We thought it was an early start yesterday but this morning it was crack of dawn early. So we are up before six and not even time for breakfast, but we are taking it with us to eat en-route. Spitting with rain still.
Getting away early meant we would ease our way through Cape Town before the morning rush, on our trip to the other side of False Bay and the days exploration. After passing some pretty spectacular scenery (by which you all know this means cliffs and seascapes).
First stop was Rooi-els. The target species here was the Cape Rockjumper, and we spent an hour searching in vain.
There is a Red-winged Starling however.
There is a Red-winged Starling however.
This is looking the other way from the Rockjumper habitat. The photo gives an indication of the weather this morning - pretty bleak over there at least.
This is the Rockjumper habitat, grass and small rocks at base of cliffs. At least with the no-show for our target species here the cliffs are an interesting feature (sort of looks like a giant bat with it's wings outstretched - a bit like the Batman logo - you do have to use your imagination a lot!).
The place had suffered a serious fire recently and it must have been scary living here at that time, so perhaps the Rockjumpers have left and not returned yet.
Eric thought he could perhaps be a substitute for the Rockjumper so we wouldn't think we'd missed out completely.
Wouldn't have liked to be in that house when the fire was passing through.
and definitely wouldn't have wanted to be in this bush.
There are still some interesting flowers to see in the vicinity.
There were also what looked like the remains of some Cup or Bird's Nest fungi within the sand, unsure if that is what they are though.
Something of a paucity of birds here so we headed on out. Along the way we stopped outside a residential garden, which proved anything but paucious (I may have made this word up) i.e. A number of new species were seen, including this Cape Sugar Bird on a Protea family plant.
Luckily quite a lot of the houses here are holiday or weekend homes, so nobody came out to shoo us away.
We drove a little way around the bay through the houses to check out the shoreline.
Eric is looking a little downcast as he didn't see any whales.
Eric is looking a little downcast as he didn't see any whales.
Looking out through the surf we could see these Cape Fur Seals keeping warm by waving a flipper on the air to warm the blood - a very strange view.
Two cute Rock Hyrax sitting together
Also spied a very scruffy looking Greater Crested Tern
An Egyptian Goose
a White-fronted Plover
a Grey Heron and some Cormorant
a Salvia species - not the prettiest of plants
Some of the houses around Betty's Bay
Including this designer pad
with some unusual fencing at the rear.
But some more interesting plants around the beach area too
Retrace our steps back to the van and then it's off to our next stop, the Harold Porter botanical garden.
A relatively unusual garden in that its aim was purely the presentation of indigenous African plants, rather than those from across the globe.
Eric admires the garden views.
It was decided to do the circuit walk first, and work up an appetite for lunch. Plenty of new birds and plants along the way.
Some very pretty Swee Waxbill seen at the start of the walk, or maybe it was towards the end, who knows.
This is a very large Restio grass - huge in fact.
The circuit walk initially takes you in the direction of the waterfall at the end of a valley
Some very pretty Swee Waxbill seen at the start of the walk, or maybe it was towards the end, who knows.
This is a very large Restio grass - huge in fact.
The circuit walk initially takes you in the direction of the waterfall at the end of a valley
but then veers off to the left to follow the contours of the lower hill,
crossing the river/stream via a footbridge. The water is clear but a deep brown colour, either peaty or perhaps from iron in the rock strata.
crossing the river/stream via a footbridge. The water is clear but a deep brown colour, either peaty or perhaps from iron in the rock strata.
From the contour line we hear Baboons, but the noise seems to be coming from across the other side of the valley. Some spotting with the binoculars reveals them making their way across the valley side through some rocks. It's a family group.
Carrying on with our walk we see two different Proteaceae family bushes. The flower on the one is only just starting to emerge
a mixture of characteristic plants
A White-eye bird in a bush
A Polygala species, but much larger than the ones we are used to seeing.
Common as muck but still very attractive - Cape Robin Chat
Identity to be recalled, but rather like these next two.
A gorgeous russet coloured Restio grass - the stems are segmented, a bit like our Horsetails.
This flower is a Cape specialist
A member of the pea family
Insectivorous plants - nothing trapped in their hairs at the moment.
and a view of Betty's Bay from the contour part of the walk with the botanic gardens in the foreground.
At this pint the noise from the Baboons seems to be louder. We pause to do a quick reccie on where they are. They are lower down the valley crossing an area we had come through earlier. The one at the back seemed to be very interested in something in or on the ground just where it was sitting, perhaps finding something to eat.
Then a mother crosses the gap, carrying her baby underneath. The other Baboon is still sitting in the same place munching on something.
Some shots of the landscape as we drop back down into the more manicured part of the gardens - as you can see, the weather improved as the day progressed.
At least some of the plants have labels on here so that we don't have to remember. That's always assuming it is the correct label for the plant in question.
Sunbird - such brilliant colours.
Some of the flowers are so showy.
Isn't it time for lunch yet?
On our way back to our lunch stop we actually met the troupe of Baboons we had seen earlier, all looking very splendid. Was it safe to pass?
Seems like it was.
Our lunch destination
Little did we realise that the Baboons were also on their way to a lunch stop, which proved to be our lunch they were hoping to obtain.
We sat outside and ordered food. The waiter initially had to scare one of the troupe away using a paint ball gun. Another was trying the door handles further along the restaurant building, very clever. Whilst chasing this one away, another evaded the waiter and went into the restaurant to run off with someone's meal (must have been in cahoots with the other one who was distracting the waiter). The young waiter then stood at a respectful distance while we ate to prevent further food raids, particularly of our lunch. First time we've had an armed guard while eating. Could have done with that at school when there were chips on the lunch menu.
A Cape Wagtail on the lunchtime patio area.
The after lunch stop was at Stony Point to see some more penguin and cormorant.
View from the Point.
Plus some pretty birds in the car park, Cape Bulbul.
Before returning to the hotel we decided to have another shot at the Rockjumper site, and then try and spy some Southern Right Whales from the road on the way back.
Still no luck with the Rockjumper, but did see a few other species this time, plus the sun had come out. People seem to be able to build their house right on the waterfront here, literally on the high water mark.
Gazing out to sea on the way back along South Africa's equivalent of the Great Ocean Road a possible whale spout was spotted. Van stopped and disgorged some people to have a look through binoculars, but if the spout wasn't just wishful thinking it certainly wasn't there anymore.
Back at the ranch, or should I say farm village, dinner was in the pub next to the hotel. Time to back our bags, as tomorrow we move on.
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