The Montagu Roosting Tree

We came across all the birds on this page at an amazing acacia tree above a mill pond in Montagu

African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

African Sacred Ibis on a roosting tree at Montagu
African Sacred Ibis on a roosting tree at Montagu

The African Sacred Ibis was venerated in Ancient Egypt as representing the god Thoth and often mummified.  Thoth was an important god and often represented as a man with an ibis or baboon's head.  The ibis, with its curved bill, represented the moon and the baboon nocturnal intelligence. A mediator and scribe Thoth was credited by the Ancient Egyptians as,

 

the author of all works of science, religion, philosophy, and magic.The Greeks further declared him the inventor of astronomy, astrology, the science of numbers, mathematics, geometry, landsurveying, medicine, botany, theology, civilized government, the alphabet, reading, writing, and oratory. They further claimed he was the true author of every work of every branch of knowledge, human and divine (Thoth).

 

More of a marshland bird than the Hadeda Ibis, the Sacred Ibis eats frogs, fish, small reptiles and insects.  Where it has been introduced it has become a predator of other birds nests, particularly terns. (Wikpedia

We came across the African Sacred Ibis in Montagu where there is a small dammed pond with an acacia tree that acts as a roosting spot for a multitude of ibis, egret, cormorant and weaver birds. 

Acacia roosting tree in Montagu
Acacia roosting tree in Montagu

Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

Male Cape Weaver and nests
Male Cape Weaver and nests

We came across these Cape Weavers at the pond in Montagu above. The males were building their intricate nests of woven grasses in amongst the fierce thorns of an acacia bush.

Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

MoorhenThis Red Knobbed Coot (fulica cristata) was also on the pond at Montagu
Moorhen

Thanks to William D Thompson of Montagu for setting me straight on this.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) on the roosting tree at Montagu
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) on the roosting tree at Montagu

Reed Cormorant (phalacrocorax africanus)

We also saw this Reed Cormorant (phalacrocorax africanus) at the Montagu roosting tree. It is the only true fresh water cormorant
We also saw this Reed Cormorant (phalacrocorax africanus) at the Montagu roosting tree. It is the only true fresh water cormorant