So we came to look for whales and dolphins, but instead we found a beautiful feathered surprise.
A new first find for me and a gift that made my heart sing!
The mountain pass runs all along the ocean at the bottom of the mountains for many kilometers.
Of course the scenery is fantastic forcing me to stop the car at every opportunity to take some photos.
While stopped the surprise appeared.
This is an Orange-breasted Sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea) only found in the Cape Province of South Africa.
The surprise was that he came to sit in some fynbos near to our car.
And of course he proceeded to have a look at me.
Ah! His wife was also hanging around to search for nectar in that beautiful fynbos.
She then flipped up to the top of the bush and the sun lit those leaves up like a brush of candles.
See the bushes here below next to the road?
This was where I got the male sunbirds, in those bushes and I got the female on the opposite side at the mountain.
Finally another two males popped up out of nowhere and as they took off I had to get out of the sun and we moved on.
So yes, this was a real gift from mother nature and maybe she remembered my birthday a week ago. I don't mind as it is the best gift that I could ever have received and now I finally also have these beauties on my list.
I will have to find them a song teacher though, as they mimic other birds in song.
Here's more information on these little wonders.
The orange-breasted sunbird (Anthobaphes violacea) is the only member of the bird genus Anthobaphes; however, it is sometimes placed in the genus Nectarinia. This sunbird is endemic to the fynbos habitat of southwestern South Africa. They are sexually dimorphic with females being olive green while the males are orange to yellow on the underside with bright green, blue and purple on the head and neck.
Source
And That's All Friends!
Note: All photos are my own and taken with a Canon Powershot SX60HS Bridge camera.
We hope that you have enjoyed the story and the pictures.
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Very exciting sighting, such a pleasure to see local birds of the region, having them sit giving photographic opportunity, yes the best surprise gift anyone could wish for.
Stunning drive!
!ENGAGE 20
I was so happy to at last get them on camera Lady Joan, as I only had fleeting sights of them before.
But I knew that the day will come that I will get them and now its done.
Thank you and I am glad that you appreciated the post.
Blessings and !LUV
Look forward to see you visit some posts again, love the Cape pity it is so far away.
!LUV
Are you meaning some of your posts Lady Joan? Surely will do!
I should have moved here when I wanted to 12 years ago. But such is life.
Blessings and !LUV
Best thing we ever did was move to the coast, should have gone to the Cape as we originally planned, George was place selected just no work available.
Oh yeah, I know Geoge well having spent much time there what I was in 1 SAI in Oudtshoorn.
A great destination, but I suppose some other thoughts or situations made you settle where you are now my friend. Always desires when we look back.
Blessings and !LUV
Enjoy that region, Oudtshoorn another place to live off the coast but Oh so close offering a completely different way of life.
!ENGAGE 20
!BEER
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ENGAGEtoday.Wow so wonderful the journey. 👍
Thank you and glad that you liked the journey 🙂
🇹🇭 Welcome to journey in Thailand 🇹🇭, but now covid-19 crisis again in Thailand 😟
Such beautiful birds - amazing colors, great finds 😃
I love that first photo of the Orange-breasted Sunbird where he looks you directly in the eyes - cool shot Zac 👍
Cheers and !BEER
!invest_vote
I was totally amazed to see the birds next to the sea my friend.
Yes, they were high up next to the road in the mountain pass, but the air was thick and salty and one would think that they would live further inland.
Glad that you liked the tag picture. One thing that I have learned is that the first picture of a post is the most important.
Many people don't even open the post and they vote on the picture in the feed.
Just at the right place at the right time 🤣
Cheers and thank you.
As said before, I have no knowledge about birds and their behaviour, but I like to see them and sometimes I'm even able to take a photo ;)
You're most welcome, my friend, and you're right, the first image is the most important one. I also belong to the people who wouldn't open some posts if the thumbnail doesn't show something I like or that looks interesting. So you're doing a great job with your thumbnails, but I would open your posts anyway ;)
Cheers and !BEER
!invest_vote
Well in a few years time you might have many idle moments to learn about birds 🤣
Some days I am lucky and my thumbnail earns $30, but the comments are zero and I would prefer some more engagement on the posts.
Both you and I put a lot of effort in our posts and at times it is nice to be appreciated.
But I don't worry much about this and just continue posting.
Cheers and thanks.
That's true, and mostly I get comments from the same people, my closest friends on the Hive :)
You might have noticed that I have become a very lazy commenter too. This will change as soon as I have more time. Then I also want to post more than 3 or 4 times a month ;)
Cheers and !BEER
!invest_vote
Oh yeah and I also share some of those friends with you, so we seem to keep the same company 🤗
Wow, only 3 or 4 posts a month, what a nice dream for me as I am now doing 2 posts every day in an effort to build my HP.
The growth is a slow and a tedious grind, but I have never minded hard work.
Cheers and thanks.
One day I'll have more time and motivation again to do even daily posts again, but at the moment it's just not possible.
You have my full respect, doing 2 posts a day while working hard and busy all day long 👍
Cheers and !BEER
!invest_vote
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