A stop in Byron (March 2019)

Same day as the previous post, I decided to swing into Byron over near the golf course and wander down a path on the northern edge of the caravan and camping ground towards the beach. I had been exploring potential walks on a map and this was one I could cross off my list. It had become quite hot in the afternoon, but it proved worthwhile as several willing subjects presented themselves.

This post presents some "old favourites", but as is nearly always the case when the environment is different so is my appreciation for the birds (and our environment). 

I begin with a very handsome and majestic magpie keeping a very close eye on its present domain. The strong grey beak protruding beyond the dull red eye offers a clear reminder why you do not want to swooped by one. A very stately pose on the paper bark branch this time.

Same tree, different branch, a more diminutive amd demure pee-wee (magpie lark). The white breast is noticeable compared to the larger magpie as is the much smaller beak and white eye with the black centre. As often noted, it is amazing how "black and white" as a description falls so far short of the stark differences of reality!

Now, the laughing kookaburra I have featured in many prior posts. This setting was quite a treat for two reasons. First, the perch on the paper bark against the wonderous clear blue sky we take for granted far too much. Second, the very willing subject allowed me to provide you with a selection of successively closer portraits, with the BONUS of a final warning glare straight down the lens that "that is enough" 😉 ... and such access and light really shows off the finery of the plumage and the strength in the beak.

 

A little further down the track was a retention pond and this hardhead struck a lonely, but oh so peaceful sight.

A wren flitting along among the path-side foliage offered a rare stop for a pose before continuing on its way.

Making itself heard very clearly, scouring the foliage of a young casuarina, was a little wattlebird enjoying some shade for limited camouflage with a voice like it has!

To finish this Byron interlude I had the very good fortune to come across a small flock of white-breasted woodswallows basking in the sunshine, preening and communing atop the bare branches of a very old and gnarly paperbark. Once again the value of the pristine clear blue sky cannot be over-stated! I really love how these feathers look so soft and furry, almost velvet-like. Of course, their black eyes can also be very piercing (even stern!) when they peer at you with the "right" angle! As noted in earlier posts, the only real giveaway about the "swallow" part of their name is when they are in flight 😉; then it is unmistakable. Enjoy!

Wandering Brunswick Heads (March 2019)

The sun is out, the humidity is high, the cloudless sky invites a walk. I decide to drive to Brunswick Heads to explore a picnic area just on the north and coast side of the highway bridge. Like so many spots in our region, I was blessed with hardly anyone about ... just me, the water in the river, the trees and I hoped some birds!

I was greeted by the follwoing trio of clearly curious birds in the picnic area, very willing to share their space and not afraid to check me out. Welcome!

Willy wagtail perched on a branch

A brush turkey inviting me to sit at the table!

A tilt of the head by an eastern yellow robin.

Even allowed a close-up portrait - plumage so fine and delicate.

Not every day I get to contrast two types of cormorants in such close proximity.  Likely says more about my reluctance at this point to pursue and observe waterbirds too much. I will get there. Both basking in the sunshine between preens and perched on the oyster beds. I like the way the first one shows off the distinct thigh patch markings of the adult mating plumage. In addition, as with many "black" birds, the light here catches the variety of tones and shades and iridesence of the feathers, even against the busy background of the ruffled river surface. In contrast note the much clearer dominance of the white feathers on the Pied cormorant. The long pale bill and sharp blue eye distinguishes it from the smaller little pied cormorant (not shown here) which has a shorter yellow bill and dark eyes. If you click on the photo so it shows up as a larger image and look carefully you might also notice a small patch of pinkish red skin just under the eye - this indicates, as with the white thigh patch noted for the great cormorant, adult breeding plumage.Twas the time of the year!

Great cormorant

Pied cormorant

Then a fine feathered farewell on the picnic reserve sign by an eastern yellow robin.

Next I headed back over the bridge as I had noticed a flock of pelicans on the town side river bank adjacent to the boat ramp. What wander around a coastal estuary would be complete without some pelicans being sighted (especially near a boat ramp!). Selecting these few to share was quite the challenge ... when you have such willing muses, it is amazing how many photos you end up taking simply "because you can" - very easily! I will offer a brief thought to accompany each one for the delightfully ubiquitous pelican 😊

So this first one chosen encapsulated for me the "scene" ... the peaceful and tranquil preening on the rocks beside the southern shore framed by a couple of young casuarinas and even allowing uninhibited access to a silver gull! What's not to admire.

This next chosen trilogy is presented to offer a different perspective of peace and tranquility. This time their grace and synchronisity on the river; first a single bird on the lookout, then a pair. The symmetry of the first pair struck me as a neat contrast to the asymmetry of the same pair a few shots later where the younger bird had overtaken the more senior as they searched into the afternoon sun. As I often comment for black and white birds, they are quite striking and the subtle overlay of pastels really adds a clear contrast (the pink of the beak and yellow arond the eye) - gorgeous!

One of the really fantastic charateristics of water birds I am noticing is the incredible flexibililty of their necks. I find it extraordinary some of the positions you observe them putting themsleves in ... be your own judge on this one!

This next photo I included as another excellent example of the symmetry and synchronicity I noted earlier. Look carefully and you can see both charateristics exhibited by the standing birds as they preen ... then look more carefully at the base of the wings of the closest standing bird and notice the head of another bird looking in the opposite direction giving the impression of utter contentment and total relaxation ... and why not in such a setting!

Clearly NOT bothered by those oyster shells, a simple vision here of two very different ways to "rest easy" 😀

Contrasting the sense of community conveyed in most of the pelican photos above, this young bird looks rather forlornly "stranded" ashore in the mangrove shoots as if not quite sure how to reach the allure of the water. Another view of the pristine environment we share and need to cherish!

Finishing my view on a wander around a couple of spots in Brunswick Heads, what is more ubiquitous than returning to a lone pelican seemingly stationary, but cruising in the afternoon breeze showing off many of the characteristics I alluded to above. 

I left for my drive back contented and with a sense of serentiy and peace.

 

Feb 2019 - an English view of our coast

While hosting our very good friends Steve & Helena, visiting from Bristol in the UK, one of our days was spent relaxing around Shaws Bay. Not only did they get to relax, but managed to experience some of our real "wild"life. This post shares some of those with you 😀.

It was a lovely February morning, clear blue skies we take for granted and very gentle breeze. Consequence this time of year is plenty of people like us out to find a shady spot, maybe even a covered picnic table as a base for swimming and walking and relaxing. Just a day at the beach! And your hat, towel, esky, water and suncreen, of course!! With people comes food ... birds are not silly feeders and if seagulls don't turn up quickly you can always count on white ibis ... now in previous posts I have shared a few photos of these very bold and expert scavengers and even hinted their "much maligned" bin-chicken nickname mis-represents what they offer in terms of their sculpture. So, the first photo set in this post offers various poses (and another a couple more a lilttle later) to demonstrate (I hope) some features I see as worthy of "sculpture" recognition. What I am attempting to convey is something of their elegance (yes, seriously!) and raw features that are actually quite wild and still manage to show off how a tinge of red/pink can set off the more stark black and white, which even looks like finery around the tail. Of course, the very functional and purpose-designed heavy curve of the black beak shows a real sense of command. Over to you to form your own opinion ...

Just walking

Obtaining a wider view, but oh so steady!

Now showing off the balance
(or perhaps the fence bar was just too hot?)

Showing off the finery & make-up

And quite the skull cap!

And fulfilling every Englishman (sorry Steve, I know at heart you remain deeply Australian!) and woman's nightmare of being outdoors in Australia we recevied a tip from some fellow picnicers nearby that a healthy visitor was heading our way - healthy indeed!! We alerted another guy right in it's path who was having a doze on his towel and it indeed did not deviate so he was very grateful for our intrusion on his nap. So, the first photo in this set is to offer sense of scale of the brown snake on the move ... we back-pedaled as it veered up away from the water a little to the relative safety(??) of the top of a picnic table where my full zoom was employed for the second and third shots of the sequence - don't worry I was not as close as the images might suggest 😰. All part of the adventure and great stories to perpetuate the reality when they got back home!

Now, you be the judge of reality or poetic license here, but I included these next two to "talk up" the white ibis again ... seems logical to me? The first one below is the sensible bird being cautious and up a post so as not to tempt the snake! The second image, same bird, same post, different angle shows how caring they are by taking on lifeguard duty and overseeing the welfare of the swimmers enjoying keeping cool on a beautiful summer day - how could these birds be maligned?!!

Setting off on a walk along the path around the eastern edge of the water offered the following examples of local birds. Even some with energy to be playful in the hot summer sun of the day, however, mostly just resting on a perch conserving energy and hoping for a cooling breeze but ever on the lookout for some sustenance. Enjoy this wander through a gallery of the ever-photogenic little corella.

First though, a pied butcherbird - note the HOOK!

The defendant

The opposing counsel

The full bench sitting in judgement!

A crested pigeon kaleidoscope in full view!

Playful, angelic and translucent tinged with yellow

Peaceful pair befitting the summer heat

Alert guardian, comb alert.

A munch for lunch

And yes, after the walk and just as we were about to pack up, our earlier interloper was spotted retracing (literally and identically) it's track presumably back to whence it came. And just beyond it, foraging among the mangrove shoots was a masked lapwing (plover) - striking bird for the bright yellow mask and droopy cheek flap and looking deceptively harmless.

To cap off our day at the Bay, we headed over for a walk along the wall and the beach (special treat for our visitors on such a lovely day). For a different reason it was worthwhile for me ... capturing these two shots of the osprey - the first in full hunt soar over the waves of the beach and the second perched and scanning the river from atop a power pole - VERY imposing and a "not to be trifled" with look! Ah, we have so much to keep enjoying ...