Tuesday, March 26, 2013

A grey day

Perfect weather has been so scarce recently that when I saw the weather forecast for light winds and an early high tide I decided to ignore the prediction for some cloudy periods. I wanted to get out to the Airport Roost and count the shorebirds there before they all left for the northern hemisphere. When I got down to the shoreline to put the kayak in the water the sky was very dark. The water, however, was very still and beautiful.

After kayaking out to the roost we counted 45 in a mixed flock of Grey-tailed Tattlers and Terek Sandpipers, 20 Whimbrels, and 3 Greenshanks which were showing a lot of breeding plumage. We also saw some local shorebirds - 2 Pied Oystercatchers, a Little Egret, and a Pied Cormorant. It was too dark to get good photos of any of these birds - but then the sun broke through for a short time and it looked a totally different place.

When I got back to the shoreline where I had parked my car this little Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) was catching insects among the leaves washed up by the tide.  I let the kayak drift in until the front came to rest on the sand and then just sat still. These birds are quite fearless! It watched me as carefully as I was watching it - and hopped closer until it was only a few inches from the front of the kayak. I love those eyebrows! The bird makes the eyebrows larger for a threat display - and its harsh chattering calls showed it did not like me so close to where it was looking for food.

For more photos from around the world visit Out World Tuesday

and for more bird photos visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

36 comments:

  1. Don`t say anything about grey! Those photos shows so wonderfully beautiful colours of landscapes compared with our over five months continued white snow cover, which seem to forgot how to melt!!
    Great bird photos too!

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  2. He is a wonderful bird with those eyebrows!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  3. LOVE the water shots! beautiful! and that bird is so cute with its stern looking eyebrows! :)

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  4. The eyebrows on the wagtail are amazing. It must be wonderful to see them "grow" bigger....He's so cute. Sorry for the gray days, although your pictures look pretty good. One Fall when we were in Oregon I thought about posting a picture of the back of a cardboard tablet, because that's what our days looked like.

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  5. Beautiful pictures! The water looks very calm.

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  6. What wonderful environment. Please have a good Tuesday you all.

    robert geiß

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  7. There is hardly a ripple on that water. What beautiful conditions for kayaking and bird watching.

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  8. Very pretty scenery, the water is so still. The Wagtail is a beautiful birds and the eyebrows are cute! Awesome closeups!

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  9. Oh, gorgeous mirror like water shots! What a cute bird, great shots!

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  10. wonderful images, wonderful scenery, and great bird close ups.
    Have a wonderful week and thanks for stopping by my blog today.

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  11. It looks so peaceful. I can picture myself lost in the beauty of this scenery.

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  12. wonderful pics! and so much snow around :)

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  13. Wonderful reflections and great shots of the birds.

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  14. Interesting trip against the weather forecast. Those Willie Wagtail are cute.

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  15. It's white eyebrows make it look really special, a great bird. From Findlay

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  16. Amazing the difference in those shots between grey and sudden sunlight almost as if the sun had said "Here's my big chance to show what I can do". You're right to not put too much faith in the weather forecast Mick, where I live we almost have a weather microsystem different to just 20 miles away. Love the little wagtail's stare.

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  17. Beautiful photos, willie wagtails are so cute.

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  18. Hi Mick...Love your scenery shot's, but I have to say Willie Wagtail, with those adorable eyebrows won me over!! : )
    I want a Kayak so bad, but I always think what if I tip over and my camera drowns ; )
    Glad you had good weather!
    Grace
    Thanks for your comment on my post!!

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  19. Glad you could go out kayaking again! I never seen this bird either (many I never have seen!) and so sweet with the white eyebrows!
    Greetings Pia

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  20. Grey or not those are nice photos and it sounds like a great day out.

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  21. True, the white "eyebrows" make the eyes look bigger. Great pose for your camera.

    And that's a beautiful grey weather too!

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  22. Super landscape ("waterscape"?) shots, Mick! Love it when the sun comes out - what a difference in light.
    That Wagtail looks like he's going to hijack your 'yak!
    Great shots.

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  23. What a pretty little fellow. His white eyebrows give him some character and I like those soft white feathers blowing in the wind.
    Wonderful shots Mick of both the Wagtail and the scenery!

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  24. Great image series showing. Thanks for the comment on my blog. Wishing you and your a happy Easter :) Hanne Bente

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  25. Looks like a good day - I love WWT's when they get cross - they are so full of bluster!

    Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  26. Great captures of the Wagtail Mick.

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  27. I LOVE this willie wigtail. I want them imported to the states now. They're very handsome.

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  28. That wagtail is quite handsome, great pictures. Looks like a perfect day to kayak too.

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  29. Great photos and I love that Willie Wagtail. It's the first time I have seen him. His has lovely eyebrows!

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  30. what a nice little wagtail. I agree about the cool eyebows. Looking good.

    There is a very beautiful light in the image with the trees. Love it :)

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  31. What a cute fellow (I love the eyebrows too!)... Great photos!

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  32. Willie Wagtail is a handsome bird and I LOVE its name.

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  33. Lovely shots of the water. The Wagtail is a beautiful little bird and your photos are stellar.

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  34. Love those white eyebrows on these birds, makes them even more expressive, lovely images!

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