Cape parks - flowers and penguins *

[Tina]

thank you Pumbaa, Toko, Dewi and Flutterby

I am glad that you liked the pictures from the zoo

I think emus are rather "common" in South Africa. I saw the first ones in 2012 on the way from KTP to Upington and they have some at the Kgalagadi lodge as well.

@ Toko - Thali Thali Game Lodge

@ Toko and Dewi - thank you for confirming the ids

[Tina]

WCNP

18.09.2014

unfortunately breakfast was only available at 9 am. Thus we left the lodge only by 10:30 am. This time we arrived at the other gate in Langebaan where we were met by another very friendly guard. He told us to go to Geelbek to the main office for the wild card renewal which we did. On the way we saw

white-backed mousebird



one of many yellow-billed kites (1)



the first tortoise

[Tina]

an ostrich

[Tina]

I am not sure of the id of this one – maybe african marsh harrier?

[Tina]

another tortoise



pied crows



attacking one of the yellow-billed kites

[Tina]

At Geelbek we met the third very friendly SANParks employee who actually renewed our wild card. By 1:30 pm we could finally start to explore the Postberg section. Although there were very few spring flowers left,

[Tina]

pictures taken 31.08.2012







we saw other very nice plants. We had expected this but we were hoping to see some birds too – which we did. If all my ids are correct, we saw 25 lifers.

[Tina]

thank you Lis, Toko, Flutterby and Pumbaa

the flowers are really pretty in August. Mid-September was a bit too late and it was overcast that day as well.

[Tina]

In Geelbek the cape weaver ladies were taking a bath in a puddle





and another yellow-billed kite flew by

[Tina]

On the way we saw another tortoise



a pied starling (2)



cape sparrows



and a cape bulbul