Westcoastnationalpark

@goflow42 nearly stepped on this beautiful lady just outside the Geelbek restaurant in West Coast National Park as we were walking towards one of the bird hides. This is only the second time @withoutaleaf and I have seen one of these beautiful cats in the wild - they can be spotted anywhere between here and Iran. Caracals are expert bird-ambushers. They can leap to extraordinary heights to pull down birds trying to escape by flight. This one was only slightly bigger than a house cat, but full grown males are considerably larger. ...

The Southern spring is go.

Some rocks I fancied.

But the sun did come through over the mudflats and marshlands of West Coast National Park. And then the grey grasses and plants came with the showiness of Avataar. It’s a beautiful and complex landscape brimming with life - at least until capitalism washes it all away.

Another day, another bird hide. Loads of flamingos, avocets, three-banded plovers, Kilitz’s plovers, whimbrels, greenshanks, African oystercatchers, even in the Southern winter.

@withoutaleaf has some time off after her last job. So we went down to the gloomy West Coast National Park. Despite the weather, time well spent. Fascinating scenes on the mudflats.