Firstly some apologies for my absence – we’ve been travelling for a few weeks. My original plan was to prepare some posts to publish on the go but things got away from me and it never happened. Maybe next time! And so back to July last year for a look at my favourite birding images from my stay in Montagu. The Cape robin-chat above is very tame and has my parents well trained to produce snacks of cheese on demand. If they are a bit tardy, he wanders into the house to hurry them up!
The gorgeous male Southern double-collared sunbird seen in the garden
Cape weaver on a wire feeder.
Female Cape weavers squabbling over the bread holder.
Birding in my parents’ garden is always rewarding, especially as they have a good supply of bird feeders. Another awesome spot in Montagu is the lei-water dam, used as a roost by egrets, herons and cormorants. It is right in town and has a great hide/platform which gives good access for photography. I could probably spend a whole day there — no-one else in the family can quite see the attraction as it is a bit smelly. My favourite image is the male Cape weaver in breeding plumage hanging from the bottom of his nest, which is built on the end of a thorny branch and suspended over water. Hope the lady weaver approves! We also found more industrious weavers in the nature garden on the other side of town – this time, a Southern masked weaver was busy with the beginnings of his nest. It was fascinating to watch him weave the grass strands in and out.
Incoming! Grey heron adding twigs to their nest at the lei-water dam.
Male Southern masked weaver beginning his nest.
Blackheaded herons at the lei-water dam
Male Cape weaver looking for female approval of his nest building skills.
Nature in Focus 
Great to see this collection. We like the info you have given on Montagu. Come back in summer to see different birds in our garden.
I’d love to come back in summer, although I do like your late winter sunrises and the cold weather.