Some interesting birds had recently turned up at Long Reef Aquatic Reserve on the Northern Beaches recently and I decide to make a visit. The tide was forecast to be low around 5:30 so an afternoon visit seemed ideal.
Common Noddy
After getting off the bus, I walked out to the lookout, and had lunch before venturing down to the rock platform. In the distance, I watched a Kestrel hunting.
I then descended to the rock platform level. The tide was still too high to walk out to the island. So I walked around the north side. This part of the headland had been devastated by recent storms. A lot of slips had occurred. All the trees that I had recently seen the Ospreys perching in had been knocked over by the slumps and landslides.
Out at sea a Crested Tern was hunting –
An Osprey flew past and didn’t stay for long.
A bit later, the Nankeen Kestrel appeared again. I walked back up to the lookout to get some closer photos.
About 3:30 pm it was OK to head out onto the rock platform and look for the migratory birds and some visitors.
Pacific Golden Plover
Ruddy Turnstone
Grey-tailed Tattler
Double-banded Plover
Common Noddy
There were quite a few there bird watchers and photographers looking for this bird as they are rare visitors to the Sydney area. They normally are not found in NSW as they prefer tropical waters. Perhaps the warm sea conditions had brought some to Sydney. There were three around Long Reef. The one above was the first spotted. I first saw it sitting o the rock about 4 pm and after about 15 minutes it looked like it might take-off.
It flew out to sea to hunt for fish.
Later, it or anther one appeared.
Sooty Oystercatcher
Crested Terns
Red-necked Stints
After the rock platform, I headed back up to the lookout level and take to Sam, another visiting bird photographer. He was waiting to see if an Osprey appeared.
I waited a while, then started for home. Not far along, in the golf course, I spotted a pair of Nankeen Kestrels. It looks like they had been fed by a local.
Then back to the bus stop for the long trip home.