struisbaai 2010
Free and Easy Toasted Marshmallows – Struisbaai 2010
Taking to the sky – fee and easy – Greater Flamingos – False Bay Ecology Park
Free and Easy in the Sea – Fish Hoek Beach – 2006
I am submitting a few photographs for Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge. This week’s subject is Winter and/or Water. I’ve chosen water and the place where these are taken is called False Bay Ecology Park where there is a wagon wheel of settling ponds that attract water birds. These were taken on a sunny winter’s day in 2011.
Yellow-billed ducks making a splash
In calmer waters with a red-billed teal
A Little Grebe (Dabchick) in reflective mood
Aren’t I a handsome fellow – said the Purple Swamphen (Gallinule)
Although I arrange the outings programme for The Cape Bird Club, living in Struisbaai prevents me from attending most of them. Circumstances brought me to Cape Town for a few days which became extended for another week so I was delighted to be able to attend February’s weekday outing led by my friend, Heather.
How lovely that the sun was shining and the wind not blowing too strongly. We had a group of about 12 – four in each car.
A Perfect Day for Birding
False Bay Ecology Park consists of a number of ponds which boast a variety of birdlife and at this time of the year it is good for waders. These birds are difficult to identify specially when they’re far away and there is no telescope available. However, our leader was amazing and with lots of discussion with other good birders and referring to the field guide we managed to agree on what they were. We were delighted to find greenshank, curlew, ruff, little stint, three banded plover and Kitlitz plover. Here are two of them.
Common Greenshank behind, Ruff in front.
These little stints were taken by me on another occasion
Swallows are often found near water, as are brown throated martins. We found Barn Swallows and Martins but the white-throated and striped swallows were conspicuous by their absence.
Barn Swallows
Every pond was great to see and we spent three happy hours exploring and admiring the birdlife. We got a list of 57 species and hereunder are photos of just a few.
Moorhen
Black-winged Stilt
The African Jacana shouldn’t be here but he hasn’t read the field guide.
Shelducks are infrequent visitors to FBEP – Heather’s way of remembering which one is the female? The female wears white face powder.
The graceful pelican
A zitting cisticola
FBEP is famous for its greater flamingos (in front) so but today some Lesser Flamingos (behind) joined them
Lesser flamingos have maroon bills with a black tip – juveniles have a dark bill with black tip
A flamboyance of Lesser Flamingos
Spur-winged Geese
Black-shouldered Kite
This Kittlitz Plover tried to attract us away from its chick.
The chick sat dead still and was beautifully camouflaged – we had a peep then left them in peace.
One can also find bokkies in the park – this is a grysbok
It was great meeting new people and catching up with members I know. We all had a jolly good time.
Our leader on the left
I’ve missed my Happy Place not having had a visit there for months so Early and I took a drive there on Thursday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day but there was a bit of a South Easterly wind blowing.
As we expected the flamingos were out if full force, scattered across the first two pans.
It’s the best place to find Greater Flamingos
Most of them were in deeper water upending like ducks.
A flamingo impersonating a dabbling duck
There were a few fraternising with geese and ducks on the shore
Of course the Red-knobbed coots were everywhere
One of the many black-winged stilts wading in the shallows
The one at the back is a juvenile
Cape Teal gathered in large numbers
quack quack quack with a feather on his back
Not always seen so commonly is the White-faced duck
Pelican Island
A Flotilla of Pellies
Gliding gracefully across the pond
A real poser is the black-headed heron
The light on the glossy ibises didn’t make photographing them easy!
The highlight of the day was an African Snipe but he the reeds were either in front of his face or he turned his back to us – these were the best I could get!
First he looked one way
And then the other
I think this is my best side?
We know a place where nine times out of ten we find the spotted eagle-owls. Today we found mother, father and the baby who is quite big now. Photography was not good.
The best I could get of the youngster – look carefully and you will see mom in the shade behind him.
Among many others we also had good sightings of purple swamphen, grey and purple heron but they didn’t pose for long enough.
So with a contented feeling we made our way home but I’m sure it won’t be the last visit we make to False Bay Ecology Park while we are here for the holidays.
Back to the question of “What do you do all day now that you’re retired?” I could answer that fairly easily in the past few weeks as I have been busy tying up things to do with Bird Club, the Caravan and the house. Earl is hyperactive and makes sure he has one project or another on the go and so doing things together has taken a bit of a back seat for now. He did comment that I was spending too much time reading and indulging in other useless occupations so I said “I could get some relief work at one of the schools.” which sent him into a panic and shut him up completely. While I was teaching he was doing all the shopping and cooking but I have reclaimed those duties and even bring him cups of tea and snacks while he industriously labours on the boat he has been commissioned to fit out. Once this is done there is no knowing what he will take on next. I am of course most grateful to him for taking on these jobs as it does add to the ‘not so full anymore’ coffers! And I am a lady used to her little luxuries.
On Thursday we were both up bright and early – Earl to go fishing and I to join a midweek bird club outing! The venue was one of my favourite spots – The False Bay Ecology Park – which Earl and I often visit on our own- but to go with other like-minded friends and an expert guide makes it extra special.
Dave, our leader explained the importance of this birding area
The False Bay Ecology Park’s man-made wetland system is amongst one of the top five bird watching areas in Southern Africa. It is an IBA (Important Birding Area) because of the number of species that it attracts. Many birds from across the seas use it as a stop off spot or destination as they traverse the world’s migratory flight paths. One hundred and sixty eight species of bird have been recorded in the park. Seventy-six of these are freshwater wetland species. Eighteen are are coastal species that visit the area to roost or breed.
Checking out one of the ponds with binoculars
The stilt is a common resident.
We delighted to find a grey-headed gull among the usual Hartlaub’s gulls
There were many swift terns fraternising with the gulls too
In the shallow waters we found a wood sandpiper
And there were plenty of stints in the water and in the air
The barn swallows visit us every year
It is truly a beautiful spot right here on our doorstep
For us here in the Deep South, it is an adventure just to go ‘over the mountain’ for any kind of excursion or outing. Visiting the V&A Waterfront is as good as going to a foreign city. And heading to the theatre in the very cosmopolitan Camps Bay is just as much fun. On Thursday night we went to Theatre on the Bay with Heather and Peter and were wonderfully entertained by Pieter-Dirk Uys. He has been presenting satire since the sixties and is still as amazing as ever. This show was called ‘An Audience with Pieter-Dirk Eish’ On the stage were rows of numbered boxes – reminiscent of the old Pick a Box radio show of the sixties – Various members of the audience were invited to pick a number and then Pieter Dirk dressed up in the contents and did one of his famous characters. My personal favourite is Nowell Fine – a Kugel from Constantia one of the first he ever created. She is older now but still has Dora her maid who has her own car in which she takes the grandchildren out for dinner. No more cooking for her! We were in fits of laughter watching Uys take on one persona after another and perform them perfectly! If you live here in Cape Town I highly recommend you attend the show.
So nothing too adventurous happened this week. We ended it with a lovely family steak braai and we shall see what next week brings!
Grandpa doing what he does best
I thought that once school began and the house was empty of guests, the daughter back at work and the teens at school I would miss my old routine and go rushing back to help as a ‘room parent’ or classroom assistant. But – no – that hasn’t happened! I am afraid it has been the last thought in my head! I am not bored and I don’t know where the time goes! My colleagues I miss, and I do think of those little lambs I once taught but they have all moved on and so must I!
The thing is that life happens. Now there is time to enjoy it and cruise through the day at a leisurely pace. All my adult life I have had no trouble waking up at the rudest of hours. But now 7 o’clock seems terribly early! The only dutiful thing that I do is make my grandson’s lunch. So that gets me up briefly and then I get back into bed, check my emails/Facebook while my perfect husband makes breakfast. Life couldn’t be better!
This week has flown. On Sunday last week we dropped in at False Bay Ecology Park to see how the feathered friends were doing – this is alway a pleasure.
Yellow-billed ducks
Spotted Eagle Own – he moved his spot!
Every pond was full of flamingos
False Bay in the Background
Even the hadeda is beautiful in the sunlight
More flamingos fraternising with Cape Shovellers and Cape Teal
In my last post I related the drama of organising finance for our vehicle. That all went through finally on Wednesday! We now have the caravan safely in our driveway but the Land Rover will only be ready on Tuesday.
The Imagine Comfort Van in towing mode
We have had so much fun shopping for accessories and now have a kettle that goes on the gas burner, petrol and diesel jerry cans, gas bottles, batteries and various electrical attachments, a blow-up mattress for when we take the kids with us and various other odds and ends. I won’t bore you with the details! But how amazing it has been to be able to shop at a whim and not have to wait for the weekend! Sometimes breakfast or lunch out is included!
Having late nights is not such an issue anymore either. I had a bird club committee meeting that went on forever on Monday night, book club on Tuesday night and went to a friend’s birthday celebration on Thursday night – without a worry in the world about coping the next day at school! My bird club colleagues seemed somewhat surprised when I told them that I would not be living in Cape Town anymore. I had told them this but they thought I’d come home at least once a month. No so I’m afraid. I will continue with my three portfolios but I won’t be at committee meetings, chaps! I reluctantly resigned from Book Club too – but they kindly invited me to come as a guest when I was in town! Yes – life is changing in a big way!
My friend Priscilla and her twin sister Hilary had their birthday celebration at Cape Point Vineyards on Thursday evening. What an idyllic place! We sat out on the lawns looking over the valley and The Atlantic Ocean and ate food we got from their weekly food market and watched the sun setting gloriously into the sea.
The Greek Stall Menu from which Heather and I chose our meal.
Priscilla in the foreground
The guests – It’s not Priscilla at the back but her twin!
Like a flaming ball
People watching the sunset from the deck over the dam
Such a beautiful setting
On Friday Earl had a fishing charter and spent a beautiful day at sea. He came home with some Hottentot which we served deep fried to our guests that evening. My friend, Niru from Durban , was also visiting her parents to celebrate her 40th birthday and they popped in to see me on their way to a sushi dinner.
Niru and Me
Earl cooking before the Load Shedding
A headlamp helps when the lights go out
Our guests enjoying their fried Hottentot
Josh dishing dessert
On Saturday night the Cape Boat and Ski-boat club had their annual prizegiving. Earl mentors the youth at this club and we were so proud to see them getting prizes. He also participates himself and skippers his boat in competitions although he is not as active as in the past.
Appropriate table decor
Third in the Club Championships
Best Skipper
And those are the highlights of our week! We will continue to get the caravan organised with everything it needs next week and we are in the processing of planning a big trip in March! Watch this space!
I thought I was an early riser but my crazy Kokstad daughter in spite of being on holiday is still keeping rural hours! We were greeted with excellent coffee in bed this morning and a cheery, “It’s a beautiful day, how about a walk on the beach!” The rest of the household politely declined so Earl, Allan, Lauren and I set off on our own.
Simon opted to stay home and build his alien Lego. Shan said she’d help.
It was Spring High Tide and Fish Hoek beach was full of seaweed. We opted to do Jaeger’s Walk instead. By the time we got there it was beginning to recede but we still had to dodge a splashing wave or two.
The train trundling by
The Subway became a swimming pool!
View toward Skellies.
Skeleton Pool, commonly known as Skellies to the locals is a natural pool in the rocks where I spent many hours as a child. The rock formation gives it its name.
It looks a bit like a dinosaur!
A closer view in the early morning light.
This reminded me of the days my dad and uncles used to fish off these same rocks
The end of the catwalk
Don’t they look happy!
The highlight of the morning – spotting an African Black Oyster-catcher
It looks like fun – but what about the sharks???
View toward the beach from Skellies
The train again – It’s fun to do a scenic ride from Muizenberg to Simonstown in it.
After our walk Allan treated us to breakfast. We wanted to go to a quiet coffee shop but we could only find the Spur open. However, it has a great beach view and the special was only R25 – that’s about $2,00 Aussie Cousins! Two eggs, two pieces of bacon, grilled tomato, toast and chips (French Fries)!
Back home the kids were up and dressed and Simon had completed his Space Lego!
Well done Simon, You did it!
Earl and I then decided that it would be nice to go to False Bay Ecology Park. The boys opted to stay behind and swim in the pool and Lolz took Shannon with her to visit Duncan at Cape Point.
It was very windy and some species we normally see were conspicuous by their absence. However, every pond was full of those that hadn’t gone on holiday.
Flamingos were very active and on every pond
Taking off on a watery runway
And away we go
I think we’ll try it the duck way
Some preferred a calmer location in the company of gulls
A pelican socialising with flamingoes
Black-winged stilt
Female Bishops
After a pleasant couple of hours we returned to the gang I guess like almost everyone else on Boxing Day; we had leftovers for lunch!
Later in the afternoon Lolz had a date with some friends at Cape Point Vineyards so we joined her there for a drink and some chill time. Even though it is right on our doorstep we’d never been before. What an stunning place! There was a food market where you could buy whatever you wanted to eat and take it to tables or your picnic blanket and just enjoy. There were lots of people but it was not unpleasantly busy because of all the space.
Stunning view toward Noordhoek beach
Lisa chilling
Earl wondering if there might be fish in the dam
A wonderful way to spend the early evening.
We just had a snack and a drink and then went home to feed the kids!
Temperatures have been hovering between 8 and 16 here in chilly Cape Town this week. Today though we had sunshine and it was a tad warmer. Earl had a fishing date with a friend and after doing a number of chores in town I really felt the need to get my teenage grandsons out of the house and into Nature.
Isn’t it amazing that you can go to the same place many times but each time it’s different. The light was good for photography and I gave Jay (16) my ex-camera, a Canon Powershot SX30IS and Josh and I used my Powershot SX50HS.
Black-winged stilt by Jay
Purple Swamphen by Jay
Flamingos
Flamingos
Black-headed Heron with an snack by Jay
Black-head heron – Jay
Egyptian Goose – Josh
Egyptian Geese
Hadeda Ibis – Josh
Cape Teal
Cape Teal
Little Grebe
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Jay
Josh in front
We always look out for the Spotted Eagle-owls in their usual spot and today Jay and Josh found them easily. They were in the open, woke up and stared at us, preened a bit and then went back to sleep. We managed to get a few reasonable photographs.
Sleepy Head
Ho Hum
What are you looking at
Wink Wink
The African Fish Eagle is occasionally seen at The False Bay Ecology Park and today we were lucky enough to catch sight of two. I alerted the boys to one was flying ahead of the car when they yelled – Gran – look – there’s one next to us with prey! It was not easy to focus the camera but I got a very poor shot of it with a mongoose in its talons! It scattered the birds on the mudflats including a number of Spur-winged geese then settled on a mound some distance away.
Poor Mongoose
Fish Eagle
Fish Eagle – Jay
He flew off over the next pond, settled in a tree and then flew off again. We went in hot pursuit of a better photograph.
The Boys hoping to spot the Fish Eagle
Finally it was time to leave. Last shot of a male Cape Shoveller.
The boys agreed the excursion had been most worthwhile!
One of my favourite spots to visit in Cape Town is the False Bay Ecology Park. I have been there twice in the past seven days and have included photos from both visits in this blog.
This afternoon Earl and I were accompanied by two friends, Cheryl and Dot. The latter is a beginner and after we’d met up with some others girls at our monthly breakfast club, she asked if I would take her bird watching. Cheryl was also able to come along so I persuaded Hubby to drive us, picked them up at Cheryl’s home and we headed to our favourite spot.
The weather at this time year is chilly but also changeable so we were not too sure what we might see. Last Sunday there was very little but today was more productive although it was cold and windy.
Ever present are the beautiful Greater Flamingos
The pelicans were chilling on a distant bank.
My favourite ducks – they’re so photogenic
Cape shovellers taking to the water – all male except the one with the brown eye
A patient black-headed heron in the water
and out
A pretty little Black-winged Stilt
A Little Egret skulking in the reeds
A small flotilla of Little Grebe (Dabchicks)
Here is a picture from last Sunday’s visit – a malachite kingfisher
An active, tiny bird – finally settled for a reasonable shot
A silly moorhen impersonating a songbird!
An African Pipit looking handsome
The purple swamphen (gallinule) is common at FBEP but tends to be elusive in the reeds. I am usually lucky and almost every time I visit I see at least one. Dot was very keen to get to see this lovely bird and I promised her we would. She missed the first one which was a bit far off and then decided to disappear before we could focus her attention to it. The second one was also hiding but Earl moved the car and we all got an excellent view of him showing off his very long and wide spread toes.
First glimpse of the colourful bird
Climbing up the reeds
Higher – Look at those toes!
Because of the very windy conditions many species of bird were congregated on Pond P2 which was slightly more sheltered. There were hundreds of yellow-billed duck, Cape shovellers, sacred ibis, stilts, avocets, Egytian Geese and Spur-winged geese amongst others.
Spur-winged goose with Sacred Ibis
While we were watching the frantic activity of the birds Dot called our attention to a small bird of prey flying at great speed and scattering a flock of common starling. It was a flash of rufous dashing just above the reeds – too fast for us to track. But then we saw it perched in a tree. Waving reeds make it difficult to focus unless you have a really fancy camera so Earl’s resulting pics were not particularly clear. Here is the best one from a bad bunch of a rufous-chested sparrowhawk.
An uncommon sighting at the best of times and the first time we’ve seen one here. A wonderful way to end our visit!
With schools having an extra break due to all the Public Holidays Earl and I were able take a midweek visit to one of Cape Town’s best kept secrets – now politely named False Bay Ecology Park. The 34 settling ponds cover 306ha and attract myriads of water birds, the flamingoes being the main drawcard. On Wednesday they were on almost every pond.
Flamingoes and gulls
A disturbance set them to flight
Adult and Immature Flamingo feeding
False Bay alongside Baden Powell Road in the background
There are a number of duck species here too. The yellow-billed duck is my favourite. They are so photogenic.
Yellow billed ducks with Egyptian Goose
Yellow-billed duck swimming
Cape Teal in reflective mood
Glorious Day for a Swim
Red-billed Teal
Female Cape Shoveller
Spur-winged Goose
We were pleased to see quite a few Little Egrets about too.
Little Egret Fishing
The Cattle Egrets are common everywhere and even when not in breeding plumage they are rather beautiful.
Non-breeding Cattle Egret
The Purple Swamphen is a magnificent bird with its iridescent colours of purple, blue and green. They obviously like the sunshine and we saw quite a few of them on Wednesday.
Peeping out to say hello
Those long widely spaced toes help when walking on reeds
Aren’t I gorgeous
Sometimes swimming is required.
Common Moorhen taking a swim too
A selection of birds – Sacred Ibis, Kelp Gulls, Blacksmith Lapwings and Black Oystercatchers
We had never seen malachite kingfishers here before so it was a thrill to get one this day. We watched it fish but didn’t manage to get very good photographs – this is the best of a bad bunch.
Malachite Kingfisher
We spent three wonderful hours in this bird paradise and didn’t see another car. What a great afternoon!
Having spent the day indulging in urban activities yesterday, I had to catch up on some school preparation this morning. However, who can work when the south easter has dropped and the sun is shining brightly. Unable to resist the call, I grabbed the only other human left at home and kicking and screaming forced him to go birding with me! He was supposed to have gone to a braai with his mom and brother but somewhere along the way managed to get himself left in front of the computer. Grandpa was fishing so he just had to do!
Every Cape Tonian and his brother were out enjoying the sunshine so we fought the traffic through Kalk Bay and Muizenberg and found ourselves at False Bay Ecology Park just after 3:00 p.m. We were warned at the gate that on such a sunny day the Cape Cobras were about so please to be careful!
It was a picture perfect day. Greater Flamingos were abundant and graced every pond. The black-necked grebe outnumbered the dabchicks and all kinds of different ducks swam about gaily.
Black Necked Grebe
Hartlaub’s Gulls
Glossy Ibis
Mr and Mrs Cape Shoveller
Greater Flamingos
Pink is in
African Black Oyster Catcher
We spent a good two hours exploring the park and Josh impressed me with his excellent birding knowledge gained from the recent beginner’s course he attended. We spotted the Spotted Eagle Owl in his usual spot and a black crowned night heron flew out of the reeds and away from us. But I needed to see the beautiful Purple Swamphen. He obliged by coming out just before we were about to say our goodbyes!
Sleepy Owl
Purple Swamphen
Our Fishing Grandpa was successful at sea so it was sushimi and salad for supper – a perfect end to a glorous day!
A Birding Paradise
There’s a place that was once a sewage farm,
But now the ponds are settled and calm,
And filled with wild and wonderful birds;
A perfect place for Avian Nerds
As you travel along the many dirt roads,
Look out for crabs and occasional toads.
Perhaps you’ll find a mongoose or buck
There will certainly be a yellow-billed duck.
The pelicans swim the swallows they fly
And maybe you’ll hear the fish eagle cry.
There are stilts and avocets, teal and coots.
A purple swamp-hen chews on roots.
And as well as all these waterfowl
You may even spot the eagle-owl.
The long claw with its orange throat
Sings out with a meowing note.
In rain, in shine, no matter what
You’re bound to see a helovalot.
Come join us at the Ecology Park
We’ll show you more than just a lark.
Today members of The Cape Bird Club took the delegates from Heather’s Beginners’Course on an outing to The False Bay Ecology Park where they put their newly acquired birding skills to the test. The rain had stopped and the skies were clear – we saw a beautiful rainbow – but the roads were somewhat muddy. Nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the beginners though and the ‘guides’ were just too thrilled to show off this amazing place. We loaded the cars with each one having a window seat and each car set off to separately find the 27 target birds plus anything else that might show up. When we stopped to compare notes the vibe of excitement was tangible as the beginners shared what they had seen. Personally I never get tired of seeing the flamingos doing their amazing ballet in the shallows or impersonating ducks in deeper water. It was hugely rewarding to share my passion with others.
False Bay Ecology Park is next door to Zeekoeivlei – Strandfontein Beach in the Background
Red-knobbed Coot swim among the flamingos
Close up
Red-knobbed Coot by Earl
Purple Swamphen
Red-billed teal and Cape Shoveller with head hidden on the right by Earl
Cape Teal by Earl
Pelican with white-breasted cormorants
Preening
Jay’s Picture
Swimming
Black-crowned Night Heron
Pied Avocets
A Sleepy Spotted Eagle-owl
Taken with eyes open at another time – wouldn’t open his eyes for us today.
African Black Oyster-catchers – same place but better than the pics I took today
Moorhen taken at another time
Little Grebe – we saw lots – but this picture taken at another time
Cattle Egret in Breeding Plumage – taken by Earl
Black-necked grebe – on of the many we saw today.
Mongoose taken by Jay
Common Waxbill taken by Jay
Cape Longclaw taken by Jay
Diary of an Adventurous Retiree 