Last week I had to visit the eye specialist I see on the Sunshine Coast but this time it was only for a series of tests and not any 'nasty' injections with the associated medications that alleviate the pain but make me almost blind for a few hours. The good friend who drives me down for the injections suggested we have a few hours doing what we wanted to around that area. It was lovely! She knows the area well and drove me through areas I had known many years ago so I could see how everything has changed! It is now so 'built up' and I am not sure the changes are for the better. - so many people and so many cars!! Oh well - I guess it's called "progress!
The one beautiful highlight of the morning was a visit to Lake Macdonald and the Fearnley Bird Hide. Lake Macdonald is located in the Noosa hinterland and is part of the South east Queensland's drinking water supply. The part we visited looks just as if the water filled up the lower parts of valleys and is now perfect habitat for all birds that love water! Much of the water is covered with lots of water plants - and the birds make use of these to hide! The lists of birds that have been seen there are fantastic - but as ever! - we should have been there the other day!!
These photos were taken from close to the bird hide. There were lots of birds around but most of them were away on the other side.
Closer to the car park this Forest Kingfisher was sitting in a paperbark tree.
Underneath the tree were a number of Comb crested Jacana walking on the the lily pads. It looked like a couple of adults and a number of juveniles but none of them were close enough for great photos. Very young birds walk around on the lily pads by themselves but occasionally you can see adults carrying some of their young ones tucked up under their wing. Their feet and legs hang down and it looks wonderful. I saw good photos of these birds a number of years ago and it was one of the things that first 'sparked' my interest in bird photography.
