31st Jan
Friday, 24 January 2025
Flock to Marion Island 2025
We are off!
We boarded the ship late morning on 24th January. It is hard to believe we are going to the sub-antarctic, as it is red hot & humid here in Durban. Just waiting for more passengers to board & then we will be off!
We departed Durban Harbour around 4.30 pm for
the open sea. On the way out we saw a Peregrine perched high on top of the dock
floodlights & an Osprey. Once in the open water a Common Tern flew by.
Great-winged Petrel
As
we steadily headed further from shore, the first of many Great-winged Petrels
were seen with a few Cory’s Shearwaters. A Shy Albatross was a bit of a
surprise this time of year & two
Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross were also noted. Then we enjoyed an early dinner
& an early night.
Sunset on the first night.
I was up early on 25th January
& sea-watched from the seventh deck. Good numbers of both Cory’s
Shearwaters & Great-winged Petrels were still around & I spotted a
Tropical Shearwater at mid distance. As the morning wore on, birds began to dry
up & it was the same story in the afternoon. Very quiet indeed, long
periods without seeing anything & then just the odd Great-winged Petrel
flew by. The afternoon was also slow going, however we did see one, perhaps two, Sperm Whales from our cabin.
Seawatching from our cabin
So far a pretty underwhelming first two days. Hoping for much better sea watching in the morning.
Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Pearly Beach in January 2025
It is January 1st! We have made it! It was a quiet morning here in the house, with few stirring early. I conducted an evening sea-watch & it turned out to be quite productive:
Southern Giant Petrel
5 Arctic Skua; 6 Southern Giant Petrel; 1 Giant Petrel sp & 26 Cory's Shearwater. This is the first time I have seen numbers of Cory's from the house.
Attracting Sharks for cage diving.
Bronze Whaler Shark
Cape (Kelp) Gull
British Storm-Petrel
Fuzzy images because of heavy cropping.
Showing the white stripe on the underwing nicely.
One of three Hump-backed Dolphins
This race/species? Is critically endangered in
southern Africa, with only about 400 individual.
Normally found close inshore, like these individuals.
Dyer Island
Thousands of Cape Cormorants breed here.
There is also a large Great-crested Tern colony.
Cape Fur Seal
Over 40,000 animals breed here.
Female
Sooty Shearwater
Bryde's Whale is a year round resident in these waters
in small numbers. They break the surface rarely &
then only for a second or so.
Therefore very difficult to photograph.
On 2nd January I left Delana at home with her family & I joined up with Pieter for a sea trip with Marine Dynamics out of Kleinbaii.These trips are quite nice but a little frustrating as they concentrate on marine mammals rather than birds & they drive fast between the various stops, so one cannot view any passing seabirds. Never the less it was an enjoyable experience & Pieter as always was good company.
As the wind slowly increased during the day I conducted a sea-watch in the evening: 111 Arctic & 5 immature Pomarine Skuas; 1 European Storm Petrel; 3 Giant petrel sp.; 1 White chinned Petrel & 10 Cory's Shearwaters.
The next day I woke up early to see Common Swifts flying by the house, all heading east. It was quite exciting to see them zooming by. Altogether 3,100 were noted, but it could have been many more, as birds were passing behind the house as well as over the dunes & sea in front of the house. This spectacle has happened before in previous years at this time of year.
Amethyst Sunbird
A male Amethyst Sunbird paid a visit to the feeders during the day. In the evening I did a two hour sea-watch producing 20 Arctic & a single immature Pomarine Skua.
An evening sea-watch on 4th January produced 82 Arctic Skua & a single Giant Petrel sp.
A quick run out to the Pearly Beach Sewage Works on 6th produced: 18 Cape Shoveler; 14 Cape Teal; 2 Little Grebe & a Water Thicknee.
Aggressive display.
Egg & chick.
I then did a bird walk around the village seeing 44 species. The highlight being a pair of Water Thick-knee with a chick & an egg. An evening sea-watch produced 32 Arctic Skuas coming into roost on the sea.
A sea-watch on 7th January produced 43 Arctic Skuas coming into roost. No other birds of note seen.
The next day 136 Arctic Skuas & 6 Giant Petrel sp. came into the bay in the evening.
Rob & Cath
Not going to hatch, this one!
Hartlaub's Gull
Whimbrel
Steppe Buzzard
On the 9th January Rob, Cath, Delana & I did a walk around Pearly Beach. The Water Thick-knee nest held just one addled egg. Hope the chick was under the nearby scrub. All the normal species were recorded but nothing unusual.
Blue Crane
In the afternoon we drove the Birkenhead 4x4 trail along the coast. Again nothing noteworthy seen but it was a lovely excursion.
In the evening we had a nice meal at The Whale Brewery here in Pearly Beach.
Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
The obligatory photograph!
Steppe Buzzard
Denham's Bustard
Large-billed Lark
Plain-backed Pipit
This is an elusive species. Nice to get a photo of one.
On the 10th January we all went on an all day birdwatch through Agulhas National Park & the back roads to Struis Bay. We enjoyed decent weather & saw over 80+ species for the day. Highlights were 120+ Greater Flamingoes; Damara Tern, Large-billed Lark & Plain-backed Pipit. The latter species is a highly localised species in the Overberg & not easy to see. An evening sea watch from home produced 95 Arctic & 2 Pomarine Skuas.
Denham's Bustard
A widespread but low density species here.
Grey Rhebok
Dawn the next day saw 90+ Common Swifts feeding in front of the house over the sea. This is the only species of Swift I have ever seen doing this behaviour. Later we all went on a wine tasting tour to Walker Bay, Raka & Lombard Estates. It was a very pleasant afternoon.
Rietfontein
On the 12th January we set out for Rietfontein, which is around 45 kms from Pearly. It is a desolate & scenic coastline, with the added possibility of a few birds along the way. A large group of 28 Common Ostrich were noted with 13 Glossy Ibis on a distant vlei. 30 Common Swifts were feeding over the agricultural land. By the time we reached our destination it became dull & overcast, few birds were seen.
Rob doing the braai.
The table is set!
Cheers!
Delana & Rob cooked us a lovely lamb rib braai at home in the evening.
Blue Bay
We have known each other since 1986!
Feeling good today!
On 13th January we all went for a walk along the beach at Blue Bay. It was a nice sunny day, although windy. We walked as far as the boundary of Walker Bay Nature Reserve, before returning the same way. We saw all the usual species, although nothing of note. Rob & Cath then left us to continue their journey around the country. In the evening I conducted a sea watch seeing only 10 Arctic & a Pomarine Skua although late on 90 Common Swifts were hawking over the sea.
I had a quick run down to the Pearly Beach Sewage Works on 16th January. 17 Cape Teal (including a pair with four ducklings) were the only birds of note. A sea watch from the house mid-morning produced a single Cory's Shearwater & a White-chinned Petrel. An African Goshawk through the garden was also unusual. However, it was the cetaceans which stole the show: 2 Bryde's Whales; 130 Common Dolphin & 40 Striped Dolphin. All were too far out for photographs but gave good views through the telescope. I believe it is the first time that I have seen Striped Dolphin from land, normally they are far out to sea. In the evening I saw 22 Arctic Skuas & a White-chinned Petrel.
Early morning on 17th saw 9,500 Cape Cormorants feeding in the bay & a Giant Petrel sp.
Male Cape Sugarbird
Female
Female Southern Red Bishop
On the morning of the 18th January 14,500 Cape Cormorants flew towards Dyer Island & 870 Common Swifts flew west in a few minutes.
We left Pearly Beach on 22nd January for the drive to Franschoek where we stayed the night. We saw a flock of 300+ Common Swifts just outside Hermanus on route.
The extraordinary large bed in our cottage
The wine cellar!
The meal was excellent
We had a gift voucher from Rowan & Jonathan to use at the famous Reuben's Restaurant in the centre of town. Delana had been wanting to visit for a long time. It did not disappoint, every course was exceptional.
The next morning we drove to Cape Town International Airport & flew to Durban. We spent the night in uMdloti in a lovely apartment overlooking the sea. The next morning we boarded the MSC Musica for our next adventure!
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