Christmas Day

25 December 2022 - Plettenberg Bay; Day 3

The overcast conditions and intermittent rain remained for most of the day. We opted to have a different Christmas Lunch and met our good friends the "Bath's' at Enrico's at Keurbooms. It was a festive lunch indeed, except for my wife getting food poisoning from something in the Alfredo Pasta which put a damper on her festivities for the rest of the day.

Later in the afternoon while she was resting, I took a walk down to Lookout Beach. Earlier I had photographed a family of Helmeted Guineafowl and as I walked past the Church, the Guineafowl family was crossing the road when some irresponsible imbecile driver raced up the road and ran over one of the youngsters, as the others scrambled out of the way. He disappeared into the distance, not even stopping for the expletives that flew out of my mouth

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

I call this series 'Death at Christmas' and it was just heartbreaking as both adults and the remaining youngster literally tip-toed back to check on their deceased sibling.

Death at Christmas

A Kelp Gull on the Church cross also seemed to be aware of what happened

Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

This encounter really upset me, but I carried on down to the beach to some indigenous habitat around the car park. I spent some quiet and reflective time and was able to photograph a number of species - Cape White-eye (on the coast it is the grey form; capensis)

Cape White-eye (Zosterops v. capensis)

I was really chuffed to get a juvenile Chorister Robin-Chat the gave me the eyeball for a few minutes before disappearing back into the bush

Juvenile Chorister Robin-Chat (Cossypha dichroa)

There were a couple of Fiscal Flycatcher's present, preening their wet feathers

Fiscal Flycatcher (Melaenornis silens)

Along with a few Greater Double-collared Sunbirds

Greater Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris afer)

I had good fortune with the normally skulky and secretive adult Little Rush Warbler

Little Rush Warbler (Bradypterus baboecala)

as well as a juvenile

Juvenile Little Rush Warbler (Bradypterus baboecala)

In the same thicket, a Cape Robin-Chat put in an appearance

Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra)

Sombre Greenbul's called from the top of the small reedbed

Sombre Greenbul (Andropadus importunus)

I then walked along the beach toward the extensive breeding colony - predominantly Kelp Gulls, but also Oystercatcher, Spoonbill, Water Thick-knee and Sand Plovers - not sure about the Whimbrel. 

Whilst still on the beach and before I got close the the main breeding area, a ringed White-fronted Plover popped up in front of me and ran a short distance away. So, I sat down on the beach, took a few pics and waited patiently while observing. Slowly, it came back to a small pile of sand with some vegetation and sat back on its nest, which I hadn't seen. It was still uncertain of me some distance away, so kicked sand over its eggs and ran much further away to distract me. Interesting behavior to observe.

White-fronted Plover (Charadrius marginatus)

I continued walking and spent some time with a charismatic Black Oystercatcher

African Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)

The Kelp Gulls seem to call continuously on this busy beach, but somehow seem to thrive. This image shows part of the breeding colony.

Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)

In the habitat amongst the dunes, Water Thick-knee were present

Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus)

As well as a few Whimbrel's

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

This Spoonbill was returning along the estuary to its nest with youngsters, amongst the Kelp Gulls

African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)

Whilst a few Swift or Greater Crested Terns passed by overhead heading to a roost site on the Keurbooms lagoon

Swift Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Whilst at the lagoon, I watched a few Little Egrets hunting, with one of them being successful. The other two seemed jealous of its success, but unlike Gulls, left it in peace to enjoy it's small sunset dinner

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)