African sacred ibis visiting a dam on the farm. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa (2024). Adult with all-white body plumage, apart from dark plumes on the rump. Bald head and neck, thick curved bill and legs black. Wings white, showing a black rear border in flight. Eyes brown with a dark… Continue reading African sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)
Tag: Freshwater
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)
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)
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)
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)
Yellow-billed duck (Anas undulata)
Couple of yellow-billed ducks synchronously swimming on a farm dam. The Walsingham Farm, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2024). A dark brown with a distinctive, bright yellow bill with a black saddle. Blue-green speculum narrowly edged with white and grey underwings in flight. Pale feather edges give it a scaled appearance at close range.Sexes virtually alike,… Continue reading Yellow-billed duck (Anas undulata)
Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
Adult grey heron cruising the river in search of food. Kowie River, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape (2022) - iNaturalist A large, greyish heron of wetland habitats. Told in flight by its uniform grey underwing. Adult has mostly white head and neck, with black eye stripe ending in a wispy plume. Foreneck streaked black, with broad,… Continue reading Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
Pondoland river crab (Potamonautes danielsi)
Crab hoping to intimidate its handler. Assegaai Trails, Eastern Cape (2020) - iNat Purple, reddish-brown or greenish-brown carapace, fairly uniform in color. Tips of dactyli - the part of the legs that touch the ground - and chelipeds usually displaying a lighter orange color. Smooth to lightly granulated carapace at the flanks and epibranchial regions.… Continue reading Pondoland river crab (Potamonautes danielsi)
F*CK FISH 