AFRICAN PENGUIN NEST, STONY POINT, BETTY'S BAY, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

KELP GULL, STONY POINT, BETTY'S BAY, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this gull as a Kelp Gull by its large size, yellow bill with an orange spot near the tip, grayish legs, dark eyes, white head and underparts and dark back.

   The Kelp Gull is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 485.

AFRICAN PENGUIN COLONY, STONY POINT, BETTY'S BAY, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA a

   The Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty's Bay is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of African Penguins.  A boardwalk runs through the colony, so you can see the penguins really up close.  Also present in the colony are cormorants, gulls and Rock Hyrax.  The African Penguin is also known as the Jackass Penguin and Black-footed Penguin. 

   We can ID the  adult penguins seen in these photos as African Penguins by their upright stance, black-and-white striped heads, continuous black band along the flanks and across the breast (some have double bands across the breast), black feet and pink around the eyes.

   The penguins in the sixth and last (on the right) photos are African Penguins that are molting.  Once a year the African Penguin undergoes a 'catastrophic molt'.  This is a 20 day period during which time the penguins losses all its feathers at one time.  During this time the penguins can't forage as they are not waterproof.  Prior to the molt the African Penguins gorge on food to build up a fat reserve.

   The African Penguin is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 484.

ROCK HYRAX, STONY POINT, BETTY'S BAY, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

NONBREEDING HARTLAUB'S GULL, STONY POINT, BETTY'S BAY, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this gull as a nonbreeding Hartlaub's Gull by its pale grey back and upper wings,  completely white head, dark eyes and dark bill and legs (bill and legs are actually dark red, but in light we had they look black).  This gull is a non-migratory breeding resident endemic to the Atlantic Ocean coastline of South Africa and Namibia.

   Hartlaub's Gull  is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 483.

FEMALE CAPE SUGARBIRD, ROOI-ELS, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this bird as a female Cape Sugarbird by its long downcurved bill, malar streak, yellow pollen-stained crown and forehead and yellow under its tail.

   The Cape Sugarbird is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 482.

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SPECKLED PIGEON, ROOI-ELS, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

   We can ID this pigeon as a Speckled Pigeon by its white-Speckled reddish back and wings, reddish patch around eyes and grey head.

   The Speckled Pigeon is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 481.