Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Inskip Point 2

When I go out to Inskip Point it is to see birds, but for most people Inskip Point is the gateway to the southern part of Fraser Island. There are numerous signs along the road to warn of driving conditions and restrictions before tourists even start over to the island. These two signs caught my eye the other morning. This one - warning of crocodiles - has been up since a big crocodile was sighted somewhere on the western side of the island a couple of years ago. Saltwater crocodiles are top predators and people are definitely part of their food chain! When I first came here about 10 years ago there were no known crocodiles this far south. However, the sighting of one on Fraser Island and two that are seen every now and again in the Mary River just north of here, have definitely changed my attitude to wading happily through any deeper water!

I don't remember seeing this sign warning about dingoes - but maybe I just haven't been looking! There have been a number of recent warnings about how aggressive dingoes can be when they have young ones. There are definitely a lot of dingoes on the Island but I also occasionally see them around here as well. Lots of people - especially tourists! - forget the dingoes are wild animals and also predators!

There was a lot of fog around when I first got out to Inskip Point the other morning. West across the sand island was very dark but there were a lot of birds visible out there - mainly pelicans and cormorants from what I could see.

Looking east the sun was shining through a thick bank of fog and creating an interesting lighting effect.

The early morning sunlight gave a yellow tint to both the birds and the sand. It also enhanced the color on the front of the Curlew Sandpiper. That red color is the remnant of the bright red breeding colors. The other birds are Double-banded Plovers - some with breeding colors and some without. I posted photos of these last week.

As soon as I saw the color on the Curlew Sandpiper I wanted to get better photos of these birds. I saw at least 3 birds with this color on them. However, there was constant movement among these little birds and the ones I wanted to photograph seemed to be constantly hidden behind another bird or else turned away from me. This photo caught a Curlew Sandpiper on the left (with what looks like an orange flag on its leg!) and a Terek Sandpiper on the right. I needed other photos of both these birds!

The Terek Sandpiper surprised me as I have not previously seen one at Inskip. The Terek Sandpiper has an upturned bill and orange/yellow legs. Usually I see them roosting in mangrove trees - often with Grey-tailed Tattlers. They also look bigger roosting in the trees than this one did walking around with these smaller birds!

I also wanted a better photo of the Curlew Sandpiper with the flag on its leg. I moved only very slowly and the birds settled down. In this photo the Curlew Sandpiper has its head tucked down sleeping and the Double-banded Plover on the right is sleepily blinking at me. Right after this the young dog which I told about in my previous blog post came romping along the sand and everything flew up! (Stewart mentioned some time ago that he helps to flag birds down in Victoria. I think the Victorian flag color is orange - so is this one of "your" birds Stewart? And yes, I have reported this sighting through the proper channels!)

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27 comments:

  1. Great place!! Lots of times tourists are rather srupid because they never check out the area they visit. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  2. Oh, a great looking place indeed and such beautiful birds!! Superb captures for the day, Mick! Thanks for sharing! Have a good week!

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  3. Great photos and a sober warning about the crocs, is Fraser Island the furthest south that crocs have been sighted?

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    1. Yes,that sighting on Fraser Island is as far south as crocs have been reliably sighted. Of course there are always rumors that they are further south still - and that's why I have changed my habits in the water!

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  4. Nice work on getting close enough to these wary shorebirds for such good photos! These are birds we don't see around here.
    Once in awhile, it's a good idea to read the signs!

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  5. Great to see the waders starting to return.

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  6. Love the lighting in your photos. As a tourist in Cairns last year I couldn't understand why no-one was paddling in the water until I read the croc warning signs. Not something we need to think about in England!

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  7. Cute birds, I love the Terek Sandpiper. I would not want to come across a crocodile or a dingo. Beautiful photos, Mick!

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  8. really like the sunrise and fog shots. dingoes and alligators - guess i'll stick with my coyotes and copperheads and water moccasins (venomous snakes).

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  9. Those signs might have me turning back. LOL I love the bird on the right in that last shot. Adorable!

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  10. ah - two of the joys of Australia - crocodiles and dingoes. I have seen both. We even had a sloosh in at the edge of a river where we had seen fresh water crocs once. And seen dingoes slinking through camp - make sure you have everything stowed away!
    Have a great week, and thank you for stopping by my blog today.

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  11. Slightly scary signs but both do suggest that people should respect their wildlife ans as you say Mick, not make assumptions about them not being truly wild. Good to see your Terek picture. seems a long time since seeing them in India a good few miles from where you are.

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  12. loving the sunrise and your great bird shots ... looks like a wonderful spot to explore ... minus the crocs and dingoes!

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  13. There are some areas where my husband and I go birding that have alligator warnings. And poisonous snakes in other places. I guess you can't have one without the other. Just use cautionary measures. Some fabulous images Mick!! Those birds are sweet. Great shots. And the sunlight through the fog...incredible.

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  14. ps...thanks for visiting with me at my other blog also...Hootin' Anni's

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  15. I enjoyed these waders very much; beautiful photos Mick

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  16. Beautiful birds! I love the soft morning light.

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  17. Love the photos of the Sandpipers, Mick, and to get three species in one shot is remarkable! Super sunrise image too!

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  18. Hi Mick great capture of the waders. You missed the Crocs and Dingoes!!

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  19. Beautiful land and seascapes. The Terek Sandpiper is really an interesting find.

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  20. Lovely scenic shots. Great shots of the shorebirds.

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  21. Beautiful place to photograph.
    The birds are great.
    Greetings Irma

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  22. What a safe place we live! There will be crocs in the Yarra soon!

    Good to see what looks one of our birds turning up with you!

    I have passed the URL of that post onto the people who run the banding group.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  23. These are really pretty, looks so peaceful there too~

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  24. The birds looking cute and in the cool mood..

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  25. What a beautiful bird photography! And that morning sunrise makes it all more special.

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