October 16, A Whale of a Day!

We began our day with a very tasty and filling breakfast at our nice B&B - we were fueled for a full day of birding and sightseeing at West Coast National Park.  There are 3 different hides that we walked out to and had great views of various shorebirds, waders, terns, etc. One of the viewpoints we stopped at produced a really nice surprise, with a Southern Right Whale just out from the breakers "waving" it's tail out of the water time after time.  A new whale species for all of us!  We discussed whether we wanted to take the time and drive all the way to the end of the road at the park or spend more time birding in the hides.  Since we knew we would never be back we went to the end of the road.  We weren't disappointed!  Tom and Steve set up their scopes and began scanning the Atlantic ocean for birds, while Priscilla and I took photos of this beautiful beach.  Tom called me over after awhile to take a look through the scope - the ocean was boiling with Humpback whales spouting, breaching, slapping their fins against the water, breaking the water's surface with their backs!!!  Priscilla soon joined me on Steve's scope, and we commandeered both scopes for the next 1/2 hour not believing what an amazing sight we were seeing.  Other highlights of the day were 3 different Puffadders (poisonous snakes) crossing the road, 7 very small baby Ostrich, and an Eland (one more new mammal).  And we ended the day, and Steve & Priscilla's trip, celebrating at a wonderful restaurant named Baxter's recommended by our bed & breakfast hosts - a place that mainly the locals frequent.  The cost of food here - even excellent meals out - is outrageously inexpensive.  We calculated that we could have easily paid 4 times the price for tonight's dinner at home.

Photos are of a Bar-chested Anapolis, a White-fronted Plover, a Southern Double-banded Sunbird on an ice plant flower, one of many Ostrich for the day, a 3' long Puffadders, the bay at Langebaan, a Bush Karoo Rat, the scenic beach where we watched Humpback whales, a Greater Flamingo, and an Eland.