Winter weather and things that fly by in the sky

We awoke to winter today in Kommetjie.  Well, only with rain, not cold, but still needed to rummage in the clothes cupboard for long sleeves and closed shoes. It's been raining steadily all morning and now that it is lunchtime, the clouds are becoming thinner and no doubt in an hour or two will have started to disappear.

The doves have been perched glumly on a dead branch, but the seabirds have been enjoying a bit of a freshwater rinse and have taken to the air a number of times. The small garden birds revel in a shower of rain and flit among the branches, shaking their feathers out before darting out into the open again.

The doves have suddenly flown off in alarm, and the cause has just alighted in the old gum tree - a black sparrowhawk looking for dinner! An iridescent double-collared sunbird twitters unconcernedly among the twigs, safe in the knowledge that this big bird won't be able to fly into the closely packed branches and snatch it up in its claws.

I have just looked out of the window and seen a flamingo flying past - what an amazing sight! And somewhat unexpected! I've never seen one here before, but I know they have recently arrived at the Wildevoelvlei wetland about 5 km away from here and this must have been a straggler. I hope they fly by regularly. All you can see is two wings and long legs and neck balance it out. Very fragile looking.

Yesterday another skyflyer flew by, at about the same level as the flamingo, and gave me quite a fright. It was an old Dakota doing a scenic trip around the Peninsula and it was flying just above the rooftops (or at least no higher than the lighthouse) along the coastline and at a 45 degree angle to show its passengers our pretty little seaside village! I doubt whether the aviation authorities allow such low flying, but as with our roads, who is going to issue a ticket? At least it was lumbering along sedately, unlike the black jet that shrieked past the other day at what, 900km/hr perhaps, also at a very low level.

There is certainly never a dull moment when you look out of your window in Kommetjie. I just never seem to be able to get the camera out in time!