Early Morning at Inskip Point

The weather bureau predicted a clear morning so I set off for Inskip Point before sunrise. Very early morning is beautiful beside the sea and I am always trying for photos which show that early morning light on the water - I haven't quite got what I want yet but I have fun trying.

The barge was waiting at the point by the time I got there and the birds were spread out along the sand on the southern side.

Although the huge flocks have left for the northern hemisphere there were still a lot of birds to see. 

When I got close enough to see individual birds I saw a few Eastern Curlews, also some Bar-tailed Godwits and large numbers of Grey-tailed Tattlers. Most of them were going into breeding plumage and looked all fat and ready for migration. (The larger birds in all the photos are Godwits.)

While scanning down the lines of birds I saw this one with its back to me. When it moved I saw it was a Curlew Sandpiper in partial breeding plumage.

Another bird that stood out as different among all the Tattlers was this Pacific Golden Plover. It kept behind the other birds so I couldn't get full photos showing all its breeding plumage. The black outlined with white is so dramatic and such a change from the non-breeding plumage of white down the front and grey-brown and golden on the back.

For more photos from around the world visit Our World Tuesday 

and for more bird photos visit Wild Bird Wednesday.