Ending July back on the coast (2019)

Venturing north to visit my dad who was having another stint in a Gold Coast hospital, we had the good fortune to be located on the upper levels of a high rise overlooking the Broadwater near the Southport ocean entrance close to Labrador. These first images offer an realtively unusual perspective being able to look "at", or even down on, some sea birds. This offers some terrific views of their plummage in flight.

The first shot of the osprey belies my intro but offers a neat view of the commanding perch atop a yacht mast. The upright posture seems to accentuate the "command" of being in control of its environment.

The next three absolutely convey the essence of my intro, especially the first and third ones. The second is worthy of a little more context ... while on its downward trajectory, this pelican was being harrassed by several seagulls and I just happened to snap this shot mid-manouver as it acrobatically made it's annoyance clear by physical gyration and snapping. The latter offers a great sense of the gaping jaw and flexible chin skin 😉

This next study was captured while this osprey was (clearly) very focused on activity in Shaws Bay (Ballina) from its perch atop one of the lamp posts along the wall. The beauty of this perch and the intensity of its search was the special opportunity afforded to get "right under" the post enabling the excellent close-ups. The singular focused stare, to me, is very clear in each photo of the sequence. The different head angles provide a sense that "singular focused stare" is far from fixed as the head swivels from side to side scanning a considerable volume of the bay! The ability of that beak to tear any flesh is also extremely clear! A real privilege to be this close and observe such a bird of prey on the lookout 😀

Willy wagtail being very photogenic

Superb fairy wren balancing against the wind

Next up, and finishing this post, I offer a series of "pairs" that emerged from my review of photos from July. These each struck me as I was flicking through choosing what I might include. I am pleased to share again, as I have often commented, the way even those birds we often don't notice because they are "plain" or nondescript or just "common", shine in the right setting ... "plain" is something you just have to dismiss the more closely you are able to admire birds in their natural settings.

First up is a spotted turtle dove that very obligingly did a 180 turn for me on the same perch with the water of the bay providing a nice backdrop against the shiny bright green leaves. 

Next up are two swallows soaking up the rays on the rock wall, replenshing their energy between flights, again with the water of the bay providing a wonderful backdrop for context. Each was at a different point along the wall and the different angles and dropping sun provide a contrasting colour scheme for each bird. Much more striking than the small "dark" birds  we see darting about the sky catching insects.

The next pair, playing on the interpretation of "pair", is actually the same bird, differing angles as I was heading east along the wall. These rocks are on the residential side of the narrow water of the bay at the eastern end of the bay. What is striking to me about these shots is the way this white-faced heron has its neck tucked right in as it faces the setting sun and the stiff afternoon breeze. Not to mention balancing on one leg and the quite striking soft pinkish breast plummage the light has caught. Quite a unique pose for this wading hunter!

Again playing on the interpretation of the word "pair" but in a different way ... the first photo of the superb fairy wrens is indeed a pair (male and female) while the second photo completes a "pair" for the same male superb fairy wren. This fantastic distinctive plummage is a favourite of mine to be enjoyed.