In the modern age, a camera has become a part of many birders’ arsenals. I am one of those birders, and photography is a significant part of the birding experience for me, along with the standard visual and audial aspects. I enjoy photographing birds, particularly silhouettes when you can only make out their shape. In the following short article, I delve into a brief experience I had of photographing bird silhouettes in the quaint town of Doringbaai on South Africa’s West Coast.
I spent an hour photographing birds on the rocky shore in front of our accommodation while the waves crashing onto the shore and Cape Spurfowls calling in the background created a sense of calm. Being on the West Coast meant the sun set over the Atlantic Ocean, allowing me to dabble in arty backlit photography.
The ubiquitous Kelp Gulls relaxing on the large rocks allowed for good photo opportunities at the early stages of sunset. I kept my eyes on the horizon, picking up rows of Cape Cormorants flying over the ocean’s surface in long lines.
Thin clouds had built up on the horizon as the sun dipped closer to the horizon, and once the sun had disappeared, they were illuminated in stunning orange and yellow tones. At this point, hundreds of Greater Crested Terns flew offshore, and the flocks provided a contrasting subject to frame against the bright colors of the clouds.
Meanwhile, a Pied Kingfisher hovered and caught a fish in the shallows while Rock Martins and Little Swifts showed off their acrobatics around me. In the dying light, Crowned, Cape, and White-breasted Cormorants congregated on an old jetty to roost for the night while the piping call of the African Oystercatcher could be heard in the distance.
Watching the sunset over the ocean is always wonderful, especially when the birds add a touch of elegance to the environment.