27-3-2018 FERNKLOOF, SOUTH AFRICA - ORANGE BREASTED SUNBIRD (MALE) (Antohobaphes violacea)

The orange-breasted sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea, is a small, nectar-feeding bird endemic to the fynbos biome of southwestern South Africa. It is the sole representative of its genus, Anthobaphes, within the family Nectariniidae. Exhibiting sexual dimorphism, the male is a vibrant mix of orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, particularly on the head and neck, while the female is dressed in more subdued olive green tones.

Males can be identified by their metallic green head, throat, and mantle, violet upper breast, and bright orange lower breast, which fades into yellow on the belly. Their long, decurved bills are adapted for nectar feeding, with the male's bill being notably longer than the female's. Females and juveniles are less conspicuous, with olive-greenish grey upperparts and paler underparts.

The orange-breasted sunbird is a denizen of the fynbos, a unique heathland habitat. It is particularly associated with ericas and proteas, which provide much of its nectar diet.

This species is confined to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it is a common breeder within its range.

The orange-breasted sunbird is known for its territorial nature, especially during breeding season when males vigorously defend their territories. Outside of breeding, they can be quite gregarious, forming flocks that may number up to a hundred individuals.

The sunbird's call is a distinctive twangy, weak ssharaynk or sskrang, which it often repeats.

Breeding occurs from February to November, peaking in May through August. The female primarily constructs the nest, an oval structure made of rootlets, fine twigs, and grass, bound with spider webs and lined with brown protea fluff. The nest features a side top entrance. Two eggs are typically laid, incubated by the female, and both parents contribute to feeding the chicks with a diet rich in insects and spiders.

While nectar from ericas and proteas forms the bulk of its diet, the orange-breasted sunbird also consumes small insects and spiders, which it sometimes catches in flight.

27-3-2018 HERMANUS, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus maquini)

The African oystercatcher or African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini), is a large charismatic wader resident to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of southern Africa. This near-threatened oystercatcher has a population of over 6,000 adults, which breed between November and April. The scientific name moquini commemorates the French naturalist Alfred Moquin-Tandon who discovered and named this species before Bonaparte.

The African oystercatcher is native to the mainland coasts and offshore islands of Southern Africa sometimes occurring as a vagrant in Angola and Mozambique. Its breeding range extends from Lüderitz, Namibia to Mazeppa Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa. There are estimated to be over 6,000 adult birds in total.

Typically sedentary African oystercatchers rarely leave their territories, which include a nesting site and feeding grounds. These will usually be located on or near rocky shores where they can feed.

26-3-2018 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - RED WINGED STARLING (Onychognathus morio)

The Red-winged Starling, Onychognathus morio, is a striking bird native to eastern Africa, with a range extending from Ethiopia to South Africa's Cape. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism; the male is predominantly iridescent black with chestnut flight feathers, while the female sports an ash-grey head and upper breast. Juveniles resemble males but have a duller sheen and brown eyes. The Ethiopian subspecies, O. m. rupellii, is characterized by a longer tail and intergrades with the nominate form.

When observing the Red-winged Starling, look for the male's glossy black plumage contrasted by chestnut flight feathers, especially visible in flight. Females can be identified by their streaky grey head plumage. The bird's dark, almost black eyes distinguish it from the similar Pale-winged Starling, which has bright red or orange eyes. The robust structure of the Red-winged Starling is adapted to support its weight while feeding on nectar from sturdy flowers.

This adaptable bird occupies a variety of habitats, including forests, savannahs, grasslands, wetlands, fynbos, farmlands, and urban areas. Its preference for cliffs and mountainous regions for nesting has translated well to the urban environment, where tall buildings mimic its natural nesting sites.

The Red-winged Starling is found along eastern Africa, from Ethiopia down to the Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Gauteng in South Africa. Its adaptability has allowed it to thrive in both natural and urban settings.

This starling is known for its territorial and aggressive nature during the nesting season, boldly defending its nest against intruders, including humans. Outside of breeding times, it is highly sociable, forming large flocks with its conspecifics.

The Red-winged Starling communicates with a variety of whistled calls, with the most common being a contact call described as "cher-leeeoo."

Nesting on rocky cliffs and outcrops, the Red-winged Starling constructs a grass and twig nest with a mud base on ledges. It typically lays two to four blue, red-brown spotted eggs. The female incubates these for about two weeks, and the chicks fledge in another three to four weeks. This species often produces two broods per season and may be parasitized by the Great Spotted Cuckoo.

The Pale-winged Starling is the most similar species, distinguishable by its whitish primaries edged with orange and its bright eye color.

An omnivorous generalist, the Red-winged Starling feeds on a variety of seeds, berries, nectar, and invertebrates. It also consumes fruit from both wild and cultivated sources and will scavenge carrion and human food scraps. In rural settings, it may perch on large mammals to forage for insects and ectoparasites.

The IUCN lists the Red-winged Starling as Least Concern. While not endangered, it can be considered a nuisance in some areas due to its habit of raiding orchards and aggressive behavior near its nesting sites.

24-3-2018 BOTANICAL GARDENS, CAPE TOWN - TALL SILVER SUGARBUSH (Protea roupelliae ssp roupelliae)

Protea (/ˈproʊtiːə/ is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes (Afrikaans: suikerbos). It is the type genus of the Proteaceae family.

About 92% of the species occur only in the Cape Floristic Region, a narrow belt of mountainous coastal land from Clanwilliam to Grahamstown, South Africa. Most protea species are found south of the Limpopo River. Protea madiensis grows in Afromontane enclaves across tropical Africa, from Guinea to Sudan, Mozambique, and Angola. Protea afra ranges from the Cape region to Uganda and Kenya, including in the chaparral zone of Mount Kenya National Park. The extraordinary richness and diversity of species characteristic of the Cape flora are thought to be caused in part by the diverse landscape, where populations can become isolated from each other and in time develop into separate species.

The family Proteaceae to which Protea species belong is an ancient one among angiosperms. Evidence from pollen fossils suggests Proteaceae ancestors grew in Gondwana, in the Upper Cretaceous, 75–80 million years ago. The Proteaceae are divided into two subfamilies: the Proteoideae, best represented in southern Africa, and the Grevilleoideae, concentrated in Australia and South America and the other smaller segments of Gondwana that are now part of eastern Asia. Africa shares only one genus with Madagascar, whereas South America and Australia share many common genera – this indicates they separated from Africa before they separated from each other.

Proteas usually flower during spring. Protea flowers have large heads made of small florets packed on a woody receptacle, each floret is reddish or pinkish in color and measures between 28.4 and 53.8 millimeters. The carpel in the flower's center is cream colored. The ovary is protected by the receptacle, and thus is not seen when looking at the flower, but the anthers are present at the top of the flower, which can then easily transfer the pollen to the vectors.

Proteas are pollinated by birds, insects, and wind. All the florets open big enough for small and medium beetles to land and feed on their nectar before flying to other heads pollinating them in the process. Some protea flower species, like the king protea flower, are self-pollinating flowers. Other protea species, however, such as P. cordata, P. decurrens, and P. scabra are self-incompatible, and thus rely on cross-pollination for successive seed sets. Some Protea species exhibit both self-pollination and cross-pollination as a method of reproduction. Cross-pollination is preferred, though, as a method of reproduction because it provides genetic diversity in the population. When cultivating proteas, breeders use hand pollination as a controlled method to transfer pollen from one flower to another.

24-3-2018 BOTANICAL GARDENS, CAPE TOWN - CAPE SPURFOWL (Pternistis capensis)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_spurfowl

26-3-2018 HERMANUS, SOUTH AFRICA - CAPE GULL (JUVENILE) (larus dominicanus ssp vetula)

The Cape gull differs from other forms of kelp gulls by its darker iris and larger body and bill size. The Southern African population is estimated to include 11,000 breeding pairs, and is expanding.

The kelp gull is referred to as the Cape gull in South Africa. There is currently a movement to have the gull that lives on the South African shoreline renamed to Cape gull, as it is so similar to the kelp gull, but they are not identical species.

The Cape gull is largely sedentary, and large colonies tend to stick to a favoured beach or coastal area. They frequently converge at popular feeding sites, and have been known to attack prey en masse.

This black and white gull is a common visitor to the beaches of the country. Its back and the tops of its wings are black; while the belly, head and tail are white. There are also white tips on the wings, called mirrors. The legs are a green-tinged yellow, which goes a brighter hue of yellow during the breeding season; and the bill is yellow with a vivid red spot on the underside.

Juveniles have a mottled-grey plumage, duller colouring on their legs, and a black bill. They take about three years to mature. The Cape gull has a shorter bill and a more angular head, and is differentiated by its pristine white tail and its dark-coloured eye.

Size

Range mass: 0.6 – 1.3kg

Range length: 54 – 65cm

Range wingspan: 128 – 142cm.

Gulls are, in general, flexible diners; happy to take whatever is available. Naturally, they tend to favour fish, worms, molluscs, smaller birds, and even small mammals and vermin. They have been seen picking up shellfish, soaring up, and dropping them from a dizzying height to break the exoskeleton.

They will prey on young and sick animals (including beached whales and dolphins, or even cattle), or those small enough to grasp and kill. They are often seen eating fast-food and rubbish that has been left behind by bathers on the beaches. They are omnivores, so they will also eat berries and fruit, where available.

Cape gulls live along the coastline of various countries and islands in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as in harbours, bays and estuaries. There are rarely found more than a few kilometres away from the sea.

In southern Africa, Cape or kelp gulls can be found in particularly large colonies between Cape Cross (western Namibia), through to the Great Fish River in the Eastern Cape. There are also non-breeding birds in Angola, Mozambique and Luanda.

The Cape gull is largely sedentary, and large colonies tend to stick to a favoured beach or coastal area. They frequently converge at popular feeding sites, and have been known to attack prey en masse. This is the case when they peck out the eyes of seal pups and then attack the blinded pups in a group, leaving little chance of escape. Breeding colonies are made up of hundreds of pairs, and are gregarious and social all year around.

This gull variety uses a grating, harsh “ki-och” to communicate with others of its kind.

The kelp gull's breeding season is between September and January, when it will pair with its lifelong partner and lay between two and three eggs in it shallow nest. The nest is a simple large hollow in the ground or on the rocks, which has been lined with feathers and leaves to keep it warm and comfortable for the chicks. Both of the parents incubate the eggs and, once the chicks hatch, they are both responsible for feeding them.

At about seven weeks old, the chicks are ready to fledge. They will reach sexual maturity at between three and four years of age.

Incubation

24 to 30 days.

Life Expectancy

Up to 20 years.

26-3-2018 HERMANUS, SOUTH AFRICA - CAPE WAGTAIL (Motacilla capensis ssp capensis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/13699-Motacilla-capensis

 

26-3-2018 HERMANUS, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN FISCAL SHRIKE (lanius collaris)

26-3-2018 HERMANUS, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN AMETHYST SUNBIRD (FEMALE) (Chalcomitra amethystina ssp. amethystina)

The amethyst sunbird, also called the black sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina), is a species of passerine bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is native to the Afrotropics, mostly south of the equator. They are commonly found in well-watered habitats, and undertake seasonal movements to visit flowering woodlands. The demise of some woodlands have impacted their numbers locally, but their range has also expanded along with the spread of wooded gardens.

Though mostly found singly or in pairs, larger numbers may concentrate at favourite flowering trees, where they act aggressively towards other sunbird species. The complex song is a loud, sustained twittering. Food includes emergent termites, spiders and nectar. In courtship a male will hop about a branch near a female, drop one wing, then the other, and finally both wings. The wings will then be fluttered and displayed. A responsive female may lower her head, and assume a rigid posture.

Breeding pairs of amethyst sunbird are widely spaced, and the female builds the nest. Favoured trees include exotic eucalypts and pines, and are often close to buildings or human activity. Nests are attached to a drooping branch, below the canopy, or hidden by foliage. Nests are built from fine grass stems, which are bound together with cobwebs. The nest is often decorated with lichens, or other debris. Two speckled eggs are laid, but successive clutches may be raised from the same nest in a single season. Nests are parasitized by green-backed honeybird and Klaas's cuckoo.

25-3-2018 CENTRAL PARK, CAPE TOWN - AFRICAN MONARCH BUTTERFLY (Danaus chrysippus ssp orientis)

26-3-2018 HERMANUS, SOUTH AFRICA - KELP GULL (Larus dominicanus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4388-Larus-dominicanus

 

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN, CAPE TOWN - ZEBRA FINCH (Taeniopygia guttata)

The zebra finch is a small songbird from Australia known for its cheerful and social nature. Zebra finch care is not difficult, even for a beginner, making the birds popular as pets. They're relatively hardy birds, able to tolerate changes in their environment.

The zebra finch bird is soft gray, with red eyes, "tear drop" markings (small black lines running straight down under each eye), and bright orange legs and beak. The male zebra finch has a deeper reddish-orange beak, while the female's beak tends to have a lighter orange color.

The male zebra finch has black "mustache" markings, which are thin black lines running along both sides of their beak. The area between the mustache and tear-drop markings is usually white. On the outside of the tear-drop markings, the typical male finch sports rusty-orange cheeks. They have a "bib" of tiny black stripes from their beak down to their chest. Their tail has bolder black and white stripes. On their sides, they have chestnut-brown feathers with white spots.

Female zebra finches are almost entirely gray and don't sing like the males. When they're young, all zebra finches look like females, except their beaks are black instead of orange. Their adult colors appear when they're around 2 to 3 months old. Both males and females are quite small even as adults, reaching a length of about 4 inches and weighing less than a half-ounce on average.

Zebra finches are diurnal, so they're active during the day and sleep at night. In the wild, they live together in flocks of about 100 birds. During breeding, the large flock splits into groups of around 50 finches. The birds in this smaller group will allow each other to visit their nesting site but will drive away birds from other groups. They know each member by their song, which is unique to each individual male.

As they grow up, male zebra finches listen to the songs of the birds around them. They use bits of music from their relatives and other sounds they hear in the environment to create a complex song of their own. The males use songs along with a courtship dance to woo the females. Zebra finches are monogamous — they'll only mate with one partner and bond for life with their chosen mate.

25-3-2018 TABLE MOUNTAIN, CAPE TOWN - BLACK LEGGED NEPHILA (Nephila fenestrata)

23-3-2018 BOULDER BAY, CAPE TOWN - AFRICAN PENGUIN (Spheniscus demersus)

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is a species of penguin that lives in southern African waters. Like all extant penguins, it is flightless and adapted for a marine habitat. Once extremely numerous, the African penguin is declining rapidly due to a combination of several threats and is classified as endangered. It is a charismatic species and is popular with tourists.

The African penguin is a small to medium-sized penguin with black-and-white plumage, serving the animal as a perfect camouflage to protect it from predators. Due to the black feathers on their back, they merge with the environment, remaining unseen to those looking down from above. Meanwhile, the white coloration on the front part of their body allows them to be unspotted by aquatic predators, looking up from below. The penguins have a horseshoe-shaped, white-colored stripe on their face, stretching from around their eyes to their chest as well on the chin, towards the bill. Young penguins possess gray-blue feathers, which darken as they grow up.

African penguins are found along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. They do not migrate and live in colonies on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, South Africa. African penguins spend most of their lives at sea and come ashore to breed and molt.

African penguins are both diurnal and crepuscular. By day, the birds hide in their burrows, escaping the sun. At twilight and dawn, they come out to forage. African penguins are highly social animals. Grooming is a common activity in these animals. They groom each other in order to clean the plumage, rearrange the feathers and take off parasites. In addition, grooming reinforces the social bond between a pair. During their courtship rituals, the birds are extremely noisy, emitting loud calls, which are quite similar to these of donkeys. In order to clean and cool themselves, they frequently take baths, making their bathing spots at a distance of just a few meters from the seashore.

These birds are monogamous, mating once in a lifetime. They can use the same breeding sites for many years. African penguins breed all year round with the peak period, occurring in February. Usually, the female digs a burrow or simply uses a hollow under a rock or bush, where she lays 2 eggs, after which both the male and the female incubate the eggs for up to 40 days. During the first month after hatching out, the chicks are fed and cared by both parents. Then they join crèches or groups of other chicks, where they find protection from predators. The chicks stay with their parents, until the age of 3-5 months, after which they leave the colony and start living independently. Male penguins become reproductively mature at 5 years old while females start to breed when they are 4 years old.

Commercial fishing negatively affects the population of the species, reducing prey items and leading to food shortages. Meanwhile, the African penguins compete with Cape Fur Seals for breeding areas as well as prey items. On the other hand, the penguins are threatened by their natural predators. For example, they are prey species for seals, while their eggs and chicks are a source of food for other predators in the area. In addition, these birds currently suffer from oil pollution.

The African penguin, known scientifically as Spheniscus demersus and colloquially as the Cape penguin or South African penguin, is a flightless bird distinguished by its streamlined body and flippers adapted for life in the water. Adults typically weigh between 2.2 and 3.5 kilograms and stand 60 to 70 centimeters tall. Notable for the pink patches of skin above their eyes and a stark black facial mask, their upper parts are a contrasting black against the white underparts, which are adorned with spots and a distinctive black band.

To identify the African penguin, look for the unique pink gland above their eyes, which becomes more vibrant as they regulate their temperature. Their black and white plumage is a classic example of countershading, providing camouflage from predators. Each penguin has a unique pattern of black spots on the chest, akin to human fingerprints. Males are generally larger with longer beaks than females.

These penguins are found along the coastlines of southern Africa, with colonies established on various islands and some mainland sites. They prefer nesting in burrows or under vegetation to protect against predators and the hot sun.

The African penguin is endemic to the southwestern coast of Africa, breeding on 24 islands between Namibia and Algoa Bay, South Africa. Notably, they have also established colonies on the mainland near Cape Town.

African penguins are monogamous and known for their loud, donkey-like calls. They are pursuit divers, hunting for fish and squid, and can travel up to 20 kilometers from shore. They are social birds, breeding in colonies and often forming crèches for their young.

The African penguin's vocalizations are varied and serve multiple functions, from mate recognition to territorial defense. Their most famous call is a loud braying, which has earned them the nickname "jackass penguin."

Breeding occurs throughout the year, with peaks varying by location. Nests are made in burrows or under cover to protect from the heat. Two eggs are laid, and both parents share incubation duties. Chicks join crèches after about a month, and parents continue to forage at sea to feed them.

The African penguin is similar in appearance to the Humboldt, Magellanic, and Galápagos penguins, with which it shares the genus Spheniscus. However, it can be distinguished by its unique chest markings and the single black band across the chest.

Their diet consists mainly of pelagic fish like sardines and anchovies, as well as squid and small crustaceans. They are known to consume up to 540 grams of prey daily, which can increase when feeding older chicks.

The African penguin is classified as Endangered, with a rapid decline in population due to several threats, including oil spills, historical exploitation for their eggs, competition with fisheries, and habitat degradation. Conservation efforts are underway, including habitat protection, pollution mitigation, and captive breeding programs.

24-3-2018 BOTANICAL GARDENS, CAPE TOWN - CAPE BULBUL (Pycnonotus capensis)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_bulbul

24-3-2018 BOTANICAL GARDENS, CAPE TOWN - CAPE ROBIN CHAT (cossypha caffra)

The Cape robin-chat (Dessonornis caffer) is a small, unassuming member of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. This bird, with its grey upper parts and vibrant orange underparts, measures a modest 16–17 cm in length and tips the scales at around 28 grams. Both sexes are similarly attired, making them indistinguishable in the field.

When observing the Cape robin-chat, look for the prominent white supercilium that contrasts with the blackish lores and ear coverts. The orange rump, upper tail coverts, and outer tail feathers are striking, particularly when the bird fans its tail, revealing the greyish-brown central and rufous lateral rectrices. The bill is short and black, and the legs and feet share this dark hue.

The Cape robin-chat is quite adaptable, favoring the edges of Afromontane forests, bracken-briar fringes, and even man-altered habitats such as city suburbs and farmstead woodlots. It thrives in environments that offer dense cover with interspersed trees or song posts.

This species has a disjunct range stretching from South Sudan to South Africa. It is a resident breeder in eastern and southern Africa, with some populations migrating short distances in winter.

The Cape robin-chat is a solitary creature, often seen hopping on the ground or perching conspicuously. It is known for its tail movements, frequently jerking it up or fanning it upon landing. This bird is also a daily bather and may even indulge in tide pools.

The Cape robin-chat's song is a melodious and ringing series of short phrases, often heard at dawn and dusk. Its alarm call is a distinctive, guttural trisyllabic sound, reminiscent of local names like “Jan frederik.” The species is also capable of mimicking the calls of other birds.

Monogamous and territorial, the Cape robin-chat builds a cup-shaped nest close to the ground, often concealed by vegetation. It lays two to three eggs, which are incubated primarily by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after about two weeks but remain dependent for a further five to seven weeks.

The Cape robin-chat is altitudinally segregated from the red-capped robin-chat and is less of a skulker compared to its relatives. It can be distinguished by its less colorful plumage and preference for drier or higher altitude habitats.

This bird forages for invertebrates, small frogs, and lizards within scrub or leaf litter, and also consumes fruit and seeds. It may occasionally hawk insects in the air or glean invertebrates from foliage.

24-3-2018 BOTANICAL GARDENS, CAPE TOWN - SWEE WAXBILL (coccopygia melanotis)

23-3-2018 BOULDER BAY, CAPE TOWN - HADADA IBIS (Bostrychia hagedash)

23-3-2018 BOULDER BEACH, CAPE TOWN - CAPE GULL (larus dominicanus ssp vetula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/507807-Larus-dominicanus-vetula