I sent most of the day at Long Reef in the Northern Beaches. as usual, I was on the lookout for Ospreys and other raptors.
A hot day was forecast for Sydney – around 30°C. But conditions on the Headland were reasonable with a cool sea breeze most of the day.
As soon as I arrived at the lookout, around 11 am, there were no raptors in sight, so I walked down to the rock platform area. the tide was still quite high (low tide was around 3 pm). So I could not walk too far out.
This White-faced Heron was close by to the sand area –
Then I spotted an Osprey returning from the sea. It did not have fish.
There was a large flock of Silver Gulls on the sand. Among them were a few Crested Terns –
Then I saw two Nankeen Kestrels hunting, so I walked back up to the lookout area. One was still around –
And then a Superb Fairy-wren came out –
I spotted an Osprey (the same one I had seen earlier or another?) flying out past the island. I walked down to the rock platform, and walked as close as the tide would allow.
It seemed interested in the fish this fisherman had caught.
I was hoping it would fly closer, so I waited. My patience was rewarded.
It then circled around the south side of the headland a few times, but it must’ve passed too close to some Magpies. One of them harassed the Osprey.
The Osprey flew out to the island and back.
I missed its dive (blocked by bushes), but it had not caught a fish.
The osprey then left the area.
I then decided to have lunch during the lull. I had talked to another photographer earlier, and noticed she was photographing small bird on the edge of the rock platform. It was a Bar-tailed Godwit. It was still foraging when I finished my lunch, soI walked a bit closer.
By now, the tide was low enough to venture out to the island. I spotted a flock of Red-necked Stints –
Then I thought I just have spooked them because they all took to the air. But no, it was an Osprey.
It didn’t stay long however.
I then climbed back up to the lookout again to see if the Kestrels were hunting in the Golf Course or nearby. At the top, I met two other bird photographers, Ákos and Netra. They were on their way down to the rock platform.
Then one of the Nankeen Kestrels appeared nearby.
And I could net help noticing this rather large wasp –
There was a nice cool breeze blowing on the lookout, so it was a nice spot to wait to see if the Osprey returned. They didn’t while I was there (till around 4:15 pm).
Here is a Willie Wagtail.
it started to sing –
But then spotted a tasty fly –
The fly landed nearby.
The Willie Wagtail pounced but the fly was faster.
No Osprey, but looking a fair way out to sea, I spotted a very distant White-belled Sea Eagle returning to the shore.
