Robberg

When the two surviving oyc chicks were big enough to ring, Daniel joined me for the trip to Robberg to ring the little ones. Firstly I was quite disconcerted to not find them anywhere near the original nesting site, but we found them a fair distance away on some rocks, hiding in a crevice. We ringed the two chicks and put them back in their hidey hole.

Their handy hidey hole.

You can't see me!

Trying to get the little ones out to ring.

Daniel holding the two ringed chicks, keep your eyes open!

Robberg

The oystercatcher population at Robberg has been doing better than the gulls that I have been surveying, and it was a day of mixed feelings when I went to go and check on the Robberg oycs. Of the four chicks that had hatched, two were alive and doing well, and I was able to get some cool photos. The other two were not doing so well. One had disappeared and the other was dead, most likely from drowning.

Fun fieldwork

They always look so cute and photogenic when they're small!

Plettenberg Bay beauty

I love where I stay!

Two cautious parents at Lookout with their successfully fledged chick.

It doesn't get better than this!

Swift Terns at Robberg.

A ray seen at Robberg.

An injured juvenile African Penguin at Robberg which was taken to Tenikwa.

Sunset supper at Robberg.

Robberg

Robberg was the most frustrating colony to reach, having to hike 30 minutes to get there, but it was always a rewarding experience!

Swift Tern.

Shirley and Selena heading off to do some disturbance trials.

Robberg

Mark joined Shirley and I for the first time to do field work at Robberg, we had some good fun and got all the work done!

Shirley and I at the rest stop after some climbing!

There are no walls to hold up at Robberg but signs sometimes need a hand.

Photo bomb!

An unsuccessful attempt at sliding down the dune on plastic bags!

An injured Sandwich Tern captured at Robberg.

Penguin peril

My family made the trek from Westville to Plett to spend 2 weeks with me, happiness! But of course birds don't stop breeding because I have guests and so I gained 3 helpers. On the first trip to Robberg we came across an adult African Penguin that didn't seem to be doing so well. We shaded it and decided to continue with what we came to do and check on the bird on our way back. Fieldwork is so much easier with a dedicated helper! Dad was the best field appy and made my work so much faster! After checking on all the nests, including one with the first chick of the colony, we headed back to the beach, and the penguin. It was still there and looking decidedly listless. We put it into a backpack to make the half hour hike back to the car. From there it went to Tenikwa, and then on to SANCCOB, and hopefully was released back into the wild.

My fieldwork site, the island. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Adult African Penguin.

Shirley on her way to fieldwork on the island. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Dad and I hard at work. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

On the edge. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Happy to have my dad here! Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Me, Nic and dad. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

My boetie!

First chick for Robberg!

These birds breed in the extremes. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Hot hot hot! Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Gathering the penguin to be put into the backpack. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Starting the walk back, penguin on dad's back. Photograph by Suzette Witteveen.

Some bits and pieces

Swift Terns at Robberg.

Tiny White-fronted Plover eggs!

Inter-species conflict - gull chicks very near an active Egyptian Goose nest.

Nelson Bay Cave

After visiting Robberg so often but not seen much more than our regular walk and the island, Shirley and I decided to take an evening stroll to the Nelson Bay Cave. We entered the rapidly darkening cave gingerly, only to be startled by an equally surprised pigeon rousted from its roost by our visit! We had a giggle, looking out for more birds or bats, and made our way along. Most of the cave is no-go territory but there is an educational underground room which was really interesting and linked the flora and fauna of the area to different periods of time. Really cool! We emerged to a stunning sunset and sat and had pies on the deck. A beautiful evening.

The layers of time.

More eggs

More interesting eggs!

A mini egg!

Interesting colouration.

There are a few eggs in the colony with paler colours.

The aftermath of a day in the field.