Birds at Long Reef – 30 June 2025

I spent another day at Long Reef, on the Northern Beaches, from about 10 am to nearly 4 pm, where I spent most of the time photographing the local Ospreys. Fortunately quite a few were around. At one stage there were five hunting for fish at the one time.

When I arrived at the lookout, there was one Osprey circling around.

I went down to the lower level and watched as it dived for a fish.

It pulled out of the dive before hitting the water.

It circled around ready for another dive.

This time the Osprey was successful.

It flew off with the fish.

And it later landed in the island. The tide was too high to venture out.

Another Osprey was hunting for fish.

No luck.

Another dive.

Again, no luck.

Another dive, but this time it pulled out early.

I saw it land is a tree on the north side of the headland. As I walked around, I saw this White-faced Heron –

The Osprey was sitting on it perch –

Then, all of a sudden, it was buzzed by a Brown Goshawk –

The Osprey seems somewhat discombobulated.

It called out, and then flew off.

I later found it perched on roots on the south side of the headland.

The White-face Heron had also moved –

Then more Osprey hunting –

This time – success!

Then I spotted a White-belied Sea Eagle fly past. An Osprey was harassing it –

The Sea Eagle seemed to have a fish. Perhaps it had stollen one from an Osprey?

Meanwhile, two Ospreys were eating fish on the island –

White-faced Heron

Then one of the Ospreys on the island flew past with its partly eaten fish.

Tow other bird photographers had arrived – Jeremy and Clint. They wanted to photograph some White-fronted Terns that were with the larger Crested Terns on the island. When the tide lowered a bit, they waded out. I stayed on the shore. Here you can see a White-fronted Tern on the lower right –