Cape Teal

Photographing birds in the Western Cape is one of my favourite pastimes. I am always on the lookout for opportunities to capture these magnificent creatures and showcase their unique features. Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing a Cape Teal as it basked in the sun at the water’s edge of a lake near Wilderness in the Western Cape, South Africa. The Cape Teal’s rose-pink bill and orange-red eyes beautifully complement its warm buff, patterned feathers. The lighting conditions were ideal, allowing me to capture an image that truly captures the essence of the moment. In terms of habitat, Cape Teals are commonly found in open saline or brackish wetlands, particularly in coastal lagoons and estuaries within the Western Cape.

By a lake near Wilderness, I stood,
Where a Cape Teal graced the water’s hood.
With bill of rose and eyes of fire,
Its beauty ignited a deep desire.
Feathers adorned in patterns grand,
Warm buff hues painted by nature’s hand.
As light cascaded, the scene aglow,
I aimed my lens, a story to bestow.
A picture that captured the ambiance true,
A testament to the beauty that once I knew.