A Delightful Morning!

What could be nicer than showing another birder the great birding spots around your own area? Even better when the birders are from another country and appreciate everything they see! I had a most enjoyable morning yesterday showing off the beauty spots and the birds to a lovely couple from New Zealand. Thanks for your company John and Jackie!
The morning started well when we spotted a Pheasant Coucal on the side of the road before we had even driven out of town. I had never before been able to get a photo of one of these.
Then on to Seary's Creek, Bullock Point and Inskip Point. The birds were cooperative at some places and not so at others - that's always the way! It was a perfect winter day in Queensland and we finished off by a walk along the side of the channel leading out to the ocean at Inskip Point. There were not too many birds there but the sea had washed up some fascinating little creatures. (Thanks to Kel and Neil for the ID on these!) These little blue/purple snail shells all had a little bit of what looked like froth attached to them. When I touched it I found that the froth was more solid than it looked - almost like a little piece of bubble-plastic. These creatures are called Violet Snails (Janthina janthina). The little attached foam is a bubble raft they secrete and which pushes them ahead of the wind on the surface of the water. This creature is more properly called a planktonic hermaphrodite gastropod!

The other little creature was a By-the-wind Sailor (Velella velella). It is a pelagic colonial hydroid! These creatures also float on the surface of the water and the little sail pushes them ahead of the wind. Both of these creatures are only seen on the shoreline when there has been a strong wind to blow them on shore.