Inskip Birds

Yesterday morning I went out early to Inskip Point. It is so beautiful out there and it has been a while since I have been there. When I first got out onto the Point quite a large flock of Terns was flying up. I thought they might settle down again once the barge stopped but instead they flew off out to sea. There were a few Silver Gulls around but the rest of the birds were out on the sand island in the middle of the Strait. The most easily seen out there was a large flock of Pelicans and a group of Pied Cormorants swimming in to join them.(All photos enlarge when clicked on and you can then see much more detail!)

Something disturbed them but instead of flying off they simply slipped into the water and soon there was a long line of them stretching across the bay.

A few of them came back onto the island along with quite a large number of Eastern Curlews. These are some of the earliest shorebirds to return from the northern hemisphere but I was not close enough to see the plumage and to see if these were some that had returned early. I have left this photo really large and if you enlarge it you can also see an Osprey resting on the sand a bit back from the Curlews.

Soon after this the boats that had been anchored on the other side of the island set off out to sea.

Meanwhile the barge was waiting for enough vehicles to load to make another trip over to Fraser Island.

This is one of the 4 wheel drive buses that take tourists around the island. It is far enough off the ground that it can go through a bit of water if necessary.

On the walk back to the car park the only birds I saw were hidden among the leaves at the tops of the trees - well out of reach of my camera lens. However, as I was driving off I saw a group of birds swooping around one of the trees right at the end of the parking lot. They kept settling down in the tree and I could see the beautiful red color on top of their heads. I quickly parked again and walked back. They were Rainbow Bee-eaters.

This Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula) also came in for a quick look but I almost missed it as I was so focused on the Bee-eaters!

( I am still having injections in both eyes for Macular Degeneration and the specialist is very pleased that he has halted the progression and my eyes have not deteriorated any further - BUT - the eyes are still extremely sensitive to bright light. Yesterday I had on a hat with a brim, and my prescribed dark glasses - BUT - after an hour or so at Inskip I spent the rest of the day with a bad head-ache and tablets in a darkened room! Was it worth it? Yes! This time at least!)

For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday