This post is a continuation of last week. The Bureau of Meteorology was right! It has been impossible to get out with a camera for most days this week. We have not had the really huge rainfall totals of the previous week but on top of an already saturated earth it doesn't take too much for water to reach flood levels again. We had 164mm (6 1/2 inches) in the last week (measured in my back yard) and even this was enough to cut the road into Gympie again yesterday.
Since I have written so much about Inskip Point at high tide over the last few weeks I should should also show what it is like at low tide. There are huge expanses of sandy flats which make perfect feeding places for shorebirds. (These photos are from my photo archives as I have not been out at Inskip at low tide for quite some time.) Migratory Terns also roost along the tide line after feeding out at sea.
Shorebirds spread out across the flats. There are also lots of small crabs - known locally as "soldier crabs" - and it can be challenging to spot the smaller shorebirds among so many other small moving objects.
The other morning after the first couple of vehicles went by some of the shorebirds spread out along the edge of the water. This made it much easier to see individual birds.
I focused on the parts of the flock where I could see smaller birds. The Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri) were scattered among the flock and made a good comparison for size. There were lots of Great Knots and a few Curlew Sandpipers (Calidris ferruginea).
The Curlew Sandpipers are the smallest of these three birds and were showing almost no breeding plumage. Their breeding colors are a beautiful brick red all down the front and up over the head.
Most of the Great Knots were showing lots of breeding plumage. This bird is in almost full breeding plumage. The back view of this same bird showed the rufous markings on the scapulars.
Eventually a vehicle drove by and most of the flock took to the air. I was lucky enough to catch one shot which clearly showed the under-wing markings.
Great tour of low tide!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteamazing the rains you're getting. nice bunch of shorebirds!
ReplyDeleteI like the low tide shots, it is great seeing all the shorebirds. Especially when comparing the sizes of these birds. The Great Knot is cute. Thanks for sharing your world!
ReplyDeleteLove the shot of them taking off.
ReplyDeleteWhat joy to breath at such place.
ReplyDeleterobert geiß
Marvelous captures and I do love the sandpipers! Beautiful! Great look at your world!!
ReplyDeleteHigh or low tide, it's a lovely shoreline.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteGreat set of shots - so Its a real help to ID birds when you have a size marker!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
PS thanks for the early link to WBW!
A wonderful post the images are fantastic... beautiful birds to see.
ReplyDeleteWonderful images! What fun to photograph, I'll bet.
ReplyDeleteGreat post for the theme!
ReplyDeletewould love to visit one day! you've done a wonderful job of showcasing your patch.
ReplyDeleteExcellent images Mick!! [wishing it would rain here in Texas, USA]
ReplyDeleteyour shots are so great. And it was nice to see the low tide as well. I saw some low tides in Scotland, it looked pretty much like your shots here. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat views of the shore birds. What a great place.
ReplyDeleteGreat image series showing :) Hanne Bente
ReplyDeleteYou have large expanses of shore to work with Mick which must make getting close hard on most occasions. The mixed shots are really good, especialy to see Great Knot, bar-tailed and Curlew Sandpiper together for comparison purposes.
ReplyDeleteSo much rain makes it hard to get out and about- a great variety of shore birds seem to enjoy the wetness tho.
ReplyDeleteLove the capture of row of birds.
ReplyDeleteMakes a beautiful header shot.
Happy WW!
weather sure can make a mess out of having any fun! you live in such an interesting area, so blessed to see and capture such wonderful wildlife! great shots, my shaky hands and little P&S camera do not create such dramatic views. thanks for sharing & stopping by to comment. I am so enjoying this new HOP as birds are one of our fav hobbies, mostly feeding & watching from indoors.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flock of shorebirds.
ReplyDeleteHope the weather improves for you soon!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of what it looks like at low tide.
The shorebird photographs are wonderful. Their subtle coloration is just beautiful. I know it will be interesting to compare some species once they achieve their breeding plumage.
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteNice bird pictures from your part of the world. I do hope it will stop raining at your place very soon.
Thanks for your nice thoughts and comments! I'm now home again after my hospital stay and recovering at home after surgery.
Greetings Pia
Hoping for better weather for you soon. When we're on the West Coast, I love to visit the beach at low tide...your pictures -- although from so far away -- make me homesick.
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful series, Mick!!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to witness these at a much closer range.
I do love the shorebirds!