The morning started cool and rainy... but cleared up enough to take some early morning shots along Clarens Drive to Rooi-els and Bettys Bay. The road around Klein Hangklip was still in shadow when we arrived but Orange-breasted Sunbirds were already doing their rounds of the Ericas. We decided to wait for the birds to come to the shrubs which worked well and some spectacular close-ups of males feeding were obtained.

A walk along the road produced the male Cape Rock Thrush as well as the rare Sentinel Rock Thrush feeding close to the road. The small party of Cape Rockjumper were working their way down the rocky scree whilst the Black Eagles were working away at repairing their nest ready for the breeding season which would start soon. Ground Woodpeckers had already moved to the lower altitudes near the sea and were calling in the sun from the large boulders. One of the birdbaths at a holiday cottage as being used by the Cape Francolins, Red-winged Starlings and Cape Bunting to keep their feathers in shape for the spring breeding season which was just around the corner.

Stony Point had a fair amount on Jackass Penguins feeding young and the Cape and Crowned Cormorants were sitting tight on their eggs to prevent any loss to the Kelp Gulls which were cruising overhead. Without any wind photographic opportunities were excellent. Sacred Ibis and White-fronted Plovers were patrolling the kelp which had washed up on the beach for any tasty morsel. On return the vehicle, Crowned Plovers were patrolling the car park, a difficult bird to find these days as the Blacksmith Plovers were taking over their territory and were not restricting themselves to swampy areas.

By the time we returned to Cape Town in the late afternoon the Jackal Buzzards were still perching on the telegraph poles showing off their rufous chests and White-necked Ravens were patrolling the roadway.

The setting sun over False Bay drew another good day to an end.