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.