I promised you penguins...

Boulders Beach, Simonstown

So, we've done whales... now it's time to waltz with penguins...

The Boulders Beach penguin colony was formed in about 1983 and is now home to some 3000 (or more) African Penguins. The penguins were formally known as Jackass Penguins because they bray - loudly - just like donkeys. This time of year is the moulting season and the penguins, having gone on a massive feeding frenzy in the preceding months, come ashore to moult. During this time they're particularly vulnerable. They can't go into the sea to feed and have to conserve energy. So, what you see is a lot of penguins lolling about looking decidedly scrappy and scruffy - and lethargic!

Conserving energy on a sunny rock

Click to enlarge images above and below to read more about penguins and moulting

Hanging about, all a-moult...

A wooden boardwalk leads visitors down to the rocks and onto the beach. The beach and rocks themselves are not accessible, so as to give the penguins some space and peace. However, when not moulting, the penguins can be found everywhere, on the beach, on the rocks and in the neighbouring gardens - and they can get decidedly territorial! It goes without saying the penguins make a lot of mess and dig deep hollows for nesting. Not really the sort of bird you'd want in your garden... (about as bad as guinea fowl really....)

Early moult and late moult. The penguin in the front is pretty much in his new feathers. The one in the rear of the image is decidedly mid-moult!

Now, open wide... Didn't you just always want to stare down a penguin's throat...

Sunbathing

Me and my shadow

Sssh, I'm meditating

Not now! I'm resting! Point that camera somewhere else!

(I know it looks peaceful, but there were a gazillion tourists all snapping away and making a lot of ooh and ah and other noisy sounds!)

Plump and shy, getting ready to shed my feathers...

Teenage penguin

Please do not disturb

Stepping out - and looking decidedly "lean"

A final view of penguins slumbering on the rocks

And this is a sign to heed before getting in your car and driving away!

It's a tough life...

And herein lies the tale of the strange balance/imbalance of life in South Africa...

It was another hellish day in Africa... as an old friend used to say. It's a tough life but someone has to do it, as another friend said.

It was one of those Sundays filled with blue skies, sunshine, whales, penguins, good food and more sunshine.

And all of it took place only 15 minutes from home. Seriously. No schlepping off to Hermanus to watch whales. We were in fact just planning a short trip down the coast to commune with the colony of African Penguins - and then we saw familiar splashing in the sea...

It turned into a wonderful day, which looked like this:

Above Muizenberg - a seaside suburb frequented by surfers and sharks...

Muizenberg, Surfer's Corner and the Old Railway Station

A Sunday scene of yachts and whales...

It makes for a whale of a tale...

Getting up close and really personal...

Food on the wing...

Rockpool dreams

The southern Cape Town coastline - the peak in the distance is Muizenberg Peak (see first pic)

African (Jackass) Penguins at the Boulders Penguin Colony

Boulders Beach, Simonstown (Simonstown is the southern most suburb of Cape Town)

And then we wended our way back home.

Nothing like a plate of antipasto misto and a sunny garden in which to enjoy it...

Now, there are huge numbers of whale pictures, penguin pictures and a few landscape shots. Do you want to see more? Especially the whales and penguins? The whale shots are the best I've managed to get so far, I think.
If you're up for more, let me know.