I arrived in the late morning and stayed till around 4pm on this visit. The start was very quiet with few birds seen, and I was about leave around 2pm, and then thought I should stay a little longer. This proved very worthwhile.
And this visit, I had much more success in photographing the Swamp Harrier.
When I arrived, I spotted a Great Egret in the Spring St Canal near the market garden. It was eating a fair sized lizard.
Nearby was a Royal Spoonbill –
The Great Egret then flew off along the canal –
There were few birds in the Landing Lights Wetland, so I moved down to the end of the Spring St Canal. On the way I photographed this Superb Fairy-wren –
Near Muddy Creek, constriction was just starting on a new bridge for the cycleway/walking path. I went up to the higher area near the old stadium. Here is a New Holland Honeyeater –
And a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike –
Back down at the canal, the construction workers were having their lunch break. A Striated Heron was there, and it was hunting for its lunch.
It had no trouble catching small fish in the low tide of the canal.
And at one time it caught a much larger fish.
It raced with it to the bank, perhaps fearful of dropping it back into the water.
Then the Royal Spoonbill arrived.
The Striated Heron continued its hunting.
Its amazing to watch their neck stretch when they lunge for a fish.
And while another bird photographer and myself watched it must have caught dozens of these small fish.
Time to look for other birds. Here is another Superb Fairy-wren –
Red-browed Finch
New Holland Honeyeater
By this time, it was a bit after 2pm and I was thing on heading home via the Cooks River. But I decided to stay a little longer in case some raptors turned up. I made another visit to the old sporting fields.
Golden-headed Cisticola
Brown Honeyeater
I was photographing some Brown Honeyeaters when a raptor flew over. It was a Swamp Harrier with prey – a lizard.
It flew off towards the SWOOS with its prey. I thought it may return when it had finished eating the lizard, or perhaps taken it to a nest. So I decided to wait in that area. Sure enough, about ten minutes later it did fly back. I was now closer to it and read with my camera.
It seemed to fly over towards the direction of the old Stadium or the Wetlands, so I started walking that way. Just on the road, I spotted a Grey Goshawk fly off.
After checking out the Wetlands and near the Stadium, I went back to the old sporting fields. Just as I arrived I saw a White-bellied Sea Eagle fly past with a fish.
It was flying towards the west. It was possibly taking the fish back to a nest?
I went back to where I had earlier seen the Brown Honeyeaters. One was still active –
Then another walk around. The Grey Goshawk was now on one of the Stadium lights. But it flew off by the time I had walked closer.
I finished my visit at the Landing Lights Wetland. Here is a White-faced Heron –
And some juvenile Pied Stilts –
Now it was time for me to head for home. Just as I was leaving, I ran into Jeremy, another bird photographer that I had seen several time at Long Reef. I stopped for a brief chat, then hurried off to catch my bus. But I need not have been so hasty – the bus was late.