Non-breeding adult. Note the whitish eyes and the grey smudges above eye and on cheeks. Hermanus, Western Cape (2020). Body white. Head, back and most of the upper surface of its wings grey. Tips of wings predominantly black, separated from the grey by a white flash. Legs and bill red. Eyes pale, with a red… Continue reading Grey-headed gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)
Tag: coastal
Manapany day gecko (Phelsuma inexpectata)
Reunion Island day gecko taking a sunbath on a common screwpine. Manapany-Les-Bains, Reunion Island (2025). Also called Reunion Island ornate day gecko. One of the smallest day geckos. Body dark green. Snout with a greenish or blueish spot. Three red stripes extend from the snout to the neck. On the side of the head, two… Continue reading Manapany day gecko (Phelsuma inexpectata)
Natal scale-worm (Lepidonotus durbanensis)
Natal scale-worm cruising on the underside of a rock on the rocky shores. Unknown location, South Africa (2021). Body elongated, about four times as long as broad. Upper surface of the body covered by 12 pairs of flat bean-shaped scales - called 'elytra' by Day (1969). Surface of each elytra covered with low spherical tubercles… Continue reading Natal scale-worm (Lepidonotus durbanensis)
African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
Dead specimen of jackass penguin washed up on the beach. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). Also called the jackass penguin. The only species of penguins that breeds in southern Africa. Adults are jet black, with diagnostic striped head and sides. Some have a double breast band as in the Magellanic penguin, but with a narrower… Continue reading African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
Cape gannet (Morus capensis)
Dead Cape gannet washed ashore. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). The largest gannet in the Sulidae family. Adult white with golden head, black stripe across the eyes and long black gular stripe down the throat, black tail and flight feathers. Some have 1 - 4 white outer-tail feathers. Pale blue bill pointed with fine serrations… Continue reading Cape gannet (Morus capensis)
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)
White-breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus)
Gang of white-breasted cormorant on the rocky shore. Kidds Beach, Eastern Cape (2018). Adult has a white throat and breast, washed pink in marine populations, with white thigh patches in breeding plumage, yellow skin at the base of the bill, and turquoise eyes. Juvenile has white underparts and browner upperparts. About 90 cm. The largest… Continue reading White-breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus)
African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)
A couple of African black oystercatcher on mussel beds and worm reefs. Old Woman's River, Eastern Cape (2018) - iNaturalist A large dumpy, unmistakable wader with its jet-black body, short pink legs and bright orange-red bill and eyes.Birds occasionally have white patches on the belly or entire plumage dove-grey. Male's bill averages shorter and less… Continue reading African black oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Two kelp gulls - only one visible - on a rock along the coast. Stormsrivier Mouth, Western Cape (2018) - iNaturalist The largest gull in the region, also called the Dominican gull. Heavily built, with relatively short wings (folded wings do not project well beyond the tail tip), a robust bill, a steep forehead, and… Continue reading Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)
Non-breeding adult cruising the rocky shores, in search of sustenance. Yzerfontein, Western Cape (2020) - iNaturalist Also known as the king gull. Short, thin and dark bill, with deep red legs. Eyes usually dark at all ages, but some birds have whitish eyes. Told from vagrant gulls in flight by grey underwing and mostly black… Continue reading Hartlaub’s Gull (Chroicocephalus hartlaubii)
F*CK FISH 