Birds on the Northern Beaches – 1 November 2018

I travelled up to the Northern Beaches on what turned out to be quite a hot day.

Ruddy Turnstone

The tide was low in the morning, so I first went out onto some rock platforms at the end of Long Reef. I first spotted the more usual birds. On my way out, a Nankeen Kestrel flew overhead.

A little further on, a Pelican cruised past flying very close to the ground.

A White-faced Heron was searching for food in the rock pools –

Right at the point, a Cormorant was watching a Whale Watching boat.

Nearby was a large group of migratory birds. These tend to cluster – different species hanging out together hoping to remain inconspicuous. They are certainly well camouflaged on the rock platforms. There seemed to be about four species. In order of size there were Pacific Golden Plovers, Grey Tattlers, Ruddy Turnstones and lots of small Red-necked Stints.

Pacific Golden Plovers, Red-necked Stints and Ruddy Turnstones

Pacific Golden Plovers and a Grey Tattler

Pacific Golden Plover, Red-necked Stints and a Ruddy Turnstone

A few birds flew past –

Crested Tern

Little Pied Cormorant

More photos of the migratory birds –

Two Red-necked Stints and a Pacific Golden Plover

Many Red-necked Stints and a Pacific Golden Plover, a Ruddy Turnstone (obscured) and a Grey Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Red-necked Stints

Grey Tattlers and a Ruddy Turnstone

Red-necked Stint

Red-necked Stints and Pacific Golden Plovers

Red-necked Stints and a Grey Tattler

Red-necked Stint

Ruddy Turnstone

Some photos of Red-necked Stints in flight –

And some Grey Tattlers in flight –

And some more photos of the Pacific Golden Plovers –

A bit further away were some Sooty Oystercatchers.

Not far from the Rock Platforms, I was walking on the Coastal Path close to a golf course and I spotted three Australasian Pipits. One was a chick being fed by its parents –

I then got a brief view of a Nankeen Kestrel – it came my way, but then turned and flew away.

A Superb Fairy-wren landed on a post nearby. A bit further I spotted male –

I then walked south to the coastal cliffs. I followed the path to where I had seen Peregrine Falcons on recent trips. A nesting pair had three chicks and I thought that they would be fledging. On my way out I saw one flying.

It was one of the chicks. It then perched on the cliffs.

I got a few photographs of it before it flew off again. Then it was joined be another – one of its siblings. The parents seemed to be away. I watched the two fledglings – swooping and diving, learning skills they would later need. They seemed to be already pretty good fliers.

Here are some more photos of them –

One of them then left the area. The other flew around for a bit then perched on the cliffs not far from me. I had my camera ready for it to take off, but when it did, it flew away from me.