Long Reef Birds – 30 December 2024

After a very quiet day spent at Malabar Headland the day before, I wanted some more raptor action, so I headed up to Long Reef. As soon as I arrived, I spotted an Osprey perched on the cliffs below the lookout.

Walking down towards the rock platform, I spotted a second Osprey –

At the bottom level, I walked around to the south side of the headland and waited for them to take to the air.

One did –

It flew out to sea and returned with a fish.

It flew over the lookout at the top, and you can see two bird photographers looking the wrong way. They have not noticed it.

The Osprey then flew to a tree on the north side.

I then started walking around the north side of the headland towards the Osprey. On the way, I photographed this Welcome Swallow scooping up an insect from the sand.

The Osprey was starting to eat its fish.

The second Osprey was perched nearby.

Then the second one took off.

Back to a Welcome Swallow –

Then three Pelicans flew past and headed out to the island.

When the Pelicans landed on the island, they disturbed three Ospreys that had been resting there.

One flew past –

And then a second –

The third Osprey stayed on the island –

A bit later they were all flying high up over the lookout –

A White-faced Heron flying past –

Two not the Ospreys landed on the south side of the Headland.

Another White-faced Heron –

And is this some type of anemone?

One of the Ospreys went on a short flight –

And another went on a flight –

It flew out to sea, and then the second one flew off.

It was now time for me to head home.