A small boat harbour in Ballina often provides a good range of birdlife to observe. Recent times have demonstrated this amply. The photos in this post were taken over several days across October and November.
I had been for a short walk and noticed these pied oystercatchers near the entrance to the harbour. I ducked over to the car to grab my camera and slowly moved to get close for some photos. I have found these birds quite shy and skittish, hence the slow approach. You will notice in the first photo the birds are quite relaxed ... head tucked along the back and a posture on one leg. The approach was working. I had snapped several photos and noticed a few nearby office workers doing some civic duty and scouring the area picking up rubbish - to be admired 👍. Two of them wandered right by me, oblivious to my careful approach and even more oblivious to the birds, very focussed on their own task - not to be admired 😕. I managed to get the second photo shared here just before the disturbed birds took flight ... and one of the well-meaning office workers who was now between me and the birds looked up, turned, and said to me "oh, did I disturb the birds?" I will leave it at that ... can't win em all!!
After wandering away still processing what I described above and holding in frustrations (the "can't win em all" was FAR from what I was thinking), it was fortunate to find another focus very quickly. There was a black cormorant perched on the roof of a houseboat moored in the harbour. The next two photos show off the range of "black" and patterns in the plummage as well as the distinctive ice-blue eyes. The second photo was just as it was about to alight (not what else you might imagine was happening with that squat pose 😋). The third photo of the set shows it on a mooring post after it did a few circles before landing again ... a curious gaze at the photographer STILL there 😊. Slightly different light and perspective showing the darker and non-patterned breast feathers. The final photo of the set shows one coasting along after surfacing between dives in the river. Always make it look so effortless!
On the far side of the harbour (east) to where I began, there are often welcome swallows swooping around seeking bugs for dinner between resting on the powerlines or near puddles on the ground in the carpark. This particular day I was fortunate to find a very favourable viewing spot down between two moored craft. I was able to photograph this one preening in the sunlight. The first two specifically show the preening "in action", the second two show the result and smart look the preening produced - no different to us really😊!
The final very special treat to share with you this post is a "find" in a bush near this same boat harbour. I had noticed a pair of willy wagtails being very active and in and out of this bush. An inspection located the nest 😁. Keeping a respectful distance, I share this shot of mum (or dad?) on the nest. One can only imagine the time and effort and skill required to make such a strong and delicate vessel to foster new life.
I checked the nest once a week over the next two weeks, and the next two shots (from different angles) show some very mature fledglings just about ready to leave that nest at the end of my second week of monitoring. No pesky litter collectors to disturb this moment 👌!
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