Tuesday, January 12, 2016

On The Bay

I always enjoy kayaking around the bay - and even more so when it has been some time since I have been able to get out there. The other morning it was nearly perfect. There was almost no wind which makes it all so much more beautiful. This is an opening through the mangroves that many of the boats use to get out in the deeper water of the creek.

These boats have been sitting here for months. I have seen the one with the mast and sails move out every now and again but not the other one. When the tide goes out they are resting on the sand.

This is not where I expect to see fishermen. When I first saw them they were out beyond the mangroves and in waist deep water.  As they came in past me I asked if they had caught anything and they said they had.

These birds were strung out along the sand at the Airport Roost.

At first I thought they were all Godwits but when I zoomed in on them I saw Great Knots, Grey-tailed Tattlers, Pacific Golden Plovers and one or two Eastern Curlews.

I heard these Greenshanks long before I saw them. By that time they had moved out to one end of the main flock.

These Pacific Golden Plovers had been walking along the sand to the rear of the other birds but then they moved over the back of the sand spit and into the lagoon behind. The water was not very deep in there as the tide that morning was not very high.

For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday


17 comments:

  1. You have lovely views while kayaking. The plovers are so cute and one of my favorites. Wonderful birds and images. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

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  2. sweet shorebirds! those plovers are so cute! love the soft ripples on the water and all the BLUE! :)

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  3. Looks so calm and peaceful out on the water.

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  4. Ah, I do love your birds and wonderful captures as always, Mick!! And, thank you, as always, for sharing them with us!! I hope your new year is off to a great start with a wonderful new!! Enjoy!!

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  5. How inviting and love the shore birds ~ Great post and marvelous photography!

    Wishing you a Happy Week ~ ^_^

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  6. love the photos and scenery! how far away from where you live is it?

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    1. Only 5 or 10 minutes away - depending on how fast you drive!!

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  7. I'm so glad you got out there ! And even gladder that you saw so many great birds. I love watching shorebirds! The green shanks is a new one for me, ( even virtually) I think. Really admire that you know all their IDs .., I have problems with these guys!

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  8. Every photo...picture post card perfect!!!

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  9. Great you were able to get out on the water and see all the birds.Beautiful photos.

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  10. Great shots. I have never seen any of these birds before - probably because I live inland and don't get to the coastal areas often. I di like the Greenshanks - great name. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Who says all waders might as well be the same species, especially when they're mostly grey? You just disproved that big time Mick. And if only more people would take the time and make the effort to look closely, listen and then to spend time with waders they would gain so much more from them. I love the Greenshanks but especially the Pacific Goldies. The way they stand up like that is something I've never ever seen with our common Golden Plovers and I think it's a very valuable difference in the field for anyone faced with a "possible" of either.

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  12. Wonderful photos during your kayaking!

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  13. nice to see. Last year I hardly saw any waders at all and I miss them.

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  14. Nice set of waders - I got some decent shots of Golden Plovers and Whimbrel in LHI. When you see the Black and Brown Noddys at the same time the colours are pretty distinct, and the black is smaller - although I'm not sure how I would go with just an unknown single bird!

    Cheers - Stewart M - (finally back in) Melbourne

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  15. You are right, Mick, about our environments being similar. Your images could be anywhere along our local Florida coast. Just substitute a couple of similar shorebirds. Once or twice each winter someone reports spotting a Pacific Golden Plover and hundreds of birders scramble (usually fruitlessly) a few hundred miles to try and add it to their list.

    Hah! All I had to do was check your blog posting! Wonderful photographs all round!

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