Another walk at the beach in January, this time along the eastern end of the wall and Lighthouse beach pursuing a kite with a catch. This one started with a visit to Victoria Park on the way ... I like to drop by for the solitude and quiet so you can just "be" with the forest and hear the life and activity, often without seeing much of that life - this was one of those visits (devoid of seeing), with a single exception and even then not such a clear shot. However, the green catbird was heard (the awful strangled cat yawl they have) AND seen albeit briefly. It gives a sense at least.

Then not long after heading out the wall near the marine rescue tower I managed a couple of photos demonstrating the extreme flexibility of the Australian darter neck. The first photo of the set showing it's ability to balance on a rock edge, wings spread drying in the afternoon sun while turning it's head backwards and preening the back and tail feathers ... no long handled back scratchers that we humans require 😁. Accentuating the flexibility is the second photo of the set where the head is now proudly facing forward atop the neck almost fully extended upwards. No doubt a chiropractors delight!

Very soon after the shots above, a brahmini kite flew overhead with a fish in its talons. I managed a distant photo but not very clear; but noticed it alighted in a casuarina not too far along Lighthouse Beach. I dutifully ploughed across the beach and managed the following shots trying (unsuccessfully ultimately) not to interupt the meal. The first photo shows it keeping a very close eye on my approach with some remains firmly grasped against the branch; the second photo demonstrating the morsel in the powerful beak just after being ripped from the grip of the talons; and the final photo of it fleeing the lens with the remnant fish torso clutched in the right talon ... no waste in nature!

 

Treking back to the car park through one of the beach access paths I managed a decent photo of the little wattlebird in full call ... not unlike us when we want to shout ... deep breath causing our back to straighten and arch inwards as our shoulders pull back so we can exhale loudly ... so the little wattlebird does 😀 but seems a more eloquent.

And finally, back further in town on the wharf park bank this lovely shot of the male Australian wood duck in the very late afternoon glow. Yet another gorgeous variation of "grey" but this time with the lovely velvet brown head and dappled black chest and black and white stripped back ... the very fine pattern on the grey wing feathers is so intricate!