We drove down to Pearly Beach leaving Pretoria in the early morning of 5th December. Unfortunately the first 500 kms were in heavy rain, which made driving difficult. We drove as far as Beaufort West & stayed on an olive farm in the karoo, which was an excellent stop over. The next day we drove the very scenic R62 arriving at Pearly Beach mid afternoon. The next couple of days were all about cleaning the house & shopping!
The house!
Back view of the house.
The view from the house!
Cape Cormorants
African Oystercatcher
There is some lovely coastline
right next to the house.
right next to the house.
Rob & Maarten birding.
White breasted Cormorant
Little Egret
White necked Raven.
Kelp Gull
Hartlaub's Gull
Courtship behaviour.
Sandwich Tern
In summer this is the commonest tern species
along this stretch of coastline.
Whimbrel
A common summer visitor here.
African Oystercatcher
White fronted Plover
Nesting in good numbers here.
Common Sandpiper
A common summer migrant.
Pied Kingfisher, it is always a bit of a surprise
to find them by the sea!
Cape Wagtail are also on the beaches.
Cape Sugarbird
Taking a breather!
Photo courtesy of Maarten.
Maarten & Rob arrived on 8th December & on 9th we had a walk along the coast just in front of the house.
On the 10th we briefly visited
Best birds:
150 Greater Flamingo, 56 Whimbrel, 34 Caspian Tern &12 Sandwich Tern.
On the 10th we briefly visited
Best birds:
150 Greater Flamingo, 56 Whimbrel, 34 Caspian Tern &12 Sandwich Tern.
Rob & Maarten on the veranda,
watching the feeder action.
Cape Sugarbirds cashing in!
Male
Female.
Malachite Sunbird
Several birds are regular visitors to the feeders
on the veranda.
Blue Crane
Fiscal Flycatcher
On 19th December the wind veered WNW, so we did a couple of hours sea-watching from the veranda. 4 Giant Petrel sp; 1 White chinned Petrel; 4 Arctic Skua but then it got dark. We were almost certainly too late in starting the watch.
Early the next morning sea-watching again as wind was still WNW: 12 Giant Petrel sp; 2 White chinned Petrel; 10 Cape Gannet; 5 Arctic Skua.
White breasted Cormorant (with sleeping
Crowned Cormorants in the background).
Crowned Cormorant
Adult on the left, immature on the right.
A closer look at the adult.
A closer look at the immature.
Grey headed Gull among Hartlaub's Gulls.
Grey headed Gull is uncommon here.
Notice the slightly darker mantle as well as
the ill defined hood.
African Oystercatcher
They seem to be doing well along
this stretch of coast.
And this is why!
On a nest.
They seem to be doing well in this conservancy.
White fronted Plover
Trying to lure us away from the nest.
the ill defined hood.
this stretch of coast.
Rob, Maarten & myself did a quick walk along the coast to try & find Crowned Cormorant & we did find them! Six being present on the rocks.
Both Rob & Maarten left for UK & UAE respectively on 21st December. Delana & I had chores to do, but we had a late look at the sea, netting a Giant Petrel sp & 2 Arctic Skuas.
Crowned Cormorants
African Oystercatcher
The 22nd December dawned sunny, with relatively little wind (it picked up a lot later). So Delana & I had a walk for a couple of hours along the beach. It was a lovely morning & both of us enjoyed the stroll.
Up early on 23rd December for the long drive to the Three Ships Whisky Distillery in Wellington. It is around 200 kms away, but a slow drive on winding roads. The upside is one passes through some great scenery. The tour was interesting. I was surprised at how technical the whole process was & the scale of their production! It was a very enjoyable day out. Had a look on the sea in the evening, 7 Arctic Skuas sat on the sea, just offshore.
The 24th was all about Christmas! We spent the day preparing & Delana cooked a delicious evening Christmas meal. They have Christmas dinner on the 24th in her family, not the 25th which is traditional for me. We opened presents as well!
Christmas Day dawned a little wild! The wind was very strong & Delana & I went for a walk along the beach, then cut inland & ended up in the pub! Spent the rest of the day at home as the weather deteriorated.
The weather got even wilder overnight & 26th was a day for watching sport on the TV! Ended up in the pub again early evening!
What a difference a day makes! The 27th dawned sunny, bright & warm. Delana & I went for a lovely walk inland & came back along the beach. It was nice not to be blown away by the gale force winds we have had recently.
Bar throated Apalis
Cape Batis
Cape White-eye
On 28th we drove the short distance to Platbos Forest. This is a small, but vitally important forest reserve. Less than 0.05% of the western Cape has indigenous forest left. It was yet again a very windy day, but surprisingly protected within the forest.
While waiting for Ryan & Angie to arrive on 30th December, thousands of Cape Cormorants came to loaf around & bathe on the rocks just outside the house. It really was a stunning spectacle.
The next day was of course the final day of the year! It has just flown by! Trips to Fuertoventura; Botswana; Mozambique; Namibia; Ireland; UK & The Seychelles were all memorable. Plus lots of time in South Africa of course!
Bird list:
Giant Petrel sp; White chinned Petrel; Cape Gannet; White breasted Cormorant; Bank Cormorant; Cape Cormorant; Crowned Cormorant; Grey Heron; Black headed Heron; Little Egret; Greater Flamingo; Hamerkop; Hadeda Ibis; Sacred Ibis; Egyptian Goose; Martial Eagle; Jackal Buzzard; Steppe Buzzard; Black Harrier; Yellow billed Kite; Black shouldered Kite; Rock Kestrel; Cape Francolin; Helmeted Guineafowl; Ostrich; Blue Crane; Denham's Bustard; African Black Oystercatcher; White fronted Plover; Crowned Plover; Curlew Sandpiper; Sanderling; Little Stint; Common Sandpiper; Common Greenshank; Whimbrel; Ruddy Turnstone; Spotted Dikkop; Pomarine Skua; Arctic Skua; Kelp Gull; Grey headed Gull; Hartlaub's Gull; Caspian Tern; Great crested Tern; Sandwich Tern; Common Tern; Speckled Pigeon; Red eyed Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Laughing Dove; Alpine Swift; African Black Swift; White rumped Swift; Little Swift; Red faced Mousebird; Speckled Mousebird; Pied Kingfisher; African Hoopoe; Acacia Pied Barbet; Red capped Lark; Greater Striped Swallow; Barn Swallow; Fork tailed Drongo; White necked Raven; Pied Crow; Black Crow; Cape Bulbul; Sombre Bulbul; Olive Thrush; African Stonechat; Cape Robin; Karoo Robin; Bar throated Apalis; Karoo Prinia; Fiscal Flycatcher; Cape White-eye; Cape Batis; Cape Wagtail; African Pipit; Common Fiscal Shrike; Southern Boubou; Southern Tchagra; Bokmakierie; Red winged Starling; Common Starling; Cape Sugarbird; Malachite Sunbird; Southern Double collared Sunbird; House Sparrow; Southern Grey headed Sparrow; Cape Sparrow; Cape Weaver; Southern Red Bishop; Yellow rumped Widow; Pin tailed Whydah; Bully Canary; Cape Canary; Streaky headed Seedeater.
99 species in total.
One of the fermentation
tanks!
Some people are easily amused!
The stock room for the next 30 years!
The all important tasting experience!
Up early on 23rd December for the long drive to the Three Ships Whisky Distillery in Wellington. It is around 200 kms away, but a slow drive on winding roads. The upside is one passes through some great scenery. The tour was interesting. I was surprised at how technical the whole process was & the scale of their production! It was a very enjoyable day out. Had a look on the sea in the evening, 7 Arctic Skuas sat on the sea, just offshore.
The 24th was all about Christmas! We spent the day preparing & Delana cooked a delicious evening Christmas meal. They have Christmas dinner on the 24th in her family, not the 25th which is traditional for me. We opened presents as well!
Still a little wild along the coast.
The municipality have done a really good job
with environmental awareness.
African Rock Martin
Cape Bulbul
The bird bath in the garden is popular.
Female Cape Sugarbird
Cape White-eye
Cape Weaver
Bar throated Apalis
Juantelle & Francois look on.
Malachite Sunbird
Christmas Day dawned a little wild! The wind was very strong & Delana & I went for a walk along the beach, then cut inland & ended up in the pub! Spent the rest of the day at home as the weather deteriorated.
In the pub.
The weather got even wilder overnight & 26th was a day for watching sport on the TV! Ended up in the pub again early evening!
White breasted Cormorant
Kelp Gull
What a difference a day makes! The 27th dawned sunny, bright & warm. Delana & I went for a lovely walk inland & came back along the beach. It was nice not to be blown away by the gale force winds we have had recently.
Anelle & Lourens
This is a Milkwood Tree,
thought to be over 1,000 years old!
A little fairy in the forest!
It was a pleasure walking
the forest trails
On 28th we drove the short distance to Platbos Forest. This is a small, but vitally important forest reserve. Less than 0.05% of the western Cape has indigenous forest left. It was yet again a very windy day, but surprisingly protected within the forest.
Cape Cormorant
c8,000 - 10,000 birds were on the rocks
White fronted Plover
Cape Wagtail
Ryan & Angie
While waiting for Ryan & Angie to arrive on 30th December, thousands of Cape Cormorants came to loaf around & bathe on the rocks just outside the house. It really was a stunning spectacle.
The end of a great year!
The next day was of course the final day of the year! It has just flown by! Trips to Fuertoventura; Botswana; Mozambique; Namibia; Ireland; UK & The Seychelles were all memorable. Plus lots of time in South Africa of course!
Bird list:
Giant Petrel sp; White chinned Petrel; Cape Gannet; White breasted Cormorant; Bank Cormorant; Cape Cormorant; Crowned Cormorant; Grey Heron; Black headed Heron; Little Egret; Greater Flamingo; Hamerkop; Hadeda Ibis; Sacred Ibis; Egyptian Goose; Martial Eagle; Jackal Buzzard; Steppe Buzzard; Black Harrier; Yellow billed Kite; Black shouldered Kite; Rock Kestrel; Cape Francolin; Helmeted Guineafowl; Ostrich; Blue Crane; Denham's Bustard; African Black Oystercatcher; White fronted Plover; Crowned Plover; Curlew Sandpiper; Sanderling; Little Stint; Common Sandpiper; Common Greenshank; Whimbrel; Ruddy Turnstone; Spotted Dikkop; Pomarine Skua; Arctic Skua; Kelp Gull; Grey headed Gull; Hartlaub's Gull; Caspian Tern; Great crested Tern; Sandwich Tern; Common Tern; Speckled Pigeon; Red eyed Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Laughing Dove; Alpine Swift; African Black Swift; White rumped Swift; Little Swift; Red faced Mousebird; Speckled Mousebird; Pied Kingfisher; African Hoopoe; Acacia Pied Barbet; Red capped Lark; Greater Striped Swallow; Barn Swallow; Fork tailed Drongo; White necked Raven; Pied Crow; Black Crow; Cape Bulbul; Sombre Bulbul; Olive Thrush; African Stonechat; Cape Robin; Karoo Robin; Bar throated Apalis; Karoo Prinia; Fiscal Flycatcher; Cape White-eye; Cape Batis; Cape Wagtail; African Pipit; Common Fiscal Shrike; Southern Boubou; Southern Tchagra; Bokmakierie; Red winged Starling; Common Starling; Cape Sugarbird; Malachite Sunbird; Southern Double collared Sunbird; House Sparrow; Southern Grey headed Sparrow; Cape Sparrow; Cape Weaver; Southern Red Bishop; Yellow rumped Widow; Pin tailed Whydah; Bully Canary; Cape Canary; Streaky headed Seedeater.
99 species in total.
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