I spent a nice day on the Northern Beaches visiting various venues to look for birds. I first visited Warriewood Wetlands then Irrawong Reserve, and then back through the Wetlands and along Mullet Creek back to Pittwater Road, and then headed to Long Reef.
Warriewood Wetlands and Irrawong Reserve were both fairly quiet. Perhaps because it was quite a hot day. Here are some of the birds I saw –
Little Pied Cormorant
Brown Gerygone
Sacred Kingfisher
I spotted an Azure Kingfisher along Mullet Creek.
and a Dragonfly –
I arrived at Long Reef at lunchtime. Low tide was about 1 pm. I was quite hot. While having lunch near the lookout, a Nankeen Kestrel was hunting nearby –
When I walked down to the rock platform level, I could see an Osprey perched in tree on the northern side. I walked closer and could see it had fish.
I let the Osprey finish it meal and walked further around. I could see distant Sea Eagle –
Back to the Osprey –
I then walked out towards the rock platform. On the way an Osprey flew by. I don’t know if it was the one that had been eating the fish or another. Either way, it was soon joined by another (and the one I had observed earlier had gone).
I then watched one dive. Was it hunting for a fish? No – it landed.
I walked closer.
By this time, another bird photographer, Gavin arrived. I had met him quite a few times before at various places. We watched he Osprey flew towards another that had also landed.
One then flew around.
Time to lighten the load.
Meanwhile the second Osprey had also flown away.
I then looked for some of the birds on the rock platform.
Sooty Oystercatchers
Red-necked Stints
The photo below has a Pacific Golden Plover and some Red-necked Stints.
Pacific Golden Plovers
Ruddy Turnstones
Crested Terns
I then headed back to the lookout. The Nankeen Kestrel had returned.
It soon caught an insect.
I was thinking of starting for home, when an Osprey returned.
The rising tide was now starting to cover the rock platform. It was time to head home. Tis had been a very hot day and it was unpleasant in the sun, but the birds had been good on the headland.