Birding South Africa 6 — Western Cape REVISED- (OSTRICHES, Cape Gannet Breeding Colony, Ibis, MORE)

Birding South Africa 6 REVISED. The 6th of our 7 video series highlighting our November 2017 trip to South Africa. Videos 5, 6 and 7 cover our time on the Western Cape of South Africa.

The "Cover Bird" for this video is the uncommon looking Common Ostrich (02:15). The rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean off the Cape of Good Hope were an extraordinary backdrop for our view of a pair of ostriches. We came upon them unexpectedly as we were leaving the Cape. We saw them while we were sightseeing in our vehicle and they saw us!

The MOST PHOTOGENIC AWARDS for this video in order of appearance:
1. Cape Batis (00:12) This handsome male was photographed at Harold Porter Botanical Garden at Betty's Bay. One of our favorite pictures on this video.
2. Cape Grassbird (08:42) is not brightly colored, shiny or unusual. However it was unusually photogenic while perched on this branch amid contrasting foliage and pods that matched the color of its crown.
3. Cape Cormorant (19:06) is another case of "The eyes have it!" Bright blue eyes and iridescent feathering complete the eye-catching ensemble.

CAPE GANNET BREEDING COLONY ON BIRD ISLAND beginning at (15:28) is the longest featured sequence of photos on this video. We observed many behaviors from the residents. We concluded the Cape Gannet spotlight with a bird looking right at the camera (17:44).To us it looked like it was a bit "miffed." We assume that it might be fed up with the neighbors.

LET"S COUNT!
1— Slangkop Lighthouse at Kommetjie (18:10)
2—species of Sunbirds: Southern Double-collared (03:30) and Malachite (13:20)
3—types of Ibis: Glossy (00:57), African Sacred (04:36) and Hadeda (13:03)
4—different Canaries: Black-headed (09:21), Protea (10:41), Cape (20:40) and White-throated (21:44)

TAKING PARENTAL DUTIES SERIOUSLY
—Female Cape Batis and chick beginning at (00:36)
—Male Malachite Sunbird with chick at (14:47). We don't usually like including feeders in photos, but made an exception for this one.
—Male Common Ostrich is leading the way for his chicks (03:05)

The LOOKS MOST LIKE ITS NAME AWARD for this video is presented to the Speckled Pigeon (12:12) because it is speckled. The pink "eye shadow" is a nice touch too.

"NEIGHBOR" BIRDS and FRIENDS— Their names state where they're from or live: Cape Batis (00:12); African Sacred Ibis (04:36); African Oystercatcher (05:15); Cape Cormorant (06:05) and (18:58); Cape Grassbird (08:42); African Pipit (10:25); Karoo Prinia (11:36); Cape Weaver (12:31); Black (Cape) Girdled Lizard (14:55); Cape Gannets (15:28); Cape Fur Seals (16:30, 17:52 and 18:01); Cape Canary (20:40).

CHECK OUT:
—Yellow-billed Kite (11:13) clutching something in its talons.
—An African Oystercatcher (08:01) resting in a sea of Swift Terns. It seems undisturbed by all the action going on around it.
—Trio of Herons: Grey (05:38), Black-headed (10:00) and Purple (20:20).
—African Penguins cameo at (17:52). Can you spot them?

Some other bird species featured include: terns, gulls, francolins, pied crow, cardinal woodpecker, lark-like bunting, egrets, martins, prinia and more.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST BIRD for this video is the Capped Wheatear at (22:06).

NOT JUST BIRDS: Mole Snake (06:14) was slithering across the road. (06:14) Don't worry, it made the crossing safely without any interference from us or anyone else. Chacma Baboons (08:09) We like to give them their space, so we don't approach them. That's what the Canon EF100-400 mm lens is for. Black or Cape Girdled Lizard (14:55) was sunning on this lichen covered rock. Cape Fur Seals uncredited at (16:30); with a mixed group (17:52) and featured at (18:01) were a "bonus" sighting while we were at the Cape Gannet Breeding Colony on Bird Island.

END FRAME is the View from the top of Table Mountain. If you look closely you'll see the a Table Mountain Cableway car on its way back down.

Locations visited on this video included: Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, False Bay Nature Reserve, Stony Point Penguin/Seabird Colony (also known as Betty's Bay Marine Protected Area/Kogelberg Nature Reserve Complex), Overberg, Kommetjie, Bainskloof Pass, Ceres, Voëlvlei Nature Reserve, Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope, Noordhoek Hills, Silvermine Nature Reserve, Leipoldtville, Wildevoelvlei Lake, Strandfontein Birding Area, Makapa Lodge, Capri, Bird Island on Lambert's Bay, Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, Velddrif, Tankwa Karoo National Park, West Coast National Park, Ritevlei Nature Reserve and Malmesbury.

Equipment used was Canon 70D with a Canon EF100-400mm lens and Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Thanks to Errol de Beer of Cheepers Africa! for setting up this private tour of the Western Cape for us. The accommodations were comfortable. The food delicious. We even had an American Thanksgiving South African style with a Braai!