I asked if I could walk with them, but maybe they thought that I could also fly?
Fortunate I was to get their take off on camera in a series of shots, but then I lost all interest in the couple of seagulls, as something new came along to grab my interest.
Let me show you!
Right, that's the gulls done and here is the surprise below!
This is called a "Caspian Tern" and I had no idea why it was here in South Africa, as the Caspian sea is far away. Then the kind Marian looked him up in a book and we found that they are also resident here.
The surprise is that they are inland birds, usually found near estuaries and large inland waters.
"They are the largest terns in the region and they are distinguished by their large size and their red bills. The flight is slow and it can even hover like a kingfisher in search of prey in the water and then it dives".
Taken from: "Pocket Guide to Birds of Southern Africa" Authors; Cillie and Oberprieler
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Thank you and upvoted!
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ohhh my goodness.....it's so nice photos.whre do you live?i think it is a birds village...because there have lot of birds around the are
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Thank you! This is a beach where we live in South Africa. There certainly are many birds across the country. Blessings!
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Lovely photos!
Isn't it a pleasant surprise to be able to capture a rare visitor and such a fine looking specimen too!
Thanks for sharing!
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-Thank you! Amazing how many new surprises I encounter in this old (new) part of the country where we moved to recently. It seems the drought has forced lots of inland animals to flee to these parts, never seen before! Blessings!
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Interesting that the drought is the cause of those inland animals appearing there!
I guess they have to go where there is some water even if it is salt water.
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Great shots. And yes, sometimes coincidence helps to discover something special.
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Thank you and you are so right. I call it, being in the right place at the right time! As coincidences can happen in a split second and one has to grab the opportunities! Blessings!
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How exciting to see a new bird in the skies, it really is much bigger than the terns we see. Massive red beak with dark tipped wings will allow easier identification next time Stephen.
Enjoyed seagull photography as always thanks for sharing @papilloncharity
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@joanstewart Thank you! I hear that there are many newcomers in the Cape Lady Joan and most amazingly a professor wrote an article in a local newspaper about the first appearance of the Charaxes butterflies here this week. Guess what? I've got one in beautiful clear shots, taken here in the garden.
The prof's article only contained a hand drawn picture and now I will send my photo to him! Blessings!
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It's so lovely seeing you're so close to the sea now, gorgeous shots and a real nice surprise!
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Thank you Lady Lizelle and thankfully not too close, as there are some terribly strong winds around here. It's amazing to see how the birds negotiate the winds down here. Blessings!
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such cool shots of the gulls but that surprise was a nice bonus what a beautiful bird
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Oh yeah, he is a beauty JJ and so glad that the opportunity came to grab a shot at him. He just looked different to all of the other fliers! Blessings!
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I am also glad you got the opportunity so we all got to see such a beauty
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Don't some terns migrate from pole to pole? Excellent catch, anyway.
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Thank you! Some do and maybe this "Caspian Tern" is one of the migrator's. I will have to find out. Blessings!
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