INTAKA ISLAND CAPE TOWN- A BIRDING ADDICTION
I often wonder what I did during the hours that I spend birding in the past prior to this hobby becoming almost an addiction to date. I do recall that I spend far less time wandering around shopping malls or aimlessly googling my life away. Speaking of shopping malls reminds me that the Intaka Island bird sanctuary is part of the Century City Canal Walk shopping mall precinct. The bird sanctuary is accessible by boat from the shopping centre through the system of canals built around Canal Walk. There is off course the other way, i.e by car that brings you right to the doorstep of the reception area and education centre of Intaka Island.
Returning to this talk of addictive bird watching, the convenience of taking an hour or two off a days schedule, the safety of and the design and layout of Intaka Island has undoubtedly facilitated this process. The variety of bird species and the fascination of watching waterbirds mainly helps as well.
On Friday 15th April 2011 I feasted my visual senses once again on what Intaka Island had to offer on this day. The Malachite Kingfishers never fail to make an appearance nowadays as compared to the numerous times during my early jaunts to Intaka when they failed to show their brilliant plumage. I even got to take some unusual poses of them on this occasion.
Two purple herons made their appearance at pond 5 and struck up numerous poses suggestive of imminent success in capturing their meals, but nil was forthcoming. I still maintain that they are an epitome of patience, given the length of time they can remain rooted to one spot without the slightest movement but with the appearance of an almost exaggerated picture of concentration that is etched on their external countenance.
I have been observing an baby cormorant who visits pond 5 regularly and perches on the dryed out tree bark in the middle of the pond. I am amazed at how this bird has grown over a period of one month. Perhaps this is not surprising given the amount of time they spend seeking out their food. I am informed that there is an adequate supply, if not an oversupply of frogs and fish to keep the regular birds at Intaka Island happy. This is certainly borne out by the number of shots that I have managed with the birds in the process of catching or ingesting their meals. This remind me that I need to air a gripe about the removal of the dead tree barks from this pond. Although one was replaced, I do regret that the one with a pronged branch closest to the walkaway to the bird hide has not been replaced. This I remember used to be the favourite perch of the pied kingfishers. I have photos to prove this. I am however pleased that a recent clean up of encroaching vegetation along the walking paths makes access easier.
A sample selection of some of the other birds seen on this day follows.
I must repeat in conclusion that the material contained in this blog is strictly copyrighted. Please obtain the consent in writing of the copyright holder prior to copying or reproducing any of this material. The copyright holder can be contacted through a message left in the comments box. The photos and written material is also available for purchase.
Returning to this talk of addictive bird watching, the convenience of taking an hour or two off a days schedule, the safety of and the design and layout of Intaka Island has undoubtedly facilitated this process. The variety of bird species and the fascination of watching waterbirds mainly helps as well.
On Friday 15th April 2011 I feasted my visual senses once again on what Intaka Island had to offer on this day. The Malachite Kingfishers never fail to make an appearance nowadays as compared to the numerous times during my early jaunts to Intaka when they failed to show their brilliant plumage. I even got to take some unusual poses of them on this occasion.
Two purple herons made their appearance at pond 5 and struck up numerous poses suggestive of imminent success in capturing their meals, but nil was forthcoming. I still maintain that they are an epitome of patience, given the length of time they can remain rooted to one spot without the slightest movement but with the appearance of an almost exaggerated picture of concentration that is etched on their external countenance.
I have been observing an baby cormorant who visits pond 5 regularly and perches on the dryed out tree bark in the middle of the pond. I am amazed at how this bird has grown over a period of one month. Perhaps this is not surprising given the amount of time they spend seeking out their food. I am informed that there is an adequate supply, if not an oversupply of frogs and fish to keep the regular birds at Intaka Island happy. This is certainly borne out by the number of shots that I have managed with the birds in the process of catching or ingesting their meals. This remind me that I need to air a gripe about the removal of the dead tree barks from this pond. Although one was replaced, I do regret that the one with a pronged branch closest to the walkaway to the bird hide has not been replaced. This I remember used to be the favourite perch of the pied kingfishers. I have photos to prove this. I am however pleased that a recent clean up of encroaching vegetation along the walking paths makes access easier.
A sample selection of some of the other birds seen on this day follows.
I must repeat in conclusion that the material contained in this blog is strictly copyrighted. Please obtain the consent in writing of the copyright holder prior to copying or reproducing any of this material. The copyright holder can be contacted through a message left in the comments box. The photos and written material is also available for purchase.
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