Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A Windswept Morning

This morning I kayaked over to the Airport Roost.  The wind was quite strong - almost more than I am comfortable with!  Once the kayak is in the water I am OK but I am always worried that a stronger gust of wind will upset my balance as I am lifting the kayak up onto the roof racks.  Shorebirds don't like strong winds especially when they are on an open stretch of shoreline facing the bay so it was no surprise to see very few shorebirds out there.  I did not even try to kayak on the bay in front of the roost but instead kayaked through the mangroves in the little lagoon behind the sandspit then pulled the kayak out onto the sand and walked across to where the shorebirds usually roost.  I counted 15 Grey-tailed Tattlers as they flew out of one of the mangroves then wheeled around to find a quieter roost further up the creek. At first I did not see any other shorebirds.  The sand was windswept and foam had washed up along the edge of the water.


 Then I saw Pacific Golden Plovers sheltering down among some taller grass.


There were no more birds to look at but the different mangrove trees are also interesting.  This one appeared partly dead with colorful lichen growing on the branches.

This is the Myrtle Mangrove (Osbornia octodonta).  The crushed leaves smell similar to eucalyptus leaves.  This one had tiny flower buds but I did not see any flowers open yet.
 
The wind was still blowing and pushing little waves up along the sand. 

The clouds moving across the sky looked as if the winds lower down would soon be freshening again. 

For more photos from around the world visit Our World Tuesday 

and for more bird photos visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

27 comments:

  1. That shore looks unfriendly to humans but kind to birds and photographers!

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  2. Looks like a great day in a beautiful place! I love the birds! Great captures, Mick! Hope you have a good week!

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  3. Interesting photos of a wild and windy coastline! My favourite is the second one of all the froth and leaves at the water's edge- but i also enjoyed looking at the birds in this post and others.
    We are regularly visited by a honey eater here in our Sydney backyard -actually a pair of them. I don't know much about birds but he looked so pretty I looked him up.

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  4. I like those plovers; they're beautiful birds. I've come to realise recently how important the Moreton Bay shorelines are for migratory birds and intend to take my camera next time I visit. Happy kayaking!

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  5. Beautiful photos of the mangroves. Perhaps a wise decision not to go too far out inthe kayak.

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  6. How wonderful to see the plovers but I also loved the shots of the coastline and of the beautiful trees with their intricate branch patterns.

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  7. Love the cute Plovers, beautiful photos. The scenery is gorgeous! Have a great day, Mick!

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  8. I always love to see the coastline, especially with such cool looking waves. Your birds are always wonderful to see, you are so lucky to have so many available.

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  9. Fantastic photography of nature's beauties ~ especially the Plovers ~

    (A Creative Harbor) ^_^ aka ArtMuseDog and Carol

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  10. Beautiful series of photos!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  11. You have an adventurous spirit Mick!
    I really like the shot of the foam line.
    Nice shot of the plovers!

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  12. Lovely series, Mick!

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  13. The whole area looks so remote and unspoilt by man but I guess you would tell me it's not? I would love to see all those PGPs in one spot and check them out in reverse - looking for a Golden Plover amongst them.

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  14. A majestic lagoon for you and the shore birds to hide from the prevailing winds.
    Great series of shots!

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  15. Lovely photos and a great post for WBW!

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  16. Nice pictures you show.
    Hanne Bente

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  17. The foam always looks like it is unnatural - but I dont think it is. Golden Plovers are great birds.

    The Parakeets in my shots are also spreading in the southern parts of the UK.

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW.

    Stewart M - Melbourne

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  18. The coastal colours are beautiful, very calming. Your trips must be a bit like a meditation!

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  19. Love the scenery and the Plovers Mick. That shot of the foam is amazing and the little Pacific Golden Plovers look like they are comfortable in the sheltered area.

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  20. It's so nice to see all of your lovely photos and the sunshine in your pictures!
    I'm freezing right now!
    Greetings Pia

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  21. I am looking forward to spring when I will again see shorebirds. :)

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  22. Beautiful images. I love the shores and their inhabitants!

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  23. beautiful shots of the habitat you are birding in. I love following you around. :)

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  24. Mick, nice shots! Thanks for sharing your shoreline. It's raining here today (rare this time of year) and your post helped me feel better!

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  25. Yikes, I have this picture of the wind creating a flying weapon out of your kayak. Be safe out there (heretofore, I'd only thought of needing to be careful when you were already ON the water!)

    I do like that bubbly water's edge -- that alone makes me know what kind of day it was. The mangroves look the same as some of those that we have here in Florida.

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  26. Eww yea, wind is no good for birds, and paddling against the wind? Brutal! But it looks beautiful and you got some great shots, nice!

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