The week before I had been to Long Reef and had a very good day photographing the birds. I was keen not go again, and this time was joined by Valerie and Sue. This time we had low tide around 1 pm so that allowed us to get a late start and arrive around 10:30 am, have a look around and then walk out onto the rock platform.
As well as some other bird photographers, the headland was a busy place with two school groups on excursion. The students, despite their number, did not disturb either the migratory birds, the resident birds or visitors like the Common Noddy I had seen on the earlier visit.
At Fishermans Beach, we spotted a distant Osprey. It was so far away, that it was only by looking at a cropped photos that I could see that it had a fish.
Here are some of the birds we saw.
Common Noddy
We spent a fair bit of time watching the single Common Noddy that was there during our visit hunting for fish.
The Noddy cruised back and forth along the breaking waves. It did not seem to mind getting wet in the spray.
Here it has small fish.
Silver Gulls tried to drive the Noddy away.
The Noddy was faster and more manoeuvrable than the Silver Gulls and could easily avoid their harassing.
Here is has another small fish. It eats it on the fly.
Red-necked Stints
Grey-tailed Tattler
Ruddy Turnstones
Pacific Golden Plover
In the photo below, there is one Pacific Golden Plover and six Ruddy Turnstones.
Double-banded Plover
Sooty Oystercatcher
Pied Cormorants
Australasian Darter
Australasian Gannet
Crested Tern
It had been a very good day observing a wide range of birds. We did not see the usual Kestrels that live on the headland, and it would have been nice to see more of the Ospreys, but the long time we spend watching the Noddy was rather special.
And thanks to Valerie and Sue for great company on the day.