It’s always a thrill to come across baboons foraging along the shoreline and in the rock pools and such was our luck today at Cape Point, Platboom beach. Generally their preferred diet is plant based, but several troops have adapted to eating mussels, limpets and crustaceans such as crab. It provides valuable omega oils and proteins to their diet. There were about twenty or so baboons in this troop and I couldn’t help admiring the statuesque alpha-male with his thick ‘cape’. The inland troops tend to be much darker in colour, while the coastal troops have much lighter fur – sun bleached highlights, with a bit of a ‘beach-bum’ attitude.
It’s always a thrill to see baboons foraging along the coast.
They have adapted to eating molluscs and some crustaceans.
Kelp has washed ashore after stormy seas, and presents opportunities to scavenge.
The shore also provides pickings.
Here the alpha-male dips a hand into the water.
The males develop a ‘cape’ of thick fur, and here the fur has a sun-bleached appearance.
A young female is engrossed in cracking mussels.
The low tide presents the opportunity to get at the mussels.
The alph-male is in fine shape, glossy coat, albeit a sunbleached, beach-bum look.
The mussels provide omega oils, and valuable protein in their diet.
I love this shot, they are content to just watch the world go by….
Nature on the Edge 
Theu are so nice. Interesting wildlife!
Yes… they’re are fascinating creatures… thanks Bente.
What an interesting sight to see.
Thanks for the comment Colline. They’re amazingly agile… and the juveniles just like children, jumping between rocks, kidding around. Just fascinating to watch.
Great series Liz, and Platboom is such s stunning location
Hi Chris… Platboom’s our latest favourite hike. E’s getting out and about again…. fishing too. Went through to Ceres last week – heavenly up in the mountains. 🙂
great pictures 🙂
Thanks Iceman 🙂
Nice collection here and my pick is the last one from this collection 🙂
Thanks Sreejith; the last’s my favourite too. 🙂
Wow… How lucky you are to see such a sight!
They’re a wonder to watch 🙂
Lovely studies, that alpha male has some powerful teeth!
Yes!! He certainly crackled and crunched his way through those mussels!
I love the last image!
Surveying the scene, without haste…. just being 🙂 🙂 Thanks Uday.
Slowing down in the right way. Just looking at them has a calming effect on me. And i have to rush, no GO slowly to work right now…
Dina x
I’m thrilled even to see them captured in your wonderful photos! I can only imagine happening upon them in the real world!
Imagine a diner tucking into a really good seafood platter, cracking mussels, crab, slurping with lip-smacking relish 🙂 🙂
Liz, this is a great presentation, I really enjoyed going through your photos. The last one looks award-winning, great capture of the two!
Best regards, Dina x
OK, so perhaps a little different backyard wildlife sighting than our white-tailed deer!
🙂 I believe though that their numbers are on the increase?
This winter I suspect has been very hard on them — in some areas they are doing emergency feedings to target breeding does. However, within City limits, they have target bow-hunting by special permitted hunters, to try and thin the herd as they become a real traffic hazard and nuisance. We have 4-5 deer who wander into our yard to pick off bird feeder castoffs along the ground – once in awhile in the morning with fresh snow, little hoofprints will be evident going up our front steps and back down again — just checking things out! While common, there’s still something special about crossing paths with one alone in the woods as you sit and consider each other.
These are amazing, Liz. What a joy to see!
Incredible images!
Thanks for your comment, Cynthia. We’re lucky at this end to witness such extraordinary creatures 🙂