I decided on another visit to Long Reef on the Northern Beaches. I spent another good day photographing mainly raptors, but also a few Octopuses.
It was low tide during the middle of the day. Here is how the day went –
When I arrived, around 11 am. I spotted an Osprey perched on roots on the south side –
A White-faced Heron was hunting nearby.
Two Ospreys were flying high overhead.
A White-bellied Sea Eagle was also on patrol.
A juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle flew past with a fish.
And Osprey flew past and landed out on a rock.
I walked over to it.
An adult White-bellied Sea Eagle flew past with a fish.
And another Osprey.
Back to the Osprey on the rock –
Another was overhead.
The perched one was still on the same rock.
Another White-bellied Sea Eagle appeared.
Then the Osprey decided all of a sudden to take off.
Back near the lookout, a Nankeen Kestrel was hovering while looking for prey.
In the distance was another raptor – a Black-shouldered Kite –
Back to the Nankeen Kestrel –
And then a White-bellied Sea Eagle appeared.
Earlier, another bird photographer I know, Jeremy had arrived. But he was not looking for birds this time. On a previous visit he had spooked some Octopuses, and this time he wanted to photograph them. He had camera in an underwater housing. I had seen hime out at the rock pools, and walked out to see how he was getting on. He told me he had sene above four Octopuses, and he showed me some of them. They were well camouflaged and very hard to make out. Here is one –
A White-faced Heron flew past.
And nearby, an Osprey hand landed on a rock.
I waited to see if it wold take off.
Two Little Black Cormorants flew past –
Back to the Osprey. I was in a good position waiting to see if it would take off. I dint want to get too close as the bird is much bigger when its wings are outstretched.
And here is the take off –
I then went back over to the rock pools, as Jeremy seemed to have found another Octopus. He had.
According to Peter Woodard, these are Gloomy Octopus – Octopus tetricus
I think this may have been the first time I have seen an Octopus in the wild. I used my phone to take some video and I think it is a lot easier to see the Octopuses when they are moving.
Many thanks to jeremy for showing me these amazing creatures.