Monday, March 9, 2015

Dark Morning on the Bay

I enjoy seeing my favorite birding place in all kinds of weather. A few years back I would even fight against a choppy wind to get out there and see what birds were around. I haven't got that kind of energy now! However, I still like to get out there in less than perfect conditions. We have had long stretches of weather where the temperatures have been high but the winds have been high too - and high winds are not good for taking photos from a kayak or even for holding binoculars still enough to get a good look at the birds. The other morning there was an early high tide - almost no wind - and I simply ignored the big clouds rolling through. I was on the water well before 7am. There was plenty of light but the heavy clouds made the water dark grey and nearly black in close to the mangrove trees that line the creek. The light glinted silver off the water but didn't make the scenery much brighter.

The Grey-tailed Tattlers seem to have found a roosting tree where they can see east over the bay but also north over the creek where I paddle out. Before I could get around the point they were calling out their annoyance at being disturbed and then took off for the other side of the bay. The pair of Pied Oystercatchers were there but slowly walked off to the other end of the beach.
A group of Common Greenshanks flew off when the Tattlers took off but did not go right over the bay. I paddled back towards the car park but then paddled up the creek to see if there were any birds roosting on that low swampy part. The creek looked very dark even looking towards the east.

There were birds on the low swampy bank and as I got closer I saw they were Greenshanks but it was impossible to get close to them.

Even in grey overcast conditions like this I enjoy this part of the bay. 

For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

28 comments:

  1. the skies made for some great photos, though! gorgeous area you kayak in! those trees! love 'em!

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  2. Ah, love those moody skies, Mick, and what a beautiful area!! Perfect place to take the camera!! Thanks for sharing the beauty!! Have a great week!!

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  3. Mystical shots! I can easily image how peaceful it must feel to be out there paddling before 7am. It's nice being an early bird. :)

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  4. I love that tree in your second photo. I like to get out in all kinds of weather, too. It makes everything different.

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  5. Just as well you were out early looking at those ominous clouds.

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  6. The early morning cloudy light made for some gorgeous pictures there Mick. Greenshanks are the same the world over - unapproachable here in the UK, Egypt, Canaries and Spain where I have seen them.

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  7. The skies do look dramatic! Sorry some birds were spooked.. It is a pretty place to be out on the water.. Great images, have a happy week ahead!

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous nature shots! what a beautiful place!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  9. Hard to get close to the Geenshanks around here too :-) Closest one I know of was 20km away and that was a rarity. Finally got to see some in Goolwa, S.A last year.

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  10. Clear waters and fluffy clouds...awesome!

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  11. What a beautiful spot and the moody skies look great. I love your last shot, very peaceful and pretty.

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  12. Love the shorebirds reflecting in the last picture. (They seem to be doing that in both senses of the word.). Your mangroves and water look so much like around here, but we don't get all the birds you do.). Thanks for sharing the lovely early morning kayak birding trip.

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  13. We went out to a bird reserve this week, but we were a bit early for the spring arrivals. Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my post about quad riding in BC. - Margy

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  14. Lovely rays of sunshine and nice bird shots.

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  15. Great shots. Less than perfect weather often means interesting light!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  16. A wonderful area and beautiful photos.

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  17. What a great way to view the wildlife.

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  18. What a beautiful area and a wonderful way to view it from on the water,

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  19. I like a day on the water with heavy cloud cover, as long as it doesn't storm. Really great images Mick!

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  20. Gorgeous shots of the creek and surrounds! Love the water birds you captured there.

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  21. Doesn't look so dark to me. Looks stunning. :)

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  22. Absolutely gorgeous scenery always and these are wonderful too and your birds, always fun to see what you share~

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  23. You make the grey, overcast conditions seem very inviting!

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  24. The best time to get out is when you have a chance to get out! If we wait for perfect conditions, we'd all be couch potatoes!

    Your beautiful scenery is beautiful no matter the weather. Besides, who wants to see blue skies all the time? I know what you mean, though, about the mangroves along the creek adding even more darkness to the water.

    You got outside, you were on the water, you saw some birds. That's a pretty good day in my book!

    All the best, Mick!

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  25. You're amazing the way you get out in your kayak like you do!

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