letting nature back in

The coastal path at the settlement of Onrus meanders through fynbos vegetation above the rocky shoreline. On our recent visit we enjoyed the sea air, wonderful views of the kelp-laced ocean swells and breakers, and walking among the diversity of plants and birdlife.

It’s hard to know whether to focus on the restless sea, the plants alongside the path, the seabirds on the rocks and flying by, or to stop to catch sight of the small birds flitting about inland of the path. Fortunately there are well-placed benches along the way enabling walkers to rest and watch, chat or ponder.

Watching the breakers and the bobbing kelp can be mesmerising

During our stay in Onrus, which is adjacent to Hermanus on the southern coast of the Western Cape, we experienced 24 hours of unusually heavy rain – welcome as there are ongoing water restrictions in place as the winter-rainfall region enters its dry season. The day after the rains the wind abated and the sun came out to provide the coastal path with a gleaming radiance.

The pale mauve and white flowers of a member of the Ice Plant Family gleam in the morning sunshine. I think that this is a species of Drosanthemum, one of the group of flowering succulents that are known in South Africa as vygies

Very showy are the lovely daisy-like flowers of the Senecio elegans

Attracted to the flowers alongside the path was this long-proboscid fly

Singing insistently next to the path and ignoring me as I peeped at it around and over the vegetation was this Karoo Prinia

I was surprised to see that the Hadeda Ibis has adapted to life at the seaside

From the path we spotted a solitary Rock Hyrax, known here as a Dassie, down among the rocks near to the sea

Also down in the rocks when the tide was out, we saw this Little Egret – stepping high and revealing a yellow foot – hoping to find food in the shallow rock pools

After preening, a cormorant spreads its wings against a background of surf

We thought this low-growing Crassula with its maroon fleshy leaves and tiny cream flowers was enchanting

The most prominent of the pelargoniums growing along the coastal path is the Pelargonium cuculatum 

A Grey Heron stands tall as it surveys the shoreline

 Fresh water from the heavy rain the night before streams down to the rocky shore

On the previous overcast morning ahead of the rain, looking out past Hermanus across Walker Bay to De Kelders and Gansbaai, the mood on the coastal path was relatively subdued

Posted by Carol