Day 130 – Terns

The weather continues to be unseasonably lovely and so we continue to enjoy the outdoors as much as we can. Today’s Quota Photo comes from Rasper Punt, just along the coast from Cape Agulhas.

An unedited shot of several (or more) Swift Terns which were passing through into a stiff north-westerly breeze. And this was just a fraction of the flock which filled most of the sky at one point.

I might have a play with this one when I get home – it’s a bit washed out and doesn’t do justice to what we actually saw.

But right now: birthday cake and beer. A wonderful combination.
Geniet jou dag. Wear a mask.

Of whales

A quick trip around the corner (not this corner, another corner) from the cottage took us to Rasper Punt.

We were there, not just because it’s a nice walk through the fynbos to the beach, but because on that beach was a dead whale.
Dead whales might not be to everyone’s tastes (in fact, I’d advise you not to even think about eating one), but they are interesting when you’ve never seen a dead whale up close before. Sad, but educational.

And so we went to have a look, take some photos, poke it gingerly and slip all over the whale-oiled rocks.

I am not an expert in whaleology, but I think (think) this might be a Humpback. Probably 8-9 metres long, lying on its back, its body attacked by the seagulls and its skin sliced by some humans. And why not?
It’s not going to need it anymore, is it? See my link on “Stuff you can make from dead whales” (jks, I never wrote that post, but I know it’s a lot). Having stood on the rocks with the oil leaching from our floppy friend, my feet are so lovely and soft from all the grease on the stones.
I’ve never felt so young! Just wait til Tim Noakes hears about this.

It was blowing a literal gale while we were down there, so conditions weren’t great for togging stuff, but I got a few which I’ve put onto Flickr already.