My previous trip to Long Reef had been ver good for photographing the local Ospreys despite very bad weather – particularly the strong cold wind. This time the weather forecast was better, but it looked like it might be a bit gloomy and overcast most of the day.
When I arrived at Long Reef, I spotted an Osprey perched in one of the dead trees on the north side of the headland. I approached.
While I waited for it to take off, a Pelican flew past –
And a Little Pied Cormorant was perched on a rock –
A White-faced Heron strutted past –
While waiting for a bird to take to the air, it is often a big mistake to loose concentration and turn your lens to other birds nearby. After about 30 minutes of waiting, the Osprey started to stretch it wings and look like it may be getting ready for a flight.
More evidence that it was about to fly –
But I had to wait another two minutes for take-off.
I then walked out to the base below the lookout. I spotted an Osprey perched on distant rocks. The tide was too high to venture out.
I saw another Osprey come in for landing and then have a bath –
It flew past when finished.
Pied Cormorants
Sooty Oystercatchers
The tide was going down, so I walked out a bit. This Silver Gull seemed to have found a bit of fish. Perhaps discarded by a fisherman.
Some of the other Silver Gulls wanted it.
Great Cormorant
I now stared to get closer to the perched Osprey. It was still in the same place.
Nearby where some Pied Cormorants –
The the Osprey took off.
Was it going to fly away? No. It suddenly turned.
It pulled out of its dive.
Then wheeled around again.
It landed not too far away.
I slowly made y way a bit closer. I did not want to scare the bird by going too close.
I then sat on a boulder and waited for it to fly.
Little Pied Cormorant
White-faced Heron
Was it getting ready for a flight?
No.
Sooty Oystercatcher
Now the Osprey stared getting restless. I had waited about 70 minutes.
And it took-off away from me.
But it didn’t fly out to sea. It turned –
But the Osprey flew past and then away.
I then started walking south towards Dee Why Lagoon.
Superb Fairy-wren
At the Lagoon, I spotted s single Black-faced Dotterel.
I then visited some sea cliffs to see if the Peregrine Falcons were around. I spotted a female perched –
Then more waiting for a take-off.
Another long wait – this time 45 minutes.
By now, the light was starting to go, so it was time for me to head home. It had been a reasonable day.