It's early morning on a mild winter's day in Kommetjie. Wisps of ice clouds provide a backdrop for an elegant formation of sacred ibis flying in from their roosting place. Individual birds peel away from the sides and glide down to their preferred feeding sites for the day. There is no sound but the swish of their wings.
Hard on their heels is what can only be described as a honk of hadedahs. What a racket as they approach in an untidy jumble - so unlike their quiet cousins. A few of them seem to have picked up flying tips from the ibises and they attempt a v-formation, but the rest of the flock just won't co-operate. There are now 22 of these raucous birds, which means that the environment is ideally suited to their breeding habits. Unlucky us! They eject copious amounts of bird poop as they fly and leave great streaks on the walls that have to be hosed off. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before someone gets a splat on the head. They say it's lucky, but perhaps not in large quantities.
Another johnny-come-lately is the Egyptian goose, which also appears to be thriving at the expense of more interesting indigenous birds. They are also inclined to be noisome and messy, but don't seem to travel in more than pairs, so that's something to be grateful for.
The little sunbirds nesting in the branches are feeding young ones, I think. One can only imagine how tiny and fragile the baby sunbirds must be. I would love to see one, but they are so well protected in the nest that they will be fledged by the time I notice them. I hope they survive the hazards that lie ahead, particularly my cat which lazes on the balcony railing nearby.
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