Northern Beaches Birds – 5 December 2022

This was another very good day of bird photography spent at two sites on the Northern Beaches. I started at Rat Park where I watched the Osprey family. Then I went to Long Reef.

At Rat Park, as I walked in, I could see the male Osprey on the cross spar.

The female was just returning from a short flight.

It returned to the nest. I could also see chicks in the nest.

I then caught a bus down to Long Reef and walked out onto the headland.

After lunch at the lookout, I then walked out onto the rock platform. It was low tide. I saw quite a few residents and also a lot of migratory birds.

Great Cormorant

Pied Cormorant

Sooty Oystercatcher

Crested Tern

Ruddy Turnstone

Here is a Ruddy Turnstone and a Red-necked Stint –

Red-necked Stints

Grey-tailed Tattlers

I then walked around the north side of the headland, looking for the Nankeen Kestrels. I had heard that the breeding pair had four juveniles. I did not see them on the north side, so walked back up to the lookout, and started descending on the path to the surf club. I did not have to go far, when I spotted them in the golf course. There were four juveniles. Every few minutes a parent would fly in with food. Each of the chicks would frantically call to attract the parent’s attention.

This one is calling to its parent – after food.

Its call is answered.

More food to another chick –

But another of the chicks is not satisfied.

This one tried to pull a worm out of he ground –

It was delightful to observe these young birds and their parents. But a thunderstorm was fast approaching, so I reluctantly left and walked to the bus stop.