I travelled up to the Northern beaches again for some more bird photography. And like previous recent visits, I spent most of my time at Long Reef photographing the local Ospreys.
I first visited the sea cliffs to check on the status of a breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons. I could only spot one of the Peregrine Falcons.
It was perched on the cliffs – not in a good spot for photography. So I made my way to Long Reef.
On the walk to the lookout, I spotted a hunting Nankeen Kestrel.
It was soon joined by a second Nankeen Kestrel. Probably a breeding pair.
I then walked down to the rock platform. Another bird photographer, Celine, was there. And we were later joined by Connor, who I also had met on my previous visit.
Celine spotted an Eastern Curlew fly past –
And she had also seen an Osprey on the island, eating a fish.
I walked around the south side and spotted another Osprey perched on a shrub –
We waited for a fair while hoping for this Osprey to take-off. While we were waiting, the first Osprey, the one we had seen on the island, flew past –
We turned our lenses towards the perched Osprey again.
I missed it taking off. It flew short distance, then had a bath –
Osprey often seem to bathe after eating a fish. So we were not surprised to see it fly out of the area.
A few passing birds –
Pied Cormorant
Pelican
Australasian Darter
The Darter seemed to have something stuck to its bill.
Then an Osprey appeared –
It was hunting for fish!
This dive was unsuccessful.
It shook off their water and tried again.
But it pulled out and flew out of the area.
White-faced Heron
We then noticed two Ospreys flying high over the lookout.
Then it became three Ospreys.
They then left the area.
We then investigated the Darter –
Not good!
Cecile mentioned that earlier, WIRES had been looking for a Darter. Probably this one.
Then an Osprey appeared with a fish –
And another flew past –
But it soon reappeared, this time with a fish.
And it landed out on the rock platform to eat –
But then decided to move a bit further out –
We could get reasonably close without disturbing the bird.
It was time for me to start off from home. Here is photo looking down at the rock platform showing Cecile and Connor photographing the Osprey.
I also spotted the first Osprey with fish. It was perched on the cliffs on the south side.
And then a breaching whale –
Then as I was walking along the path, towards the car park, I looked down and saw an Osprey on the north side –
It was divine down very close to some fishermen.
It grabbed a fish from a rock pool near the fisherman.
But the fish wriggled free or was accidentally dropped.
The fishermen seemed completely unaware of the Osprey.
The Osprey circled around then came in for a second run –
This time it was successful and flew off with the fish.
I don’t know if the fish was one scared by the fisherman, or perhaps one they had caught and stored in the rock pool to keep it fresh.