Bird Photography at Long Reef – 4 June 2021

It had been a while since I had visited the Northern Beaches, and I was also keen to look for raptors and whales. My recent visits to Malabar Headland had been relatively quiet, so I thought it about time to head up to Long Reef to see what was about.

The low tide was around 10 am, so I planed to arrive around that time, and then wander out on the rock platform. This worked out quite well. I caught a B-line bus to Dee Why, then a local bus to the road out to Long Reef. I walked the short distance out to start of Long Reef, then walked around the north side of the headland. I didn’t spot too many birds here except for some of the usual Pelicans.

Out on the point, the tide was well down, so I walked out to the island. There were some other bird or whale watchers there. They pointed out a pod of Dolphins nearby.

I also saw a few Gannets –

I also saw a Black-eyed Albatross –

It was now approaching noon, and I was worried about getting cut off by the rising tide, so I made my way back towards the higher ground. On the way, as I was climbing up to the lookout, I spotted an Eastern Osprey. I stayed and watched it and grabbed a few photos –

it was cruising around hunting for fish. It would fly off along the beach towards Dee Why and then return, giving me a range of photo opportunities.

One time, it started to exercise it talons.

It looked like it was getting ready to catch a fish.

I didn’t see it catch a fish, but it flew back with a nice one.

I met another bird photographer, Jeremy, and while we were talking, we almost missed a second Osprey that flew past. It also with a fish.

And then a third Osprey turned up.

I think the next Osprey, is the first one, with a partly eaten fish. It was eating it, perched on the rocks below, when a group of people walked past, so it flew off.