Crested Terns

There was quite a large flock of Crested Terns roosting out on a sandbank at Inskip the other day. Low tide was a bit after mid-day and these birds had apparently had time to go out to sea and fish then come in again for a bit of a rest before some more fishing later in the afternoon. (click to see a larger image showing the extent of the flock.)
Breeding season is around Christmas/New Year and so most of these birds were still looking a bit scruffy in only partial breeding plumage. This one, however, was one of a few in nearly complete breeding plumage.
I always think terns look best when they are in flight or when they have their wings raised and are about to fly off. It is also the easiest time to see how the wing moult is progressing. As far as I can see these have the final primary feather just growing back or else are just about to moult the last one. (This post is part of Bird Photography Weekly)

Willie Wagtails Nesting

I often have Willie Wagtails in my yard and last year they nested in a gum tree across the road. This year they started showing a possessive interest in the big pine tree right next door so the other day I went and had a closer look. The nest was almost finished when I first looked. Yesterday I had another look and although they didn't seem worried about me wandering over there, they still don't seem to be spending full-time at the nest. I hope they do raise a nest-full of young and that I can photograph some of this over the next few weeks. Here's what I hope is the first of a series!
Neither bird was at the nest when I first walked under the tree but one soon arrived, and then the second one.

Inskip 2 - the Fun!

I know I have posted photos of Rainbow Bee-eaters before but they are such beautiful birds...
...and every now and again you get lucky and photograph something you haven't seen before. While I was watching and photographing yesterday this bird flew up and caught a butterfly then came down to a branch just above me to eat it. Unfortunately this put it against the strong light - but it was worth a few shots and then later a bit of post-processing to lighten them up a bit. The bird had trouble getting the butterfly ready to swallow and at one stage even hit it on the branch a few times.Thanks to Neil for identifying the butterfly as a Meadow Argus.
Earlier in the morning the fog was quite thick and still rolling over Inskip Point and out to sea. This photo was taken with the fog all around. The bird on the left is a juvenile without long tail shafts and with feathers that still look rather fluffy.
This post is for Bird Photography Weekly.

Inskip - the Frustration!

Yesterday was a very interesting morning with a number of very frustrating incidents - and also some great ones which I will put in a separate post.
I was walking very quietly along the bush track toward the sea at Inskip Point. The Point and camping place were crowded with vehicles and people! The only empty place was the bush track and there were a surprising number of birds calling. I was standing very still and trying to see what was scratching around in the brush close to the track when a great thrashing started in the top of the tree. Of course all small timid birds immediately took off! It sounded like an elephant falling! I moved enough to see what was happening and saw this Brush-turkey in the top of the tree and looking as if it wasn't sure how to get down. I've never seen Brush-turkeys either flying or up in trees before!
I moved off and hoped for quiet. Further along the track there were more gentle rustles from the brush beside the track. The resulting photo is very poor indeed but typical of the frustration when trying to get photos of the elusive Black-breasted Button-quail! These people who say that the quail walk right out of the bush beside them have a whole lot more luck than I do!

Red-winged Parrot

I frequently hear Red-winged Parrots flying over my place but they seldom come down. Maybe this is a good thing as a friend who lives only a block away was telling me what a mess they are making of the fruit on her trees. The other morning this beautiful male sat briefly in a tree at the back of my yard. I moved slowly closer and it didn't seem too worried. However, as soon as Misty my dog came around the shed it started watching her. At first it just turned its head but within a few moments the whole body was twisted around and watching the dog which was now under the tree. Parrots are so inquisitive!
This is a photo of a female Red-winged Parrot taken some time ago. The juveniles are a very similar color to the females.
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography weekly.

What a Beautiful Morning!

A morning like this one is worth celebrating for itself, - but the real cause for celebration is that I went out in my kayak for the first time in 5 months! I just hope there are lots more days like this from now on.
I went over to the shorebird roost on Crab Creek. This roost is in behind the mangroves that fringe the creek and has an interesting mix of sandbanks, mangroves and saltmarsh plants. Whichever way you look the light on the water is different.
There was no wind to start with but within a couple of hours it was up and blowing quite strongly. I need to develop some strength in my arms and shoulders again :-(
I counted 34 Eastern Curlews on the flats over there. During winter there are seldom more than half a dozen over there so I think that these are possibly some of the first migrants to return for the summer. There were two Pied Oystercatchers with them.
There were also a few Bar-tailed Godwits (in numbers usual for over winter) and a lone Common Greenshank that made itself visible when it started calling loudly and then moved. As usual there were numbers of little Red-capped Plover. These are very difficult to see as they are small enough to simply disappear amongst the saltmarsh plants if they stay still. Only when they move do you see how many are scattered across the flats.

Spring Flowers

Yesterday felt more like summer than spring and the weather bureau is promising/warning that there will be no more cold weather this year! The plants in my garden are showing the same signs. The jasmine is covered with buds and will soon be covered with flowers. I think there's nothing quite so nice as jasmine perfume around my garden.
My little Banksia rose has its first flowers just coming out. The flowers are tiny - about 10 or 12 mm. They are perfumed and even better the bush has no thorns. I have two bushes planted side by side. The flowers on one are white and on the other a creamy yellow.