Wet Wooli III

A third wet day, but it had been a very relaxing few days in a different location, looking at different things. This was the blessing of being out of lockdown and a reminder of our world beyond Covid. Being able to take time out, in a period of many time outs, in a small coastal village still isolated from much of what we call "progress" is not to be underestimated. A reminder of a time past when the pace was slower allowing relaxation and observation and immersion in our world around us ... makes you seriously question all those loudly promised labour and time saving devices rewarding us with more time for leisure 😛. We seem not to cope with silence and our own company terribly well ... busyness is grossly overrated methinks!

Oh yes, you see above the value (or perhaps detriment) of time. Easy to lose focus (but that is my point really, focus on "now" and one thing at a time and "busyness" becomes just what is in front of you; or behind you or beside if you want take the time to explore "now").

Oh yes (again) ... focus back to the birds of Wooli 😁 ... less pontification! Remember, if you click on a photo, you can just scroll through them and play around with zooming in etc if your device so caters.

The forecast was for a relatively clear afternoon, still overcast and windy, but a break from the rain. So we armed ourselves with water bottles, rain jackets (just in case!), camera and headed off for a cuircuit walk along Riverside Drive and back along Main Street. The weather held and even provided some wonderful afternoon sunshine lighting up the still thunderous skies.

Near the oyster co-op and shop I was enjoying watching a silver gull scavenging filleted skeletons for a good feed of the remaining flesh. On review, I noticed this first photo had "captured" a helmet of water as the gull submerged its head and bill to pull out the skeleton. The second photo shows the success of its scavenging (soon after it was besieged by several other gulls seeking the reward without the effort ... just as we have come to expect from gulls when we picnic 😊). I am pleased to report the scavenger warded off the intruders and enjoyed its reward.

A little further along, a plover (masked lapwing) parent was ensuring we were aware it was nearby. Of course, with more noise than usual, a sense there may have been some young prevailed and sure enough, further protected by the fence of the bowling green there were a couple scurrying about in response to the parent's frantic calls. I managed this neat photo that captures the parent's close attention to our intrusion and the young one hurrying past behind the "bars" in response. Most of us understand the protective parent 😀.

The next pair of photos were a blue-faced honeyeater and a galah showing off their plumage against green foliage on the eastern side of road along which we were walking. Both alerted their presence by movement (noting the splashes of colour) and their distinctive calls. They were both happy to be noticed I reckon!

On the river side from where the birds above were snapped, there were some silver gulls looking resplendent perched atop wooden pylons against the still threatening western sky. This trilogy captures some of the splendour the simple palette of these birds might offer and the ever-changing nature of the stormy weather. 

The first photo shows one gull calling to who knows who, about who knows what? The grey clouds and darkened trees offer a foreboding backdrop. The second photo shows the same gull taking off from that perch as the sun tries in vain to break the passing clouds. The brighter background reflects on the lighter trees and sharpens the palette of the gull. Of course, you may have different interpretations but that is the point of sharing these images with you 😏. The third photo shows the clouds closing back in (emphasisng the vain attempt mentioned a moment ago) as a different gull on a different pylon carefully monitors my passing. The lower, lighter cloud provides a beautiful depth to the darker greyer clouds in the distance. Timing  👍.

Riverside Drive was proving a fertile environment for birds. Just after I snapped the photo above, I thought I saw a heron flying along the river. Tracking the path seemed to take it to the wharf near the Bait & Dive Shop, so my turn to scurry along ... sure enough ... it HAD landed on the wharf and I was fortunate to catch it hurrying across the planks seeking refuge in a less exposed spot. The second and third photos in this triology show where it found refuge on the pontoon of a moored IRB. The third photo shows the effects of the wind rustling its feathers. Each photo allows a good view of the strong, if gangly toes and feet of the striated heron. I developed a liking for the hunched and forlorn-looking posture of this bird the very first time I saw one in Ballina (way back in 2016). That liking has yet to wane 😋. Challenges our general conception of "beauty"!

Next along was a male figbird with their very distinctive red eye socket encircling the black eye set in the black head above olive wings. Another striking plummage. Bottom right of the photo shows the rich pickings being savoured.

 

As we reached the water tower, it was time to turn and head back along Main Street. A slight detour to see the wind swept beach revealed this gem-like crested pigeon obligingly posing on a fence cap and giving me its full attention and gaze. Even without sunlight the jewels in this plummage are clearly evident.

As we set out along Main Street I couldn't help myself trying to capture this remnant of a bygone era. A qunitessential beach shack overlooking the river. Not the only one around, but the setting and light here just begged capture. Oh that there remained many more like this.

This next portfolio of four photos shows previously featured birds feasting on the nectar of red banksia flowers in various front gardens we were passing. I have labelled each photo with the type of bird.

Brown honeyeater

Inverted white-cheeked honeyeater

Horizontal white-cheeked honeyeater

Blue-faced honeyeater

The previous mentioned attempt of the sun to breach the western clouds was proving less vain and we were blessed with bright sunshine on the final few steps of our walk back to the house. This young pied butcherbird looks gloriously glossy in that afternoon light. I included the photo of the twin pines to show that the threatening skies were blowing in again with the nor'easter. That afternoon sunlight makes it look far less threatening though! 

It passed relatively quickly back to fast moving low dark cloud and more rain descended just on dark. However, it was a nice relief and as it turned out, a good omen for the next day when we were leaving 😔. And as you have just seen, the break from the rain had afforded a nice walk around the circumference of the "old village".