Male Cape weaver working on a brand new nest. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2024). A large weaver with a long, pointed bill. Breeding male is less yellow above than 'golden' weavers, with a chestnut wash on the face and throat, but lacks the well-defined bib of the Southern brown-throated weaver… Continue reading Cape weaver (Ploceus capensis)
Category: South Africa
Common ghost mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa)
Male leaf mantid attempting to remain motionless to blend with its surroundings. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Large mantid that mimics dead leaves. Head has a long, erected, wavy dorsal projection. Legs are ornamented with prominent leaf-like lobes.Males are slender and mottled brown with dark shoulders and a darker cross on their… Continue reading Common ghost mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa)
Cape terrapin (Pelomedusa galeata)
Cape terrapin found on the side of a dirt road. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Large-sized, often dark-coloured helmeted terrapin. Pectoral scutes always with broad or very broad contact at the plastral midseam. Either two small temporal scales present on each side of the head, or one large undivided temporal scale. Two… Continue reading Cape terrapin (Pelomedusa galeata)
Fiscal flycatcher (Sigelus silens)
Male fiscal flycatcher on top of a scrawny dead tree. Baviaanskloof, Eastearn Cape (2020). A striking, pied flycatcher with white panels in otherwise black wings and tail. Resembles the Southern fiscal in broad colour pattern, but bill more slender, tail shorter, legs longer and white in wings confined to secondaries (not wing coverts) and white… Continue reading Fiscal flycatcher (Sigelus silens)
Painted bug (Bagrada hilaris)
Two adult painted bugs mating, the smaller one being the male. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also called the bagrada bug, or the twee-twee-luisie. Adult males and females are similar in appearance, with the female being larger. Back of both sexes black with orange and white spots. Underside of the abdomen varies… Continue reading Painted bug (Bagrada hilaris)
Cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)
Male cardinal woodpecker pecking up a tree. Grahamstown, Eastern Cape (2020). A small woodpecker with a streaked breast and belly. Back is boldly barred in the South, while becoming plainer in the North-East. Both sexes have a plain, whitish face with a bold, black moustachial stripe. Slightly smaller than the green-backed woodpecker. Both sexes are… Continue reading Cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)
Cape river mussel (Unio caffer)
Live Cape river mussel with hand for size. The Walsingham Farm, Kowie River, Eastern Cape (2022). Previously called Cafferia caffer. Large robust brown mussels. Posterior end of adult shell angular in outline. Juveniles show zigzag sculpture over the shell, as well as growth lines. Adults retain growth lines, but not sculpture. 87.3 x 46.6 mm.… Continue reading Cape river mussel (Unio caffer)
Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra)
Adult Cape robin-chat in a picnic area. Baviaanskloopf, Eastern Cape (2020). A dark-backed robin-chat with a fairly short, white supercilium and pale orange throat, upper breast, vent and rump, the remainder of the underparts being pale grey. Juvenile is browner above, with buff spotting, dull buffy-brown underparts and mottled darker brown shade on the breast.… Continue reading Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra)
Eastern granular limpet (Scutellastra natalensis)
Eastern granular limpets on a rock face, showing the black granules that decorate their fine ribs. Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal (2021). Previously known as Patella echinulata or Patella natalensis. Roughly oval, with approximately 50 fine ribs textured with black granules (and not white as in Scutellastra granularis). Often eroded, smoothing the ribs and revealing a brown… Continue reading Eastern granular limpet (Scutellastra natalensis)
Greater double-collared sunbird (Cinnyris afer)
Male greater double-collared sunbird posing in a tree by the house. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Larger than the Southern double-collared sunbird, with a long, heavier bill. Male has a broader, red breast band bordered above by a violet-blue band, with yellow pectoral tufts. Female grey-brown above, paler below. Immature male has… Continue reading Greater double-collared sunbird (Cinnyris afer)
F*CK FISH 