Spring is always a good time for bird photography. The birds are often active – getting food, setting up nests, getting food for chicks etc. The weather is not too hot, so the birds are often active throughout the day. It was time for a trip up to the Northern Beaches. One reason was to check on the nesting Ospreys. Another was to visit the rock platform at the end of Long Reef to see if any migratory birds were present.
On this trip, I was joined by Jan. It was a full day as we visited a number of sites, using bus transport to get from place to place. We met at Wynyard Park, and hen caught a B-line bus to Warriewood. We then walked out to sporting park to see how the pair of Ospreys were doing. Unfortunately, on ur visit they were quiet. One was sitting on the nest – hopefully on eggs, and the other was perched on a light close by. A Currawong did make a guest appearance, but that was all.
Nearby was a Nankeen Kestrel, but it did not stay for long.
We then walked down to the outlet of Narabeen Lagoon. On the way we photographed a Red Wattlebird, and swimming in the lagoon was a Pied Cormorant –
At Lakeside Park, we spotted a pair of Nankeen Kestrels. It had looked like they had just mated.
We waited for them to fly. They soon did.
We then walked to Pittwater road and caught a bus to near Long Reef. As we walked out towards the rock platforms we spotted a Pelican. On the cliffs was a Nankeen Kestrel.
The kestrel later flew to another spot. This time it had a nice lizard in its talons.
On the rock platforms were a pair of Pied Oystercatchers –
And not far away was a single Sooty Oystercatcher –
We then walked out onto the far end of the point. The tide was low. Here we saw the usual Cormorants droning their wings, and also a large number of Crested Terns.
Some of the Pied Cormorants seemed to be courting –
The Crested Terns certainly were courting.
One had the idea of flying out and catching a fish and then presenting it to a female as a nuptial gift.
Another to the Terns thought it worth also trying this out. It flew out to do some fishing.
Meanwhile –
Then the Tern returned with its own fish. The first female he presented it to rejected it.
So he tried another.
I think this time he was successful.
There was also a single Bar-tailed Godwit, but no other migratory birds around (that we could spot) –
We then climbed up to the lookout and found shady place for lunch. A Nankeen kestrel was hunting nearby –
And there were some distant whales –
We then walked around Dee Why Lagoon, without finding too many birds. We continued south along the cliffs and managed to get some photos of a Peregrine Falcon.
We not caught a bus to Manly Vale. We walked to another Osprey nest location, but it was very quiet – no birds seemed to be around. So after a wait, in case any Osprey turned up, we caught a bus back to town.