Spiral fanworms on coralline algal crust at the bottom of a rock pool. Mouille Point, Cape Town, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Minute coiled worms with spiral shells. Head with a small number of feathery filter-feeding branches and a stalked operculum that blocks the shell. About 2 mm. Abundant everywhere, dotting most rocks in the… Continue reading Spiral fanworms (Spirorbis sp.)
Author: fockfish
Trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator)
Male trumpeter hornbill in a large tree. Port St Johns, Wild Coast, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist A medium to large, black-and-white hornbill. Smaller than the silvery-cheeked hornbill, with a white belly and lower breast, a black (not white) back and a smaller, darker bill. In fight, it has white trailing edges to its wings… Continue reading Trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator)
Spotted dikkop (Burhinus capensis)
Female spotted dikkop with its chick, cruising the streets. Graaf-Reinett, Eastern Cape (2021) - iNaturalist Also called the spotted thick-knee. Fairly large, with dark-brown and buff-spotted upperparts but lacking grey wing coverts. In flight, it shows small, white patches at the base of the primaries, while the remainder of flight feathers and greater coverts are… Continue reading Spotted dikkop (Burhinus capensis)
Orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea)
Male orange-breasted sunbird around a temporary pond. Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Adult male is easily identified by its orange belly and purple breast band, as well as its elongated central tail feathers. Yellow pectoral tufts only visible in display.Female is olive-green above, and yellow-green bellow (not grey like the smaller female of the… Continue reading Orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea)
Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala)
Juvenile black-headed heron, lacking the black crown yet, but showing the characteristic dark ear coverts. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024) - iNaturalist A large, greyish heron of terrestrial habitats. Slightly smaller than the grey heron, with contrasting dark flight feathers and pule underwing coverts in flight. Black crown and hindneck contrast with white throat. Underparts… Continue reading Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala)
Common greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Common greenshank running on a grass bed along the river banks. Kowie River, Eastern Cape (2022) - iNaturalist A fairly large wader with long, greenish (rarely yellowish) legs and toes. Larger than the marsh sandpiper, with a heavier, slightly upturned bill with grey-green base (not all dark, needle-like bill of the marsh sandpiper) and relatively… Continue reading Common greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Adult black-winged stilt wading along the river banks. Kowie River, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2022) - iNaturalist A fairly large, black-and-white wader with very long, red legs and a thin, pointed, black bill. In flight, black underwings contrast with white underparts, and long legs trail conspicuously. Head and neck vary from pure white to predominantly… Continue reading Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
African fish eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer)
African fish eagle resting high up a tree. Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape (2018) - iNaturalist Previously known as Haliaeetus vocifer. Adults are unmistakable, with their white head, breast and tail contrasting with their black and chestnut wings, back and underparts. Females larger and more extensively white on breast than males. Juvenile is a… Continue reading African fish eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer)
Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
Female pied kingfisher resting on a jetty. Kowie River, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2022) - iNaturalist A large, black-and-white kingfisher, with a long, black bill and short crest. Male has a double breast band, while female has a single, incomplete breast band.Juveniles like females, but with the feathers from chin to breast edged buff. 23… Continue reading Pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
Goliath heron (Ardea goliath)
Goliath heron cruising in the shallows. Kowie River, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2022) - iNaturalist The largest heron, with a massive, heavy bill. Rich chestnut brown head, neck and underparts, which recall the much smaller purple heron. Unstriped head and blackish legs and bill. In flight, the huge, broad wings beat slowly and deeply. Juveniles… Continue reading Goliath heron (Ardea goliath)
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