Settled in & on the go! So much to see & do that the first chance I got – out the camp I went. I heard that Wilderness is a wonderful spot to see bird life so that was my destination.
Wilderness & Sedgefield
Although the Olive Sunbird, along with other Sunbirds look very similar to North American hummingbirds they are not related. The African Sunbird (in which there are many beautiful ones.) are the equivalent to the hummingbird, both are nectar eaters, however the hummingbird is found in the Americas and the Sunbird is exclusively in Africa & Asia. Another difference is the sunbird who is hyper-active like the hummingbird, the sunbirds can only hover briefly before flowers for feeding while hummingbirds are capable of moving between hovering, gliding and flying in all directions.
Birds have definitely caught my attention, in fact, now I go out looking for birds – big shift in attitude! I find them fascinating the more you learn about them, a great example is the bird above: The Common Fiscal or Fiscal Shrike. This bird has other nicknames such as: Jackie Hangman or the Butcher Bird. Now, you may ask why those nicknames? It is because they have a habit of impaling its prey on acacia thorns to store food for later consumption. See what I mean — interesting!
Besides the birds, my travels down the coast were breathtaking. Driving along the coastline in the Western Cape is like driving Highway 1. The views of the Indian Ocean and the landscapes are spectacular.
The rolling waves and small beach towns are very quaint. The people I met along the way were so friendly and willing to help me find the best birding spots, or best coffee shops and always wanted to know where I am from. I never thought I had an accent – especially since I love the South African accent, but I guess we do in California.
The South African people are outdoor enthusiasts, kayaking, surfing, fishing, and swimming. One thing I enjoy doing when I come to a new place is to explore. I get in a car and take exits and try to find new things – ie: Safari! So as I pulled off for Victoria Beach and went to the very bottom of the hill, this is what I discovered below.
In nature, most animals will be born looking similar to the herd, however it is not 100% fool proof. The black impala above is a great example and one that is extremely rare. The odds for survival in nature is against this rare impala. The black is caused by a recessive gene which causes this black coloration. The reason for a narrower life span is because animals such as lions, leopards and other animals of prey have black & white vison and will be able to spot the Black Impala much easier than his fellow mates.
Returning to Camp
Driving back from Wilderness and turning into the gates at Garden Route Safari Camp, I felt at home. Like the birds, there is so much to learn about wildlife – birds, insects, bugs, mammals, and the environment that I feel so small and encouraged to learn more. How we can all play our part in this life.
Impalas are usually the first animal you will see on a safari. They are prevalent and they make great snacks for predators. The picture on the left is a bachelor herd. Only the males have horns and they do have a very distinct “M” on the rear end. The “M” is a follow me mark (found on both males & females) so when the babies are born they know who to follow. We will get more in-depth about this latter.
The bachelor herd is obviously made up of all males. The males create this bachelor herd because they are only needed when they mate with the females. There is a “rut” season, which means the males will than challenge one another for the rights of approxiametly 15-20 females. When a young male impala is about 1 year old, he is kicked out by the father and he will have to either join or create his own bachelor herd until it is time for him to have his own challenges & finally his own harem.
Male & Female Nayala
Sexual Dimorphism
The Nayala is the perfect example of Sexual Dimorphism. This is the condition where the sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics. It can be seen in things such as color, shape, size and structure.
Birds are a wonderful example of sexual dimorphism when you see a male bird very colorful and the female is very plain looking
Such a beautiful antelope with striking colorations for both the male & the female.
My drive to and from my job with the horses is fantastic! I bring along my camera and I wanted to share some of the sights I have had this week alone.
I hope this blog helps put a smile on your face & you are finding yourself more interested in the wildlife and all that surrounds us.
UNTIL WE RIDE AGAIN…
Amazing. You are getting the best of all…..love the coast in South Africa. Continue to enjoy. hugs
This is SO cool!
I am loving the birding!!! I will get you the secretary bird!
So Awesome!!! Thanks for the great update and fantastic photos!!!!!!
Keep ’em coming!!!
Thank you so much – I am loving my job
I’m loving the pictures. Yep, birds are amazing, thanks for the details and great photography
Thank you so much. Birding here is fantastic!