I photographed this Bush Stone-curlew
Burhinus grallarius) this morning after trying to do a shorebird count at the Crab Creek Site. A group of these birds is living on the Tin Can bay golf course. This morning they were close to the road and easy to photograph.
It was an early tide this morning so I was out on the water by 7am. However, the fog was so thick that it was almost impossible to see the birds until I was very close to them. The fog started to lift after another half hour or so but even then the birds were very 'flighty' and disturbed and flew up and away when a Little Egret flew overhead. I saw Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrells, Eastern Curlews, Common Greenshanks and Pacific Golden Plovers as well as the usual Australian shorebirds such as Pied Oystercatchers and Red-capped Plovers. However, I was not close enough to get good photos.
Because the fog was so thick it had left water droplets on all the spider webs.
There was almost no wind and the reflections in the water were perfect.
Later when the fog lifted it turned into a hot and sunny day. Then by late afternoon the thunderstorms rolled through and we got over 45 mm of rain in less than an hour. (That's close to 2 inches!) It has certainly been an interesting day.
To see more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
It was an early tide this morning so I was out on the water by 7am. However, the fog was so thick that it was almost impossible to see the birds until I was very close to them. The fog started to lift after another half hour or so but even then the birds were very 'flighty' and disturbed and flew up and away when a Little Egret flew overhead. I saw Bar-tailed Godwits, Whimbrells, Eastern Curlews, Common Greenshanks and Pacific Golden Plovers as well as the usual Australian shorebirds such as Pied Oystercatchers and Red-capped Plovers. However, I was not close enough to get good photos.
Because the fog was so thick it had left water droplets on all the spider webs.
There was almost no wind and the reflections in the water were perfect.
Later when the fog lifted it turned into a hot and sunny day. Then by late afternoon the thunderstorms rolled through and we got over 45 mm of rain in less than an hour. (That's close to 2 inches!) It has certainly been an interesting day.
To see more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
Your bush stone curlew is cool looking. And it sounds like an interesting day for counting the birds. The storm clouds look neat.
ReplyDelete"...close to the road and easy to photograph." - I'm not jealous.......much :-)
ReplyDeleteLove that foggy reflection shot!
Thanks Eileen, we don't often get a day as extreme as this, fortunately!
ReplyDeleteHi Mosura, I think that these birds are much easier to see up here in QLD than further south. In some places they even seem to live quite happily in the middle of suburbia.
Interesting-looking bird. The eye dominates the face. So glad this one cooperated so you could get the photo.
ReplyDeleteI love that reflection shot with the boat and the last photo of storm clouds coming in is awesome!
ReplyDeleteFantastic shot of the Bush Stone-curlew Mick! What an interesting bird. Having never been to Australia, I have never seen this bird but it reminded me of our Greater Roadrunner over here in the states. So I looked it up.
Apparently it fills the same ecological niche in Australia as the roadrunner occupies over here.
The thing I thought most interesting is that, according to Wikipedia, they are mostly nocturnal and will freeze and remain motionless to escape predation.
Thanks Wren, I was lucky it was so close to the road and the edge of the golf course.
ReplyDeleteHi Larry, That's interesting about the similarity to your Roadrunner. Mostly they are well hidden in the grass and when they lie down flat with the neck outstretched their camouflage is almost perfect.
Yes lovely Bush Stone-curlew Mick, they are fascinating birds. Our resident pair lost their eggs during the recent wet weather - probably predated upon ....... we had seen a hungry looking Python nearby.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo essay of an interesting weather day!
Great photos that storm looks impressive.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara. How nice to have a pair resident in your own yard. They wouldn't have much hope of protecting their eggs against a python I imagine.
ReplyDeleteHi Neil, yes it was quite a storm while it lasted. It even sounded like some hail on the roof at the beginning of the storm.
WOW, the Bush Stone Curlew is awesome! Great photos Mick!
ReplyDeleteGood stormy stuff. All sunny up here at last.
ReplyDeleteThanks BirdingMaine.
ReplyDeleteHi Tony, and in between the thunderstorms its like a sauna! Meanwhile I am trying to deal with weeds in the garden that seem to like these conditions very much!
Quite an interesting day indeed! Your photo of the Bush Stone-Curlew is to die for!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Bob.
ReplyDeleteHow a day can change so fast, but your photos are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Bush Stone Curlew before and I have to say it is very unique looking and I love the big eyes! Those are some angry looking clouds in that last photo....I just love storm clouds. Also, the photo with the reflection in the water is really cool!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by my blog and commenting on my hummingbird pics. ~ Debra
Hi Mick
ReplyDeleteI'm with Larry, (photographically) your reflections shot is an award winner.
Cheers
Denis
Thanks for commenting DoanLegacy and Debra.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denis.
wow, never seen a bird like it. Not even in books. Don´t think it comes up here. Seems liek an interesting morning on the lake. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are still ice on mine.